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20 g turkey gun options

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bvoss

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Jan 11, 2010
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What do you shoot and what are your preferences. I am thinking of getting into the 20g world. I'd like to get a semi-auto. Ive heard some prefer gas operated over inertia operated. Do you have a preference on that ? Is there a reason why one is better over the other? Ive been looking at the Franchi Turkey elite, the Mossberg SA-20, and the Tristar Viper. Trying to stay $1200 and under range.
 
I think I found my favorite setup last year. Savage 555C 20ga, meadow creek rib mount, Burris FF2 and IM choke in one barrel and super full turkey in other. Super light, short and being able to swap from close to long range barrel is handy.
 
They are hard to find right now due to Remington going bankrupt, however, it is hard to beat the 870 youth model guns. They are small, compact and shoot well. They are no frills but do what they are supposed to do. A lot of people have bought them and changed out the stock to sort of a thumbhole stock and had them cerakoted. My son and I are both shooting one and shoot very well with TSS.

I think any of what you have listed above will do what they are intended and a lot of it will come down to personal preference and how the gun fits you. I have always been a pump guy and shot 870s. Good luck with what you choose. I have been shooting a 20ga since 2017 and have no intentions in going back to a 12ga.
 
Shot a Benelli montefeltro 20 ga and got rid of it. switched to an over under ATI 20 ga and killed 6 birds in multiple states last year with it. Top barrel I use longbeard 5/6s. Bottom barrel I shoot tss 9s. It weights 5 and a half lbs and absolutely love it. It saves tss when they are close and cost me around $500
 

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your not gonna notice much of a difference in gas vs inertia in a 20 gauge minus cleaning it. all the guns you listed will work fine for a turkey specific gun. if you are wanting on for other uses as well you may want to branch out some.

IMO the benelli M2 is the best all around 20 out there or the SBE3 20 gauge but would be above your price range unless you find a used M2 around.
 
I have both gas and inertia driven 20 gauge semi automatic turkey guns. I have the Mossberg SA 20 turkey thug that is gas driven, 22 inch barrel ,drilled tapped and an absolute turkey killer with a Carlson .575. I also have two Stoeger m3020 20 gauge turkey killers one is the dedicated turkey gun they make and one with a 26 inch barrel which are inertia driven guns. I absolutely love the feel of the Stoeger with the thin forearm. You can't go wrong either way inertia or gas but for some reason I like inertia driven better (personal preference). The Carlson .575 is also magic in the Stoeger. One thing I can tell you for sure is once you go to a 20 gauge , you will not carry a 12 turkey hunting again!
 
A few years ago I set up a Tristar viper g2 youth for my son. At this point I've killed more birds with it than he has! 😂. I just picked up a new Tristar viper g2 turkey in 20g for me this year. I will always suggest a Tristar with a Carlson's choke as one of the cheaper ways to a great turkey gun. I have only shot longbeard XR ammo from his since at 50 yards it puts over 100 into a 10" circle.

I'm gonna try out a few different chokes for mine and see if there's anything that is a better combination, but it's gonna be hard to beat the one inset up for my son.
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cm1021 said:
A few years ago I set up a Tristar viper g2 youth for my son. At this point I've killed more birds with it than he has! 😂. I just picked up a new Tristar viper g2 turkey in 20g for me this year. I will always suggest a Tristar with a Carlson's choke as one of the cheaper ways to a great turkey gun. I have only shot longbeard XR ammo from his since at 50 yards it puts over 100 into a 10" circle.

I'm gonna try out a few different chokes for mine and see if there's anything that is a better combination, but it's gonna be hard to beat the one inset up for my son.
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That is a sweet looking set up! I had and sold a Tri star raptor on this site. My buddy has the viper and agree the Tri star is a great shooting gun and option! Those guns patterned with anything I had . I regret I sold that gun but I had too many. Again great looking gun !
 
deerfever said:
That is a sweet looking set up! I had and sold a Tri star raptor on this site. My buddy has the viper and agree the Tri star is a great shooting gun and option! Those guns patterned with anything I had . I regret I sold that gun but I had too many. Again great looking gun !
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Thanks! I started looking for one last year when they came out and just finally found one about two weeks ago. I could get all the 12g i wanted but couldn't find a 20 at retail anywhere.
 
Get ya a Franchi Affinity. Lightweight, sweet shooter, already drilled and tapped…

Here is my 870 youth. Added burnt bronze cerakote, shur shot stocks, and had stocks dipped in mossy oak green leaf. Sumtoy .562 choke…..
 

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I suspect you'll be shooting hand-loaded tungsten so it's not an exaggeration to say that it doesn't matter what gun you get. I just have one 20-ga turkey gun, but I've sighted/patterned several different varieties for friends. All of them shot good to great patterns.

If I were looking for an auto to serve as a dedicated turkey gun, I'd probably go with an Affinity. Light, reliable, and relatively affordable. And I don't think I'll ever have another deficated turkey gun without a Fastfire or something comparable.
 
I have owned a lot of hunting shot guns, I bought a m2 20 probably 5 years ago and the more I hunt the more it is my go to for everything. Just had a form on here about what size barrel to buy for mine and ended up getting a 24 in barrel to add to it. It has a 28 right now and is a killing machine. I like the m2 over any other 20 gauge I have owned. Id look for one of them if it was me personally, youll end up using it for everything instead of just turkeys.
 
I've got an almost new 870 20guage youth that my son outgrew before he really even got into shooting/hunting. What makes this gun a good turkey gun? I've always just used my old 12 g 870 with wore out camo tape on it.
 
bvoss said:
What do you shoot and what are your preferences. I am thinking of getting into the 20g world. I'd like to get a semi-auto. Ive heard some prefer gas operated over inertia operated. Do you have a preference on that ? Is there a reason why one is better over the other? Ive been looking at the Franchi Turkey elite, the Mossberg SA-20, and the Tristar Viper. Trying to stay $1200 and under range.
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I got the Tristar viper in 20 for my wife mostly as a home defense gun cuz she cannot shoot my 12. I of course had to try it out during turkey season cuz it's SOOO Much easier to carry through woods than my heavy 12. Then I took it dove hunting, then squirrel hunting, then duck hunting. This semi auto has cycled every single possible shell from the lightest to the heaviest and even mixed in the magazine with zero failures for the last year. Highly recommend.
 
cm1021 said:
A few years ago I set up a Tristar viper g2 youth for my son. At this point I've killed more birds with it than he has! 😂. I just picked up a new Tristar viper g2 turkey in 20g for me this year. I will always suggest a Tristar with a Carlson's choke as one of the cheaper ways to a great turkey gun. I have only shot longbeard XR ammo from his since at 50 yards it puts over 100 into a 10" circle.

I'm gonna try out a few different chokes for mine and see if there's anything that is a better combination, but it's gonna be hard to beat the one inset up for my son.
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This is the exact gun I am leaning towards getting.
 
Southern Sportsman said:
I suspect you'll be shooting hand-loaded tungsten so it's not an exaggeration to say that it doesn't matter what gun you get. I just have one 20-ga turkey gun, but I've sighted/patterned several different varieties for friends. All of them shot good to great patterns.

If I were looking for an auto to serve as a dedicated turkey gun, I'd probably go with an Affinity. Light, reliable, and relatively affordable. And I don't think I'll ever have another deficated turkey gun without a Fastfire or something comparable.
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I have a fastfire that I just started using last year on my 12g and i love it. I love the Franchi guns too. But trying to decide on how much to spend.
 
I made the same swap last year. I went with a Franchi Affinity 3 compact. It has been awesome and I will never go back. I wanted a M2 but couldn't justify the extra money. Inertia guns have a lot of positives. The only negative I know of is more recoil. In a 20 gauge that isn't much of an issue. Know that the Benelli and Franchi will not shoot Fereal TSS without jamming. I shoot Apex and have been pleased.
 
gtk said:
I've got an almost new 870 20guage youth that my son outgrew before he really even got into shooting/hunting. What makes this gun a good turkey gun? I've always just used my old 12 g 870 with wore out camo tape on it.
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A 20 gauge with TSS 8.5 or 9 shot will throw more in a 10" circle at 40 yards than a 12 gauge using lead, and with more energy per pellet than the 12 gauge using #5 shot. This is due to the weight of the Tungsten (18 g per cc and lead is 11g per cc). The weight carries the energy….with my little 870 20 gauge, I am throwing between 260-270 #8.5 shot in a 10" circle at 40 yards. Best thing about the 20s is far less recoil and far less weight to lug around with the same killing capability…
 

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