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Turkey load advice needed! (20 gauge Update)

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Post by Sodbuster Sun Mar 30, 2014 3:07 pm

With all the gobbler action we're having we would like to try and get my brother's wife a shot at a bird. Have never hunted turkey with a gun so need some advice. Have a full choke 12 gauge or a modified 20 to choose from. The shots will be no more than 25 yards max. The 12 would be the best choice, but may be to much gun for a female. What do you guys and gals think would be a good load to try for both guns with a woman as the shooter? My sis-in-law does deer hunt with a rifle, trains horse's, and can run a chainsaw, so she's not dainty, but don't want her to get knocked over backwards by the recoil. Next question when patterning the gun how many pellets in the turkey head is ideal?


Last edited by Sodbuster on Sat Apr 12, 2014 6:01 pm; edited 2 times in total
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Post by snapper1982 Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:38 pm

3 inch winchester longbeards. number 5s.

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Post by snapper1982 Sun Mar 30, 2014 4:42 pm

make your max range what ever range it is that the pattern falls below 100 hits in a 10 inch circle.

basically shoot the gun then draw a 10 inch circle around the densest part of the pattern and count the hits. no need to bother with a turkey target if you do this. you are going to kill the bird 100 percent of the time unless the shooter pulls the shot

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Post by huntinOH Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:16 pm

I shoot a 12 gauge with a TightWad choke tube and I had to try about 4-5 differant Loads untill I found what worked for my setup! I finally settled on Winchester Double xx 3 1/2 inch loads and #5 shot they seemed to group the best for my gun !
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Post by Sodbuster Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:23 pm

Thanks for the info Snapper and Huntin it's greatly appreciated!
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Post by ray12 Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:30 pm

Well I have a 12 gauge with a tightwad choke on the end to! And it seems that mine patterned the best with the Winchester Double xx rounds to! But a friend of mine uses federal since the winchester rounds do not work at all for his setup!  

I would trust mine to knock a bird down at 55 yrds ! But I would prefer closer!  A 12 gauge with turkey loads has a good kick to it and it could quickly cause a habbit to flinch !  From what I hear a 20 gauge will put birds down to! And might be a good choice for a women hunter,  Get yourself some Turkey targets and put them out there and see what groups the best with your gun and choke tube!  I usually just copied targets off from the internet! It doesnt need to be fancy at all.                                                                          http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=turkey+targets&qpvt=turkey+targets&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=6E15BD5CE7965B37F033B1E0A283BD69481A9303&selectedIndex=6

And For me If I had atleast 6 BB's hit vital spots on the target it was good for me ! The closer I got the tighter the groups became to!
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Post by garys Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:55 am

If it were me, I would either put her on the 12 gauge with 2 3/4 inch #6 or 7 1/2 hevi shot, or shoot the 20 gauge with a similar load. Either one of those loads will be a dead turkey out to 30-35 yards every time. I would probably lean towards the 20 gauge with the modified choke so she has less chance of missing at that distance. You don't NEED a super extra tight full turkey choke to kill a turkey. I have seen plenty of turkeys missed at under 20 yards from a gun that shoots WAY to tight of a pattern. Lets be realistic, I have seen way more birds killed at under 30 yards then I have over 50.

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Post by Sodbuster Mon Mar 31, 2014 7:43 am

Thanks for the replies Galen and Gary it's a big help to us. The turkey feed up and down a paticular narrow 1/2 acre powerline plot with woods on both sides every morning, so we just set up on the edge and wait for them to pass by. The shot is most likely only going to be 8-15 yards with 25yds being the farthest shot to the other side. Shot 2 hens at this spot last fall, so it works well. We'll try the 12 this Saturday first and move to the 20 if it kicks to much. Thanks for all the replies it's been a HUGE help! I'll let you know how it goes.
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Post by Sodbuster Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:08 pm

Got some 12 gauge shells this week (Damn they're expensive). Shot the gun today and it was a bust. The gun kicks like an absolute mule and would take her shoulder off if she shot it. Even if it didn't the gun is so old that it is wore out. Every shot went way low and left and I assume that's a gun issue and not the shells. I mean the gun is 100 years old. Academy didn't have any 20 gauge turkey loads, so have to look at Bass Pro for some this week.
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Post by garys Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:23 pm

It is probably the gun, but probably not due to the guns age. I had a new browning bps that shot 6 inches high at 40 yards. It was a dedicated turkey gun so it wasn't a problem, I just put rifle sights on it and adjusted them properly. Most people don't shoot shotguns at paper so they don't realize that there shotgun doesn't shoot to the point of aim. That being said, I think you will be better off with the 20 gauge. I would start her with some light loads though and just put the turkey loads in when you are hunting. She won't notice it as much when she is shooting at a turkey and there is no need for her to practice with turkey loads.

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Post by Sodbuster Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:57 pm

Shot the 20 gauge this morning and it went very well. Much less recoil and it patterned well at 25 yards. Thanks again for everyone's help, it was greatly appreciated. Only problem now is most of the turkey have moved on. Still have 3 jakes holding tight and one has an extra big body, but I'm undecided if I'll even buy a tag and hunt now. Urban deer and turkey hunting sucks!
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Post by ray12 Sun Apr 13, 2014 6:45 am

Glad the guns shooting well ! If you decide to hunt them good luck !!
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