Hmm…I’ll have to check into that once my 3 remaining federal shells are gone. I did try the herter’s 20 gauge offering yesterday. Pic is at 20 steps. I was impressed at the price and the pattern. Steven’s 301 with factory choke.
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2024 Turkey Thread
- Thread starter Bowtie747
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Hmm…I’ll have to check into that once my 3 remaining federal shells are gone. I did try the herter’s 20 gauge offering yesterday. Pic is at 20 steps. I was impressed at the price and the pattern. Steven’s 301 with factory choke.
Any load will perform at 20 yds, I’m talking at 40+. Federal can’t touch these.
Listen for gobbles & look for scratching, it will look like 20 scrapes all within eyesight. If you can find that there should be droppings or feathers…….
I’ve heard of “consistency” issues with them but that’s any load that is loaded in large quantities. I shot them and they didn’t hold a candle to apex loads for me. Could have just been the wrong setup though!
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Apex is a great shell, they patterned wonderfully with my 12ga. However, my 20, and my son’s 410 patterns better with Boss Tom. I haven’t tried Apex in the 28 yet. I’ll probably wait until next yr to try Apex in my 28. I’ve got it dialed in, and turkey season opened yesterday. That means it’s time to start killing, and stop testing.
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I tested out the 20 gauge double with the TSS#9 Federals today. It was terribly windy so the test was hard to set up. The paper kept blowing over. Anyway, this is what I got. The right barrel (improved) at .605 choke gave 146 pellets in 10 inches at 40 yards. The left barrel (Modified) at .595 gave 74 pellets in 10 inches at 40 yards. This was opposite of what I expected. I expected the tighter choke to deliver a tighter group. Weird.
I'm not sure what to make of that. I'd like to try Apex #9 out of it sometime. I looked today on the way back and my local place had sold out of 20 gauge. They had 10, 12, and 410.
Also, I have a pretty good bruise from the TSS and the 3" magnum 6's and 4"s I also tested in the little double. I hate patterning shotguns.
I'm not sure what to make of that. I'd like to try Apex #9 out of it sometime. I looked today on the way back and my local place had sold out of 20 gauge. They had 10, 12, and 410.
Also, I have a pretty good bruise from the TSS and the 3" magnum 6's and 4"s I also tested in the little double. I hate patterning shotguns.
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At3 tactical aro on a meadow creek mount
I think heavy tss loads are worse than my 460 Wby. I use a lead sled always when patterning turkey loads
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They are on par with the recoil of several elephant guns I have shot including the 458 Lott and Magnum and 470 Nitro Express. My main turkey gun is brutal because it is very lightweight, chambered for 3 1/2 shells, and the stock has a fair amount of drop. It's a Mossberg 535 12 gauge. It's great to carry, and no big deal when I am shooting a turkey, but I am very happy to never pattern it again. I also have switched to 3 inch 2 ounce loads of my home rolled TSS. I can't tell the difference in lethality between the 3 and 3 1/2 in the woods and it saves me a 1/2 ounce of TSS.
I've been out three days and have yet to hear a single gobble. The first day I walked maybe 4 miles, the second day I put in between 7 and 8 miles and yesterday I trekked about 4 miles. I just don't think the turkeys are gobbling much yet. A couple of my friends who hunt good private have reported the same.
Saw 3 strutters coming out from the boat ramp at the river Saturday. They will prolly be dead before season opens though.
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I always shoot them out of the low turkey chair just as I would in the woods. I want the same sort of hold for patterning as I will have when it is for real. It might not make a difference, but it makes me feel better, lol. Well, except for my shoulder.
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Why do you think they will be dead before season? Poaching, drowning, predators?
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I believe most people will find that 3” loads pattern better than 3-1/2”. 3-1/2” seem to blow out the pattern. My shoulder sure loved me the day I figured that out. I used to launch 2-3 cases of 3-1/2” a yr at waterfowl.
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Strutting within copper plated 6's range of the black top is not generally good for their health around here.
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I hear ya, lead poisoning.
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Yes, the 3 1/2 is really cramming a 10 gauge load in a 12 gauge bore. In a 3 inch shell with #9 TSS there are already so many pellets I don't think it makes any real difference. the 3 inch shells kick marginally less, kill just as well, and are less costly.
After shooting my buddies 410 with the tungsten loads vs my 12ga with some 3" magnum lead I think my son gonna get a a single shot 410 for his birthday that dad can borrow every once in a while....maybe more expensive but it won't hurt as much hahahaha
Par for the course in my neck of PA. Birds are extirpated from the region. Most depressing thing I've ever seen