I am wanting a 20 gauge with 24” barrel, with a tapped receiver to accept a FF3. Will be shooting TSS. Other than the Affinity compact, what other models have these attributes? Prefer auto, would consider a pump.

Super X4
Super X4 Compact

why are you excluding 12 GA , i don't have any experience

Benelli M2 Youth. You’d have to have it drilled and tapped

Really no need to lug the extra weight around, anymore.

In the last decade or so, shotshell technology has enabled the 20 gauge to do in 2020 what no 12 gauge would do 15-20 years ago.

I started turkey hunting over 40 years ago with a 2 3/4" 12 gauge pump...…………..then a 3" 12 gauge pump...……….then a 3 1/2" 10 gauge pump...…...….then a couple 3 1/2" 12 gauge autos...……….and now a 3" 20 gauge single barrel.

Trying to save on weight. I do lots and lots of walking in some steep turkey woods. Plus, I already have a 12.

I have an M2 with a 26” bbl and have considered having it drilled and tapped. At the same time, I have a young son who will need a do-all short-LOP shotgun soon.

I’d never looked into the SX4. It’s interesting but also a full pound heavier than the Benelli, Franchi.

I'm a big fan of the Franchi Affinity. Made by Benelli, I think they handle and shoot every bit as good as other Benellis. I think I'm correct in saying the newer Affinity 3 is drilled and tapped. Not sure you can get a 24" barrel though. You could consider the Mossberg 500 Bantam or their newer semi-auto SA-20. I think both weight only 5.5 lbs and are drilled/tapped in the turkey version SA w/ 22" barrel. I've patterned TSS in a Bantam and it's just as impressive with a good choke like Trulock as my Franchi.

How much weight difference is in the 12ga version of what you're using now?

If saving weight is your biggest concern, why the 24" barrel and a semi auto?

The mossberg (don’t laugh) SA-20 Turkey version is set up with all that, but has a 22” tube. By all accounts, it’s a good 20ga semi. It may replace my 870 21” 20ga.....but it’s hard to part with that little hunk of junk, too.....it’s killed a lot of birds, and being a pump hasn’t cost me anything so far.

I'm not up on all the weight differences but have two buddies with the sx4 24" guns, they seem lighter than my sx3 and shoulder very well. If I was in the market I would handle one before buying anything else.
I think it all comes down to what feels right for you. There's a lot of nice 20 autos out now that will perform and pattern very well. Just decide on budget and get yours hands on a few to compare before buying.

Shell recommendations please. I bought one of the 21" 870 youth guns in 20 a few years ago. Love how easy it is to carry around, but even after adding an aftermarket extra full tube the patterns I've gotten aren't impressing me. I used it one year, never got a chance to use it and went back to my 12. I have an older 12 ga Benelli M-1 with 24" barrel. The gun is pretty light at 7 lbs and the 24" barrel is fairly compact. I'd feel good about a 40 yard shot with it, but the patterns I've gotten with the 20 don't look good past 15-20 yards.

I’ve killed birds as far as anyone needs to try with a 21” 870 20ga and various tungsten 6/7/8/9 loads. It’s been easy to pattern with those.

I think Tristar has a 24” 20ga semi, too....beretta design like the mossberg/weatherby.

JMR40, Try a Trulock, Carlson, or Sumtoy choke made for the specific type of shot you are shooting.

Mine likes hevi13 6’s, hevi13 7’s and the no longer made Federal MagShock 7’s. If I was starting over it’d be TSS #9’s in mine but I have 20 boxes of the old pre TSS loads so I’m set forever.


If you’re trying to lead shells to pattern from a 20 the. 30yds will pretty much top one out.

24 or shorter, I should say. Would entertain a pump, I suppose, just need drilled/tapped from mfg.

The SA-20 is interesting.

Huge vote for Sumtoy in a 20 gauge !!!!

We're shooting the (discontinued) Federal Heavyweight 7's through .562-5 Sumtoy tubes..........kicking ass and taking names. Along those lines and still in production are the Federal and Apex TSS offerings. On a budget...... Winchester Longboard XR's are BAD MEDICINE !!!

Regarding a well made 20 gauge pump, Ithaca offers a turkey shotgun as well as a standard wood stocked shotgun, either with 24" barrels.

24” o/u might be even better suited.

I tried the new Winchester 20 gauge pump last year with a Sumtoy choke and the Federal shells, FF3 red dot and was very pleasedwith it handling and those Federal shells do everything they say they will do

Was its receiver drilled and tapped from the factory?

I would recommend taking a look at the Weatherby SA459.

For covering some ground I'd much rather have a single shot or double barrel. Last year I built a Midland Arms 22" single shot 20 gauge. I had Sumtoy make a custom FF3 base for it and tap the receiver. It weights 5 lbs. I shoot Apex GT20 #9 TSS in it and put up almost 350 pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yards. I've been thinking about putting together a 28 gauge CZ Bobwhite SxS. The Savage 301T is becoming very popular, that is a single shot available in 410 and 20 gauge.

Those are the routes I would go for a mobile set up.

Another vote for the Franchi Affinity. Mine is a 26" 20 Ga. and hammers turkeys with the Federal Premium #5's

I've also taken Quail, Grouse, Doves, Ducks and Geese with this gun. I love the light weight and the shim kit makes it shoot where I'm looking.

I have gone to a youth Mossy 500 with a 18 1/2" and Indian creek 555 choke. Short,Sweet,and Lite. With #9 TSS and 1 5/8 oz load. Been getting 360-370 pellet counts in 10" circle at 40 yards and is drilled and tapped for FF2. Been good to go for me.

I can't remember needing a second shot on a turkey. I exchanged the old 12ga semi for a 20ga TC Encore and it works as well as the old 12 did. Just got me barrel back from my gunsmith. It was a 26". I had him shorten it to 20" and re-tap it for the original choke tube. It shoots Fed Hevi13 into a great pattern. Single shot, light, short, great patterns, quick to the shoulder, easy hold. Love IT!
Jim

Me either, but a second shot is one of those things that never matters, until it does.....fast. I’m more about having the two choke/load option that an O/U gives, for <20 and >20, due to the size of patterns up close, and TSS being unnecessary inside 20, mostly......that, and the coyotes that sometimes run up at fly down, are often in pairs.

My son has the affinity compact, it won't cycle a target load to save its life, but turkey loads are not an issue. I've only patterned it with carlson and hs strut turkey chokes with heavy weight 7s, they pattern about the same but not overly impressive. Gun did shot straight out of the box, i've never had a higher end benelli do that.

These are excellent points each. I remain confident with a single shot 20ga as an option. Takes birds just fine.
Jim

I can’t remember needing a follow up shot yet but as stated earlier I think I will keep toting a Au͏to most of the time, and pump occasionally.
I did buy a 301 savage 410 that I may carry some, but I’m skeptical about that for the same reason.
Not saying anybody is right or wrong just my two cents

That is not an easy task.

This^^^^

The SA20 Turkey Thug is a Mossberg branded, Turkish made shotgun that checks a lot of boxes!
Camo synthetic stock. Auto loader for 3” shells. 22” barrel with excellent ghost ring rear and front fiber optic sights.
Factory drilled/tapped for optics. Sling ready. Spacers to adjust comb angle if you so desire.

I mounted a red dot reflex sight on mine, but found the fiber optic sight to be so good that I went back to them.
I also picked up a modified and IC choke to go with the factory turkey choke, to use on upland game and steel shot. The only add on I did was a McCarbo spring to drop the trigger weight. Super easy to install and dirt cheap...and it works.

It’s darned near the perfect 20 ga for the turkey woods.
BT53

I should add that I looked at most of the other shotguns posters have offered up.

The SA20 is also branded by at least two other companies, Winchester and TriStar for sure with very little changes.

There’s some really good video reviews online that you can pull up.
Randy (Weaver.....not sure that’s right) does a good side by side shoot off with all of them and the SA20 was his favorite.

BT53

Another voter for the franchi affinity 3 in 20 gauge. I have one with a 26inch im setting up with a FF3 and sumtoy mount. It will probably be a dedicated turkey gun after this or bird hunt with the red dot turned on.

I have 3 franchis.. an older affinity 12 and a newer ones in 12 and 20. The 12's run flawless.
A newer affinity 3 in 12 gauge that I was setting up for turkey hunting until I banged up my shoulder and bought the same thing in 20 gauge. My shoulder is better now so I'm at a cross roads if I set both up for turkey now. The older 12 may be sold, but its nice to dedicate that one to the duck boat because its scarred now.

My only complaint... the 20 gauge wouldn't fully seat the bolt back sometimes trap shooting with light loads. I'm hoping a diet of heavy 3 inch and frequent cleaning will break it in.

Finding a used BPS upland 20 gauge with a 22 inch barrel is an option. I have one, but I like the franchi better the triggers are much better.

Found it.......

Randy Wakeman, battle of the 20 gauges.
There’s two videos for your viewing pleasure. 👍🦃

No need to drill and tap with the Burris Speed Bead mount.

https://www.burrisoptics.com/blog/mounting-systems/fastfire-3-mounting-tricks

I sold my Like new Franchi Affinity last year and bought a used 24" barreled Montefeltro.
Why ?
I just prefer wood stocked shotguns.
If I ever decide to go with optics it will be a FF3 and Speed Bead mount.

Last springs bird with the 20 ga. Franchi.