older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Might have found a cheep 20 for my daughter to hunt Turkeys with, but as it is old, and has a variable choke, not for use with steel shot.
been looking at "heavy-shot" loads, and others...
what do you think ?
should I pass ?
the only other option I have found only comes in Modified Cylinder, cost to add choke is not worth it, I would just spend the money on a better gun if I could afford it. 
Most likely wont be hunting waterfowl...

[dawei]

Is the gun w/ a 2¾" or 3" chamber? There are OUTSTANDING Pb LOADs available for turkey hunting with a 20ga. Once I know the chamber length I can give you some very good 20ga recommendations.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Asking seller, it is a Mossberg model 185k-a 20gauge bolt action...

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

 2 3/4 inch

[oneshot12]

  friends wife uses 2 3/4 # 4 shot  in her  20 ga single shot.  she hasn't had any problems getting a turkey on the ground thus far   

[Gobble Doc]

My last bird was with a 20 ga and Pb shot.  No problem. 

[Hangfire]

A 20 gauge 2 3/4 with 6 shot in my wife's old Savage dropped a gobbler. A friends daughter also uses the same. Number 6 shot has a denser pattern, more shot. The important thing is to pattern the gun and shoot within the limits of the pattern whether it is 15 yards or 30 yards.

[Heredoggydoggy]

The only alternative to steel shot for older "non-lead" guns is Bismuth shot loads.  They are expensive, but for hunting, you only need one... 

[PA BEN]

The only alternative to steel shot for older "non-lead" guns is Bismuth shot loads.  They are expensive, but for hunting, you only need one... 

Why would you want to use steel or a steel substitute for turkeys? Until they make it mandatory use lead. BTW, my daughter dropped a tom at 50 yds using a Rem. mod. 870 youth 20 gauge, 3" #5's w/a red dot site and ultra full turkey choke.

[Heredoggydoggy]

The only alternative to steel shot for older "non-lead" guns is Bismuth shot loads.  They are expensive, but for hunting, you only need one... 

Why would you want to use steel or a steel substitute for turkeys? Until they make it mandatory use lead. BTW, my daughter dropped a tom at 50 yds using a Rem. mod. 870 youth 20 gauge, 3" #5's w/a red dot site and ultra full turkey choke.

Some areas where the game dept. releases Pheasants they have posted "steel shot only" in that area.  Soon the "greenies" will control everything!

[dawei]

Two 20ga 2¾" Pb loads for Turkey I would recommend are.....
• Federal® Wing-Shok 20ga 2¾" Magnum 1175fps 1⅛oz Cu plated #4, 6Pb (#P256)
• Federal® Wing-Shok 20ga 2¾" 1oz 1350fps Cu plated #4, 5, 6Pb (#PF204)

Tighten the C-Lect™ choke down as tight as it will go, (Full or XFull).

Conventional Wisdom dictates the use of smaller shot, e.g. #6 in the 20ga because of limited capacity vs 12ga. It is all about what that individual gun will pattern the best however. In my 20ga Mossberg® I use Wincheste®r Supreme® #4Pb, while my son's 20ga gun does with Federal® Mag-Shok™ #5Pb with the Flitecontrol® wad.