How far is the 20 gauge potent to?

[troutfisher13111]

I am a 40 yard Hunter, but everyone misjudges distance. At what point does the 20 lose potency?

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[Greg Massey]

I find this question very hard to answer, lot depends on the kind of gun, barrel, choke and shell...But on this forum it's pretty much the 40 yard rule... with my gun and Federal HW 7 it's up to a 40 yard gun..i'm not going to shoot anything farther than 40 with any gun 12 or 20 ...just my rule...you have to take in consideration the ethical part in taking the turkey...it's not just about thinking you can shoot one if he's 50-60 yards..i guess you could also call it fair play...

[wvmntnhick]

20 is lethal at the same distances a 12 is. Turkey can't tell which barrel the pellet that killed him came out of. With today's chokes and shot options, find a good pattern that suits your needs and let it eat.

[Tom Foolery]

Just like a 12 gauge a 20 gauge is good for as far as the pattern holds up.

[Yoder409]

Just like a 12 gauge a 20 gauge is good for as far as the pattern holds up.

Or a 10 gauge or a .410...................  Yep.

X2

[davisd9]

Mine will kill way father than I will shoot. 40 yards is just a start for it, but I also believe there is a point that you are just sniping and not hunting. I have a self made range that I feel keeps me pure to the sport but it will kill much farther.


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[BowBendr]

Mine will kill way father than I will shoot. 40 yards is just a start for it, but I also believe there is a point that you are just sniping and not hunting. I have a self made range that I feel keeps me pure to the sport but it will kill much farther.


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One of the better ways I've heard it said......

[BandedSpur]

As far as your gun can keep 100 pellets in a 10" circle.

[POSSUM BEND]

Mine will kill way father than I will shoot. 40 yards is just a start for it, but I also believe there is a point that you are just sniping and not hunting. I have a self made range that I feel keeps me pure to the sport but it will kill much farther.


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Well said.  I'm confident that mine will take a turkey cleanly up to 50 yards and probably farther with the Fed. HW #7 shells.  I could make that even farther with the right choke, but I choose not to, as I don't want a golfball sized pattern at 20 yards.  I've been turkey hunting for 15+ years and have never killed one past 41 or 42 yards and have killed very few past 30.  I much prefer to get them inside 25 yards and to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have won the game.  If a bird hangs up at 50 or 60, then we continue the game.  Maybe next hour or maybe next week, but it continues. 
Soapbox warning, but I about lost my mind last week when reading on a local facebook group of a guy that took a 55 yard shot out of frustration and wounded a turkey that he did not recover.  He went on to say in the later comments that he had never patterned his gun at all, much less at those ranges.  But he let his frustration get the best of him.  It was 7:30 am on the 3rd day of our 45 day season!!!   Really?!!!  Sorry for getting off topic. 

Short answer, the 20 ga with the right shells and choke will kill to 80 yards+ with a little luck, but who wants to do that.  Just shoot them with a rifle if that is how you want to hunt.