Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Federal 20 Guage Turkey Thug Shells

Anybody use them? Several years ago, I was in Walmart after turkey season was over, and saw them marked down to like $5 a box. I bought 5 boxes in number 5 shot, and have killed a few birds with them. They shot okay, and I hate not to use them up. Just wondered what others thought of them.

I've never used them but i would say if you've killed a few birds with them why wouldn't you finish using them up??

My gun didn't care for them.


For the 20 gauge nothing factory made hangs with the Fed #7's so that's where my money is spent.



If you've had luck with them then keep on keeping on.

I love the slim and trim little 20's for turkey hunting, especially now that I'm getting long in the tooth. But, I've never had one that will pattern with the various 12's I've had. Now, and I'll say beforehand that I'll probably catch some flack on this, but I refuse to shoot those high dollar shells and I won't use shot smaller than #5 in a 20 guage. I have a pair of 20's, and 870 and an 11-87, both youth models. I use an Indian Creek choke mostly, and have Remington turkey chokes, Hevi-Shot choke, and H.S. Strut chokes also in 20 that I've tried. While I've killed turkeys with no problem with the 20's, I've still never been totally happy with the patterns. I've tied a bunch of different shells too....Winchester, Remington, Federal, Kent, and Hevi-Shot, in 4, 5, and 6 shot. On the flip side, I have Winchester 1300 Turky Gun in a 3 inch 12 that throws the best pattern I've ever seen, using Winchester Supreme's. I shot be completely happy using that gun, and not give a second thought to the anything else. But, like I said, I love packing those little 20 gauges, and I'm determined to stick with them. I just wish I could find a combination that I was happy with. I know, I being stubborn by not "broadening my horizon" and trying other shells or choke combinations.

No flack from me, but I do have a question.


Why won't you shoot anything smaller than #5's from a 20 gauge? A #6 from a 20 gauge at X velocity has the exact same killing potential as a #6 from a 12 gauge.


As to the high priced shells. You have probably spent over $100 on chokes and probably over $100 more on ammo and I'd say you've not seen a real difference in patterns with lead in the 20 gauge. For $20 a box you can order good ammo and out shoot a 12 gauge with lead. The money you've put into chokes and lead ammo would probably buy quite a few boxes of Fed 7's


Here is a $9 Primos Tightwad choke and a Federal #7. 132 in a 10" circle and 218 in a 16" circle @ 42yds.




I ordered a new Colonial Arms .570 choke and shot this the other day. 145 in the 10" and 226 in the 16"

you can't say thug!!!!! ;0

I couldn't find any in 20ga but I've bagged several birds with my 12ga and the 3" number 6.
They shoot really good for me.