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Why a 20 gauge??

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XCR-2

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Just curious to what the advantages are on shooting a 20 over a 12? I hear a lot about it, just curious. In the market for a new turkey gun and wanna make sure I'm not missing out on something.
 
Less recoil is the main advantage and lighter to carry would be second I suppose. There is no advantage in killing power. I'm going to shoot a 3.5 inch 12 gauge until they start making a 4 incher. :tu:
 
As stated above, lighter and less recoil. Modern loads have made 20 gauges relevant for turkeys. I don't like shooting further than 50 yards so a 20 gauge is all I need.
 
Andy S.":mkdn5adh said:
More compact and lighter, and plenty of potential to kill at 40 yards, and further, with less recoil, if you are willing to reload.
Click to expand...
Basically it,
but, wait, there's more! :D

The smaller "footprint" of a true 20 ga. over a 12 ga. adds even more significance to that lighter weight.
If we could compare a 20 ga & a 12 ga of identical weights, you would immediately note the 20 ga "feels" even lighter and easier to carry.

Another issue that many haven't considered is the weight of the shells, both in the gun, as well as in your turkey vest.
Again, if we compare a 20 ga & a 12 ga of identical weights (unloaded), once loaded, the 20 ga could immediately become about a half-pound lighter than that 12 of identical weight unloaded.

Besides what's in your gun, how many shells do you typically carry in your vest?
You're typically looking at over an ounce of weight reduction per shell (20 ga vs 12 ga),
so if you carry 8 shells, another half-pound plus of less weight you're carrying.
 
Plus, those yellow bullets are cool.

The main reason I want one is the weight and size. I move around a lot when I turkey hunt. And I already hand load, so if I can get a bird to 50 (preferably closer, but I'm just talking gun capability), it's still in no-doubt kill range and my arms arent as tired.
 
Andy S.":sb4d4ncd said:
. . . . and plenty of potential to kill at 40 yards, and further . . . . . if you are willing to reload.
Click to expand...
Just want to add
you do NOT need to "reload" or "load" your own special 20 ga shells for your 20 ga to be a lethal turkey gun PAST 40 yards.

There is the widely available (Bass Pro, etc.) Federal Heavyweight turkey shell that will make most 20 ga guns as effective as most 12 ga guns using standard lead turkey loads. These particular Federal Heavyweight 20 ga shells pack a whopping 1 1/2 ounce of shot. You would generally want to use the #7 size pellets in this shell (for denser patterns) as they will penetrate comparably to a #5 lead pellet. I've personally had these particular #7 pellets completely pass thru both sides of a large Tom's breast at 46 yards ---- so no problem passing thru a turkey's head/neck at even greater distances.

Really, my only complaint with the Federal Heavyweights is that Federal doesn't offer them in a size #8 or #8 1/2 pellet.

IF you're willing to load or reload, you can create an even more lethal turkey shell for your 20 ga (typically using #9 TSS shot).
 
If You are looking for a new turkey gun, check out the Weatherby 20 ga turkey model. About to drop the hammer
on one.
 
I was like you three years ago wondering about the 20 for Turkey hunting. I did a lot of reading and research and took the plunge. I have two now and like these guys have said you put a federal HW#7 in them and they are a turkey machine! They are a pleasure to carry and recoil is less. I put the 12 down and it has stayed in the gun cabinet for three seasons now!
 
Been hunting with 20 gauge since I was 8 years old 39 now. Just don't feel the need to fix what's not broken.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Although I'm still toting the big stick and shooting the big bullets I have a 20 ga. completely rigged and it throws a devastating pattern. I have no doubt that it would hammer a bird inside my kill zone. Someday I'll suck it up and carry it, there's no excuse why I haven't other then confidence and stubbornness
 

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