Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on February 14, 2014, 10:50:11 AM

Title: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on February 14, 2014, 10:50:11 AM: 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. :dunno:
Most likely wont be hunting waterfowl...
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: dawei on February 14, 2014, 11:10:23 AM: 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.
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on February 14, 2014, 02:27:44 PM: Asking seller, it is a Mossberg model 185k-a 20gauge bolt action...
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on February 14, 2014, 02:39:48 PM: 2 3/4 inch
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: oneshot12 on February 14, 2014, 03:37:33 PM: :tup: 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 :twocents:
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: Gobble Doc on February 14, 2014, 04:25:33 PM: My last bird was with a 20 ga and Pb shot. No problem.
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: Hangfire on February 16, 2014, 06:37:24 AM: 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.
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 07:38:20 AM: 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... :chuckle:
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: PA BEN on February 16, 2014, 08:00:44 AM: Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 07:38:20 AM
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... :chuckle:
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs276%2FPABEN07%2F1.jpg&hash=cf152a4baf61d117eafa4bfc9b69241f8f425ab4) (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/PABEN07/media/1.jpg.html)
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 10:37:38 AM: Quote from: PA BEN on February 16, 2014, 08:00:44 AM
Quote from: Heredoggydoggy on February 16, 2014, 07:38:20 AM
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... :chuckle:
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.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs276%2FPABEN07%2F1.jpg&hash=cf152a4baf61d117eafa4bfc9b69241f8f425ab4) (http://s154.photobucket.com/user/PABEN07/media/1.jpg.html)

Some areas where the game dept. releases Pheasants they have posted "steel shot only" in that area. Soon the "greenies" will control everything!
Title: Re: older 20 gauge not "steel shot" capable use Turkey loads ?
Post by: dawei on February 16, 2014, 10:39:56 AM: 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.