What's your experience with ...

classicioi · 12-30-2018, 04:31 PM

I just bought a VH 20 that letters as having 28" Cyl & Mod. I measured the barrels and the bores are both .617 The right barrel has a 3 1/4" long choke and has .004 choke nearly to the end of the barrel then goes to cylinder bore. The left barrel has .015 choke.

I'm headed to Kansas pheasant hunting this week and don't have the time to pattern it before I go so what is your experience with the performance of a 20 ga cylinder bore choked gun ?

I will be shooting RST 7/8 oz #5's and just curious what to expect from the right barrel.

Thanks

Dean Romig · 12-30-2018, 05:06 PM

My advice would be to bring a different gun for late season pheasants.

.

Ken Hill · 12-30-2018, 06:05 PM

Karl,

If you're hunting over pointing dogs and willing to pick you shots, it will be ok. However, this time of the year, the birds can get pretty wild so you may want a backup gun.

Ken

classicioi · 12-30-2018, 06:16 PM

I should have mentioned I will be taking my Fox AE 16 too but I would like to hunt with the VH 20 also. I don't normally shoot a gun with this configuration so I'm just curious as to what range the right barrel would still be effective at.

I remember Reggie saying in a post a while back that he had a 20 with factory cyl & mod and he really liked it so hopefully others that have experience shooting these factory chokes will chime in.

Thanks

10 bore · 12-30-2018, 06:19 PM

I have found parkers with little choke will patteren what you would think they sould and with tighter choke they pattered tighter than what they should. Every cly choked parker i have had had .003 to.004 of choke and did shoot 40 to 45%. This is what i have seen with all test shots i do at a 30 inch circle at 40 yds.
Also found the bigger shot (6s and up) shoot tighter
Scott

BRDHNTR · 12-30-2018, 07:50 PM

Karl, when i last hunted pheasants in south dakota this time of year, if the birds saw you getting out of the car or if you happened to slam the car door shut, the pheasants would flush wild. That is how skittish they can be this time of the year. As much as i enjoy hunting with my 20, i would take a 12 ga 28 or 30 inch barreled gun out there.

Randy Roberts · 12-30-2018, 07:59 PM

Karl I know how much you like your 20 gauge guns and how you are chomping at the bit to use your new toy. However I think you are going to be disappointed with the results with that choke combination for pheasants this time of the year. Have a great hunt and take some pics for us.

charlie cleveland · 12-30-2018, 08:32 PM

i agree with the other fellows use your 16 if it has a full and modified barrel with some 1 1/4 heavy loads or a 12 ga with full chokes....try the twenty one day also.....charlie

mobirdhunter · 12-30-2018, 11:15 PM

Wear your track shoes and make sure you and your dog break at the shot because you need to get to the bird quickly as pheasants are often ready to run if you don't hit them hard. I agree with Ken, and if you are disciplined, you can use your VH effectively. Not too many folks can withstand the excitement of Mr. Rooster rising, cackle or no cackle, and often shoot first and step off distances later.

TxHuntermn · 12-31-2018, 12:45 AM

This is what that back trigger is for!

Seriously...if you dont completely fold the bird with the tight barrel, thump him again with the cylinder barrel. Stuff some 4’ or 5’s in the right barrel for a swatter load, that bigger shot flys good out of an open tube. You will know if you dont connect with the tighter barrel.