Quote from: DUCK LAB JAKE on May 18, 2015, 12:16:40 PM
Hello all, looking to buy my son an 870 youth compact, wondering what a good starting point would be for a choke and 20 gauge load would be?
Thanks for looking
Using the advise researched on this site and others I put together an 870 20 gauge this year.
I started with the Remington 870 Express Compact which has a 13" LOP unlike the compact youth model which is 12". It also came with a 21" barrel and a modified choke tube.
I replaced the stock with a Remington 20 gauge full size ShurShot stock, didn't need to but I wanted a pistol type grip.
I also "sponge Camo'd" the whole gun. It's the third gun I've camo'd this way and it's very effective. I don't lay it down and walk away. It blends in so well you have to look hard to see it on the ground.
The SSX choke and Hevi-13 #7 gave me the best pattern out to 40 yards using the Williams Fire Sights. It shoots as good or better of a pattern than my 12 gauge 870 using 2oz of Hevi #7.
Took a turkey on the last evening of the season at 30 yards. He flopped his wings a couple times but never got up. I know he's not a monster but, last day, last hour, I took the shot.