Old 20g hand me down

[YukonC]

My father and law gave me this shotgun a few years ago and I haven't given it any time. It needs some work it has a broken plastic trigger Gaurd but I'm thinking this shotgun could hunt? It can only accept 2 3/4 shells so I'm guessing my range would be real limited.  It has the permanent adjustable choke so no changes can be made there. Going to hit the google machine for a manual on this Mossberg 185kc.


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[captpete]

A friend of mine hunted with one similar to yours about 30 yrs. ago. I watched him kill quite a few ducks with it. He was actually pretty fast at running that bolt action.

[YukonC]

Well I was doing my research I could only fiend a few comments on random hunting forums. Most of them said that back in the 60s bolt action shotguns were considered dangerous so they stay away? Something about the boot assembly failing?? From what I have read this shotgun is mid 1960s.


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[ol bob]

With 2 3/4 tss #9's it will kill any turkey that you should be shooting at.

[YukonC]

With 2 3/4 tss #9's it will kill any turkey that you should be shooting at.

Are you talking Apex brand specifically?


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[paboxcall]

With 2 3/4 tss #9's it will kill any turkey that you should be shooting at.

Exactly. I shoot 2 3/4" loads of TSS #9s out of a 20 gauge. No problem. If you don't handload then Apex loads are a good option as suggested. Will be interesting to see what your poly choke will do at 40 yards.

[YukonC]

With 2 3/4 tss #9's it will kill any turkey that you should be shooting at.

Exactly. I shoot 2 3/4" loads of TSS #9s out of a 20 gauge. No problem. If you don't handload then Apex loads are a good option as suggested. Will be interesting to see what your poly choke will do at 40 yards.

I might try this out when I go pattern my 835 in the next few weeks. I'll see if any are available on the website.


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[davisd9]

Make sure it can handle the pressures. Just because the shell length is right does not mean it was made to handle the pressures of modern shells.

[1iagobblergetter]

I think if I had other guns for turkey hunting I'd go the safe route and just shoot plain old lead that you know it was designed for.
40yds and under its been killing them for years..
Imo if I have to shoot them further than that im not a turkey hunter im a turkey sniper.

[YukonC]

That seems like sound advice.


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[crow]

I hunt with a single shot 20 gauge Savage from the 60's, fixed full choke.
Fed factory HVWT and hand loaded 2 3/4" TSS, like ol bob said it will shoot tight turkey patterns far.

I called Federal, their shells (and my reloads) are safe in the 1960's gun.
contact Foxtrot Ammo (custom TSS loads) ask him about your gun with his load pressures.

also if your polychoke is stuck on modified your gun might shoot a tighter center core pattern with TSS #8 shot, tell him that and see what he recommends.

[paboxcall]

I hunt with a single shot 20 gauge Savage from the 60's, fixed full choke.
Fed factory HVWT and hand loaded 2 3/4" TSS, like ol bob said it will shoot tight turkey patterns far.

I called Federal, their shells (and my reloads) are safe in the 1960's gun.
contact Foxtrot Ammo (custom TSS loads) ask him about your gun with his load pressures.

also if your polychoke is stuck on modified your gun might shoot a tighter center core pattern with TSS #8 shot, tell him that and see what he recommends.

Excellent advice, Crow!   

[mtns2hunt]

I hunt with a single shot 20 gauge Savage from the 60's, fixed full choke.
Fed factory HVWT and hand loaded 2 3/4" TSS, like ol bob said it will shoot tight turkey patterns far.

I called Federal, their shells (and my reloads) are safe in the 1960's gun.
contact Foxtrot Ammo (custom TSS loads) ask him about your gun with his load pressures.

also if your polychoke is stuck on modified your gun might shoot a tighter center core pattern with TSS #8 shot, tell him that and see what he recommends.

Excellent advice, Crow!   

That is good advice. I would also be sure to have it checked out by a competent gun smith. Personally I am not a fan of poly chokes but would consider replacing the poly and having it modified for screw in chokes. Especially if I considered this a project gun.

[trkehunr93]

That guns almost 60 years old, like others have said get it looked at by a trusted gunsmith and even then I would only run field/high brass loads thru it or maybe look into Hevi Shot's classic doubles line of shot if you want a lead free option.  Ammo's come a long ways since the mid-60's and I'm not sure it would be up to TSS.

[ol bob]

That bolt action gun is as strong as or stronger than a break down single shot made today, any gun made after 1950 in the USA has  good steel in it.