I've been wanting to buy a shotgun just for turkey hunting, and was wondering about a 10 ga. What are the advanteges of a 10 ga. ? The recoil of a 10 3.5" shell compared to a 12 ga. 3" and 3.5" shell? Also the patters? Thanks.
Back in the day before Hevi shot was developed a 10 gauge was desirable because you could get 2.25 to 3 ounces of shot in a shell which would give you a much better pattern than a 12 gauge 3". However, since the 12 ga 3 1/2 inch chamber came along as well as Hevi shot, the 10 no longer blows every thing else away but is still devastating on turkeys and geese. Most 10 gauge guns are heavy, but it reduces the recoil to way less than a 12 ga 3 1/2 inch gun.
I would not suggest a 10 gauge as your primary or only turkey gun. It is so heavy.
I would suggest a pump 12 gauge 3.5".
Two good choices are remington and mossberg but browning is good too.
Really depends on your budget.
Recoil is based on load, velocity and gun weight. although gauge and powder make small differences.
lighter load less recoil
lower velocity less recoil
heavier gun less recoil
bigger gauge less recoil
less powder less recoil
these last two are the smallest.
The 10 can be handloaded to surpass the 12 3.5" but only marginally.
Most factory 10 shells are not as good as better 12 3.5" due to more demand for the 12s
Quote from: paladin on March 19, 2012, 05:08:30 PM
I would not suggest a 10 gauge as your primary or only turkey gun. It is so heavy.
I would suggest a pump 12 gauge 3.5".
Two good choices are remington and mossberg but browning is good too.
Really depends on your budget.
Recoil is based on load, velocity and gun weight. although gauge and powder make small differences.
lighter load less recoil
lower velocity less recoil
heavier gun less recoil
bigger gauge less recoil
less powder less recoil
these last two are the smallest.
The 10 can be handloaded to surpass the 12 3.5" but only marginally.
Most factory 10 shells are not as good as better 12 3.5" due to more demand for the 12s
HATER :TooFunny: :TooFunny:
I own a Browning BPS 24" Stalker 10 Ga. The 10 ga. makes a fine turkey specific shotgun. They are heavy but boy do they lay the smack down on those gobblers! I own two 3.5" 12 ga. shotguns also but I really LOVE my BIG TEN!
Get you the 24in single shot 10 got a modes kick and is no heavier than my benelli plus it's a short 24 in gun cause you lose the action being a single shot way more maneuverable ! Plus it out shot my benelli and I like that big boom!!!!!!
I love my 10 gauge Browning Gold!!! Is it needed, no. But I love that big BOOM. I do not try to shoot a turkey passed 40. Besides I don't have an eight bore!!!
I killed a few birds with a BPS 10 years ago. When I was younger I figured bigger is better. I thought I had given it to my brother to use on geese, but found it this past winter in the back of my gun room. I took it out dusted it off and ordered a camo kit for it with the intentions of hunting with it some year. It was heavier than I remembered, so I put it away after a good cleaning. Even though I no longer hunt with it there is a certain mystic about carrying a 10. It kicks less then my 3.5 12. Patterns well enough, but I've never played with multiple choke and shell combo's. I was going to shoot the Nitro's and I'm sure they would have been nasty. As far as killing turkeys go there are many more readily available options with a 12 gauge.
In my humble opinion the guys that pack 10 gauges in the spring have a different state of mind then most of us who don't. It's about spending time with a big bore propped up on your knee not just shooting a bird.
look at nitros website-pellet counts for 12s 230-280 pellet counts for 10s 320 and higher.
sometimes you need to kill them extra deader.....
:drool:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/4nolz/2012turkeycams/tooclose.jpg)
:thanks: for all the info. Might just have to buy a 10 ga. just to hear that " boom " .
Here's why I shoot a 10 this was shot at 40 yards it's just a small part of the whole sheet.
That's sheet metal.
I own both 10ga's and 3.5 12ga's and anyone that tells you a 12ga will out pattern a 10 is cause they don't own one. Is it needed? no. Is it heavy? yes. If you want top performance at a cost of weight this is the gun for you. If you want a light weight gun to kill a bird at a range one should not shoot father then look to the 12 3.5.
Hey Rockhound I am not a 10 gauge hater...except for the weight. I own two, a bps and new england single. They out pattern my encore but they are so heavy!
Quote from: paladin on March 25, 2012, 10:45:15 PM
Hey Rockhound I am not a 10 gauge hater...except for the weight. I own two, a bps and new england single. They out pattern my encore but they are so heavy!
I was just jokin with ya anyway, I just bought mine this year and it is heavy its a bps 10, but i love it, only downfall to me is its not as compact as my 835 but i can manage.
The reasons i bought a 10 gauge are:
1. Ive always wanted one plain and simple
2. I have 3 family members and 2 buddys that shoot 10s and no matter what you shoot ammo is always cheaper in bulk.
3. I was in the markey for a new gun and i walked into a local sports store that is moving locations and they had it on sale marked about 300 bucks off so i walked out with it
and dont forget
4) they dont sell an 8 gauge
:funnyturkey:
thats AWESOME!
I own a 870 3/1/2 inch and a sp10 with nitro shells the sp10 will outpreform any12 ga i have ever seen. But it is very very heavy I only carry it when i hunt fields and don't travel very far.If i am going to travel the hills of Tennessee I grab the 870.
I am interpreting the vantage point and meaning of the question posed is... why go bigger with a 10 if a 12 is more the enough for most peoples needs - Most people in the know now understand that the modern day 12 gauge 3.5 has been souped up to almost match the specs on the sales floor to reach the 10 . Combined with the radical improvements in shotshell and chokes focused on the 12 , it is very plain to see why the 12 /3.5 is the bread winner in the turkey gun marketplace , overwhelmingly popular because of its versatility and new found performance levels .
It would be safe to say these 12/ 3.5 users are in fact "closet 10 gauge users" the performance capabilities of a modern set up 12 /3.5 with matching components far surpasses what anyone was capable of doing with a 10 gauge a dozen years ago ,
But if the focus of the question is why use a 10 ? or where lays the advantage , the only advantage in using a 10 ga for years now {we are talking 10 HTL vs. 12 HTL} is if you choose to shoot Nitro's , or the possibility of the Magblends - other than that , the added weight soaks of recoil and makes for a steady aim - If we are talking {10 lead vs. 12 lead} the 10 in my opinion has a clear advantage -
Quote from: Old Gobbler on March 29, 2012, 08:42:04 AM
I am interpreting the vantage point and meaning of the question posed is... why go bigger with a 10 if a 12 is more the enough for most peoples needs - Most people in the know now understand that the modern day 12 gauge 3.5 has been souped up to almost match the specs on the sales floor to reach the 10 . Combined with the radical improvements in shotshell and chokes focused on the 12 , it is very plain to see why the 12 /3.5 is the bread winner in the turkey gun marketplace , overwhelmingly popular because of its versatility and new found performance levels .
It would be safe to say these 12/ 3.5 users are in fact "closet 10 gauge users" the performance capabilities of a modern set up 12 /3.5 with matching components far surpasses what anyone was capable of doing with a 10 gauge a dozen years ago ,
But if the focus of the question is why use a 10 ? or where lays the advantage , the only advantage in using a 10 ga for years now {we are talking 10 HTL vs. 12 HTL} is if you choose to shoot Nitro's , or the possibility of the Magblends - other than that , the added weight soaks of recoil and makes for a steady aim - If we are talking {10 lead vs. 12 lead} the 10 in my opinion has a clear advantage -
why does lead have the advantage in a ten?
and 10 gauge nitro users are closet 8 gauge shooters.
I blame me owning a BPS 10 on gobbler 74 due to his posting a link to a like new gun for 400 bucks.
Quote from: slickyboyboo on March 29, 2012, 05:04:14 PM
Quote from: Rockhound on March 29, 2012, 01:38:41 PM
Quote from: Old Gobbler on March 29, 2012, 08:42:04 AM
I am interpreting the vantage point and meaning of the question posed is... why go bigger with a 10 if a 12 is more the enough for most peoples needs - Most people in the know now understand that the modern day 12 gauge 3.5 has been souped up to almost match the specs on the sales floor to reach the 10 . Combined with the radical improvements in shotshell and chokes focused on the 12 , it is very plain to see why the 12 /3.5 is the bread winner in the turkey gun marketplace , overwhelmingly popular because of its versatility and new found performance levels .
It would be safe to say these 12/ 3.5 users are in fact "closet 10 gauge users" the performance capabilities of a modern set up 12 /3.5 with matching components far surpasses what anyone was capable of doing with a 10 gauge a dozen years ago ,
But if the focus of the question is why use a 10 ? or where lays the advantage , the only advantage in using a 10 ga for years now {we are talking 10 HTL vs. 12 HTL} is if you choose to shoot Nitro's , or the possibility of the Magblends - other than that , the added weight soaks of recoil and makes for a steady aim - If we are talking {10 lead vs. 12 lead} the 10 in my opinion has a clear advantage -
why does lead have the advantage in a ten?
You can pack more lead in a 10 ga at safe pressures, and with a larger bore, you get less deformation of shot, and therefore a better pattern.
makes since i just never thought about it, so a bigger lead payload would hold a better pattern that that same payload in a 12?
I wanted to know the advantages of 10 ga. I always wanted a 10 ga. and will be getting a new turkey gun soon. The only concern is the weight of the gun itself.
Quote from: robferg on March 30, 2012, 08:31:29 AM
I wanted to know the advantages of 10 ga. I always wanted a 10 ga. and will be getting a new turkey gun soon. The only concern is the weight of the gun itself.
I suggest you go to a gun store and shoulder a BPS, SP10 ,NEF or the like contemplate the performance , and the cost structure of attaining that - and then figure if it is right for you
You can set up a new 870 gun , choke and ammo for less than 600
If you want set up a 10 ga with nitros , you are talking quite a bit more money
Id hold out. Im sure browning will come out with a bps8 :z-guntootsmiley:
I am waiting on Browning to come out with the 10 gauge Citori. Wish they would hurry up.
Dead buck id but one in a heart beat if it had 32"barrels . There hasn't been a new 10ga made though in probably 20yrs+ id Like to see a new 10ga made before I die . Ps id love a win m12 10ga . It would be so maneuverable
My SP-10 is one of the few guns in my collection that I will not sell. I got it at a good price....performs well and owning it takes me back before things got really complicated...LOL! I really don't notice the weight of the gun because I travel light anyways....it all comes down to a matter of preference...dead is dead and you can not kill one with a 10 just as easy as you can with a 12 :z-dizzy:
If I could buy an 8 gauge and it was legal to hunt with I probably would. :turkey2:
can I get an AMEN! :jesus-cross: someone should make an 8...... :OGturkeyhead:
Quote from: 4nolz2 on July 01, 2012, 04:22:18 PM
can I get an AMEN! :jesus-cross: someone should make an 8...... :OGturkeyhead:
A Browning BPS 8 Ga. would be great except you would need a set of wheels on it to move it around! :lol:
I said when we had race cars fast was good faster was better to fast was terrific.
So big is good bigger is better and to big would be terrific is what you saying.
My response would be why not a 10 gauge? I love mine....I don't hunt with it all the time....but its a killer!
My sp 10 tis a pain in the butt to drag around in the woods at times ,I've got used to it by now - the aim is solid dead on - no wobbling
I killed two gobblers with my BPS 10 gauge this spring. My go-to turkey gun is my 12 gauge Benelli SBE, but if I know where I am going to stay awhile and do not intend to walk a lot, I carry my 10. The 10 is simply devestating with Nitros.
Want a lighter 10 with all the perks of boom,boom,boom? Get a gold light..just around the weight of a scoped 1187. They ain't free, but you can find em used. I have a bps and the gold light auto and love them both. Ole bps is money in the bank come turkey killin time. Nice to shoot with plenty of smackdown without the recoil of a 3.5" 12.
That being said..why a 10 ga? Because this is the U.S. of A and some folks like to roll like that. 2nd ammendment and all that...
My dream 10 may be a super black eagle 3..have to be sweet to better my brownings. I'd have to run one to swear it would be my dream 10..but man I'd love to see that.
Carry on and shoot em all.