Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting 24”, 20ga — what are my options

I am wanting a 20 gauge with 24” barrel, with a tapped receiver to accept a FF3. Will be shooting TSS. Other than the Affinity compact, what other models have these attributes? Prefer auto, would consider a pump.

Super X4
Super X4 Compact

why are you excluding 12 GA , i don't have any experience

Benelli M2 Youth. You’d have to have it drilled and tapped

Really no need to lug the extra weight around, anymore.

In the last decade or so, shotshell technology has enabled the 20 gauge to do in 2020 what no 12 gauge would do 15-20 years ago.

I started turkey hunting over 40 years ago with a 2 3/4" 12 gauge pump...…………..then a 3" 12 gauge pump...……….then a 3 1/2" 10 gauge pump...…...….then a couple 3 1/2" 12 gauge autos...……….and now a 3" 20 gauge single barrel.

Trying to save on weight. I do lots and lots of walking in some steep turkey woods. Plus, I already have a 12.

I have an M2 with a 26” bbl and have considered having it drilled and tapped. At the same time, I have a young son who will need a do-all short-LOP shotgun soon.

I’d never looked into the SX4. It’s interesting but also a full pound heavier than the Benelli, Franchi.

I'm a big fan of the Franchi Affinity. Made by Benelli, I think they handle and shoot every bit as good as other Benellis. I think I'm correct in saying the newer Affinity 3 is drilled and tapped. Not sure you can get a 24" barrel though. You could consider the Mossberg 500 Bantam or their newer semi-auto SA-20. I think both weight only 5.5 lbs and are drilled/tapped in the turkey version SA w/ 22" barrel. I've patterned TSS in a Bantam and it's just as impressive with a good choke like Trulock as my Franchi.

How much weight difference is in the 12ga version of what you're using now?

If saving weight is your biggest concern, why the 24" barrel and a semi auto?

The mossberg (don’t laugh) SA-20 Turkey version is set up with all that, but has a 22” tube. By all accounts, it’s a good 20ga semi. It may replace my 870 21” 20ga.....but it’s hard to part with that little hunk of junk, too.....it’s killed a lot of birds, and being a pump hasn’t cost me anything so far.

I'm not up on all the weight differences but have two buddies with the sx4 24" guns, they seem lighter than my sx3 and shoulder very well. If I was in the market I would handle one before buying anything else.
I think it all comes down to what feels right for you. There's a lot of nice 20 autos out now that will perform and pattern very well. Just decide on budget and get yours hands on a few to compare before buying.

Shell recommendations please. I bought one of the 21" 870 youth guns in 20 a few years ago. Love how easy it is to carry around, but even after adding an aftermarket extra full tube the patterns I've gotten aren't impressing me. I used it one year, never got a chance to use it and went back to my 12. I have an older 12 ga Benelli M-1 with 24" barrel. The gun is pretty light at 7 lbs and the 24" barrel is fairly compact. I'd feel good about a 40 yard shot with it, but the patterns I've gotten with the 20 don't look good past 15-20 yards.

I’ve killed birds as far as anyone needs to try with a 21” 870 20ga and various tungsten 6/7/8/9 loads. It’s been easy to pattern with those.

I think Tristar has a 24” 20ga semi, too....beretta design like the mossberg/weatherby.

JMR40, Try a Trulock, Carlson, or Sumtoy choke made for the specific type of shot you are shooting.

Mine likes hevi13 6’s, hevi13 7’s and the no longer made Federal MagShock 7’s. If I was starting over it’d be TSS #9’s in mine but I have 20 boxes of the old pre TSS loads so I’m set forever.


If you’re trying to lead shells to pattern from a 20 the. 30yds will pretty much top one out.

24 or shorter, I should say. Would entertain a pump, I suppose, just need drilled/tapped from mfg.

The SA-20 is interesting.

Huge vote for Sumtoy in a 20 gauge !!!!

We're shooting the (discontinued) Federal Heavyweight 7's through .562-5 Sumtoy tubes..........kicking ass and taking names. Along those lines and still in production are the Federal and Apex TSS offerings. On a budget...... Winchester Longboard XR's are BAD MEDICINE !!!

Regarding a well made 20 gauge pump, Ithaca offers a turkey shotgun as well as a standard wood stocked shotgun, either with 24" barrels.

24” o/u might be even better suited.

I tried the new Winchester 20 gauge pump last year with a Sumtoy choke and the Federal shells, FF3 red dot and was very pleasedwith it handling and those Federal shells do everything they say they will do