Who owns both a 12GA and 20GA turkey gun?

[vpsalin]

When/why do you switch between your 12GA and 20GA? Are there certain reasons why you head out in the morning with one or the other?

[gaswamp]

I have both 12 and 20ga  and a 16ga as well which I mainly carry these days.

[Spring Creek Calls]

I have a Winchester 1300 12 ga. and a Remington 870 20 ga. When I hunt out of state I use the 1300 and the 870 20 ga. when hunting MI. I shot 4 gobblers with the 1300 in 3 different states but the most impressive was taken here in MI with the 20 and a load of Heavyweight 7's.

[owlhoot]

Pretty much depends on terrain where hunting and how tough i expect the hunting to be.   Or with 2 tags this spring i took the 12  870 for the the first bird. Then went to the Win. 37 single shot 20 gauge, which needed a bird to its credit, guess the pressure was off?   Skipped the 870 20  which has a pile of birds to its credit and is a spectacular killer and also the other 12 and 20 gauges..  Rotate them , they all deserve a day in the woods.

[R AJ]

Guilty on both counts. No reason needed but if insanity is an excuse I guess that's me as well.
No real preference on either although the 20s are much more pleasurable to shoot and carry.

[reynolds243]

Have both a SBE2 and a M2 20. I like both as the sbe has a steady grip and ff3 on it. If I'm walking s bunch then I take the 20 due to weight and easy of carrying it all day

[njdevilsb]

I have both and carry both each spring.  I don't really have a reason in mind when I carry one over the other.  Usually whichever I choose first will be my choice until I get a bird, then I switch to the other to try and fill my second tag.

[allaboutshooting]

Good thread.

My reasons seem pretty much like everyone else. I normally hunt with whatever gun I've been using most at the time be that a 12 gauge or a 20 gauge. When Doris and I hunt together I normally take a 20 because that's also what she uses.

Frankly, with the right choke/shell and remembering to take only shots where that combo is effective, either will do the job very well as long as I do what I'm supposed to do.

Thanks,
Clark

[owlhoot]

One thing that goes with the multiple gauge grabbers =  make sure you have both shells in the turkey vest.   those 12 gauge shells are just a bit to tight for the 20 gauge chamber

[davisd9]

I carry an 835 as my main gun but in tougher terrain I take my 11-87 20 ga. Fun to tote now and again.


Sent from the Strut Zone

[cluck]

I do own both and hunt with both. I like the lite weight twenty but the 870 12gauge 28 inch barrel has an advantge. Ive killed a ton of turkeys with it. Reguardless of what gun I use Ive learned to carry a full choke in addition to extra full or super full. Sometimes the turkey makes the choice for me. Even a  modified looks good if he's in your face saying take your best shot! They can make me look like a fool. But thats turkey hunting.   cluck

[hs strut]

i hunted with my 870 20 guage for a long time but it dosent see much use since i got my 535 12 guage though it has killed birds just like my 12 has the 20 gets used now when i take someone that cant stand the heavy recoil of my 12 (you might as well put it against the tree instead of your shoulder its that bad)

[CrustyRusty]

I have a sbe2 and a 20 gauge BPS.  I usually use the sbe for my first bird and after the self imposed pressure is off I use the bps..but like others have said, it mostly depends on terrain, weather, mood...

[WildTigerTrout]

I own a 10, three 12's and a 20 ga. shotgun that are dedicated turkey guns. The 10 is a Browning BPS "Stalker" 24". It's very effective but also HEAVY so if I must walk any distance it stays home. The 12's include a Rem. 870 SM, a Benelli SBE I and a Knight TK 2000 ML. I carry the Benelli the most and I feel most comfortable hunting with it. The 20 ga. is a Benelli "Nova". I carry it when I know I will be doing ALOT of walking and covering ALOT of ground.

[drenalinld]

I leave really good 12 gauges at home because M2 20 weighs 5.5 lbs and is lethal further than I will shoot.