Dedicated 20 Gauge Turkey Gun

[deer patch]

My daughter has taken interest in turkey hunting this coming year and I’m looking for opinions on a good gun for her in 20 gauge and choke tube combination. I have a 12 gauge that I shoot 3.5” shells but I would prefer her to have a 20 gauge that way if she doesn’t like turkey hunting, I could always let my dad use it when he gets older, he’s 74 now and handles the same gun as I do but one day he’s not going to like it anymore.

 

[Drycreek]

How old is your daughter, how big is she ? Small statured ? Medium ? Almost any shotgun manufacturer makes a turkey gun and probably all of them will do. My son strated with an H&R single barrel in 20 gauge, then graduated to a youth model Remington 870. The last two turkeys he killed were 41 and 40 yards respectively. That Hevi Shot is bad to the bone !

 

[deer patch]

How old is your daughter, how big is she ? Small statured ? Medium ? Almost any shotgun manufacturer makes a turkey gun and probably all of them will do. My son strated with an H&R single barrel in 20 gauge, then graduated to a youth model Remington 870. The last two turkeys he killed were 41 and 40 yards respectively. That Hevi Shot is bad to the bone !

5’3” and 22 yr old. She can handle a muzzleloader with 120 grains of powder and a 243 rifle now.

 

[buckdeer1]

I would do the 870 or the brand that Walmart Tristar if you want a semi. I bought my daughter one to duck hunt with and it's a pretty nice gun.Does she need youth size stock.

 

[Drycreek]

5’3” and 22 yr old. She can handle a muzzleloader with 120 grains of powder and a 243 rifle now.

Then she can handle any full sized 20 gauge on the market IMO. For turkeys I recommend a pump. No need for lightning fast followups. As for brand, the Remington 870 is probably the best known as well as the best, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at a Mossberg either. A few years ago it was the ONLY pump that survived the military’s arduous test, (something like 4,000 rounds with no failures I think), as well as Winchester and Benelli. I don’t know much about the latest iterations of the last two, but Winchester shotguns of the 80s and 90s did not impress me.

Edit: I had to look it up ! The torture test required the shotgun to shoot 3,000 rounds of double ought buckshot without any kind of failure. The Mossberg was the only shotgun to complete the requirement.

 

[T-Max]

We have always shot Mossberg because of the ambidextrous safety since my father, brother and I are all left handed. Bought my wife (who shoots left handed) a Mossberg 500 20 gauge with I think a gobble stop choke tube several years ago. 3" shells will kill anything within reasonable range. I like pumps for turkey since there is seldom a need for super fast follow-up.

 

[deer patch]

Thanks guys for the info. I have shot an 870 all my life, so I’ll start looking at a new one. Then the problem will be finding decent priced shells to see which shoots the best.

 

[Drycreek]

Thanks guys for the info. I have shot an 870 all my life, so I’ll start looking at a new one. Then the problem will be finding decent priced shells to see which shoots the best.

Since shells are going to be hard to find, I’d surely try to find something with Hevi-Shot in it or the new Winchester loads. I have been impressed with the Winchester patterns but have only seen them on Growing Deer TV shows.

 

[E_308]

I have shot the winchester longbeards for years in my 12 and like them a lot. They will pattern a lot farther than you ought to be shooting at birds! I am going to buy the first box of 20 ga I find for the kid to use this year.

 

[Drycreek]

I have shot the winchester longbeards for years in my 12 and like them a lot. They will pattern a lot farther than you ought to be shooting at birds! I am going to buy the first box of 20 ga I find for the kid to use this year.

Those were the ones, but I couldn’t remember the name. Longbeard !

 

[DocHolladay]

Look at Savage and CVA single shots too. They are making some pretty nice shotguns for turkey hunting(since H&R isn’t around anymore). I like Carlson chokes and would look at JEBs if a Carlson wasn’t available. I believe the Savage uses JEBs. I like Hevi Shot magnum Blend and would also look at Kent turkey loads. Kent comes in a 10 round box for a great price. Most people over look them because they are so affordable and think they won’t pattern because of the cheap price(pre Covid). If your wallet is deep enough, look at TSS. It patterns really well, but runs about $60/5.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[deer patch]

Look at Savage and CVA single shots too. They are making some pretty nice shotguns for turkey hunting(since H&R isn’t around anymore). I like Carlson chokes and would look at JEBs if a Carlson wasn’t available. I believe the Savage uses JEBs. I like Hevi Shot magnum Blend and would also look at Kent turkey loads. Kent comes in a 10 round box for a great price. Most people over look them because they are so affordable and think they won’t pattern because of the cheap price(pre Covid). If your wallet is deep enough, look at TSS. It patterns really well, but runs about $60/5.

I’d rather not pay that much for shells but I would if it was needed. I’ll check out those guns also.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gut_pile]

Shells are the cheapest part of the equation when it comes to killing a turkey

TSS is by far the deadliest shell on the market and there isn't a close second, maybe not even a third.

 

[RGrizzzz]

I'm a big fan of the Winchester SX3/SX4 series. (6 in the family) The gas recoil system really takes the kick out of 12 3.5" shells. They make a lot of 20 gauge models too. A quick look at their turkey model and universal hunter patterns show 20 gauge options. Any semi auto loaded with 1 shell is a single shot. Real world price is significantly lower than the MSRP.

 

[deer patch]

I'm a big fan of the Winchester SX3/SX4 series. (6 in the family) The gas recoil system really takes the kick out of 12 3.5" shells. They make a lot of 20 gauge models too. A quick look at their turkey model and universal hunter patterns show 20 gauge options. Any semi auto loaded with 1 shell is a single shot. Real world price is significantly lower than the MSRP.

Glad to hear that real world price is lower than the MSRP. Which model do you like better? The 3 or 4?

 

[RGrizzzz]

Both are solid guns. I think you can only buy the SX4 new these days.