Wondering if 20 gauge is ok for Turkey Hunt?

[retafshooter]

I'm getting ready to do my first Turkey hunt and I'm wondering if my Mossy 20 gauge will drop a turkey at, say 25 yards? Anyone have experience with 20 gauge for turkey hunting? I've been practicing at the AGC patterning range with both my 12 gauge and my 20 gauge. Here is a video of the Mossy 20 gauge:

 

[outrider58]

As long as you are getting tight shot patterns in the kill zone with adequate shot size, have at it. I'm working in a dungeon right now and could not watch your video.

 

[Doctor_M]

Agree with outrider... should be OK.

 

[justsand]

Gtg just test some loads and chokes

 

[fabsroman]

The 20 gauge will be fine as long as you know your effective distance and stick to it while hunting. The 20 gauge will just have less effective range than a 12 gauge because of pattern degredation, or you will really have to be throwing one heck of a tight pattern that will make shooting anything up close really tough.

 

[jimbobborg]

or you will really have to be throwing one heck of a tight pattern that will make shooting anything up close really tough.

This is why I have a red dot sight on my turkey shotgun.

 

[K31]

I've done it. Get 3" magnum loads with No. 4 shot.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Sure. Just as for 12ga ( or whatever) pattern your gun and loads , and shoot within your limits.

 

[fabsroman]

Sure. Just as for 12ga ( or whatever) pattern your gun and loads , and shoot within your limits.

Have to shoot within the gun's limits too. Pretty sure I can hold steady to 100 yards, but the shotgun needs to be able to throw a tight enough pattern at 100 yards to kill the bird.

Then again, I guess "shoot within your limits" could encompass the limits of both the hunter's ability and the hunter's equipment. I need sleep.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Opps , my bad. "Your Limits" is intended to represent the cumulative limits of the equipment AND the shooter.

 

[BigDaddy]

Old African Proverb: "Use enough gun"
Turkeys don't come my way, that close, nearly as often as I would like.

 

[Mike3888]

I've done it. Get 3" magnum loads with No. 4 shot.

That's the ticket.

 

[retafshooter]

I've done it. Get 3" magnum loads with No. 4 shot.

Ok, I got some 3" Magnum #4 shot (Kent Ultimate Diamond): This should do the trick:

 

[midnightSGT]

Yep the Kent is vicious. Stay inside 30 yards for best results. Dont forget at 10 yards
your basiclly shooting a rifle shot is very tight easy to miss.