shotguns?

[bnsafe]

how much difference does over boring really make with a shotgun pattern or just over marketing? Also, does the chrome lined barrel really make a difference. Im debating a cheap mossberg sa 20 turkey or a beretta a300 turkey. Keep in mind Im mid 50s so wont be hunting turkeys forever.

 

[Billy Goat]

A true over bore can help with large pellets. It's way easier to get 1 3/8 oz steel bb to pattern with a 10ga than a 12 GA. When mossberg first released the 3.5" 12 ga, the bore diameter was actually close to 10 ga.

Chrome lined helps with rust in the bore.

If you are going to use lead in a 20ga for turkeys, might have a benefit to an over bore. If using htl (heavier than lead) the smaller pellets you won't find a difference, likely as soft as lead is, you won't notice a difference either way. I think it's place is mainly with larger hard pellets.

 

[bnsafe]

I will def be shooting some form of tss

 

[juju]

The TSS loads have so many pellets, all that isn't necessary. Your standard 20ga loads has as many pellets as three ounces of lead #5s.

Buy whatever suits your preference and budget best. It can work.

 

[EastTX Jess]

The most important thing that most people fail to do with new shotguns is to pattern them. It helps so much, regardless of load, to know what type of shift, if any, you are having with aim point. As far as your original question, I’d go with the Beretta or a Benelli. I’ve yet to shoot a Mossberg that didn’t kick like Jackie Chan.

 

[wildwilderness]

I would go beretta A300, it is already a good shotgun for a fair price. I’ve given up on cheap guns, usually not fun shooting them or owning them. Resale on a beretta will be better as well when you give it up, or if you pass it down a generation it’s much more appreciated as an heirloom.

Really for turkeys I don’t think it’s a big deal as long as you pattern your choke/load to see your max range and poi

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Go with the Beretta and consider just the plain A300; can be used effectively for all bird hunting if desired. It’ll save you $80-100 over the turkey variant.

If I was a hard core turkey hunter, I’d grab a dedicated shotgun for turkey. But I’m not, so I just use my A400. Used an A391 in the Yucatán for my oscellated and had zero issue with barrel length.

 

[Taudisio]

I have both shotguns you described. I don’t have a bad thing to say about either, and they have both killed turkeys. If I had to pick one as a designated turkey gun, I would pick the 20. 50 yards and in with tss and you’re killing birds. Ammo is slightly cheaper, the shotgun is lighter. And my grandfather was bird hunting until he was 92, “You’re only half way there young buck.”

 

[bnsafe]

I went with the beretta a300 turkey. I debated hard on the 12 vs 20. I went with the 12 but know that may have been a mistake. I just felt like it gave me better options should I decide to stay with lead vs tss. If its a mistake I can switch later. now just gotta get it in, hopefully be here friday or saturday.

 

[Wingshooter]

I know TSS is better at killing things but I haven't had any turkeys get up and run from a 1 3/8 oz of #5's, I usually shoot under 30 yards though. I am just too much of a cheapskate I guess. Congrats on the new shotgun I shoot pretty much everything but upland birds with my SBE 2 and it's worked really well if I do my part.

 

[bnsafe]

I have a sx4 for waterfowl, upland, but wanted a dedicated turkey gun. I have always shot 6s most recently xr longbeards. 50 yds and in dead so dont really need tss, but do want it lol. I only hunt public anymore so if I put the work in to get a bird I dont want anything to go wrong if I can help it.

 

[Billy Goat]

I went with the beretta a300 turkey. I debated hard on the 12 vs 20. I went with the 12 but know that may have been a mistake. I just felt like it gave me better options should I decide to stay with lead vs tss. If its a mistake I can switch later. now just gotta get it in, hopefully be here friday or saturday.

If you could find some of the federal HW15 #7, it makes a 12 GA an absolute hammer.


The #6 and #5 good too, but that #7 is good for further than what turkey hunting should be.

Really with a 12 you have good options with lead for turkey hunting. I'm just a wuss and hate carrying the heavy gun, and really hate collecting my thoughts after I squeeze the trigger.

I frequently use an A400 in 28ga with tss, it's pretty sweet, until I put another ding in it. Get pissed at myself.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

I went with the beretta a300 turkey. I debated hard on the 12 vs 20. I went with the 12 but know that may have been a mistake. I just felt like it gave me better options should I decide to stay with lead vs tss. If its a mistake I can switch later. now just gotta get it in, hopefully be here friday or saturday.

Give Federal Third Degree a try. Both my A300 and A400 like it.

A300: Choke RedHead Blackmaxx turkey .665 (lead, copper, hevi-shot).