Turkey Hunting....Ammo Question
Having never hunted turkey, I guess I'll go this weekend with some of my hunting buddies. They go every year, but typically after deer, then small game season, I end up fishing. Anyway, I have a question on ammo choices.
I only have #6 & # 7 1/2 for my 20 gauge and cannot seem to find any #4 locally. Had I thought ahead a bit, I would have bought some on the auction side.
My other choice, is BB steel shot or #6 shot for the 12 gauge.
Will either of theses options (#6 or BB shot) work? BB steel shot is typically a waterfowl load, but is used for geese & such, so I figure it'll do OK for turkey. Is #6 shot too week? I'd bet many turkey have fallen to it though.
Any guidance or opinions would be appreciated.
Aaron
I only have #6 & # 7 1/2 for my 20 gauge and cannot seem to find any #4 locally. Had I thought ahead a bit, I would have bought some on the auction side.
My other choice, is BB steel shot or #6 shot for the 12 gauge.
Will either of theses options (#6 or BB shot) work? BB steel shot is typically a waterfowl load, but is used for geese & such, so I figure it'll do OK for turkey. Is #6 shot too week? I'd bet many turkey have fallen to it though.
Any guidance or opinions would be appreciated.
Aaron
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I use #6 for turkeys. I shoot 3" Winchester Super-x turkey loads in my 12 ga. You just have to be patient and not take too long of a shot. I usually let them get within 25 yards before shooting.
You should be ok, you just need to pattern your gun and the loads. BE PATIENT!0 -
Since you are trying to score head and neck shots, you could
do worse than a heavy load of six's through a full choke.
My son took his last year with a 3" twenty but it took two shots.
I would opt for the 12. Good luck and have fun!!0 -
Some states(MO is one) have shot size restrictions for turkey hunting. Mo limits shot size to #4 or smaller. The logic is to prevent shooting beyond sure killing range and to cut down on accidents caused by heavy shot traveling longer distances and injuring other hunters.
Back when I was guiding turkey hunters, I used #4 exclusively and have a shotgun custom choked specifically for optimum patterns with 2 ounces of #4. Given your choices, I'd suggest using the 12 gauge with at least 1 1/4 ounces of #6 (lead). Without patterning your gun, you have no way of knowing what your patterns are actually doing. You must get close and shoot at the head/neck to properly drop a gobbler expecially with #6.0 -
BB is probably not legal. Most states limit #4 lead or #2 steel.
Turkey loads are almost a damn science or at least I have made it in to one.
Every load shoots different and may not pattern well outside of 20 yards.0 -
The #6's are the way to go. I have an early Remington 870 Express Turkey gun. It has a 21" barrel, with a factory Extra Full Turkey choke tube.
I shoot the Winchester Supreme High Velocity #6's, in the 3" version. These have a 1 3/4 ounce load of shot, not the 2 ounce. I have killed turkey's dead, at 65 yards, and at 30 yards the pattern in about the same size as a bowling ball.
Where a lot of folks get into trouble, as they figure on single pellet energy. It is not a single pellet that kills the turkey, unless you get lucky and put one thru the brain. The pattern hitting the head and neck area, is what usually kills the turkey by breaking it's neck...so it is numerous pellets working in harmony, not a single pellet that counts.
Best0 -
Very hard to kill a turkey at over 40 yards with body shots with # 6 shot.will not penetrate heavy chest feathers . Head & neck shots are what kills turkeys and how dense the pattern is is the big question as distance gets longer. I use heavy loads of #5 in 12 Ga. But during the early part of spring season I use my Valmet 12Ga. over 243with FMJ in the 243 for reaching out and touching them Long Distance. Before the leaves come out Turkeys can see you from long away. once the leaves come out most times you can get them to come closer If you use one of Woodshed87 turkey calls[^][:)] 0 -
If rifles are legal where you are for Spring turkey (legal for fall in florida, but not spring) and you have a very accurate rimfire - 22wmr, 17hmr, or 22lr - just go for head shots.
Otherwise, if you are limited to a shotgun, I'd go for the steel BB shot if legal.0 -
As a couple have already mentioned, you need to pattern your gun first.
For a rough approximation make a fist and bend your wrist down then trace that profile on a piece of paper. Pattern on this at 20-25 yards.
Patterning will tell how dense and even your load shoots and it will also tell you where your gun shoots to. You may find you need to adjust left, right or up, down. Choose the gun and load combo that yields the best pattern.
As tsr1965 stated, you want as many pellets in the head/neck as possible.0 -
My grandfather killed a boatload of toms with a 16 ga shooting #6 shot, keeping his shots at under 30 yards or so. Use your full choke, remember the head/neck is your target, and keep it to 30+/- yards max, and you'll be fine.
As was suggested, it is highly recommended you pattern your gun first to see where the pattern is, and how dense it is, at 25-30 yards. Use the self-drawing like the poster suggested, or google "turkey head pattern target" and print a couple off the internet.0
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