Why Not An Overbored 20 gauge?

[R AJ]

Since the Mossberg 835 patterns so well, why hasn't there been an over-bored 20? I know about the invector + barrels and Ithacas , Win X series,Pro bore and such . It just seems reasonable that it could help the patterns of the 1 1/4-1 1/2 oz loads in the 20s . The theoretically ideal field load is a 7/8oz. load for a 20 gauge.

Does anyone know if this has been tried?

[R AJ]

Why would you need to overbore a 20 Ga. when it already shoots like this ? 



   vaturkey   

Because not everyone uses TSS #9 shot for turkey hunting for one thing. And if the turkeys  all come in within 20 yards that is another reason , but not very relevant to the question posed.

[vaturkey]

Why would you need to overbore a 20 Ga. when it already shoots like this ? 



   vaturkey   

Because not everyone uses TSS #9 shot for turkey hunting for one thing. And if the turkeys  all come in within 20 yards that is another reason , but not very relevant to the question posed.

RAJ

I dont turkey hunt with TSS. That's only one shell that Goldhunter loaded for me just to see what it would do out of my gun. I'm very happy with the HW 7 Headrush Load of Brian's. If all the turkeys came in within 20 yds I would use a 410.


  vaturkey   

[R AJ]

Va Turkey- I also have some of the 2 3/4" TSS 8x9 shells loaded by one of the pioneers of this craze. The only time I shot at a turkey with this shell the turkey was 9 steps away. My wife killed her first bird with one at about 30 yards and amazingly put less than 10 pellets in it- a near miss!! but a very dead bird. Given the cost and super tight patterns , I'll opt for different loads for my needs.

Perhaps the over boring was done for the 3.5 inch shell and it just happened to improve patterns.
Since the 3.5" 20 gauge project from Hastings went kaput no one that I am aware of pursued the thought any longer.
There is a lot more interest in 3" 20 gauge loads for turkey hunting now than just 5 years ago. Many have also found the 20 to be a super waterfowl gun as well.

With today's loads and choke selections there is really no need to improve the 20 gauge patterns as they are and as you pointed out earlier , the real question is basically, why would anyone ever need an over bored 20 gauge?

Since you aren't supposed to shoot slugs in the over bores that is another nail in the coffin .

[vaturkey]

RAJ

After using a 3 1/2" shell for so long I felt somewhat undergunned using a 20 Ga. Boy was I wrong. IMO that 20 will kill just as effective as the 12. To be honest I dont know if I wiill ever turkey hunt with a 12 ga. again.


vaturkey