Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting 10, 12 or 20? What's your "gauge"

I'm a turkey hunting nut case and have several turkey guns set up. One 10 gauge, "3" 12's and "2" 20's. All seem to do the same exact thing; KILL TURKEYS...

I do find it interesting and educational to see others set ups and what works for them though. Discussing set ups will also allow "newbies" to get a better idea of what to buy and what to expect IMO...

Here is my go to "turkey gun" that I built and nicknamed "The Beard Buster"



Remington 870
3 1/2"
12 Gauge
Rhino Choke
Nitro Shells
Nikon Red Dot Sight


This is my mountain gun for turkey hunting.



T/C Encore
3"
20 Gauge
Rhino Choke
Nitro shells

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If there is enough interest, I can go into detail about these and others. What I've had done to them and exactly what I shoot - results on pattern boards, etc.

Benelli LH Super 90, 12 GA 3.5 inch Winchester Supreme # 5 shot.

D2D,

tell us about your calling techs...you seem to strike with regularity...Its alittle tougher up here in PA, but I'm hunting public ground alot though..I use the pot and peg too, but dont strike so often..whats the secret if you have any.

I'll start a new post in this forum to this regards...

I would appreciate that too!

I made the post... I hope it helps...

It's not the bible, as many people have learned many techiques to being successful in the turkey woods but I find the basic items I discussed to be an absolute TRUTH pretty much anywhere you go to hunt 'ole Long Toe!

Back to set ups and what works on turkey guns...

Some combinations that I've found work extremely well from gun to gun, person to person are:

Rhino + Nitro (Hevi-Shot Loads)
Comp-N-Choke + Winchester Hi-Velocity (Copper Plated Lead Loads)
Pure Gold + Winchester Xtended Range
Indian Creek + Nitro (Hevi-Shot Loads)
Primos Jelly Head + Hevi-Shot (Hevi 13)

Me:
Remington 870
3"
12 ga.
Rhino Choke
#6 Hevi Shot
Bushnell Red Dot

My Wife:
Remington 11-87 Youth
3"
20 ga.
Jelly Head Choke
#6 Hevi Shot
Bushnell Red Dot


Lori's bird from this year.


Mike

I kill em cheaper than alot of people these days.
Remington 870 supermag 23 inch barrel
fiocchi 3.5 inch nickel plated 5's
carlson's ported .660

I use my old 870. I bought it back in 1971. It only shoots 2 3/4" shells but they do the trick. I bought a 30" barrel a few years ago with screw-in chokes----but I mainly still use the standard full choke. I also have an extra full. Shells, I killed them with Activ #4's &6's, Remington duplex(4x6), Federal 4's & 6's. Loads were 1 3/4 in Activ, 1 1/2 & 1 5/8 in the other 2.

My guns is good to go out to 40 yards. It's worked on a couple @ 45 yards----when I missed judged yardage.

IMO--- you really don't need the 3 1/2" or even the 3". The trick is to get them in @ 25 yards. CB

Great job with the 20ga.

Many varieties of combinations work well in people's set ups there are no doubts about that.

I'm obsessed with "blistering" patterns. Here's a typical 45 yard pattern from the gun I nicknamed "The Beard Buster". I dotted each pellet hit with a blue marker. This is the same target, just front and back...

Whewwww.......That'll git'r done!!!! Hate to be a long beard in your neck of the woods!!

Mike

Thanks Tim. I think she loves turkey hunting more than I do. She has three out of four on her Grand Slam quest. She just needs that pesky booger from Fla. Then she wants to skip Mexico and go straight to the Yucatan. Told her she better start saving.

Mike

Good luck on "waxing" one... Those milk cattle farms that back up to the swamps are loaded with them.

Are there any outfitters down there that you could recommend?

Mike

I mainly hunt Georgia with some ventures into Alabama. I have hunted a friend's uncle's milk cow farm in middle Florida and is where I connected with my Osceola. I'll ask around for you and see what I can come up with as to where and names...

Encore w/20 turkey barrel and choke
Aimpoint Red Dot
Winchester #5's

Been knocking down lots of birds every year, for years with that combo. Longest shot? 42 yards, last spring. A 20 works fine!!!

Thanks D2D, I'd appreciate that. We will probably be looking at spring of 2010.

Mike

Oseola Outfitters comes pretty highly reccommended.