Remington 870 20 Gauge pattern question

[TBab]

I'm trying to get my fiance into turkey hunting this spring she cant handle to recoil from a 12 gauge on her small frame. I patterned my old 870 with Winchester Double X 3'' #5's and was getting a consistent 58-69 pellet count in a 10in circle at 30 yards with a primos tight wad .570. I've not fooled with a 20 gauge as far as patterning goes and was wondering if that kind of pellet count was tight enough or maybe too loose at that range? Also what would a better shell/choke combination could maybe tighten that patter a bit to make it a 40 yard gun?

TBob

[Arra]

I'm trying to get my fiance into turkey hunting this spring she cant handle to recoil from a 12 gauge on her small frame. I patterned my old 870 with Winchester Double X 3'' #5's and was getting a consistent 58-69 pellet count in a 10in circle at 30 yards with a primos tight wad .570. I've not fooled with a 20 gauge as far as patterning goes and was wondering if that kind of pellet count was tight enough or maybe too loose at that range? Also what would a better shell/choke combination could maybe tighten that patter a bit to make it a 40 yard gun?

TBob

Buy some federal heavyweight #7s and shoot it through the same choke. You will get much better results.

[Tom Foolery]

I have some Fed 7's on the way to test but my 870 with a .570 Tighwad runs between 100-120 with H13 6's and 125-140 with H13 7's if you can't find the Federals.

[gophert]

First of all, with these 20 ga's you've got to ditch the lead shot.  You are really limiting yourself to a 25 yard gun IMO.  Go get Federal Heavywight #7's or HeviShot #7's and you will have a 40 yard gun.  At 40 yards you should be putting 100 holes in a 10" circle minimum. 

[redowl]

 20 gauge remington nitro lead 5s  undertaker choke  38 yards +  =  87 pellets in 8 in by 11 in  square paper  27 pellets in head in neck  nuff said!

[R AJ]

20 means  ditching lead shot? Not if you aren't shooting anything but 40 yard shots .

Try 6s and or 7.5s and 30 yard shots with lead. They are picky guns I agree .

The 20 gauge HTL loads do reach out and make the 40 yard shot a doable thing .

[TBab]

I appreciate the information guys. I'm going to pick up a box of the Federal HW and the hevi-13's. I had thought about the mag blends from hevishot. Ive heard good things about the mag blends. If this 20 gauge starts to impress me i may try it on a big strutter this spring LOL

[surehuntsalot]

some people seem to think that you have to put 200 little holes in a piece of paper to be able to call it a hunting load
DITCH the lead if you want to hunt turkeys with a 20ga is what was basically being said.
lead will kill a turkey in a 20ga and it will do further than 25-30yds.
I took all 3 of my birds last season using Federal #6 1-1/4oz LEAD shells and they were further than 30yds when I shot

[gophert]

some people seem to think that you have to put 200 little holes in a piece of paper to be able to call it a hunting load
DITCH the lead if you want to hunt turkeys with a 20ga is what was basically being said.
lead will kill a turkey in a 20ga and it will do further than 25-30yds.
I took all 3 of my birds last season using Federal #6 1-1/4oz LEAD shells and they were further than 30yds when I shot

Steve,

I hope you know I am not saying you can't kill a bird at 40 yards with lead from my response above.  The OP ask what combo he should use for a 40 yard gun.  Yes he can kill one with lead shot all day at 40, but if he wants to up his chances at that distance, I think we would both agree that some type of HTL shot would increase his chances. To be honest, I have never killed at bird at 40 yards.  100% of every kill I have has been 30 yards and in, but I still do not shoot lead.  It's more of a preference than anything.  I totally respect you guys that hunt with lead, you just have to be better at estimating distances, which I am terrible at.  Thanks for your input.

Tim

[R AJ]

some people seem to think that you have to put 200 little holes in a piece of paper to be able to call it a hunting load
DITCH the lead if you want to hunt turkeys with a 20ga is what was basically being said.
lead will kill a turkey in a 20ga and it will do further than 25-30yds.
I took all 3 of my birds last season using Federal #6 1-1/4oz LEAD shells and they were further than 30yds when I shot

Steve,




I hope you know I am not saying you can't kill a bird at 40 yards with lead from my response above.  The OP ask what combo he should use for a 40 yard gun.  Yes he can kill one with lead shot all day at 40, but if he wants to up his chances at that distance, I think we would both agree that some type of HTL shot would increase his chances. To be honest, I have never killed at bird at 40 yards.  100% of every kill I have has been 30 yards and in, but I still do not shoot lead.  It's more of a preference than anything.  I totally respect you guys that hunt with lead, you just have to be better at estimating distances, which I am terrible at.  Thanks for your input.

Tim

Really good reply Tim and well taken. Even in my reply I was thinking about limiting the lady to a 30 yard shot. There are several combos of chokes that certainly stretch the limits of 20 gauges beyond 30 yards as I stated.

[surehuntsalot]

some people seem to think that you have to put 200 little holes in a piece of paper to be able to call it a hunting load
DITCH the lead if you want to hunt turkeys with a 20ga is what was basically being said.
lead will kill a turkey in a 20ga and it will do further than 25-30yds.
I took all 3 of my birds last season using Federal #6 1-1/4oz LEAD shells and they were further than 30yds when I shot

Steve,

I hope you know I am not saying you can't kill a bird at 40 yards with lead from my response above.  The OP ask what combo he should use for a 40 yard gun.  Yes he can kill one with lead shot all day at 40, but if he wants to up his chances at that distance, I think we would both agree that some type of HTL shot would increase his chances. To be honest, I have never killed at bird at 40 yards.  100% of every kill I have has been 30 yards and in, but I still do not shoot lead.  It's more of a preference than anything.  I totally respect you guys that hunt with lead, you just have to be better at estimating distances, which I am terrible at.  Thanks for your input.

Tim

   I totally agree with you