20 Gauge

[SKFOOTER]

Check out the 20 Gauge categories on the Old Gobbler or Gobbler Nation Forums.

 

[REN]

Hummmm

I can't figure out if your serious or not. I posted pics in the pattern thread above that shows one better then a lot of 12 rounds And that 20 is shooting better ammo

 

[timberjack86]

yeah if you carry a heavy pump (say an 835) for 3-4 miles on a hot day, then carry a 6lb 20 gauge for 3-4 miles on a hot day you will see a HUGE HUGE difference in comfort between those days.

I know what you mean. It is very doable to cover that mileage each day and I normally do if they ain't cooperating. Plus I have some steep hills in the mix. My 835 gets heavy. It's all I have had in the past. I bought a cheap Maverick for dove season. It is considerably lighter and has a 28" barrel. Thinking about buying a choke for it and trying the Heavy 7's. If all goes as planned I am going to get a relaoader and try and work up some 3" loads for next spring.


Sent from my iPhone that I ain't smart enough to use with tapatalker

X1000! I have a 835 that I love, but the 20 gauge is so much lighter and easier to carry all day, especially in these mountains.

 

[cmn]

I use several youth model 20's with hevi shot 6 or their blend. Red dot scopes on each. They are deadly. Several guns have over 30 birds each. ( I am a guide) I love these guns. Switched about 7 years ago. Still have several 12's for the doubters….

 

[steel80]

Pick up a m2 and you'll understand!

 

[TreyB]

Hummmm

I can't figure out if your serious or not. I posted pics in the pattern thread above that shows one better then a lot of 12 rounds And that 20 is shooting better ammo

I am serious. Wasn't meaning that in a bad way. Just honestly never thought about a 20 for a adult. What is a M2? May look into getting one and give it a shot.

 

[REN]

M2 = benelli m2 (they make it in 12 and 20)


Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding"

Sent from my phone because I'm that cool

 

[260rem]

I use a single shot H&R 20ga. full choke #7 hw fed. with scope.

 

[TreyB]

M2 = benelli m2 (they make it in 12 and 20)


Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding"

Sent from my phone because I'm that cool

That price is probably to much for me. Any other options u recommend?

 

[steel80]

Franchi affinity.

 

[REN]

Ah man there are a bunch of options for much cheaper. Look at some of the other ones posted on here like an 870 for mossberg. Stoeger makes a cheaper auto in the M3020 as another option


Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding"

Sent from my phone because I'm that cool

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Hummmm

I saw a kid kill one at 52 last year (he got excided and shot on his own). But it wasnt a fluke either. Over 150 pellets in a 10" circle at 50. (my TSS handloads). With the right loads, there are some bad 20s. As soon as I can afford an M2 20 gauge, it will become a regular turkey gun.

 

[Uncle Jesse]

As I mentioned earlier, I don't even own a 12 gauge any more. So I would ask, why would you carry a 12 gauge instead of a 20?
I duck hunt more than anything and don't feel under gunned with a 20. In fact, it's kind of fun to out shoot them 12 gauge boys in the blind oke:
I've not turkey hunted much with a 20 but that is changing this year.
http://www.randywakeman.com/WouldntYouReallyRatherDrivea20Gauge.htm

 

[TheLBLman]

Question... Why would you carry a 20 instead of a 12 gauge?

I would now ask, "Why would you carry a 12 instead of a 20 gauge?"

It's not just a reduction in gun weight, but you shave another pound off the weight of carrying, say, 10 shells.

Using the Federal Heavyweight 20 gauge loads, the 20 gauge turkey gun is more effective at a greater range than the 12 gauge using traditional lead turkey loads. I'm not sure how those lead Winchester Longbeards play into this comparison, but I will tell you a 20 gauge loaded with Federal Heavyweights will typically be at least if not more effective at a greater range than a 12 gauge loaded with Hevi Mag Blends.

Part of this is because the Federal Heavyweight 20 gauge load is just far superior to anything else out there (other than handloads).

My 20-gauge turkey gun is an autoloader, and the recoil is amazingly light compared to most 12-gauge turkey guns. Just one more reason I enjoy shooting it more. Comparable range without the recoil.

 

[Roost 1]

Wes, when you say the Fed HWT load is at least if not superior to Magblends are you referring to the HWT 7s?

 

[TreyB]

Question... Why would you carry a 20 instead of a 12 gauge?

I would now ask, "Why would you carry a 12 instead of a 20 gauge?"

It's not just a reduction in gun weight, but you shave another pound off the weight of carrying, say, 10 shells.

Using the Federal Heavyweight 20 gauge loads, the 20 gauge turkey gun is more effective at a greater range than the 12 gauge using traditional lead turkey loads. I'm not sure how those lead Winchester Longbeards play into this comparison, but I will tell you a 20 gauge loaded with Federal Heavyweights will typically be at least if not more effective at a greater range than a 12 gauge loaded with Hevi Mag Blends.

Part of this is because the Federal Heavyweight 20 gauge load is just far superior to anything else out there (other than handloads).

My 20-gauge turkey gun is an autoloader, and the recoil is amazingly light compared to most 12-gauge turkey guns. Just one more reason I enjoy shooting it more. Comparable range without the recoil.

I have just never thought about hunting with a 20 since I was about 11-12 years old. Not saying it is good I would just think with my experience that a 12 is better than a 20. I am really thinking about getting a 20 to try out though.

 

[TheLBLman]

Wes, when you say the Fed HWT load is at least if not superior to Magblends are you referring to the HWT 7s?

Yes.
My belief is the Fed HWT straight 7's is a superior longer range load than Mag Blends.

I know each gun/choke may like something a little different in loads, so you may get a slightly denser pattern from the Mag Blends due to all those #7 pellets in them. However, the Fed HWT 7's pack a punch and penetration more like the Mag Blend's #6 pellets. My "problem" with the Mag Blend shells are the #5 pellets in them --- I'd rather just have straight 7's or straight 6's, or a mix of 7's & 6's.

I wish Federal would offer their HWTs in a 7 1/2 or #8 shot size, since I'm going for head shots, and don't really need something to completely penetrate both breasts at 50 yards (something the #7 Feds will do).

One more thing: I know the "reason" has to do with the wads, but it still makes no sense to me that Federal can get 1 1/2 ounce of their HWT pellets in a 3" 20ga shell, yet they can only get 1 7/8 ounce in a 3 1/2" 12ga shell?

 

[Roost 1]

Thanks for sharing.... I will be trying HWT 6s and 7s thus year in my 20ga

 

[Uncle Jesse]

One more thing: I know the "reason" has to do with the wads, but it still makes no sense to me that Federal can get 1 1/2 ounce of their HWT pellets in a 3" 20ga shell, yet they can only get 1 7/8 ounce in a 3 1/2" 12ga shell?

I always figured it was to keep cost a little lower too. The first Remington Hevi shells I bought were 3.5 1 7/8 ounce loads. I felt a little let down knowing that was fewer pellets than 1 7/8 of the same size lead and a lot less than the 2 ounce loads I had been using.

 

[TheLBLman]

One more thing: I know the "reason" has to do with the wads, but it still makes no sense to me that Federal can get 1 1/2 ounce of their HWT pellets in a 3" 20ga shell, yet they can only get 1 7/8 ounce in a 3 1/2" 12ga shell?

I always figured it was to keep cost a little lower too. The first Remington Hevi shells I bought were 3.5 1 7/8 ounce loads. I felt a little let down knowing that was fewer pellets than 1 7/8 of the same size lead and a lot less than the 2 ounce loads I had been using.

I really don't think it has anything to do with cost. However, it seems there may be fewer "fliers", and by going to smaller shot (such as a #7 rather than a #6), you can still get dense patterns with pellets that penetrate farther. A #7 Fed HWT has penetration comparable to a #5 copper-plated lead pellet, actually even greater at longer ranges.

More recently, I've started using the Federal HWT in the 12 gauges. Even though it only has 1 7/8 oz of #7's, they hit a whole lot harder than those #7's in other "factory" loads. I'm not getting hardly as dense a pattern as with 2 1/4 oz MagBlends, but believe the HWT is every bit as good a long range load, while providing noticeably less recoil --- something I really notice with the 12's. Lots of good choices with a 12, but with the 20 gauge, Federal has really trumped their competition.