Need opinions on a turkey load, 20 ga

[HogBiologist]

I have a spot to take my 9 year old on a youth hunt this year. She is a small frame 60 pound girl. She has shot my single shot 20 before. I was going to let her shoot a few light skeet loads to get used to shooting at a turkey target. But I want a good 2.75 inch load for a 30 yard and under shot. She shot a .22 good and has shot my 20 gauge. The shotgun is an old Sears and Roebuck single barrel shotgun. So I would prefer lead. But has to be 2.75 inches. I will pattern it, so I know its' potential. What are some good shells with low recoil and a lot of pellets? 

[Greg Massey]

I would use some 1 oz. 6 shot. and just know what the limit of the gun is shooting..The federal heavyweight in a 2 3/4 shell is a great load..but you may not want to have her shooting a 4 dollars shell..I don't see a 9 year old going on her first turkey hunt being able to shot pass 25 yards ..

[Tom Foolery]

2.75" Federal Heavyweight #7's

[Spitten and drummen]

2.75" Federal Heavyweight #7's

×2. Absolutely will hammer a bird.

[wvmntnhick]

2.75" Federal Heavyweight #7's

I'll second this but if you're set on using lead, federal makes a pheasant load in #6 shot. It's about as good as you'll get in lead with the energy to kill a bird at that range. Having said that, any 2-3/4" shell will kill a bird at that distance if it patterns well. I've got a box of estate game loads that would do just fine at that distance.

[Marc]

If you are going with lead, Fiocchi makes a load called Golden Pheasant.

It is a nickle-plated load and holds as good of a pattern as any lead shell I have shot.  I shoot them for chuckar and pheasant, but have patterned them for turkey.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/345785/fiocchi-golden-pheasant-ammunition-20-gauge-2-3-4-1-oz-6-nickel-plated-shot-box-of-25

As a side note, that single-shot 20 gauge with a 1 oz load will have more recoil than many 12 gauge pheasant loads...  Those little light guns can have some punishing recoil.

[Hooter]

From 30yds in, just a plain ole 7.5 dove shell will flatten them like a Magnum.
At 1200fps, they do fine.  Just keep it close.

[Bowguy]

I too like the fed heavy weight 7s. Don't overchoke n give her a forgive able pattern

[opster246]

heavyweight 7's!  Good out to 40 yds with a cheap Primos Tight wad choke in a youth mod 20ga Rem 870.  As always, pattern your gun and know its limits.  $4 a shell is worth it all day long when she gets her first turkey!! Good luck and thanks for taking time to take her hunting, best of luck!

[born2hunt]

From 30yds in, just a plain ole 7.5 dove shell will flatten them like a Magnum.
At 1200fps, they do fine.  Just keep it close.

Yep, I'm taking my 7 year old daughter on her first hunt next weekend and a 1oz 7.5 high brass is what will be in the pipe.
Pretty low recoil with a nice forgiving pattern out to 25 yards which is as far as I would let her shoot anyways.

[Greg Massey]

Some people need to read the guys post about what kind of gun he is using for his daughter ,,it's a old Sears Roebuck single barrel..READ THE POST opster246...

[owlhoot]

You prefer lead so Federal Premium 1 oz. 7 1/2 at 1350 fps.
Copper plated upland load , Pheasants Forever. Wing-shok
used to be federal premium field load before the fancy names for sales.
Or Remington express extra long range 1 oz. 7 1/2 at 1220-1300 fps. (Older load was hotter)

[Gooserbat]

2.75" Federal Heavyweight #7's

This, followed by

If you are going with lead, Fiocchi makes a load called Golden Pheasant.

It is a nickle-plated load and holds as good of a pattern as any lead shell I have shot.  I shoot them for chuckar and pheasant, but have patterned them for turkey.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/345785/fiocchi-golden-pheasant-ammunition-20-gauge-2-3-4-1-oz-6-nickel-plated-shot-box-of-25

As a side note, that single-shot 20 gauge with a 1 oz load will have more recoil than many 12 gauge pheasant loads...  Those little light guns can have some punishing recoil.

[Tail Feathers]

I use these Fiocchi loads for sighting in because they hit the same POI as the Federal HW 7's I hunt with.  I would absolutely use the Fiocchi's if I limited shots to 30 yards or less.

If you are going with lead, Fiocchi makes a load called Golden Pheasant.

It is a nickle-plated load and holds as good of a pattern as any lead shell I have shot.

[owlhoot]

I use these Fiocchi loads for sighting in because they hit the same POI as the Federal HW 7's I hunt with.  I would absolutely use the Fiocchi's if I limited shots to 30 yards or less.

If you are going with lead, Fiocchi makes a load called Golden Pheasant.

It is a nickle-plated load and holds as good of a pattern as any lead shell I have shot.

hey forgot about them , and the do make them in 7 1/2's too. You asked for lots of pellets. 1 oz seems like what your going to get.
Is a slip on Simms pad a possibility? it will help.