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Post by foxtrapper on Sept 22, 2018 11:39:03 GMT -5
With today’s ammo is there a reason to go with a 12 over a 20? Im thinking upland game, Turkey and the occasional waterfowl. I like the smaller frame shotgun, especially on a double.
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lws
.30 Stingray
Spokane Valley, Washington
Posts: 229
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Post by lws on Sept 22, 2018 12:02:24 GMT -5
I hunted for years with a 20ga. Gave it to my grandson when he started hunting. I have 2 , 12 ga. But hunt now mostly with a 4 10 ga. Thinking of getting another 20 ga. as I have killed more game with a 20 than anything else.
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Post by bigbrowndog on Sept 22, 2018 13:38:07 GMT -5
Ammo availability, selection, as far as effectiveness I’d say not really.
Trapr
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Post by bula on Sept 23, 2018 7:20:27 GMT -5
I would have said yes until turkey and waterfowl were mentioned.
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Post by bushog on Sept 23, 2018 9:00:10 GMT -5
I would have said yes until turkey and waterfowl were mentioned. I agree
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JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,416
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Post by JM on Sept 23, 2018 22:25:27 GMT -5
Are you required to use steel shot?
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Post by foxtrapper on Sept 24, 2018 5:40:11 GMT -5
Are you required to use steel shot? Steel for waterfowl only. I may get a chance to hunt waterfowl every few years ,turkey is a opportunity when I’m running my trap line. So it’s mainstay will be grouse and pheasant.
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JM
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,416
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Post by JM on Sept 24, 2018 9:22:00 GMT -5
In my limited goose hunting experience, the guys with the 10 gauge shotguns were connecting a whole lot more than the 12 gauge guys. I believe the increased barrel/shot diameter patterns much better, especially with lead free shot.
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Post by bula on Sept 24, 2018 9:49:53 GMT -5
My wording, the "yes", possibly confusing. Ammo has improved but think that non-lead required for waterfowl and this doesn't mean just ducks and geese is best launched from larger bores, larger capacity hulls. I had an Onyx 686 20 ga with 3" chambers and enough various screw in chokes to cover what I wished to hunt. With the right choke and knowledge of what the pattern is like I'm ok with the 20g for turkey. I've a couple boxes of 20gs steel left here from when I tried it on ducks. Due to the difficult habitat waterfowl is hunted in, prefer more authority from gun and load. If you have a good dog, hunt over dekes, call, go for it. If your gonna stalk them on beaver ponds , ok, go for it.
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Post by squigz on Sept 24, 2018 10:14:44 GMT -5
For me anything outside of Turkey's I go with a 20ga. It's just my personal comfort zone.
Turkey's I stick with a 12ga 3 1/2" magnums, I've hunted them ever since I was a kid and have only shot them in the head. But I've literally had to chase some down after hitting them with a turkey load for a 20ga that was within 30 yards, granted it was probably shock and not actually a "true" live bird after getting head shot.
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Post by gator89 on Sept 25, 2018 5:00:36 GMT -5
I concur with Squiqz, 20 ga for all except turkey.
The gun and ammo is just so much easier to carry up and down those creeks and crop rows in SoDak when it is a 20 ga.
A 3 inch 20 will hammer a pheasant.
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eskimo36
.375 Atomic
Oklahoma
Posts: 2,047
Member is Online
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Post by eskimo36 on Sept 25, 2018 11:38:42 GMT -5
If you only occasionally need a bigger shotgun, look at Apex ammo. It is high $ but kills way out there.
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Post by foxtrapper on Sept 25, 2018 12:58:28 GMT -5
Realized that I have my daughters mossberg 500 youth shotgun with screw in chokes. Soooo I just ordered a blackmaxx turkey choke for it. I see Winchester, federal and thanks to eskimo 36 ,apex make specialty turkey loads for the 20 gauge. Soon as I have all in hand I’ll give em a go at the range. If they print as advertised,I think a cz-USA over and under 20gauge will be my next purchase!
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Post by onegoodshot on Sept 25, 2018 14:47:02 GMT -5
I was a senior in high school wrestling 119lbs and my dad got the brand new 835 for Christmas. This was an unported gun and it came with 5 rounds in the box as ammo wasn't on the market yet. I still have that gun, but haven't shot it in many years. It brutally kills on both ends.
My daughter killed her first turkey with a 1100 28ga and lead shot at 9 years old. She is 16 now. Ive been handloading the tss for the last 6 years or so and bought the apex tss this year in 410, 28, and 20ga to try out. It makes a 14" 410 contender into a legit 25-30 yd turkey gun. The APEX 20ga tss is probably overkill, but it throws some awesome patterns.
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Post by callmaker on Sept 26, 2018 18:52:49 GMT -5
A 20 is capable of doing any of it in the right hands, picking the right shots. I've done it, and will do it again most likely. However... I don't personally think it is the best choice for waterfowl... Especially if you are talking geese. Close in teal or close decoying ducks it would be ok, but for bigger/tougher ducks or geese and passing shots I find it less than ideal.
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