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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#7972207
09/13/20 08:20 PM
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Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3
fallin skies
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 3 |
Lots of tried and true turkey hunters moving to lower gauge shotguns. I believe this is in large part due to the advancement in shotgun ammo. I know that I like to use both a 20 gauge and .410 shotgun but only with Hevishot shotgun ammunition.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: booskay]
#7972343
09/13/20 10:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29,167
TXHOGSLAYER
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29,167 |
jstock ------ if you need a scope for a 20 yrd shot with a shotgun you need to practice more-------- for the avg or below avg hunter I would say it is basically impossible to miss a bird standing still at 20 yds. Let me guess, you shoot 4 boxes of shells on a duck hunt trying to get your limit of 6 birds ?? I wont let my son bring more than 10 shells to kill 6 ducks --shooting o/u 20 ga. ------- and no, he is not allowed to shoot them on the water. If I don't shoot 3 or 4 boxes to get a limit I feel cheated...
LETS GO BRANDON
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#7976520
09/16/20 06:20 PM
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 258
JABHunting
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 258 |
Having hunted turkeys for many, many years including our Rio and Eastern and traveling to collect a "grand slam" , I have done it all with a 20 gauge black powder shotgun. This varied from a single barrel flintlock to a double barrel (SxS) percussion gun. First, I pattern the shotgun with whatever I want to shoot. In these guns its been lead shot of #5 or #6 size. I have used from 6-10 BB's (the copper BB gun kind) on top of the smaller shot if it patterned ok. These loads have always been 7/8 to 1-ounce but never more. I have no idea of the actual velocity but most data shows from 1100-1275 fps depending on powder and barrel length. The guns with choke are IC/Mod and the rest essentially have none. Second, I set a limit of range to where the pattern becomes too loose (or less dense) that it could cause a miss or wound. Typically this is 35-yards max but one gun is just 25-yards. Why all the talk about a muzzleloader? I have taken turkeys every year with loads that mimic a standard 20-guage 2.5 or 2.75-inch shell. I use good camo, good decoys and good calling techniques and have gotten multiple birds of various turkey sub-species for years. You will be totally fine with a standard 20-guage if you follow my #1) and #2) and use similar good gear and technique.
In reference to the .410, my son's used a single shot from the time they could shoot it "accurately" until they felt they outgrew it. Same deal, pattern and figure out the range and then take good measure with gear and technique. Wait for the bird to get within your threshold. My oldest boys .410 had a good enough pattern for several BB's in the head and neck at 30-yards with a standard 3-inch shell with lead shot. The youngers gun was a little different and he was limited to 25-yards with a different ammo but still conventional load.
You don't have to shoot turkeys the minute they come into view. If things go right, they will come to you. The closer they are the better odds of a kill. I will also recommend the HECS suit. Since using HECS I have shot several birds at 10-yards or less while sitting on the ground in the open.
Good luck!
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#7976902
09/16/20 10:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 35
Lonestar97
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 35 |
3 and 1/2 inch 12 gauge for sure..you can do it with a 20 gauge and theyre lighter to carry but i like the extra punch and range i get with a 3 and 1/2. Also look into TSS shells.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#7985514
09/23/20 06:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331
Dave Scott
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331 |
I thought all pellets travel at the same speed regardless of the gauge,so...if something gets hit with 5 pellets, it doesn't matter if the pellets came from a 410 or a 12 gauge. I thought the big benefit of larger gauges is more pellets. If a 20 patterns better than a 12, the 20 might be better. Depends on the gun.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: Dave Scott]
#7986728
09/24/20 03:44 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,425
jeffbird
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,425 |
I thought all pellets travel at the same speed regardless of the gauge,so...if something gets hit with 5 pellets, it doesn't matter if the pellets came from a 410 or a 12 gauge. I thought the big benefit of larger gauges is more pellets. If a 20 patterns better than a 12, the 20 might be better. Depends on the gun. Yep, correct. A #4 at 1200 fps from a 12 gauge is identical to a #4 from a 20 gauge, just more of them.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: gary roberson]
#7989348
09/26/20 11:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 74
1 bois d arc bow man
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 74 |
Gary i hear you on the 3 1/2 mags fired two shots in an 870 pump ,luckly i did it at the range standing up. I said to myself sure glad i tried it there instead of leaned against a tree. left the range went straight to where i bought it and traded it off. still have teeth loose from it. Made me love my .410 even more!!! I know what you mean. We used to convince all the young teenage and high school boys to test drive the Mossberg and the "skud missles". We called it a three stepper because everyone of them took three steps back after firing... Adios, Gary Yes Gary those 31/2 will sure ratle ya. I remember a mag article about felt recoil from said ammo. It was somewhere same as 300 Win Mag. yep. and i have a 870 that can shoot em.. NOT anymore overkill.
hunting or looking for a hunt
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#7989453
09/27/20 01:11 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287
scalebuster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,287 |
If you have a 12ga, why wouldn’t you take it. You aren’t going to shoot more than a couple of times. I prefer a 22 for turkey hunting. It gives me more range if the bird doesn’t do what I want. When I kill a turkey it’s because I like fried turkey strips. It’s not some life altering experience for me. I also never bow hunted deer during rifle season. I use the best tool for the job. When quail hunting I do take the 20 just because the gun and shells are lighter, and they aren’t that hard to hit. I also don’t understand the need for a red dot on a shotgun.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#7991969
09/29/20 01:34 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,777
P_102
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,777 |
Dave and jeffbird have it right, it’s the size and speed of the pellets, not the gauge.
scalebuster, a Red Dot is used to ensure the gun is shooting where it is aimed (more accurate would be ‘aimed where shooting’). This is rarely necessary when shooting game with ‘open’ patterns but often needed with very tight patterns.
Do not trifle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8017518
10/21/20 12:55 AM
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Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 3
Northern Pintail
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 3 |
It is true that many turkey hunters are opting for smaller gauge shotguns. I think this is due in large part to BETTER SHOTGUN AMMO. I have really enjoyed using my Beretta 20 gauge for both waterfowl and turkey hunting. The best shotgun shell offerings that I have found are from HeviShot. For turkeys, I use both the Magnum Blends and Hevi 18 TSS shotgun shells. I have the ability, using those shells, to take gobblers out to what would normally be considered a 12 gauge range. The shells hit with more energy due to their density and they pattern great. For me, it's a great bonus to be able to use these sub gauge shotguns for hunting as opposed to using them for clay shooting
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: Jstocks]
#8017836
10/21/20 01:20 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,523
Reloder28
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,523 |
You obviously don’t have any idea what you are talking about, and seem to be on a mission to announce your ignorance openly on an Internet forum. Wow?! 18 posts & no one on this board knows as much as you do.
[b][/b]
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8017864
10/21/20 01:43 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,523
Reloder28
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,523 |
Tried Squirrel hunting with a 20 ga once. once the shot charge reached the top of the 85 ft pine trees & penetrated all the foliage there just wasn't enough pellets left to terminate the Squirrel.
And, since 12 ga handles all of my hunting needs it is much easier to keep up with but one type of ammo.
[b][/b]
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: Reloder28]
#8018745
10/22/20 01:24 AM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 343
Clark8907
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 343 |
You obviously don’t have any idea what you are talking about, and seem to be on a mission to announce your ignorance openly on an Internet forum. Wow?! 18 posts & no one on this board knows as much as you do. I can promise you JSTOCKS knows his stuff when it comes to reloading with tss and killing turkeys. I didnt know post count showcased how much you knew. I learn something new everyday.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8020119
10/23/20 12:45 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,047
mikei
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,047 |
I'm from the old school that says the more pellets you can put in the direction of your target the better off you are. Regardless of gauge, though, you need to take the time to find out what your particular shotgun/choke combination likes best and got with it. A .410 bore, with the right load and choke that will put its pellets inside a paper plate at 30 yards will work just fine.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: mikei]
#8020972
10/23/20 03:55 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 343
Clark8907
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 343 |
When you reload this 410 with 9.5s using TSS you have ample pellets that will penetrate just as good if not better than #6 lead shot to kill birds at 40 yards easily. When a 410 is putting 150-190 pellets in a 10in cricle at 40 yds thats better than some people shooting said 12gas with 3.5in shells.
Last edited by Clark8907; 10/23/20 03:55 PM.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8022427
10/24/20 11:02 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,816
10 Gauge
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,816 |
I saw some tss and some hevi-shot on the shelf the other day and pooped in my pants. For less than the price of Five 12 gauge cartridges I can get a hundred rounds of high velocity 3” steel.
I think the real reason for the resurgence of the .410 is because the .410 tss is about all most people can afford!
1 Thessalonians 4:11-14
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: Reloder28]
#8024713
10/26/20 09:31 PM
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 136
Jstocks
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 136 |
You obviously don’t have any idea what you are talking about, and seem to be on a mission to announce your ignorance openly on an Internet forum. Wow?! 18 posts & no one on this board knows as much as you do. I’d like to know how number of internet posts on any particular forum equates to knowledge held on any given subject.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8025208
10/27/20 03:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,431
TLew
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,431 |
Hi! My Dad got me into more serious hunting and while he hunts big game I would like to focus on....turkeys! It may matter that I love turkey meat and I am pretty good in making meals with it. Anyway! Guns! Dad says 12 gauge but I am more inclined to go with 20. It may not shoot as far but the recoil is smaller and that is a big deal. Also is Weatherby SA-459 a good gun? I like the way it looks and feels (had a chance to try it out). Or would you recommend something else? Blake -- First off, welcome to the forum. You seem like a younger guy (sorry if I'm assuming), and I'm glad you're getting into turkeys. I would say you should grab the gun you feel the most comfortable with. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what anyone else says if you run the risk of pulling a shot. It also sounds like you may be on a budget, and I would look for a "do all" gun if I was in the same situation. Sometimes that means it isn't optimal for everything, but with a little hard work and trial/error you'll get it where it needs to be. I learned the same way with an old Browning fixed choke semi that was passed down to me from my dad.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: 10 Gauge]
#8027366
10/28/20 01:59 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 343
Clark8907
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 343 |
I saw some tss and some hevi-shot on the shelf the other day and pooped in my pants. For less than the price of Five 12 gauge cartridges I can get a hundred rounds of high velocity 3” steel.
I think the real reason for the resurgence of the .410 is because the .410 tss is about all most people can afford! Its really not expensive to reload 410, 20, or 12 ga. Not to mention, the QC is much better than the crap you buy off the shelves.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8047730
11/12/20 05:17 AM
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Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 3
Northern Pintail
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 3 |
Sub gauge turkey hunting seems to be really coming on in popularity. I think the challenge is a big part of it as well as the improvements and availability of high end quality shotgun shells. It's amazing the performance you can get out of a 20 gauge or .410 if you use a premium shotgun shell like the Hevi-18 Turkey TSS. At 18g/cc and 1250 FPS you will not give a more lethal shell and the patterns are incredible. I can shoot with any 12 gauge shooter and feel quite comfortable shooting at a gobbler at 50 + yards.
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: Clark8907]
#8048981
11/13/20 03:25 AM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,816
10 Gauge
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 3,816 |
I saw some tss and some hevi-shot on the shelf the other day and pooped in my pants. For less than the price of Five 12 gauge cartridges I can get a hundred rounds of high velocity 3” steel.
I think the real reason for the resurgence of the .410 is because the .410 tss is about all most people can afford! Its really not expensive to reload 410, 20, or 12 ga. Not to mention, the QC is much better than the crap you buy off the shelves. I will still pass. I was looking at tungsten shot on BP and it works out to like $2-something per ounce. I’ll stick to my 40 cents a pop federal speed shocks. I don’t need the advantage of tungsten for my shooting.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-14
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8051277
11/15/20 02:58 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,321
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,321 |
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8053857
11/17/20 06:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,657 |
my best friend growing up used a .410 on every thing, didn't miss many, so don't say it can't be done.
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8078416
12/06/20 05:22 PM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 5
Yelper
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 5 |
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Re: 12 gauge or 20 gauge?
[Re: BlakeStone]
#8078474
12/06/20 06:10 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,321
Biscuit
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,321 |
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