Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Got a ?

Got a question for you turkey hunters. My son is invited to a NWTF youth turkey camp and hunt,as we are mostly rifle shooters,we have a 20 guage Franchi, with a modified choke. Will this gun be enough for turkeys or should I look into borrowing a gun with a full choke? I know we have to pattern the Franchi,but was looking for alittle advise. Thanks 1Longbow

rule of thumb is 100 pellets in a ten inch circle ( usually at 40 yards) is a good pattern to lean on. can less kill, yes but you want the odds on your side. some shells may do it for the 20 gauge but i would probably bet against it but again with the new era of shells its possible. i do know people that kill turkeys with 20 gauge so maybe you just need to get a choke ( if interchangeble chokes)

The 20 should be sufficient. Pattern it. Keep the shot close if your not happy with the pattern at a longer range. Then again I am always looking for an excuse to buy another gun!!!!

With the right choke and load a 20 gauge can be a solid 40 yard gun. That is sorta the new craze for turkey hunters. The smaller frame and lighter weight of a 20 gauge is appreciated on long hikes in rough country. My wife's little 870 Youth 23" barrel combined with an Indian Creek choke and some of the old Remington Hevi-Shot #5's consistently throws nice even 110 hits in 10" at 40 measured yards. That makes it a reliable 40 yard turkey gun. Her gun likes the #5's and just will not shoot the #6's well regardless of how many loads I try. That's ok, it does well enough with the #5's. I still cling to my 12 gauges, but she has no troubles knocking the snood off 'em with that little gun.

I shoot 20 ga 3" #5 fixed full choke. I keep shots 30 yards or less and the little 20 dumps toms as well as my 12 does within this range. Even if your 20 is 2 3/4 and modified choke, you should still have AT LEAST a 25 or 30 yard turkey gun. Pattern it and see what it shoots best. Shoot #6's if your 20 will pattern them well. Kept within limitations, the 20 ga is fine for turkeys. Good luck.

Any gun will work, but the effective range of your mod choke will be less than that of a gun with a optimized turkey choke/load combination.

If you want to stick with the mod choke, I would suggest you buy HTL turkey ammo. I have actually achieved solid patterns from fixed full and fixed mod pipes in the 20ga with HTL offerings.

There's nothing wrong with a kid using a more open choke. In fact, it's usually the best way to go and gives alittle more wiggle room in an intense situation. I strongly suggest you pattern the gun to see what the effective range will be. 80-100 hits in a 10" circle drawn after the shot will be your maximum effective range. Shoot large sheets of paper, 36" x 36" works well and allows you to find the core of the pattern and the point of impact as well. Many shotguns do not shoot true to the bead.

I would suggest the H13 #7 loads.

Good Luck

loder

The Federal Heavyweight with Flite Control might work well also through your factory fixed choke barrel.