20ga turkey hunting?

[stromdahlc]

Hello, I am a new hunter. I am taking it slow getting into it, not rushing the process. I am working on my safety course right now and plan to hunt turkey in the spring.

I have a 20ga that I inherited. I would like to use it for cost saving purposes and the sentimental value of it. What are your thoughts? It will take a 2 3/4-3" cartridge.

[HillHound]

That will work. Get some 3 inch turkey loads and should be good to go. Go out and practice and see what your pattern looks like at 10 yard increments so you can get a good idea of max yardage that it’s still keeping a tight enough group to drop a turkey

[stromdahlc]

That will work. Get some 3 inch turkey loads and should be good to go. Go out and practice and see what your pattern looks like at 10 yard increments so you can get a good idea of max yardage that it’s still keeping a tight enough group to drop a turkey

Thanks. With turkey loads, will I need to use a choke? One of my friends who is an experienced duck hunter uses a modified choke.

[HillHound]

You might need to but I think if it were me I would see what kind of a pattern I had at 30-40 yards and decide if I thought I needed to tighten up the grouping with a modified choke or not. If you think you need one it sounds like I would talk to your duck hunting friend and get his opinion on what would work best for your specific gun

[Limhangerslayer]

That will work. Get some 3 inch turkey loads and should be good to go. Go out and practice and see what your pattern looks like at 10 yard increments so you can get a good idea of max yardage that it’s still keeping a tight enough group to drop a turkey

Thanks. With turkey loads, will I need to use a choke? One of my friends who is an experienced duck hunter uses a modified choke.

number one, don’t put 3” in a 2 3/4” gun.  If your gun accepts chokes get a turkey choke and try any 2 3/4” load you can find for it and pattern it. 

[Ridgeratt]

That will work. Get some 3 inch turkey loads and should be good to go. Go out and practice and see what your pattern looks like at 10 yard increments so you can get a good idea of max yardage that it’s still keeping a tight enough group to drop a turkey

If I read this correctly it says he has a 2 3/4 inch chamber.  Do not load any 3 inch shells in to it.
Realize that before they had 3 inch guns many turkey were kilt with standard shells.  But the folks using them called the birds in close.  If you get a bird under 30 yards and aim where the ugly stops and the pretty starts you will be successful.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Triple Beard.
It is a 20 gauge load that has 3 different shot sizes.
.
Put sights on weapon.
Shoot at a 20 yard target.
Shoot at a 25 yard target.
When pattern stars to become erratic, set your limit.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Shoot them in the head.

[Igor]

The initial post says 3" cartridge..............

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

No matter what you use, put sights on your weapon.
.
Pattern your load.
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Shoot them in the head.
.

[stromdahlc]

Perfect, yes it is 2 3/4" to 3". I first priority was verifying everyone's thoughts on even using a single shot 20ga for turkey. Now that I know it is OK for the prey, I will take the info here and also visit a couple gun shops to talk with folks there too. Thanks everyone!

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

As far as choke....
.
It's already built into the weapon.
It should say what it is on the barrel of the weapon.
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Unless you have threads on the muzzle.
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DO NOT FIRE WEAPON IF IT HAS THREADS ON MUZZLE, WITHOUT CHOKE INSTALLED.
.

[jrebel]

My kids kill turkey with a single shot break 20 gauge.  It has a fixed modified choke and shoots 3 inch shells.  It has a simple bead front site.  It kills them as dead as any other shotgun we use.   Head or neck shot.  Pattern, no your max effective range and get after it!! 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I see you are new.
We like pictures..
.
If you have an inherited piece..

Share some pictures...
.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

It is not why a man uses a tool, but how.
.
If what you have is what your going to use...
Make the best of it.
.
You say you are new...
.
Have not even finished the online course..
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Good luck on the turkeys....
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You are better off introducing yourself, looking through partner and huntswaps...
.
.
Welcome to the site..
.
.
Share a little about yourself.
.
Learn your chosen weapon.
.
If you make connections along the way..
.

[stromdahlc]

It is not why a man uses a tool, but how.
.
If what you have is what your going to use...
Make the best of it.
.
You say you are new...
.
Have not even finished the online course..
.
Good luck on the turkeys....
.
You are better off introducing yourself, looking through partner and huntswaps...
.
.
Welcome to the site..
.
.
Share a little about yourself.
.
Learn your chosen weapon.
.
If you make connections along the way..
.

Thanks, that is the idea. Take it slow and learn. I will get a pic up.

[stromdahlc]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Anything printed I right side of barrel?

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

All I see is proof tested.
That means..
.
NO STEEL SHOT, OPEN CHOKE.
.
To translate,
There is no choke, it spreads as soon as it leaves the muzzle.
.
Unless there are any other markings ,, like, open, mod, full cyl...
We can figure it is open..
.
But again.
.
Buy 6 boxes of the cheapest ammo you can find, and go shoot.
.
Get to k now your weapon.
.
Figure out your effective range ..

[Russ McDonald]

What I am seeing is a fixed choke so far.  Pattern your gun that is a huge thing.  20 gauge single shot is a great gun.

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[Russ McDonald]

All I see is proof tested.
That means..
.
NO STEEL SHOT, OPEN CHOKE.
.
To translate,
There is no choke, it spreads as soon as it leaves the muzzle.
.
Unless there are any other markings ,, like, open, mod, full cyl...
We can figure it is open..
.
But again.
.
Buy 6 boxes of the cheapest ammo you can find, and go shoot.
.
Get to k now your weapon.
.
Figure out your effective range ..

We were typing at that same time.  Besides s no steel that would also mean no TSS loads to.

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[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Yeah, that's what I see.
.
Straight pipe,
..
NO STEEL.
.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Russ

.
 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I been trying for an Eastern with my x2oo Damon Howatt and a Pearson Deadhead. ...ever since forever..
..

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Shotguns seem so easy. ...
.


But getting the shot is the hard part..
..

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

He said turkey..

[lewy]

You’ll be fine, I’ve taken plenty of youth out with 20 and even 410 and had good results 👍

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

He was weapon specific.
.
..
The best shooters are not always the best hunters..
.
The reason I got into archery was because of the season.
.
I grew to love it because of the history..


I grow because of the people I meet.
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Hunting is about building relationships, trust, and sharing.
.
The first time you kill.
Or the 50th....
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Memories are what you are after.

[The Gobble-stopper]

I looked the gun up.it says the designation for the choke would be in a little box, there will be * asteriks indicating what choke. One * equals a full choke, ** asteriks equal modified and so on down the line. Some may simply be marked with a number, starting with a 1 meaning full, 2 meaning modified and so on! Hope this helps.

[The Gobble-stopper]

You can also use a micrometer on the barrel to find out choke size. The internet will give you parameters for each choke size, per guage.