24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 149
T
Campfire Member
OP Offline
Campfire Member
T
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 149
I am looking at turkey chokes for a 20 ga auto. I see Carlson offers a non ported choke with three different constructions (.555 , .565 , .580 ).
I typically use Winchester Long Beard turkey loads and Carlson has a specific ported choke tube for this ammunition choked at .568
My long time turkey hunting buddy is adamant that the tighter the choke constriction, the tighter the pattern.
I would appreciate some comments from personal experience with this ?
Thanks.

BP-B2

Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 667
C
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
C
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 667
Hopefully someone with a greater range of experience will chime in, but for now I have a Trulock ported .565 for my 20ga. When I patterned the Winchester #5 loads at 40 the results were not great. The TSS 5/6/7 was awesome though.

Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,470
S
Campfire Tracker
Online Content
Campfire Tracker
S
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,470
I’ve done all sorts of patterning with all sorts of shells, guns and chokes thru the years. My experience has taught me that every gun is different and you just have to shoot yours to find a combination that works to your liking

Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3,380
Campfire Tracker
Online Content
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 3,380
First, I believe in choke tubes. Choke tubes are normally labeled, AND, as hunters, we have a tendency to just "go with" whatever the tube is labeled.
It is imperative that each tube be tested for pattern.
I have a "Mod" tube that shoots a tighter pattern that the "Full" tube that goes with the gun.
Had me scratching my head until I tested the 2 tubes thoroughly.

Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,489
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,489
I have a Carlsons "TSS choke" for my 20 gauge Browning BPS. That gun uses an Invector Plus system. The TSS tube is .565 constriction. I've patterned it at 40 yards. It patterns #9 and #7 TSS shot very well. But Winchester 3" # Double XX is too open for comfort at 40 yards. It would probably be pretty good at 30 yards. You'll have to pattern your gun to see how well it does.


40 yards, TSS#9
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

40 yards, TSS#7
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

40 yards, Double XX#5 (12" circle)
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]


Last edited by 10Glocks; 04/20/22.
IC B2

Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 149
T
Campfire Member
OP Offline
Campfire Member
T
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 149

Before I pattern the 20 ga, I need to decide on the turkey choke and which constriction. I understand patterning different brands, etc.
I currently prefer Winchester LongBeard turkey loads in my Browning 12 ga (5's & 6's).
Haven't tried the 20 ga yet......checking the different chokes out there.
Anyone have any experience with the Carlson LongBeard turkey choke ?

Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,489
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 4,489
I have a Carlson's Long Beard choke in my Winchester SX4 12 gauge. That gun uses the Browning Invector Plus system. It's a .665 choke constriction. I've tested it at 40 yards using Winchester Long Beard 3.5" #5. Here's what it will do (though I shot a wee bit high).

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

I have a Carlson's Turkey Choke, .665 constriction, in my Browning A5. The A5 uses the Browning Ivector DS choke tube system. With Long Bear 3.5" #5, this is that it will do.

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Not much to choose from between the two guns.




Last edited by 10Glocks; 04/20/22.
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 175
A
Campfire Member
Offline
Campfire Member
A
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 175
My 20 did not care for longbeards put through a .555. I just tried it because I still had the ammo and the choke but I was going to tss shot. When I shot longbeards only I used the carlsons choke and it didn’t shoot a bad pattern. My buddy and I doubled one morning with it after his gun had actually jammed and I handed him mine while the other bird pecked at his dying compadre. Shot was probably a touch over 40yds and there wasn’t an issue with him dying with his friend. Gun is a browning silver with a 26” barrel.

Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,646
D
Campfire Tracker
Online Content
Campfire Tracker
D
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,646
TraderVic, what's your shotgun? I have some different 20ga Rem-Choke turkey choke tubes that I could mail out to you for you to try. Please just return them! Ha! I know firsthand how expensive all this "testing" can be! Lol! Send me a PM if interested.


It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!

NRA life member

Illinois State Rifle Association member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 149
T
Campfire Member
OP Offline
Campfire Member
T
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 149
I appreciate the offer DeanA, however, my 20 ga is a Benelli M2. Thanks for your generous offer

IC B3

Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,158
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 19,158
Originally Posted by TraderVic

Before I pattern the 20 ga, I need to decide on the turkey choke and which constriction. I understand patterning different brands, etc.
I currently prefer Winchester LongBeard turkey loads in my Browning 12 ga (5's & 6's).
Haven't tried the 20 ga yet......checking the different chokes out there.
Anyone have any experience with the Carlson LongBeard turkey choke ?


I have three shotguns with the Carlson Longbeard choke. In my 12 gauge 11-87 it gives a great pattern with the Winchester Longbeard 3 inch #5 shot, shooting as good a pattern as any gun I've ever had. The other 2 shotguns are 20 gauges, an 11-87 and a Mossberg SA-20, both shooting 3 inch Longbeard #5 shells. The Mossberg patterned better than the 11-87 did, and since the 11-87 is the one my granddaughter uses, I am using some Federal Turkey Thug shells I had on hand because they pattern just as good as the Winchesters, and she won't be shooting over 30 yards anyway.

To sum it up, I'm happy with the 12 gauge choke, just so-so with the 20.

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,302
P
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
P
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,302
Tighter is not always better when it comes to chokes, but sometimes it is. You have to find what your gun likes with the shell you plan to use. I have seen first hand that you can over choke your gun and blow the pattern. I have also seen where a shell with #6 shot does not pattern well, but the same shell/choke/gun patterns great with #5 shot.

I learned a long time ago that when you find what your gun likes, buy as much of that ammo (same lot number) as you can. Shell companies have been known to change components in their loading process from one lot to another. I had a gun that shot Hevi #6 shot great, the next lot I bought did not shoot worth a crap. They had changed their wads between the two lots.
I started loading my own shells shortly after that so I could control what I was getting. I hate patterning and trying to find a combo that gives me what I want. When I find what I want, I don't want to have to change anything, so I have the gun/shell figured out and I control my shells so I have not changed my combo in years.


I may not be smart but I can lift heavy objects

I have a shotgun so I have no need for a 30-06.....
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,521
Campfire Ranger
Online Content
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28,521
With the prices for tubes and ammuntition being what they are, it’s kind of a chicken and egg question as to how to go about getting the best you can. I did some patterning yesterday with the Calson’s .555 TSS choke I bought for my 20ga Browning Gold Hunter. The best of what I had on hand turned out to be Apex 3” 8.5s, with an amazing pattern at 40 yards. Hevi TSS 9s were good too, but the center was off to one side a bit. No sights on that gun, so 8.5s it is. Need to start saving up for another box……

Also got a good result with some 3” standard Hevi Shot 6s; nice even patterns that won’t burgerize a turkey if a body shot is needed for follow-up or a flushed bird.

Apex 8.5

[Linked Image]

Last edited by Pappy348; 04/22/22.

What fresh Hell is this?
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,059
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,059
Can’t comment on the long beard, but in my 20s I run 555-562 with my hand loaded tss. I do prefer a hot core.

Just my opinion but it’s well worth the money for the tss as this is the cheapest part of my hunt


"If you got it, you got it!" In memory of Pops, gone but never forgotten
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,085
G
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
G
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,085
TSS, especially larger pellets will likely pattern better witha slightly more open choke. if you are shooting Longbear 6's try a .555 constriction. #5s id start with the .555 and try a .565 and .568


The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude


Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell



Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
658 members (12308300, 1234, 163bc, 06hunter59, 09wingates, 78 invisible), 2,671 guests, and 1,226 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,612
Posts18,398,407
Members73,817
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.146s Queries: 14 (0.001s) Memory: 0.8603 MB (Peak: 0.9748 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-28 14:12:40 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS