20 Gauge Turkey Loads

[Mossberg500Guy]

I was wondering what type of turkey loads other hunters prefer that use a 20 Gauge (if you use other gauge feel free to leave comment) I've tried Winchester Double x and Remington Nitro with poor results 10 pellets head/neck area at 30 yards, I'm gonna try a new choke and gonna try out Federal Premium High Velocity Turkey loads, never could bring my self to spend 20$+ on Hevi-shot.

[growalot]

I can't help you...use both out of my Mossberg with great results...

[phade]

30 seems to be the max with both of those loads in a 20g 500 we use too.

Id probably try to find the most shot i could in a load sine you dont want to move to heavier loads.

[Buckmaster7600]

The 20$ a box for the hevi shot is worth it to me they kill like nothing I have ever used before.and I have yet to see them not pattern well with any of my guns.

Edited December 20, 2015 by Buckmaster7600

[turkeyfeathers]

Spend the $ on the Heavi mag blends ! You only shoot once or maybe twice a season. First shot is with daughters youth Remmington 20 gauge with Jelly head tube at 30 yards. I pattern guns to hit head and neck with bottom of the densest part of pattern. I hate crunchies. Second target is 40 yards. These turkey loads are outstanding

Edited December 20, 2015 by turkeyfeathers

[Mossberg500Guy]

I'm getting a new choke and I'll give the Win XX and Rem Nitro shot another run, last year i saw some Federal Turkey Thugs, has anyone else tried these? Also gonna try the Federal Premium High Velocity Turkey Loads.

[turkeyfeathers]

Suit yourself IMO. Should spend the money you're going to spend on a choke and buy Heavi Mag Blends instead but hey what do we know  I killed quite a few birds with Winchester XX and never looked back after switching to Mag Blends.

[Mossberg500Guy]

Mag Blends Haven't been around forever, Lead works.

[turkeyfeathers]

Mag Blends Haven't been around forever, Lead works.

And Remington Sluggers have also killed a lot of deer. How many still use them with the performance of higher standard sabots/slugs today?  Nevermind, you asked for our opinion and choose not to value it.  Not saying lead won't kill em dead but there's better alternatives for velocity, pattern density, range and energy. Tool around on Oldgobbler.com for awhile and ask around.

[Buckmaster7600]

Yes lead kills and has for many years. Myself as well as others on here have been on the same road you are and spent the money on chokes and box after box of other shells and ended up with hevi shot for a reason. If I knew then what I know now I would have bought the hevi to begin with and I would have saved money. I tried the turkey thugs and they didn't pattern well out of my 500 or 870 20ga with the jelly head or carlsons that I have.

[ATbuckhunter]

Honestly I hate to spend money too but its worth buying the hevi-shot. I doubt you'll be target shooting with them so youll only use maybe a shell or 2 per season so it comes out alright. If you look carefully, you'll find some hevi shot on sale or with a rebate. I got like 20 bucks off 4 boxes of turkey hevi-shot and so far I only used 2 to sight in and I still have a bunch left for next season. 

[growalot]

I think I read, some time ago...So correct me if I'm wrong...Hevi shot can damage a barrel over time?....

[ATbuckhunter]

I think I read, some time ago...So correct me if I'm wrong...Hevi shot can damage a barrel over time?....

Maybe with the older barrels but from what I read they're perfectly fine to use on today's barrels. 

[Buckmaster7600]

If you use 2-3 shells to pattern that's still only a box a year. What cost 20$ that lasts you a year in this sport?

[Mossberg500Guy]

You can never know how many shells you need for practice, saying "3 shots is all you need" is unethical, you need to know your effective range and be comfortable with those ranges and 3 shell will not accomplish that unless you only have one range, pellet count and placement can vary on chokes and ranges.

[WNY Bowhunter]

Federal Heavyweight #7s

[Mossberg500Guy]

And Remington Sluggers have also killed a lot of deer. How many still use them with the performance of higher standard sabots/slugs today? Nevermind, you asked for our opinion and choose not to value it. Not saying lead won't kill em dead but there's better alternatives for velocity, pattern density, range and energy. Tool around on Oldgobbler.com for awhile and ask around.

I never said i didn't value anyone's advise, i already stated i didn't want to spend a lot on 5 shells, i did ask what you prefer but i was simply asking just to see what others like for lead loads.

And actually the Remington Sluggers are all i use for deer hunting and are very effective out to 70 yards (or more never tested) I've killed lots of deer with them and tagged 2 this year with just Rem Sluggers

Edited December 20, 2015 by Mossberg500Guy

[Larry]

hey turkeyfeathers I use the same combo both kids have gone to a 12ga and now I use the 20

[Buckmaster7600]

You can never know how many shells you need for practice, saying "3 shots is all you need" is unethical, you need to know your effective range and be comfortable with those ranges and 3 shell will not accomplish that unless you only have one range, pellet count and placement can vary on chokes and ranges.

That's why I said "IF" you use 2-3. I have never shot a turkey over 25 yds and don't plan on it. If I shoot a couple 15 and like what I see I'll shoot at 25 then I know I'm good. In my opinion if your shooting much over 25 you shouldn't be using a 20ga and any of the turkey loads will kill at that range but in my 15 years of killing 40-45 turkeys I have found nothing that kills them like the Hevi's. I still buy a couple boxes of the new stuff that comes out and haven't found one that tops them yet. I would love to see winchester make the long beard for the 20's because they patter very well in my 12 but haven't killed a bird with them yet as I almost always carry my little 20's.

Edited December 20, 2015 by Buckmaster7600

[Buckmaster7600]

hey turkeyfeathers I use the same combo both kids have gone to a 12ga and now I use the 20

My old trusty 870 youth 20 with a slip on recoil pad for a little extra length of pull is my go 2 and has been since I was 12. Have a lot of other "turkey guns" and none are as much fun to carry as the youth 20.

[Buckmaster7600]

On a side note if your getting another choke I have tried a lot and nothing has worked as well with the Carlsons.

[Mossberg500Guy]

That's why I said "IF" you use 2-3. I have never shot a turkey over 25 yds and don't plan on it. If I shoot a couple 15 and like what I see I'll shoot at 25 then I know I'm good. In my opinion if your shooting much over 25 you shouldn't be using a 20ga and any of the turkey loads will kill at that range but in my 15 years of killing 40-45 turkeys I have found nothing that kills them like the Hevi's. I still buy a couple boxes of the new stuff that comes out and haven't found one that tops them yet. I would love to see winchester make the long beard for the 20's because they patter very well in my 12 but haven't killed a bird with them yet as I almost always carry my little 20's.

[Mossberg500Guy]

I've killed my 3 birds with Win XX and Rem Nitro my shots are limited to 30 or less yards, and I'm sure that the lead loads have the same results at 30 yards (dead birds), was looking at least to get out to 45 yards but probably wont be able to unless i spend the money for Hevi loads, agree wish the Long Beards were in 20 gauge heard they have awesome performance in 12 ga.

[Buckmaster7600]

45yds with a 20ga??

[Pygmy]

Geeze, 7600...You are going to a lot of effort and expense for choke tubes and loads if you don't shoot past 25 yards.

 

You can kill the biggest gobblers on the planet all day long at 25 yards with skeet or trap loads.

 

If I limited myself to 25 yards, I'd never use any shot heavier than 7 1/2s and no choke tighter than Improved cylinder.

 

I realize that you are a marksman and no doubt have nerves of steel, but most of us mere mortals would be handicapping ourselves shooting such tight chokes at such close ranges. I personally like them around 35-40 yards...Still within sure kill range, but far enough out so that the pattern spread can  help counteract the adrenaline factor.