Opinion

[tn24]

Would a 20 gauge Carlson 585 flush choke and Winchester Longbeards be ample to kill a turkey at 40 yards?

 

[Andy S.]

I don't know, but would need to at least know shot size. With that being said, I'm skeptical of a 20G at 40 yards without TSS (tungsten shot). Also, the few guys I know who are impressed with Longbeards in their 12G told me they patterned Longbeards in their 20G and the patterns were lacking. That's about as much experience as I have with Longbeards.

 

[MickThompson]

If the pattern density is there and it shoots to point of aim, gauge doesn't matter. 12 gauge has a pattern density advantage, all else equal, because it holds more pellets than a 20 gauge. The "cheat" with sub gauges is to drop pellet size to cram more in there but that comes at the expense of downrange energy.

Verify on paper before going to the woods.

 

[tn24]

Averaging 15-20 in the kill zone. My concern was if there was enough energy to kill.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Averaging 15-20 in the kill zone. My concern was if there was enough energy to kill.

What shot size? And what velocity?

Energy of any given pellet has nothing to do with gauge. A pellet of any material launched at 1100 fps will have the same energy whether from a .410 or a 10 gauge. As noted, pattern density is the concern with smaller gauges.

 

[Andy S.]

As noted, pattern density is the concern with smaller gauges.

Especially at 40 yards, unless you are using smaller TSS pellets that retain pattern density downrange due to the sheer number of pellets in the shot column to begin with. It is a simple math problem.

 

[tn24]

He say's it's #6 shot. I looked them up and it says 1000fps. I'm a 12 gauge shooter, never turkey hunted with a 20. Guy just wanted to know if they would kill a turkey out to 40 yards.

 

[MickThompson]

He say's it's #6 shot. I looked them up and it says 1000fps. I'm a 12 gauge shooter, never turkey hunted with a 20. Guy just wanted to know if they would kill a turkey out to 40 yards.

Could a single #6 kill a turkey? Sure if it hits the right spot, but all any of us were pointing out is that shotgun hunting is a game of probability and the probability of a kill is a function of how many imprecisely flung pellets we can put in the immediate vicinity of a turkey's central nervous system. Your odds are simply slimmer with a 20 gauge- every pellet is an opportunity for a lethal strike and there are ~71% as many in a 1.25 oz load as in a 1.75 oz load. You usually run out of pattern before you run out of killing power with lead loads. Knowing the pattern runs out at 25 vs 45 yards is pretty important.

 

[tn24]

He already had the gun. He bought the choke and shells. I guess I'll tell him what you all have said and let him decide.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

The honest answer is yes, it will probably kill a turkey at 40 yards. But, having seen lots of patterns from lot of guns, I would bet this one is not as good as I would want to hunt with. But I would have to see a picture of the whole pattern to know for sure. And a lead 6 at 1000 fps is lighter and slower than I would be comfortable with.

With no other information, I would hope he keeps shots to 30 yards

 

[Uncle Jesse]

There is a YouTube video from RGO. They did a penetration test at 40 yards with that exact shell. Yes it's more than sufficient penetration at 40 yards

 

[stringtalker]

Would a 20 gauge Carlson 585 flush choke and Winchester Longbeards be ample to kill a turkey at 40 yards?

Find you a Carlson's longebeard choke and see how it shoots with the #6's. Mine gun shoots pretty good with it. 40 yards with longbeards #6's