20 Gauge Turkey Shells?

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Wrangler95

Wrangler95

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Middle Tn
Bought a 20 gauge turkey gun last year and killed two gobblers with it using the high priced shells but they were only 20 yards from me so I would have killed them with the cheaper shells anyway.Im thinking the Winchester Longbeard shells this year in 5 shot.Anyone use the Longbeard shells in their 20 gauge?
 
At that range, if your gun will pattern them, Double X, 5 shot, 1-1/4 ounce.

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Wrangler95 said:
Bought a 20 gauge turkey gun last year and killed two gobblers with it using the high priced shells but they were only 20 yards from me so I would have killed them with the cheaper shells anyway.Im thinking the Winchester Longbeard shells this year in 5 shot.Anyone use the Longbeard shells in their 20 gauge?
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I've been using Remington XLR #4 shot for a long time. Still shooting my Kmart single shot 20ga. Paid$45 for it
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Wrangler95 said:
Bought a 20 gauge turkey gun last year and killed two gobblers with it using the high priced shells but they were only 20 yards from me so I would have killed them with the cheaper shells anyway.Im thinking the Winchester Longbeard shells this year in 5 shot.Anyone use the Longbeard shells in their 20 gauge?
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But, but, but, then you can't kill the strutter a hundred yards away and get your gripngrin!

jk, I agree with you that the magic pixie dust isn't needed for the majority of ETHICAL turkey hunting.
 
scn said:
But, but, but, then you can't kill the strutter a hundred yards away and get your gripngrin!

jk, I agree with you that the magic pixie dust isn't needed for the majority of ETHICAL turkey hunting.
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Yes, I like to get them close, killed two with my crossbow in 2023!
 
so if you killed 2 with them already Im not understanding what the problem is? just use what you have left or buy another box. You already know what it patterns like assuming you patterned it

if the price of the box is the issue then ok then its a money issue. If you bought them the first time why not just get another box?

is the price of 1 or 2 boxes that will last 2-4 seasons really the setback? Its your money so I dont mean that in a way thats saying what you should or should not do with it though. Again if money is tight and its just not something in the budget I get it, IMO its just part of the cost which usually is lower end due to how many seasons it would last me, vs all the other stuff I buy and actually dont need to turkey hunt :)
 
Longbeard 5's were horrible from my 20 gauge 870. Very patchy, the regular XX load was better but I'm not sure I would trust mine to 35yds.


Federal made a 1 5/16"oz load of 6's that would get me to 35yds with an even pattern.


I have a lifetime supply of Federal HW #7's but if I didn't I'd buy tss #9's. The last quite a few birds I've killed have been 27yds and under.


If I had to stress out about a few dollars for ammo then hunting ain't for me.
 
Wrangler95 said:
Yes, I like to get them close, killed two with my crossbow in 2023!
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And there is such a thing as too close. I missed one last year at about 5 feet with TSS 😂. Didn't want to destroy the breasts, so I aimed for neck. I was tore up about it - "what a dumb move on my part". But made me feel a little better that the shot was about the size of a penny as it whizzed by him. I killed one the day before at about 6 yards no problem
 
JCDEERMAN said:
And there is such a thing as too close. I missed one last year at about 5 feet with TSS 😂. Didn't want to destroy the breasts, so I aimed for neck. I was tore up about it - "what a dumb move on my part". But made me feel a little better that the shot was about the size of a penny as it whizzed by him. I killed one the day before at about 6 yards no problem
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Absolutely,I missed one several years ago because it was way too close.Had another one in my face so I body shot him without hitting the breast.
 
I have patterned the LBs 5 and 6. The # 6 shot patterned better but either did really well out to 30 /35 yards. The Federal Grand slam is another turkey shell that patterns great out of my 20 gauge turkey guns.
 
20ga longbeard is $26-35 depends on where you find it. tss is $40-50 if you look hard enough or ask around. Then again idk what's high priced to you. Nothing wrong with longbeard tho with the right choke so he can't head bob out of your pattern.
 
TSS shells are the way to go if you want to take longer shots but are to expensive to be experimenting for the best patterns!!I think I spent around 150.00 dollars last spring on tss shells.Im gonna shoot some Longbeard shells out to 35 yards and see what pattern it throws because I dont take long shots on turkeys,I like to get them close!!
 
I have killed several turkeys with the Kent Diamond Shot lead loads in a 20ga. All within 30 yards. Never had an issue.
 

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deerfever said:
I have patterned the LBs 5 and 6. The # 6 shot patterned better but either did really well out to 30 /35 yards. The Federal Grand slam is another turkey shell that patterns great out of my 20 gauge turkey guns.
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The Federal Grand Slam patterns really well out if my Mossberg. It's a good 30 yard load with a .565-.568 choke.
 
My question is why go for an inferior shell cause it's cheaper when you are already spending way more on gas, time, etc. Go TSS for a couple dollars more a shot.

Yes, I've killed em with an over under with one barrel for close shots that I used longbeard 6s and it did well out to 30. Now I just load and shoot my own tss shells after using apex
 
Get them close like you should and no need of tss shells,I killed two gobblers last year and both were less than 20 yards,most gobblers I kill are very close!!People seem to want to shoot them 50 or 60 yards and this takes all the fun out of it!
 
I'm with wrangler95. Hunting is more fun if you can get close. But, you won't regret having a TSS load in the barrel if that bird of the season holds up at 50 yards.

Our family swears by the Salt Creek Ammo. I got the following from my nephew.

410– 3" 7/8oz 9x10 TSS. Solid to 60 yards with the right choke. I like the Trulock .385 or Patternmaster Code Black Turkey .380

28ga— 2-3/4" 1-1/4oz #9 TSS. Great overall load, especially for recoil sensitive youth and women shooters, but will smack turkeys to 70 yards with the right set up. Shoots best with the Trulock .515 3 step turkey tube.

20ga— 3" 1-5/8oz 9x10 TSS. The sweet spot for 20ga and really turkey hunting in general across the whole gamete. Everything you need in a turkey set up. Indian creek 560, pattern master 565 or 570.
 
TSS is truly impressive. I used 2 3/4 inch #9 on a waterfowl hunt this year, full limit - all but one bird hit the water dead. And I was pass shooting. My son and nephews dropped three swans pass shooting. I watched their videos and it was the same result, didn't move once they hit the water.
 
TN435 said:
I'm with wrangler95. Hunting is more fun if you can get close. But, you won't regret having a TSS load in the barrel if that bird of the season holds up at 50 yards.
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I've never regretted buying heavier than lead ammo regardless of the situation. I've killed quite a few with lead and I still keep a bunch on hand.

Weird stuff happens and killing a turkey is about pattern density and penetration when the shot strikes so I'll pay a couple extra bucks for the insurance.
 
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