I know this is a fishing forum but......

[zara spook]

Ok guys I have a turkey hunting question for you.  I am hunting this year with an old Iver Johnson single shot 20 gauge.  The gun will only accept 2 3/4 in shells and I am not sure what a good 20 gauge 2 3/4" load would be.  The guys in my turkey hunting forum weren't much help but I have much more faith in the bassers.  Any help would be appreciated.

[RottManK9]

Well do you have a choke on it?  If so that will affect the type of shot you can put through it.  

I found that just picking up several boxes of shells and some of thoes paper turkey targets and going to the range and shoot several of each at different targets to check the pattern works best for me.  I'd rather see for my self first hand what the pattern is going to look like at different distances than taking someones word for it.  I'd hate to miss a nice bird because my pattern wasn't as tight as I thought it was.

Know what I mean?

[zara spook]

The gun was around far before the choke tube era..when I say old I mean ancient.  It was my grandfather's.

[RecMar8541]

Is there any markings to indicate choke?  also what is the barrel length?  I would like to say this for you.  I am glad you have the concern to find this stuff out BEFORE the hunt, rather than just go out blasing away as many do.  If you can get me the above info I maybe able to give you an idea of what to expect.

Recon

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Spend some of that moldy money and buy a $#%^& shotgun.

I think we had this discussion quite a while ago, and you still have that old thing.

LOL   ;D

[flechero]

Estate cartridge company- many higher velocity and or heavier shot charged loads.   http://glarp.atk.com/2006_Catalogs/EstateCatalog.pdf  Look at the "high velocity hunting loads"  

Yo can buy it from Able Ammo  http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=190&products_id=73888&osCsid=98345055b68c18dc7525e3c37d8036b9

I like Estate and Able, both great companies

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey Fletchero You are exactly right !

[zara spook]

Spend some of that moldy money and buy a $#%^& shotgun.

I think we had this discussion quite a while ago, and you still have that old thing.

LOL ;D

I know...I know, but ever since Pap died I have wanted to hunt with this thing.

[Dobi]

http://forum.gon.com

it's a Georgia forum, but LOTSA helpful folks there.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Spend some of that moldy money and buy a $#%^& shotgun.

I think we had this discussion quite a while ago, and you still have that old thing.

LOL   ;D

I know...I know, but ever since Pap died I have wanted to hunt with this thing.

That's understandable.

(so you know-Hunting questions are more than acceptable in "everything else".  )

[timmyswetarded]

my uncle has a few old shotguns and most if not all of the "fixed" chokes were full. so, assuming thats what yours is, i recommend the winchester supremes, fairly expensive but when my beads on the turkey i dont want to worry about potency and power. personally i use the 12ga 3 1/2" mag loads in 6's ...so i would recommend the 2 3/4 mags in 6's and you'll need to try for closer shots, within 35 yards....20 yards is perfect

oh and PS i would not put hevi-shot or any other sort of non-lead shot through there, some of the very old guns will get the inside of the barrel ripped up by the high density shot

[Hookemdown.]

my uncle has a few old shotguns and most if not all of the "fixed" chokes were full. so, assuming thats what yours is, i recommend the winchester supremes, fairly expensive but when my beads on the turkey i dont want to worry about potency and power. personally i use the 12ga 3 1/2" mag loads in 6's ...so i would recommend the 2 3/4 mags in 6's and you'll need to try for closer shots, within 35 yards....20 yards is perfect

oh and PS i would not put hevi-shot or any other sort of non-lead shot through there, some of the very old guns will get the inside of the barrel ripped up by the high density shot

What he said, I would recommend hevi shot for a new gun, but not for the older one.  I prefer 6 shot also.

[Ghost Rider]

Most hunters like the 12 gauge due to the fact they can not hit the side of a barn with a German 88 a 20 gauge makes it tougher on you as a hunter....i hunt bird with my youth model 20 gaude still to day and i have all the high power 12 gauges. Also check your loads that you are buying  make sure you are matching it with the game.... but if you are going after turkey i must say step up to a 12 gauge that will take the 3" I dont like autos becasue once again its cheating pumps are the way to go. just my .02

[timmyswetarded]

since we're talking about turkeys, i think most hunters like the 12 gauge because of the range, with a good load/choke the effective range of modern hunters can really "reach out and touch em"....personally i like my shots within 25 yards for the sport