need HELP findin perfect ammo for takin down tom; got pattern tests?

[winchestergirl]

i have a mossberg 500 super bantam.
its a 20 ga pump shotgun.
has a 3" chamber
22" barrel and fiber optic sight
x full choke
im needing some help finding the perfect ammo for taking home a tom successfully.
i need some advice on what i should get.
i want to stay between $5.99 and $40.99 for more than 5 shells per box.

i was lookin' for good range and a good, dense shot at em.
im also wondering if anyone has any turkey load pattern tests they can show me.
im hopin i can hear from someone who has a similar gun.


any suggestions?

[Turkeyman]

Is it a 23/4 or 3 gun? what choke?

[PA BEN]

My daughter shot and killed an 18lb tom with a REM. 20 ga, extra full turkey choke, 3" #5's at 50 yds. The gun had a red dot site on it. I use standard 12 ga, 3", #6's w/an extra full turkey choke. I also use a 12 ga muzzle loader with #4 shot. The muzzle loader doesn't reach out like a 3",12 ga. You can kill a tom at 50 yds every time w/ standard 3", # 6's. Of course you need to pattern your gun.


I shot these two in the same day, one w/my muzzle loader, other w/my 12 ga.

[BC CHASER]

Go out and buy a few boxes of different stuff and see what patterns best out of your gun.  Buy 4, 5 and sixes.

[Moose Eyes]

Go out and buy a few boxes of different stuff and see what patterns best out of your gun.  Buy 4, 5 and sixes.

[Grizzly95]

50 BMG   

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

arrows work quite well also

[huntnphool]

arrows work quite well also

+1

[mossback91]

arrows work quite well also

I tried to shoot an arrow out of my 20 gauge once and ti didnt work veyr good.....

[winchestergirl]

i aint needin no arrows
im needin shells. good shells. good ol' turkey loads.

[BC CHASER]

You need to buy several different brands and shot size go out and pattern your gun at 40 yards and see what patterns the best.  My brother and I shoot the same gun and choke but our loads pattern differenty.  So we use different loads. 

[Curly]

I would try something like these .........1 1/4 oz of 6's should do the trick.  Just pattern them and see how they do with your barrel/choke.

or these

PA Ben, those are some nice birds.  What kind of sight is that on your daughter's 870?

[Turkeyman]

Turkey targets are cheap. Try 5's & 6's in turkey loads.

[NWTFhunter]

It can not be stressed enough !  Each and every gun will not pattern the same shooting the same choke and same shells.  I own 2 870's and one likes Winchester shells better than the other.

Does your 20 ga have a fixed choke or removeable ?
you might try 5 different shells and find one that works well, then try a new choke and all that goes right out the window when you put that shell through the new choke.
Your going to spend some money in finding what works best with your gun.

If you have a fixed choke, your going to just shoot a lot of different shells til you find the one that has a tight pattern.

Is there a reason you shoot a 20ga ?
With a 20 you are somewhat restricted to yardage. I wouldnt personaly try a 50 yard shot as Paben stated with a 20.
I would safely say your good to 35 yards, but then again you need to pattern your gun and get the tightest pattern you can at the farthest range.

[PA BEN]

The bird was leaving and I told her to shoot it, found 5 pellets in the head. I've killed a lot of wild pigens in the tops of pine trees with that gun and load. The red dot site makes it more reliable. The site is a BSA red dot. The mount I got from Cabala's, two pins, and it's on.