Are there any 20 ga SxS or O/U users out there.
There are over on GON.com's turkey hunting forum.
I have a CZ-Ringneck 20 ga.SxS that I absolutley love. I shoot a Trulock extra full in the right and a Carlsons Mod. in the left with Hevi-13 7's in both. I love the options a person has with the two barrels, up close mod, farther out the x-tra full.
I do the O/U at times and Dawei is a SxS man.
I have hunted extensively with both, I find that you stretch the equipment when you shoot big loads ( 3" ) .... these are relatively light guns with fixed breech, and when you
put magnum loads , you really exaggerate the recoil effect and it effects the point of impact. in other words,, with light loads, my two barrels shoot pretty much to the same point of aim ,,,, but the more I increase the power, the more those points of impact are affected,
In my opinion, double barrels are most effective and fun to shoot in wing shooting situation. The movement of the gun as you swing thru the shot makes a double barrel a great gun. wing shooting is a dynamic sport, fluid, moving , follow thru..... Turkey hunting is sharp shooting, static position, careful aiming like a rifle ,,,, and in that sense, I think the auto matics are better suited.
I can handle 3" 20 ga loads pretty well, but with the 12 ga , i wouldnt want to shoot anything bigger than 2.75" shells.
I agree with archdriver in his response. Turkey hunting is more about aiming where wingshooting is more about pointing. I own 20 ga. shotguns in O/U, SxS and semi-auto and choose the semi-auto for turkey hunting. Shoot a 3" turkey load in a 20 ga. or 12 ga. in an O/U or Sxs and you know about the old saying "kills on both ends". We each have our reasons for what we choose to hunt with so enjoy the experience! :icon_thumright:
I use the double in the fall turkey season while hunting with my dog,mostly because it just "feels"right. I've been using the 870 20ga. in the spring.
I respectfully beg to differ on the effect of recoil. In regards to a followup shot, you would be most correct. For a initial shot not so much. With proper sights and range time a SxS or O/U can be made to do just what you want it to. I have exclusively used 20 ga doubles for some time now. I have all mine choked real tight for way out yonder and one for up close and personal surprises. I shoot cylinder out of my right barrel and its deadly to 30. From 20 out the left barrel is death personified. With the Cylinder or ImpCyl chokes I dont really care if the POI is exactly the same. I set the sights for the far barrel and the near is real good. Over the last several years most of my turkeys have been shot with the open barrel and from 5-25 yds. DEAD! Out of one of my guns i put 365 in a 10" circle at 40 yds (lasered)
(http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll206/DocHolliday_photos/001.jpg)
I shoot a Ruger Red Label 20, CZ Bobwhite 20 and Stoeger Uplander 20 (responsible for the above pattern). All will shoot better than I can!
Doc
Doc Holliday, you are the man I need to talk to. I have plenty of turkey gun set ups (in the process of a new one now) but I've been thinking of trying something a little different. I want a sxs set up that won't break the bank and the stoeger uplander is the gun I had in mind. I like the option of being able to choose my posin the twin barrell offers. It will be a little different than what most folks are use to seeing in the modern turkey woods, but I want to try one out. What choke/shell produced the 365 #
PM sent
WOW! Impressive pattern Doc! :newmascot:
I have a Remington® SPR220 (Baikal® IZH-43) 20ga SxS. I placed two Colonial Arms extended turkey chokes on it, .570" and .575". My first shot, right barrel, front trigger, .570" choke is a load of Remington® Nitro-Turkey® 1¼oz #5Pb (NT20M5). Second shot left barrel, back trigger, .575" choke is Federal® Flitecontrol® Mag-Shok® 1 5/16oz #4Pb (PFC258 4). In WA state we must use #4 or smaller shot.