20 gauge vs 10 gauge for turkey

Hello, I am having a terrible debate with myself. I am wanting to purchase (or have made) a flintlock that will be primarily dedicated to hunting turkey. I cannot decide if a ten guage has a demonstrable advantage over a 20 in killing power. I’ve killed turkey with my Brown Bess and I really would like to keep that bore diameter but with a much shorter barrel length say in the 28”-30” range. A 20 guage would be in the same length.
Does anyone have real world experience with 10 guage in shorter barrel lengths? Would pattern density suffer horribly? Would the volume of shot in a 10 compensate for a broader pattern? I plan on keeping the shots within 35 yards. What say ye?

All but one of my sons turkeys were 20 GA one shot kills. "hunting" is the word, he has yet to shoot further than 25 yds. I once killed 2 jakes with my 10 GA, there is alot or shot whizzing downrange. Mine was an 8 yd shot, DRT no flopping. As I picked him up flopping began 30 yds out in some brush and I located # 2. One per year here in AZ but 25yr + I'm sure the statute of limitations is up and it went to my pop so no waste. Never saw bird # 2 when I shot

If you go with a Colerain turkey choke barrel which is 20ga or a jug choked 20 I don't think the 10 ga will shoot much tighter. I have a jug choked 12 that is not a great performer, I gave a similar barrel jug choked by the same guy to my friend. His barrel will knock a turkeys head for a loop at 40 yards, as tight as any modern turkey choke.

I have shot turkey's with original dbl. bbls in 28" and 30" bbls. in 10,12,16,14,20,and 24 ga. with no choke. And have never felt handicapped by any of them. Most were shot at 20 yards or less. So I think you would be happy with either ga.. Make sure you pattern the gun. Just my experience.

Jerry

I am quite fond of the 20, but have zero experience with turkeys. Have never been a fan of the big “10”.
Opinion only and nothing of any real value.
Walk

A 20ga is more economical (easier to feed) and kicks much less, if that's an issue.

Rocklocks, I've never hunted with a 10 gauge but have with a long barrelled 20, and a 28", 12 gauge. I've hunted enough with each to weigh in....

The bigger bored 12 gauge will produce no tighter turkey patterns than the long barrelled 20. This no matter what loads were tried and I've tried a bunch out of each.

Not wishing to sidetrack your thread but will mention that I've had a suspicion that longer barrelled guns may produce tighter patterns when all else is equal. But then, you are considering a short barrelled, large bore, so my experience may not be so much help to you. Just consider it fodder to chew on....

In any case, you'll not be "undergunned" with a 62 caliber in the turkey woods and fields. Just wait 'em out a bit longer if need be. I love the suspense of traditional hunting.

Best of luck with your decision, and, happy hunting!

Best regards, Skychief.

Thanks for all the comments. As it seems no one really has any experience with the shorter barrelled 10 gauges it appears I will have to do some experimenting on my own! I have a Brown Bess with a 40”+ barrel so I will have to find one with a barrel in the 28”-30” range. I believe Loyalists Arms has a Bess that just might fit the bill. Thanks again.

I've built 2, 10ga fowlers with 46" jug choked barrels. Both put 16 "kill" pellets ina turkey head target at 50 yards.
While I don't advocate shooting a turkey at 50 yards, ya could.
Yes, there is recoil!!

Rocklocks Only said:

I cannot decide if a ten guage has a demonstrable advantage over a 20 in killing power.

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Look closely at the loads some guys use for turkeys in their 20's. I've read accounts of guys using 2 oz of shot in them. I have to guess based on my own shooting that 2 oz from a 10 would give you a smoother pattern than the 20, however that translates into range. If you used a proportionately large charge in a 10, I have to guess it would be even more effective. Of course 3-4 oz of shot in a 10 you'd want to carry into the field would likely kick you senseless.

Why the "need" for such a short barrel?

Brokennock said:

Why the "need" for such a short barrel?

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I won't try to put words in Rocklock's mouth, but as the proud owner of an early Persoli "carbine" version and former owner of a full length Bess, I can speak up. I'm a former owner of the big Bess, cuzz it was just about worthless for ducks and more than truly worthless for upland shooting while marginal for deer in tight cover. Dandy for marching in circles around a parade ground, but a poor substitute for a field gun expected to be versatile.

Meanwhile the short version is about my favorite single-barrel duck gun, and it's put enough ptarmigan and snowshoe hare on the table for a neighborhood. In fact I feed lots of folks with it just cuzz I like it. Haven't hunted turkeys since I was a kid, but with a decent pattern for the job I'd feel no disadvantage for the shorter barrel.

BrownBear said:

I won't try to put words in Rocklock's mouth, but as the proud owner of an early Persoli "carbine" version and former owner of a full length Bess, I can speak up. I'm a former owner of the big Bess, cuzz it was just about worthless for ducks and more than truly worthless for upland shooting while marginal for deer in tight cover. Dandy for marching in circles around a parade ground, but a poor substitute for a field gun expected to be versatile.

Meanwhile the short version is about my favorite single-barrel duck gun, and it's put enough ptarmigan and snowshoe hare on the table for a neighborhood. In fact I feed lots of folks with it just cuzz I like it. Haven't hunted turkeys since I was a kid, but with a decent pattern for the job I'd feel no disadvantage for the shorter barrel.

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Same here, my short Bess is as much as I want to handle in the field. Is it better than my .63, not really.

BrownBear said:

as the proud owner of an early Persoli "carbine" version ... I can speak up.... the short version is about my favorite single-barrel duck gun and it's put enough ptarmigan and snowshoe hare on the table for a neighborhood. In fact I feed lots of folks with it just cuzz I like it. Haven't hunted turkeys since I was a kid, but with a decent pattern for the job I'd feel no disadvantage for the shorter barrel.

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Your bird/hare gun is interesting BB, what gauge/caliber/lock model is your Pedersoli? What other all purpose guns do you like? Thanks! Glen

Since the Bess is an eleven gauge, I think the OP must already be familiar with ten-gauge, as there's not enough difference, to make a difference, between 10 and 11 gauge. I too have the Pedersoli "carbine", (look to the left) and it's a fine turkey gun. Shot my first one at 30-35 yards. At first I wasn't going to fire, thinking: "that's too far for an open-cylinder bore" but it had spotted me, was moving away, so I thought "what the heck" fired on it, and it dropped like a rock. Bessie reaches out just fine. The Brown Bess carbine is a joy to carry, points quickly, handles nice. Looking at the pic, you can see that she's ruff on grouse too.

Alaskan Woodsman said:

Your bird/hare gun is interesting BB, what gauge/caliber/lock model is your Pedersoli? What other all purpose guns do you like? Thanks! Glen

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Mine is an older Pedersoli Bess carbine with a bore running bigger than current manufacture Pedersoli's from what I understand, miking in at .750. It's actually an 11 gauge (compared to .775 of a true 10 gauge and .729 of a 12 gauge). Sue me if you want, but I still get pleasure from calling mine a 10 gauge while knowing I'm wrong. If I say 11 gauge my modern 12 gauge buds look at me crosseyed, but relax and enjoy the show thinking it's a 10.

Right...and they probably then say: "why...thar ain't no sich thing as an eee-leven gauge!"

Brokennock said:

Why the "need" for such a short barrel?

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Lighter weight, easier to carry in thick woods, more convenient to store, (in the gun cabinet rather than leaning next to it!) The shorter barrel is just as historically correct as the long one and as I’m more of a hunter and less of a marcher it fits my persona. Besides it’s a gun I don’t have!

Rat said:

Since the Bess is an eleven gauge

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SHhhhh.......don't say that out loud. Some states limit shotgun hunting to 12 ga. as the largest legal. My Ped. BB is one of those of the size you mention. BTW, I carried it in the woods many times for many years until health and age issues intervened.

I've got a TVM poor boy 20 gauge that sports a 36 inch barrel and no choke. It patterns nicely at 25 yards with a load of 80 grains 2fg and 90 grains shot, with phone book paper as wadding. All you need is a few pellets in the head and neck of a turkey to put him down. IMO you don't need a 10 gauge, a 20 works just fine.