Osage Roost
General Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: Mjc21706 on August 05, 2012, 11:33:46 AM
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Ive been toting around an SP-10 for about 20 years now I bought way back when they didnt make 3.5 12 gauges and they didnt make all the custom shells you can get now, and Im just tired of the weight. Ive been a remington gun fan my whole life but always liked the way a benneli fells and also how light weight they are. Id like some opionions on a new 12 gauge.
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New Browning A5 Humpback Autoloader, *up* *up* It should be bad to the bone, I will get one for sure.
http://www.outdoorlife.com/videos/outdoorlife/hunting/2012/01/new-browning-a5-humpback-autoloader
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20 is the new 12. Benelli M2 20 ga.
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20 is the new 12. Benelli M2 20 ga.
X2....20 gauges are the new 12s. They are many great 20 gauges out there. Reminton 870, Weatherby SA08, Benelli, etc you name it. With the HTL commercial loads by federal and hevi shot and the availablity of getting some TSS 9s to handload....who needs a 12 ga.
Some great chokes out there for the 20 ga too. Sumtoy 562, Indian Creek 555, Truglo SSX550, Puregold tempest 555 and 570, you name it.
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You can call me old school. I have used a left-handed Benelli SBE now for about 15 years. I shoot an Indian Creek .665 choke and Nitro 3 1/2 inch 4X5X7s in it. This gun is deadly out to 50 plus yards. I do not like to shoot past 40 but it is nice to know if you misjudge distance your gun will bail you out. Mine is light and a pleasure to carry. If I had to replace it and I could not find another one like it, I would go with the Benelli SBE II. If the TSS #9 loads were commercially available I might re-think this, but right now I think you have to reload to use the TSS.
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20 is the new 12. Benelli M2 20 ga.
*up*
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I am in the camp that is moving more towards the 20....with the rite setup...deadly to 40 and beyond. That being said, I retired the old mossy and bought a new Rem 11-87 couple years ago. Great gun, shoots amazing...but it ain't a lite weight. Really disappointed by the overall weight. Seems like I grab the little custom 20 single more than it these days. I may try the 870 in a custom set up I do myself. I am a Remington man for sure but for whatever reason I just like a single shot or a pump for turkeys. But I have heard nothing but good about the Benelli, specifically the Super Black Eagle. Currently, my thinking is a turkey hunter is better off buying a solid and dependable off the rack base gun then putting the money and effort into it to tweak it EXACTLY the way you want it. Thus a real basic Rem 870 (or...?) / 20-22 inch barrel / custom choke work / pistol grip type stock / DIY camo / a good reflex reddot sight and put the extra money saved towards shells and patterning. Good luck Jeff, tough decision.
http://www.americanhunter.org/articles/best-turkey-hunting-guns/
http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/guns/shotguns/2011/04/best-turkey-guns-shotguns
http://www.gameandfishmag.com/2012/03/21/your-dream-turkey-gun/
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Thanks men for all the insight.....its much appreciated
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I still like a 12. It's hard to argue with an 870. I got a new rig for this last season and love it - a SX3 with a fastfire. I also saw recently on old gobbler a guy selling a sweet benelli I setup with 2 barrels and 2 stocks. Good luck and have fun. I love a new gun purchase mission ;D
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Jeff, I'm thinkimg about getting a 20 gauge, also. So this past season, I used my buddies 1100 20 gauge. I put a cheap turkey choke on it. Man, that thing was lite!! So easy to care in the woods, and hold in position. This is the Tom I shot with it at 33 yards. I was using 2-3/4" number 6's. Dropped it like a sack of taters! Definitely going to a 20 gauge next year, most likely a 870. The 1187 is a little too heavy. Gary (http://i910.photobucket.com/albums/ac308/rocfish13/gobbler.jpg)
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I was in your shoes 15 years ago and wanted a light weight cannon. I had a 11-87 that I used, but everybody knows there a boat anchor. I sold the Remington and pulled the trigger on a new 12ga SBE. I've never had any regrets. If I was to do it today, I would have to look at the 20's hard, caused they have changed so much. I shot a my buddy's new 20ga. rig and I liked it.
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20 is the new 12. Benelli M2 20 ga.
*up*
My pick as well...
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Ive used for many years A500G Browning made in belgium assembled in Portugal the first year Browning made it there been a lot of grouse rabbits hare and turkeys that died in front of that gun i'm still killing with it .
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Charles Daley Field, MM 3.5 12 semi, puts em down. Unless I miss *lol*
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I like the 870 20ga, hard to beat with heavyweight #7's.
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I converted over this past season from 12 to 20ga. I was a 3.5 inch shooter for years. I chipped a tooth one time when i shot a turkey. i started seeing some 20 gauges and got hold of two for myself. I got a reminton 870 and a weatherby SA08. I have 8 tags between 2 states. I filled 7 of the 8 all with 20 gauges, 3 of these birds were long shots, all three dropped like a sack of potatoes and their heads were peppered. Im here to tell you, you dont need a 12 with 3.5s anymore. 20 gauge is lighter, cheaper ammo, and kicks less( man what a joy not to be pounded by that 3.5 inch beast). I personally feel pattern density is just as good as any 12.
This is my 40 yard pattern from my remington with federal heavyweight 7s and and aftermarket choke....no other gun improvements. Stock gun, with turkey choke, and factory ammo. no other barrel work or forcing cones, etc.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/dcrow77/P1010224.jpg)
Here is the same set up at 30 yards....they dont walk away from these.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/dcrow77/P1010255.jpg)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/dcrow77/P1010256.jpg)
And if that is to tight, you can open it up a bit. Same gun, same shells, different choke. 40 yards. a 121 in 40 average. This is the set up I hunted with out of my remington. If you look closely, the pattern is open enough that I could draw 3 seperate 10 inch rings and still had 124, 116, and 124 in there for and average of 121. It gives you a wide margin of error but still crushes the bird. If you also notice down in the corner that this set up put 92% of the pellets in that shell on that poster board.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/dcrow77/P1010243.jpg)
IF you dont like the federal 7s, another excellent factory ammo is the Hevi 13 7s, they dont pattern to shabby either.
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h173/dcrow77/P1010229.jpg)
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That'll work.
TRKYHTR
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good lord thats crazy....I woulda never dreamed of carry a 20 gauge but I sure will now thats very very impressive. anyone need a boat anchor?? my 11.5 pound 10 gauge will work well.
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I was impressed. Believe it or not there are guys that have broken 200 in the 40 with work to their guns and shooting Nitro 7s. I have also seen guys handloading TSS 9s and going over 300. Ive got a buddy with a 20 gauge Encore that is in the 330s with the TSS 9. Im very satisfied with what Im doing with the 7s. If I cant kill with the pattern that I have, I dont need to be shooting at them anyway.
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Jeff,
Here's my 10 gauge pattern at 40 yds. Is it overkill? Probably. If I reloaded and could use the TSS I would probably carry a lightweight 20 gauge. But since I don't I will continue to carry my Benelli SBE and Browning BPS. The 10 gauge is extremely heavy. But it literally stomps a gobbler. I am willing to carry a heavier gun for that satisfaction it gives me.
(http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/hunter2233/Picture-31.jpg)
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You don't need a gun! Here is a Mathews 40 yard pattern. It weighs about 4.5 lbs.
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/drenalinld/40yards.jpg)
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You don't need a gun! Here is a Mathews 40 yard pattern. It weighs about 4.5 lbs.
(http://i1108.photobucket.com/albums/h401/drenalinld/40yards.jpg)
DEAD
Nice shooting.... *cheers*
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Jeff,
Here's my 10 gauge pattern at 40 yds. Is it overkill? Probably. If I reloaded and could use the TSS I would probably carry a lightweight 20 gauge. But since I don't I will continue to carry my Benelli SBE and Browning BPS. The 10 gauge is extremely heavy. But it literally stomps a gobbler. I am willing to carry a heavier gun for that satisfaction it gives me.
(http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/hunter2233/Picture-31.jpg)
I've got a BPS 10 ga as well. That thing is soooooooo heavy I can't lug it around for too long. I swapped to a 20 years ago and love em.
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I prefer the Benelli Super Vinci, Super Black Eagle II, and Beretta A400 Xtreme to all others.
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Jeff, I get 40 yd patterns similar to savduc with my little 20's too. I shoot in 150's+ with Hevishot 7's or somewhere in 135ish with magblend. Those custom loads of 9's and such can really up the numbers. AND I did some testing with the HTL shot (heavier than lead) and the down range energy is impressive. 7's are the new 5's!! I feel totally confident in the 7's. AND I went with a little more open choke for forgiveness. A .570 instead of tighter .555. But no way around it, you can do the same and shoot farther with a 12ga. I keep my old 12 for those long range / open western hunts.
One way to cut down on the weight...go with a single shot. Punishing both ends but hey....when yer looking down the barrel at ole MR. Longbeard... ;)