Inquiring minds would like to hear your thoughts regarding a reliable effective range using a 20 ga. smooth bore and #2 shot.
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Maximum Effective Range
- Thread starter Tom A Hawk
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Twenty five yards. You won’t have trouble with the shot beyond that, but your pattern will always open up till you might not have concentration for a reliable kill.
Dualist 54 has a vid of shooting 2 oz from a twenty gage at a turkey head target. He got two or three shot in kill zone, but badly spread even though it’s a large charge at forty yards.
Another shot may have spread enough to miss or wound.
#2 is going to have plenty of kill power, well out to forty yards or more, but unless your gun is choked it just falls apart.
A shot cartridges may add a few yards, maybe 30 yards, but ml shot gun is short range.
Dualist 54 has a vid of shooting 2 oz from a twenty gage at a turkey head target. He got two or three shot in kill zone, but badly spread even though it’s a large charge at forty yards.
Another shot may have spread enough to miss or wound.
#2 is going to have plenty of kill power, well out to forty yards or more, but unless your gun is choked it just falls apart.
A shot cartridges may add a few yards, maybe 30 yards, but ml shot gun is short range.
^^ With #2 you're after turkey or goose. Larger birds. So if you can keep the pattern density to get three or four pellets in where it is lethal I'd say 30 yards.
So you have to work to get a dense enough pattern.
So you have to work to get a dense enough pattern.
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As others have said, all depends on your pattern. #2 is a good sized shot, and will hold enough energy to be effective on small game out to 30-35 yards. The trick is having a dense enough pattern at that range to collect enough hits to put your target down. Pattern density is what will reduce that range, and ultimately determine how far is too far.
Many Klatch
69 Cal.
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Test it yourself. Put a tin can (not a lightweight soda can) at 25 yards and then shoot with your preferred load. If you can get a few pellets to hit the can and penetrate then you have a good load. Try it again at 30 and 40 yards.
Thanks for your input and responses. Mostly I was concerned about pattern density. My 12 gauge Turkey and Trap is choked full / full. My flint fowler has shown a lot more spread. I ordered a bag of #5's last night. Will see how they do.
Daryl Crawford
50 Cal.
#5 is what I've been shooting. I'm good to 25yds using the skychief method with my current load. I may look at a larger volume of shot (70gr 2f and 90 gr shot) to see if I can stretch my shot farther. In my limited experience, every gun is going to react differently. Have fun experimenting.
I have downed birds beyond 40yds but they are the exception.
I tend to think 30 is the max for me but if I can get it down a few more steps I'm happier.
I tend to think 30 is the max for me but if I can get it down a few more steps I'm happier.
when the weather, and the boss, allow it I am going to pattern my 20 ga. I have #6 chilled and #6 nickel plated, will report on them when done.
Well...we're making progress. I found a small bag of copper plated 4's in my stuff and made up some paper capsules with them. I reduced my powder charge and had encouraging results today at 26 yards. Several dead turkey targets were harvested. The # 5's arrived while I was away and will give those a try this weekend. Also want to make a modification in the paper canisters. Stay tuned.
