Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips
Turkey Guns & Shooting => 20 Gauge Turkey Guns => Topic started by: goindeep on April 14, 2019, 01:58:32 PM
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Y'all got me fired up. Building a new gun for next year, youth 11-87 or 870. Not sure which. Tell me which one and why!
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shot my first 870 in 1974 (still have it) and haven't looked back BUT, I've owned several 1100's over the years and can't complain with them. I currently have a 21" 870 youth 20ga. and a 21" 1100 LT-20 magnum STS youth and they shoot pretty much head to head. Never owned an 11-87. Only thing with me personally is, I've carried an 870 for so long as my primary shotgun that every time I shoot the 1100 I find myself pulling back on the forend. You won't go wrong with either but, it all comes down to personal preference, are you a pump guy or a semi-auto guy.......only you can decide that.
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Hard to beat a 21" 870. Auto will recoil a bit less. You didn't say it was for a kid or not. But for a kid starting out for me anyway it's a single shot, (which ain't so bad) but due to the excitement during the hunt an auto has another round immediately in the chamber. Overall pumps are more dependable and safer choices.
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I would go with the 870 youth. Mainly for less weight and rarely do I ever have a need for a second shot. Most generally I shoot a single shot,but set my son up with a 870 youth.
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I like the auto, weight is about the same. Both are reliable and safety is in the hands of the operator. No chance of short stroking an auto.
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I have a 21” 870 youth that I’ve killed a truckload of birds with. I don’t tote it much these days and have it put back for my 3 year old, but I’d gladly pick it up and hunt anywhere in the US with it.
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I like my 870 youth as well 21” barrel with Carlson’s.568 Fed TSS #9. Turkey killing machine!
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870 all day because it's lighter , If your gonna carry a heavy 20ga you might as well carry a 12ga JMO!!!
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I like the 1187 more than the 870. No rattle from the pump and it sits better on my knee.
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I have both 870 and 11-87 youth ( compact) would take the 11-87 if i had to choose one can't go wrong with either
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I have the 870 youth and love it ... with Trulock 565 and Federal HW 7 ... no need for 1187 way to much gun just for a simple turkey gun , that your going to shoot one shot and kill the turkey ....
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I have the 870 all decked out,shoots excellent but it is at best 6th or 7th on my depth list.I would and should have bought the semi 20 gauge,the 870 is a good gun and will be a good turkey gun.It comes down to preference and what you want to spend imo.
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I've got four birds under the belt of my 11-87 20 gauge. It's light to carry, reloads all by itself after a shot, (needed it this year after missing a bird with my first shot), and with TSS will kill 'em as good as my 12 ga with regular lead turkey loads. The felt recoil is also forgettable for me. I think my 12 gauges will be gathering dust for the foreseeable future.
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If it's for a kid I vote the 870.
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Paid $270 ish at Walmart for an 870 youth, about $20 for 3 cans of camo paint and a sponge while still at Walmart, $40 or so for a box of Longbeard XR shells and Primos Tightwad. Rolled a bird at 35 yards that looked like it was hit with one of my high priced 12 gauges. Not sure I even need TSS but maybe next year. Does everything I need as long as make the first shot count :):) per the comment above!
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I went the 870 route. I got an all black one and did a diy sponge camo job to it. I cant wait to shoot it! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/057452640ed28a9c194993cb900bacd8.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/ac9446ffaf2c1933bac62d5595f5ea91.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/3ed5418dbec337c438bada10cdf0af7d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/4d09a3ba5949b7e3df92d19d59b573d5.jpg)
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I went the 870 route. I got an all black one and did a diy sponge camo job to it. I cant wait to shoot it! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/057452640ed28a9c194993cb900bacd8.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/ac9446ffaf2c1933bac62d5595f5ea91.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/3ed5418dbec337c438bada10cdf0af7d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/4d09a3ba5949b7e3df92d19d59b573d5.jpg)
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What kind and color paint did you use? That looks great!!!
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I went the 870 route. I got an all black one and did a diy sponge camo job to it. I cant wait to shoot it! (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/057452640ed28a9c194993cb900bacd8.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/ac9446ffaf2c1933bac62d5595f5ea91.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/3ed5418dbec337c438bada10cdf0af7d.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190526/4d09a3ba5949b7e3df92d19d59b573d5.jpg)
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What kind and color paint did you use? That looks great!!!
Thanks!!! I will get back to you on that one. They were 3 of Krylons camo colors at Walmart.
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My bad. It was rustoleum in these 3 colors(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190621/1cabb68fa311f6d8719c63d60d9d7ce9.jpg)
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Nice paint job. You should a step by step tutorial on how you did it including surface prep.
I vote 1187 do to recoil if for a kid (that's what I got for my kids). If for an adult I'd still do the 1187 just cause autos are cooler! Haha, I got 3 new 870's that i thought i was gonna let my kids use but the 1187 shoots so much softer that the 870 will most likely never be used. As far as shells, I opted for a 2.75" 1oz #6 heavy field load to cut recoil down to a minimum.
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Did the same thing w my 11/87 Compact. Couple sponges, a few rattle cans, and matte clear coat.