20 gauge same as 12 gauge?

Fox ; You are right about overkill at 15 yards, that would take his head clean off but most birds are out further in the field as I'm usually tucked in the scrub at the edge of it . I have some pre-set spots to shoot from but one must be adaptable because every hunt is different, As for 20 or 12 gauge ? It's the shooters choice what he/she feels comfortable with in my opinion. Practice ,practice , practice ! If you shoot from a pop up blind … practice shooting from it . If you sit on the ground against a tree... practice the same way. Of course put out targets at various distances and angles to simulate a hunt.

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Originally Posted by longpointer

Fox ; You are right about overkill at 15 yards, that would take his head clean off but most birds are out further in the field as I'm usually tucked in the scrub at the edge of it . I have some pre-set spots to shoot from but one must be adaptable because every hunt is different, As for 20 or 12 gauge ? It's the shooters choice what he/she feels comfortable with in my opinion. Practice ,practice , practice ! If you shoot from a pop up blind … practice shooting from it . If you sit on the ground against a tree... practice the same way. Of course put out targets at various distances and angles to simulate a hunt.

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Yep, if you put the pellets in the right spot it does not matter the size of the shotgun. A 1/2oz load of #6 from a 410 will kill a turkey as dead as a 10ga 3 1/2" load, but the effective range is not there. 20ga vs 12ga, some will pattern the 20ga to the same effective range as the 12ga, some will not.

I always laugh when people say you need the larger bore or the longer hull because pellets from the smaller gauge will bounce off, ha ha ha ha, the physics of the pellet does not change, just the number of them.

Ya, 15 yards overkill, if your hunting spot only allows for 15 yards of shooting then there is no reason for a 50 yard effective range, heck, I almost missed a jake at 10 yards with an extra full choked 3 1/2" 12ga load, was a very tight pattern and the bird moved while I was shooting, clipped the back of its neck rather than a centered shot.

I'd say half of my 30+ birds have been taken with a 20 ga. 870 3 inch Winchester #6 out of a primos jellyhead choke. I did have issues finding a load that patterned good. My longest turkey kill was 40 yards with this gun and I misjudged the distance, thought it was closer. Its a great advantage in my opinion to carry the 20. Where I hunt its nothing to put 5 km on the boots in a single turkey hunt trying to locate birds. The gun is smaller, it carries lighter which makes a difference in my opinion.

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Originally Posted by toddy

I'd say half of my 30+ birds have been taken with a 20 ga. 870 3 inch Winchester #6 out of a primos jellyhead choke. I did have issues finding a load that patterned good. My longest turkey kill was 40 yards with this gun and I misjudged the distance, thought it was closer. Its a great advantage in my opinion to carry the 20. Where I hunt its nothing to put 5 km on the boots in a single turkey hunt trying to locate birds. The gun is smaller, it carries lighter which makes a difference in my opinion.

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Same set-up here!

I also have a red-dot on my 20guage. Put that red dot on the sweet spot and it's winner-winner Turkey dinner! :)

Interesting discussion but with the new TSS shot it changes things as far as shot size versus effective range. Look up kenetic energy formula for the answers. For us in Ontario it doesn't matter as we have a minimum #7 shot size restriction. TC

Little bit off topic but with 20 gauge slug guns becoming very popular has anyone used one of the Savage bolt action turkey shotgun? And if so what were your thoughts?

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Originally Posted by Fox

Yep, if you put the pellets in the right spot it does not matter the size of the shotgun. A 1/2oz load of #6 from a 410 will kill a turkey as dead as a 10ga 3 1/2" load, but the effective range is not there. 20ga vs 12ga, some will pattern the 20ga to the same effective range as the 12ga, some will not.

I always laugh when people say you need the larger bore or the longer hull because pellets from the smaller gauge will bounce off, ha ha ha ha, the physics of the pellet does not change, just the number of them.

Ya, 15 yards overkill, if your hunting spot only allows for 15 yards of shooting then there is no reason for a 50 yard effective range, heck, I almost missed a jake at 10 yards with an extra full choked 3 1/2" 12ga load, was a very tight pattern and the bird moved while I was shooting, clipped the back of its neck rather than a centered shot.

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No such thing as "overkill" with a turkey load. Dead is dead as long as your shooting them in the head.
Know what you gun does at longer distances, just in case you need to go long and have been to the range to be confident at that distance

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Originally Posted by smokin'stoegie

No such thing as "overkill" with a turkey load. Dead is dead as long as your shooting them in the head.
Know what you gun does at longer distances, just in case you need to go long and have been to the range to be confident at that distance

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Or you can put yourself into a position so that you have to have them in close enough for a shot.

Last turkey was shot with a 16ga 1 1/8oz of #6 shot, an upland load. I plan on getting on with a 1920s Win 1897 if I bother turkey hunting again in the future.

If overkill was not a thing then 10ga would be more popular, the thing is, that is not the case. 20ga is becoming more popular and in some states the lowly 410 with #7 TSS shot is being used for turkeys, you just have to have enough pellets, you don't need 500 pellets to the brain to kill a turkey.