Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting 12 or 20?

I have a dilemma... when do you say the heck with it and just stay with a 20 gauge?

I have a pair of Franchi affinities in 12 & 20 set up with Burris FF3's because they have great triggers and I drank the red dot Kool-Aid. The 20 was bought when I had a shoulder injury and I have yet to take a bird with it.

Using TSS to get a dense pattern isn't a problem for me because hunting federal land requires non-toxic shot. The upgrade to TSS is the cost of a drink at a bar to me...

I figured the 6 pound 20 would become my old age gun, but I'm thinking it may become my primary now. I have a pile of 12 gauge heavishot to use up though.

Igniting those 2 oz 12 gauge loads can be brutal.

Take the plunge and convert?
Any performance reasons not to?

Went through this a number of years ago. Only time the 12 goes now are when I’m taking a friend who doesn’t have a turkey gun( I use it as the backup). Every once in a while I carry it for nostalgia lol

I say convert and don’t look back!

Single shot NEF 20 ga. Federal Flite control #6 or #7--- 40 yds.+ if needed.. no thought of going back to 12 ga.----
--- running and gunning = about 19 paces average kill shot.

Recoil with tss 1 5/8 oz and up will be considerable as well. That being said, there are some good recipes out there for 1 1/8 oz and up. My 11 year old daughter shoots 1 3/8 oz out of a 20 affinity. Plenty of range and density still for 40 yard shots or more. Buy 9’s and don’t look back. Fox trot is a good company to buy from.

I too only carry the 12 for nostalgia purposes

Switched to a 20 this year. Tired of carrying the big 12ga shooting 3 1/2” shells. I think fully loaded my 12 weighs 13#. My 20 weighs 6#. My boys kill birds every year using the 20 with Hevi-Shot Blend.

I pretty much use a 20 exclusively these days, but do carry my first real turkey shotgun sometimes for the sake of nostalgia......a Winchester 1300 Turkey special. It's a 3 inch 12 gauge, and will still pattern better than any shotgun I've ever shot. I use a 20 because of the lighter weight guns and less recoil. However, if something happened and I had to kill a turkey........or else, I'd probably choose the 12.

I’ve only used a 20 for 6-7 years now.

Have a 20ga O/U on layaway. Not sure if I’m going to get it out for this season or not, because I also have a .410 to try out. Already have a bunch of TSS for both. Reviews say the .410 is good to 35-40 yards, the 20 to 50. Both are a pound or more lighter than my 12.

Ive got an SBE2 12ga and an M2 20ga set up identically. I set up the M2 for my son a few years ago. Both have been coated/dipped with Burris FF3s mounted.

I planned to switch to the 20 full time this year but have decided instead to use up the Federal 12ga turkey shells I have. When they are gone I may sell the SBE2

The M2 20 with red dot is about a perfect turkey gun. That said, I’ve got an urge to see if a CZ Bobwhite All Terrain S/S 20ga could work. May give it a try next time I have some down time but concerned about the barrel hitting to the same POI or close enough

If your recoil sensitive and want a real challenge go to a 410ga and some TSS, I know a good turkey hunter who went to this combo a few years back because of shoulder surgery and he loves it....Hb

Your 12ga turkey shotgun weighs 13+ pounds?...all I can say to that is Wow!!....Hb

Instead of buying a new gun----Why not try 2 3/4" shells. You could even go to 1 1/4 oz pheasant loads.

I've been using my Remington 870 that can only shoot 2 3/4" shells. They work just fine.

I bought a new M2 20 gauge with a 24 in barrel to hunt with this spring, Sumtoy.562 and tss 9 shot .

What model 20 gauge OU?

I have the guns now, but I could have shot lighter 12 loads instead of buying the 20 gauge.

Impulsive gun buying got me when I made up a reason... The 20 gauge franchi was a light grouse gun for the wife or turkey gun for me. It will probably stay a turkey gun now the red dot is installed and my wife doesn't come grouse hunting much. She can use my SXS 20.

True enough. But switching 12 gauge loads doesn't lessen the weight or bulk of the actual gun itself. A good 20 gauge will be a pound lighter and enough smaller physically to be appreciated by run and gun hill top hunters at days end.

The poi can be adjusted by filing chokes.

I have a 410 sxs that I have been setting up. I have 2 Indian Creek chokes in it. It shoots great. I’m currently at the stage where I want to install a middle bead and a sling. May not get a chance to hunt it this year.

CZ Redhead Premier All Terrain. Oogly as a toad, but good features for a turkey gun: Cerakote, swivel studs, knurled tubes, SEs, mechanical trigger. Magnets hold the shells if you tilt the barrels up. 6.9lbs with28” barrels. I like being able to load and unload quietly too.

BTW, I just bought an Affinity 3 Compact for my grandson’s birthday.

I read a review of the 12 gauge version of this by Ron Spomer in American hunter and thought it would be sweet for turkey hunting in 20 gauge... I didn't know they made a 20 gauge version and I'll research it... if I need an excuse for another shotgun.

I like the two choke selection concept. Actually think a two trigger gun would be best.

FYI - there's a turkey hunter on you tube named Dave Owens that runs the same affinity. You have chosen wisely.

Been watching Owens a lot lately. Was glad to hear from my son that the Franchi is drilled and tapped, a big bonus.

My CZ is the steel-framed one. Spomer did a lightweight, at least on YouTube. I figured the extra weight would be good for the heavy loads, plus the Redhead has selective ejectors instead of extractors. Since the triggers are mechanical and the selector is on the safety, I can do a single trigger. Doubles are rare on O/Us here IME anyway.

Nothing like a premium, cheap cigar, right?