20ga. Turkey Loads

You’ll have to try a bunch of different loads through the chokes you are considering using to see which one throws the best pattern. I personally like the Longbeards, but I have used a lot of different loads and they have all killed birds. Whats most important is knowing your shooting capabilities with the gun you are using. When you get good enough to call them in close and shoot them in the face, they will die even if you use a regular game load.
 
My Benelli M2 using a Carlson choke patterns Triple beards best with Longbeard #6 a close second. My Remington 1100 using a Briley choke likes 2.75" Kent Diamond shot #5 .As stated above, You will have to pattern your gun with whatever turkey choke you have and some different shells. As my son says, call them in close and it won't matter what you shoot them with. As an aside last year I picked up some Kent tk7 shells, after the season but have not had time to pattern them as yet.
 
I am using Hornaday Versatite turkey loads in two different 20 ga for the last 3 years. One an 18" pump, the other a 20" bullpup. Wait for it ..... thru a mod choke. To 40yds it shoots as good as my dedicated turkey 12 ga which has been modded to the tits.
 
Half of my turkeys (somewhere between 12-15 birds) have been taken with a 870 express 20 ga. I had a hell of time finding a good load that patterned decent beyond 30 yards and ended up settling on Remington 3 inch nitro #6's through a Primos Jellyhead choke. I found all brands in #6 patterned better than # 5. I ran out of the Remington's two seasons ago and haven't had time to mess around since. I was going to try the Winchester long beard XR stuff but haven't had time to mess with things, and probably wont again this season so it will the 12 ga again. All the video's online show great things with the 20 ga Winchesters - but the haters seem to jumping all over the fact that the load is traveling 1000 fps at the muzzle, so there is questions about performance at greater distances. The 12 ga loads are rated at 1200 fps. Its hard to find # 6 long beards in 20 ga these days also.


If your around the GTA I will give you some rounds to mess around with if you want to pick them up. PM me.
 
Federal makes some good shells as well. Don’t be afraid to try the factory full or mod choke either sometimes it will pattern better than a tight dedicated turkey choke. Remington makes a magnum load with 1 1/4 oz of #6 that my gun also likes. Weatherby PA-08.
 
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