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I'm looking to pack the 20ga. for turkey this year and was wondering about optimal choke constriction. I see a lot of turkey chokes at .565 but some are as tight as .555 or more open like .580. I'm leaning towards one in the middle, .565, and not worry too much more about it. Right now I'm shooting lead. Any reason to not just roll with the .565? BTW, shotty is a Benelli M2, so Crio choke, if that makes a difference.
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My 870 Youth shoots the best with a .570. Ive tried .550, .555, .560, 562, and 570. I shoot the old Federal heavyweight 7’s.
With lead the best patterns I got would have topped out at 32-35yds with Federal 3” 6’s. Winchester 4’s and 5’s were 25-30yd shells from my gun.
Last edited by Bearcat74; 04/30/20.
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All depends on what load and shot size u plan on shooting. That will give u a good baseline as far as choke and constriction!
Roy
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All depends on what load and shot size u plan on shooting. That will give u a good baseline as far as choke and constriction!
Roy It also depends upon the bore size of the gun in question. Not all shotguns of a given gauge have the same interior bore size. As an example, let's say a guy with a Browning says use .XYZ" choke. In his gun .XYZ" created ..050" constriction . But in your Benelli a choke of .XYZ" is .060" constriction from your bore and the information is at best is useless and at worst potentially dangerous. Apple's to Apple's means knowing the amount of constriction from any given bore size.
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Thanks for the responses. The ammo I've got on hand is: Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 1 1/4oz. #6 Kent Ultimate Diamond 1 1/4oz. #5 Hornady Heavy Mag Turkey 1 3/8oz. #5 Would be open to getting something else but availability is currently limited. Hopefully I can make one of these 3 work!
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Can you shoot hevi steel through a full choke?
Last edited by bluefish; 05/01/20.
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Can you shoot hevi steel through a full choke? I think most factory chokes say no steel, though some aftermarket full chokes are ok with steel.
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Thanks for the responses. The ammo I've got on hand is: Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 1 1/4oz. #6 Kent Ultimate Diamond 1 1/4oz. #5 Hornady Heavy Mag Turkey 1 3/8oz. #5 Would be open to getting something else but availability is currently limited. Hopefully I can make one of these 3 work! Surely, SURELY you can somehow find a box of Winchester Longbeards somewhere........... I've patterned a PILE of guns and chokes and shells in 10, 12 and 20 gauges. Other than the Longbeards, you're looking at 30-35 yards, max with lead in a 20. Additionally, the 3 shells you listed above (along with Remington Nitro's) are the very TOP of my list for stuff I'd shoot at crows and little else. None of the three (4 including the Remingtons) have kept pace with turkey load technology. We're running the old skool Federal Heavy 7's in our 20's through .562-5" tubes.
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Nothing else a .555-.570 and some hevi13 6’s or 7’s. My gun with go 110-125 with 6’s and 120-130 with 7’s
I tried longbeards 6’s from my 20 and I don’t think it broke 70 in the 10” at 42yds. Everyone else seems to have good luck with them though.
The old Fed heavyweight 7’s are crushers.
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I've started putting a 20ga. turkey gun together, it's a Rem 870 youth. I have a Knoxx Blackhawk adjustable stock for it, the model with the recoil absorption feature, Burris FF3 (3MOA dot) on a SpeadBead mount, Volquatsen Exact Edge extractor, Wilson Combat oversized safety button and Wolff spring upgrades. Why? Because I can! LOL! After some reading and poking around, I'm going to start with a TruGlo Head-Banger .565" choke tube and Winchester LongBeard XR 3" 1 1/4oz. #5 turkey loads. Found a deal, a while back, on the Winchester shells from Target Sports, good sale price with free shipping on a case of 10 boxes. The HeadBanger choke tube features straight rifling to stop wad rotation, we'll see. But it certainly is interesting to see the "evolution" of gear and components since I started hunting turkey's back in the late 70's.
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I have a straight rifled 12 gauge turkey tube. Throws the best #4 & #5 2 ounce patterns i have shot from a couple different 870 guns.
I think it is a real concept that never caught on.
Be interesting to see your results.
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I found a Hastings wad-lock barrel for my buddies 12ga. 870, throws incredible patterns. Looking forward to seeing how the 20ga. set-up does and I'll post my results.
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Thanks for the responses. The ammo I've got on hand is: Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 1 1/4oz. #6 Kent Ultimate Diamond 1 1/4oz. #5 Hornady Heavy Mag Turkey 1 3/8oz. #5 Would be open to getting something else but availability is currently limited. Hopefully I can make one of these 3 work! Surely, SURELY you can somehow find a box of Winchester Longbeards somewhere........... I've patterned a PILE of guns and chokes and shells in 10, 12 and 20 gauges. Other than the Longbeards, you're looking at 30-35 yards, max with lead in a 20. Additionally, the 3 shells you listed above (along with Remington Nitro's) are the very TOP of my list for stuff I'd shoot at crows and little else. None of the three (4 including the Remingtons) have kept pace with turkey load technology. We're running the old skool Federal Heavy 7's in our 20's through .562-5" tubes. I'll see what I can find, hopefully the sporting goods stores around here open back up on tuesday since we can hunt and fish then. Going out for a few days this upcoming week and I'm taking the 12, since I know it works. Will work on the 20 project and hopefully take it later this month. Appreciate the info fellas!
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ryoushi, where are you located? In the off chance we're anywhere close. I have 10 boxes of Winchester Long Beard #5's and will/can get you a couple if feasible.
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I think maybe sometimes there's just too many choices. Kinda like a kid staring down the candy aisle and just cannot decide.
I shoot a stock, mid 50's model 870, 20a, full choke. I've never ever worried about, nor had any issues with the choke pattern. I've got a pretty good idea what it's range is and I play accordingly.
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ryoushi, where are you located? In the off chance we're anywhere close. I have 10 boxes of Winchester Long Beard #5's and will/can get you a couple if feasible. I'm in north Puget Sound, not really turkey country. I much appreciate the offer!
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Haha! Long way from NE Illinois! Best to you in your quest!
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Try some TSS in the 20 ga, that will flatten a gobbler. Expensive though, but you don't shoot 100 rounds a year at turks.
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ryoushi, I have a Benelli M2 dedicated turkey shotgun that I mounted an FF3 on. Spent more money than I would care to speak about trying to get the best patterns. The best I found was a Sumtoy .568 there was another that I will have to check for you it's in the shotgun right now at the camp. Probably tried about ten choke tubes and your on the right track if you can find one at .565 that should be good. If you want to try some of the ones I have send me a PM we can make an arrangement.
I settled on a load with 7TSS and as stated above it really slams a gobbler anything inside 35 is down without much movement at all Hevi shot magnum blend was good as well. I also have a lot of different shot shells I guess they could be mailed though not sure.
Good luck and shoot straight y'all
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If you want a super hot core 555 but they can be more finikey to shell selection. 565 is a good middle of the row. If I was ordering it would be Indian creek, sumtoy, then jelly head in that order
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