Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Sub 12ga thread

20ga is as sub 12ga as I can legally go and this will be my first time ever using something smaller than a 12ga. Looking forward to it.

Fed #9 TSS Henry SS w/Henry (Briley) Turkey choke @40 yards



Brenneke Slugs @ 50 yards Skeet choke

Well the TSS 410 shells came late yesterday. Now to convince myself to shoot a $6 shell at a piece of paper. Yeah, I know the shells are the cheapest part of the hunt.

I just shot some #9 Fed TSS from my new 410 with a .385 Comp-N-Choke. Wind was gusting and it was raining but at 42yds I got 107 and then 111 in a 10” circle. I have some Browning tss ordered since I can’t find the Federals.



I don’t know if this 410 will replace my 870 youth 20 and Federal 7’s but it’s sure going to see some time in the woods.

Best to do it. Your POI may be different than with other loads/chokes. Mine shoots a bit low at 40, but it’s easily compensated for with the prism sight. Other than Turkey season, I’m keeping the Skeet tube in for use with the slugs and other specialty loads I have. I’m hoping to acquire some Apex shells to try. The Federals also patterned pretty well at 50 yards, but I think 40 is a good safe stopping point.

Hornady Critical Defense FTX loads impacted a bit low too, but two grouped very close together at 50, so they are an alternative to the Brennekes. Needs more study.

I know the smaller guns will kill them dead. I called one in for a buddy last year that killed one with a Winchester model 42 410. For me it is a comfort thing and it took me several years before I would hunt with a 20 ga. After I did, I sold all my 12 ga turkey guns and never looked back.
Not saying I would not try a 28 or 410 but I am very comfortable with a 20 and what it will do, so that is about as small as I want to go.....(for now)

C'mon man!

Snagged a box of Apex Turkey Ninja .410s today. 403 #8.5 pellets in every one!

Oops, my bad. The .410s are #9.5. Over 400 pellets per shell.

This is the center of a target I shot today at 50 yards. Better than the Federal TSS at 40 yards.



Apex Turkey Ninja .410 7/8oz #9 TSS 3” shell

They were out of .410 today, but had 20s. 510 #8.5 pellets. They ship fast, as well they should for the price!

That is very impressive

I need to get some Apex loads

They’ve got it goin’ on for sure.

Imagine what a 12ga sportin’ a couple ounces would do.

The plan remains calling one in as close as possible, but this makes worrying about “is it 35 or 45” kinda moot, as the courts like to say. A crow sitting smugly in a tree at 50 yards might get a nasty surprise, if a feller didn’t mind the expense.....

Rogers has the Apex 410’s in stock. I have a few boxes headed this way.

Do they ship quickly?

First I’ve heard of them.

20 gauge: Normal #6 pheasant loads




16 gauge: Same deal. Normal #6 pheasant loads

Yes, mine are already on the way.

I picked up my 1187 20ga. compact and .410 single shot from the gunsmith last week. I had both guns drilled and tapped with a Weaver base and will be mounting a Bushnell Trophy 1.75-4 with the circle reticle on the 20, the .410 is getting a red dot. Federal TSS already on hand.

I've got a feeling both are going to be a lot of fun, 10s and 12s get to stay home.

I have that scope on a .22. Thought about using both it and a Leupold 2.5 on my Henry, but will stick with the prism for now. Playing with it at the range, it seemed like just a bit of magnification would be useful to my old eyes, but not at the expense of much added bulk.

Is that a 37? I just sold a 1961 20ga Deerslayer to offset the cost of a new O/U. Thought about just tubing it, but at the time I didn’t know Apex made 2 3/4 Turkey loads. No one else seems to, and I’ve never used a 20 on any birds. Regular 3” 20s have a reputation for crappy patterns.

Mainly though, I wanted the O/U.😜

I started setting up 20 gauges for my kids 15+ years ago when they started turkey hunting. For years, I watched what the 20's did before the old man's lightbulb came on. Why was I dragging around a 3 1/2" gas gun when these pocket bombs were doing everything I needed ?? I set my own 20 up about 4 years ago and haven't looked back.