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crsides
Jake
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:37 am Posts: 26
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20ga turkey load recommendation
I read of some magic 20 ga shells last year, I am remembering Federal #7's. A new version of heavy shot I think. Several guys were swearing by them.
Can anyone recall exactly was this and is it 3" only or are 2 3/4" available.
thanks
Charlie
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Tue Feb 14, 2017 1:22 pm |
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TScottW99
Boss Gobbler
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:59 pm Posts: 2851 Location: Roanoke
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
_________________ "What gets us jangly is the suddenness of everything. We hunt turkeys because we want to hear them gobble, watch them strut and all that, and we hunt them with shotguns because we want to be close to them when those things occur." - Jim Spencer
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Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:24 pm |
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Vaturkeyhntr
Longbeard
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 1:04 am Posts: 273 Location: Stafford, Va
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
The Federal Heavyweight 3" #7's are absolutely devastating!!!!! I shoot them out of a 870 with 21" barrel with a TRUGLO SSX choke
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Tue Feb 14, 2017 9:59 pm |
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crsides
Jake
Joined: Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:37 am Posts: 26
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
thanks. For the grandson, he'll be 13 this year. I have several 20's in 2 3/4 that he will likely use. I got a 3" 20ga, but its a lightweight O/U and kicks like a mule with 3 inch anything.
Charlie
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Wed Feb 15, 2017 2:15 am |
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Greyghost
King of Spring
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:12 am Posts: 2451 Location: Midland, VA
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
Vaturkeyhntr wrote: The Federal Heavyweight 3" #7's are absolutely devastating!!!!! I shoot them out of a 870 with 21" barrel with a TRUGLO SSX choke I was never a believer in pixie dust for turkey's. But after seeing what a friend of mine did on a Jake on the 26th of Jan last month after Patch broke up a mixed flock. After the break about 1.5 hours I had 2 long beards come down by me (no shot) and a few minutes later my friend shot. When I got to him and the bird the top half of the birds head was missing and the rest of the head and neck was jelly. The distance was 35. some yards. He had a range finder we measured from the blind to bird. The bird did not flop but went right down. He was shooting a 20 ga. 870 using the FHW 3" #7 through a Truelock choke designed for the FHW 7. I am now of a modern 20 ga. side by side and using that load. Earl
_________________ God, Family, Country, Corps and then the Wild Turkey.
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Wed Feb 15, 2017 8:00 am |
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WVBOY
King of Spring
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:33 pm Posts: 3033 Location: Powhatan, VA
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
Greyghost wrote: Vaturkeyhntr wrote: The Federal Heavyweight 3" #7's are absolutely devastating!!!!! I shoot them out of a 870 with 21" barrel with a TRUGLO SSX choke I was never a believer in pixie dust for turkey's. But after seeing what a friend of mine did on a Jake on the 26th of Jan last month after Patch broke up a mixed flock. After the break about 1.5 hours I had 2 long beards come down by me (no shot) and a few minutes later my friend shot. When I got to him and the bird the top half of the birds head was missing and the rest of the head and neck was jelly. The distance was 35. some yards. He had a range finder we measured from the blind to bird. The bird did not flop but went right down. He was shooting a 20 ga. 870 using the FHW 3" #7 through a Truelock choke designed for the FHW 7. I am now of a modern 20 ga. side by side and using that load. Earl That is exactly what I have setup form my son's youth 20 except it is a mossberg .. Trulock Choke and FHW #7 .. I have shot both the 2 3/4 and 3" through it.. and the 3 " pattern better and I my son pays no attention to the difference in Kick when a bird is in range.. I should also note that I carry either it or my other 20 with an adult pull on it more than I do my 12 ga anymore.. my other 20 is a Charles Daly (basically a remington 870) pump setup with a Primos Jellyhead choke and I shoot Nitro #7 hevishot out of it.. but I will most likely go to the Federal HW shells when I run out of the Nitro because I think they shoot just as good and cost a lot less..
_________________ RB
Take me Home Country Roads.
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Wed Feb 15, 2017 10:21 am |
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hawglips
King of Spring
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 12:13 pm Posts: 393 Location: Garner, NC
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
If you want to go the route of loading your own, you got lots of load options from 9/16 oz on up with TSS in 20 ga, not to mention bonafide 40 yd .410 loads.
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Wed Feb 15, 2017 11:19 am |
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tut
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:28 am Posts: 1181 Location: Hamilton, va
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
Heavyweight's in 20 gauge are the real deal. Used them on two birds last year at about 30-35 yards and they were splattered. I'm running a Benelli Nova and using a Sumtoy choke in .570 constriction. Average over 100 hits in a 10" circle at 40 yards. Only problem is they might shoot too tight. I'm shooting the 3" version.
PS. For whatever reason they are hard to find this year. I ended up buying some at Midway.
_________________ "Turkey's have no curiosity"
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Thu Feb 16, 2017 10:11 am |
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tut
King of Spring
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:28 am Posts: 1181 Location: Hamilton, va
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
Greyghost wrote: Vaturkeyhntr wrote: The Federal Heavyweight 3" #7's are absolutely devastating!!!!! I shoot them out of a 870 with 21" barrel with a TRUGLO SSX choke I was never a believer in pixie dust for turkey's. But after seeing what a friend of mine did on a Jake on the 26th of Jan last month after Patch broke up a mixed flock. After the break about 1.5 hours I had 2 long beards come down by me (no shot) and a few minutes later my friend shot. When I got to him and the bird the top half of the birds head was missing and the rest of the head and neck was jelly. The distance was 35. some yards. He had a range finder we measured from the blind to bird. The bird did not flop but went right down. He was shooting a 20 ga. 870 using the FHW 3" #7 through a Truelock choke designed for the FHW 7. I am now of a modern 20 ga. side by side and using that load. Earl Earl, I was considering the same thing only because I like sxs's so much. Was thinking a Fox BST 20 gauge with 3" chambers and full/mod chokes would make a neat little 35 yard gun with the Heavyweights.
_________________ "Turkey's have no curiosity"
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Thu Feb 16, 2017 10:13 am |
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huntinhokie
2 Year Old
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:07 pm Posts: 53 Location: Marion, VA
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
The Federal 3rd Degree in 20 gauge has produced great results on paper and on birds for me. However, they are only offered in 3" loads. I've got to the point where the 20 gauge is my go-to spring gun, lighter to carry, less recoil and the turkeys don't know the difference when it hits them.
_________________ "I've hunted almost everyday of my life, the rest have been wasted"
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Thu Feb 16, 2017 11:14 am |
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brwndg
King of Spring
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 11:01 am Posts: 626 Location: Bluemont, VA
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
Ive been shooting a 12 gauge using the Winchester Longbeard XR number sixes with great success. I am setting up my over/under 686 Onyx 20 gauge to carry this season and now I see the long beards come in a 20 gauge. I think I'm going to give those a try. http://www.winchester.com/products/shot ... fault.aspx
_________________ "If turkeys could smell, you'd never kill one" - Bud Trenis my turkey hunting mentor & dear friend
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Fri Feb 17, 2017 11:33 am |
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Vaturkeyhntr
Longbeard
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 1:04 am Posts: 273 Location: Stafford, Va
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
This is my 30 yard pattern with a 21" 870 shooting 3" Federal Heavyweight #7's……….and a couple victims from last year https://youtu.be/GTy26btrts4[url][URL=http://s150.photobucket.com/user/jbooth21/media/IMG_1057_zpsova3wuwv.jpg.html] [/url]/url] [url][URL=http://s150.photobucket.com/user/jbooth21/media/IMG_1153-1_zpsji0vlin1.jpg.html] [/url]/url] [url][URL=http://s150.photobucket.com/user/jbooth21/media/FullSizeRender_zps6yg1nsat.jpg.html] [/url]/url]
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Fri Feb 17, 2017 12:10 pm |
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Greyghost
King of Spring
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:12 am Posts: 2451 Location: Midland, VA
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
Vaturkeyhntr wrote: This is my 30 yard pattern with a 21" 870 shooting 3" Federal Heavyweight #7's……….and a couple victims from last year https://youtu.be/GTy26btrts4[url][URL=http://s150.photobucket.com/user/jbooth21/media/IMG_1057_zpsova3wuwv.jpg.html] [/url]/url] [url][URL=http://s150.photobucket.com/user/jbooth21/media/IMG_1153-1_zpsji0vlin1.jpg.html] [/url]/url] [url][URL=http://s150.photobucket.com/user/jbooth21/media/FullSizeRender_zps6yg1nsat.jpg.html] [/url]/url] Man I will never forget that hunt of your nephew from the base, that was a monster bird. Good video of the birds coming in. Just need to fire the camera man when the kill shot happened. But the reaction of the young hunter was priceless. Earl
_________________ God, Family, Country, Corps and then the Wild Turkey.
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Fri Feb 17, 2017 4:07 pm |
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Vaturkeyhntr
Longbeard
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2013 1:04 am Posts: 273 Location: Stafford, Va
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
I'll let the cameraman slide this time, it was a flash hunt and we had to hurry to set up. But it will be a SHORT LEASH!!!
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Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:13 pm |
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gobblersforever
Poult
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:18 am Posts: 3
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Re: 20ga turkey load recommendation
I would highly recommend the Hevishot Magnum Blend shells for your 20 gauge
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Sat Mar 11, 2017 11:22 am |
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