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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: mnhunter2 on June 01, 2019, 08:50:31 AM

Title: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: mnhunter2 on June 01, 2019, 08:50:31 AM
Has anyone hunted with on of these short barreled turkey guns and found them to handle and shoot better then the longer barreled guns.
Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: zelmo1 on June 01, 2019, 08:52:39 AM
Put your money into a good choke and match ammo to it. Best place to spend $$ in my opinion  :z-twocents:
Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: fallhnt on June 01, 2019, 09:07:50 AM
~21" barrel turkey guns are all I've ever turkey hunted with. Pattern your gun for your load/choke combo. Don't know that a ~21" barrel performs better than a longer barrel. My .410 has a full length barrel and my load/factory choke was good enough to kill a jake with under 20 yards.

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Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: Rapscallion Vermilion on June 01, 2019, 09:55:45 AM
I have found it easier to get the patterns I want with longer barrels, but have always, with a little more effort, been able to get the patterns I want with the shorter barrels. I much prefer the shorter barrels for walking through the woods with a gun in a sling on my shoulder, especially where some ducking under branches is required. Seemed like I'd duck enough to clear my head, but not the end of the barrel on the longer guns.  When set up on a bird, never noticed that much difference.
Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: Spitten and drummen on June 01, 2019, 10:05:36 AM
They work just as well as longer barrel ones. I have patterned both and have hunted both. You may lose a little more velocity with the shorter barrel but with a shotgun and the distances we shoot it is negligible in my opinion. As far as patterns , i cant tell the difference. It comes down to the proper choke in my opinion.
Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: Clydetaylor1 on June 01, 2019, 10:09:12 AM
My 26" barrel  worked fine for 20 years. Got a shorter barrel like it too.
Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: Yoder409 on June 01, 2019, 10:41:24 AM
Absolutely.

The Mrs. has an 870 Special Purpose Turkey.  It's a 3" 12 gauge with a 21" barrel.  Velocity lags a little behind 26" and 28" guns.  Never found pattern to suffer if choked properly.  Barrels under about 24" often respond well to a little tighter choke with the same load as a longer barreled gun. 
Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: sasquatch1 on June 01, 2019, 01:48:52 PM
All I hunt with now in a 20 with tss

Even sent my 24" m2 barrel to sumtoy to be shortened


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Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: palimbhngr on June 05, 2019, 11:15:14 AM
 :turkey2:I'm shooting an 1187 20 ga. with a 21" barrel, with a Primos Jellyhead Choke and Apex TSS #9s and it shoots unbelievable! It patterns extremely well beyond my self imposed limit of 45yards. The short barrel is great when moving through the woods and when set up, and I see no downside.
Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: daddyduke on June 11, 2019, 01:24:56 PM
21" for me. Joy to carry. Can't see any difference in pattern from 26" to 21"
Title: Re: 21” turkey guns worthwhile?
Post by: Gooserbat on June 11, 2019, 06:03:48 PM
These guys thought so...