Turkey Hunting question

nkielborn · November 25, 2006, 03:41 AM

My shotgun holds either 2 3/4 or 3 in shells which would you recommend? Magnum or not? steel vs lead? whats yalls opinions. thanks for the help.

Delynn · November 25, 2006, 08:32 AM

Turkeys are not the tough guys that they are made out to be, if you shoot them right. Get a load that patterns well and only shoot them when they are in range. Either will work just fine. I have a friend who has a 3 1/2 in 12 gauge and he only shoots 2 3/4 shells through it. The recoil is less and he kills as many turkeys as anyone I know (Besides me) LOL just a joke. I like shot sizes 5's, or 6's. Some of my friends are now shooting 20 gauges. You have to learn the range of your gun. Many people make the mistake of shooting to far. Don't let bragging stories talk you into taking 60 yard shoots. Let people tell there stories and then shoot your bird at 20 yards and go home with your turkey. People who preform don't have to brag. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Delynn · November 25, 2006, 08:58 AM

One more thing. I do like the copper coated lead shot. They pattern very well in my gun.

mete · November 25, 2006, 10:38 AM

Far more important is the pattern. You should in any case , always pattern your loads.In NY we must use # 4,5,or 6 shot .Lead is fine .A turkey choke [extra full ] should be used . Hardened , plated or buffered shot will give a more uniform tighter pattern. You are dealing with head shots of course so some type of sights [rifle type] or scope should be used.

FirstFreedom · November 27, 2006, 11:28 PM

Yes, choke selection to get a tight and accurate pattern is more important that load weight. Use an extra-full or ultra-full choke if possible. All things being equal, however, I'd prefer a 3" shell with the heavier shot payload. But a 2.75" that patterns good and tight will beat a 3" shell that doesn't.

And lead, definitely. Not steel.

Capp35 · November 28, 2006, 04:12 PM

I use Winchester's 3" magnum #4 "Turkey Load" with full choke.
It uses copper plated lead. Seems to pattern real well and the lead does not deform.

Twycross · November 28, 2006, 08:28 PM

As mentioned, pattern several different loads and find what your barrel likes best. Steel shot is only for waterfowl, use lead on turkeys. I've been shooting Winchester XX Magnum 3" 2oz #5. YMMV.

November 25, 2006, 03:41 AM	#1
nkielborn Member Join Date: November 15, 2006 Posts: 83	Turkey Hunting question My shotgun holds either 2 3/4 or 3 in shells which would you recommend? Magnum or not? steel vs lead? whats yalls opinions. thanks for the help.

November 25, 2006, 08:32 AM	#2
Delynn Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 45	Shoot the one that patterns well Turkeys are not the tough guys that they are made out to be, if you shoot them right. Get a load that patterns well and only shoot them when they are in range. Either will work just fine. I have a friend who has a 3 1/2 in 12 gauge and he only shoots 2 3/4 shells through it. The recoil is less and he kills as many turkeys as anyone I know (Besides me) LOL just a joke. I like shot sizes 5's, or 6's. Some of my friends are now shooting 20 gauges. You have to learn the range of your gun. Many people make the mistake of shooting to far. Don't let bragging stories talk you into taking 60 yard shoots. Let people tell there stories and then shoot your bird at 20 yards and go home with your turkey. People who preform don't have to brag. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help with anything.

November 28, 2006, 08:28 PM	#7
Twycross Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 1,187	As mentioned, pattern several different loads and find what your barrel likes best. Steel shot is only for waterfowl, use lead on turkeys. I've been shooting Winchester XX Magnum 3" 2oz #5. YMMV. __________________ The test of character is not 'hanging in' when you expect light at the end of the tunnel, but performance of duty, and persistence of example when you know no light is coming. - Vice Admiral James Stockdale, USN (ret.)

November 25, 2006, 08:58 AM	#3
Delynn Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 45	One more thing. I do like the copper coated lead shot. They pattern very well in my gun.

November 25, 2006, 10:38 AM	#4
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Far more important is the pattern. You should in any case , always pattern your loads.In NY we must use # 4,5,or 6 shot .Lead is fine .A turkey choke [extra full ] should be used . Hardened , plated or buffered shot will give a more uniform tighter pattern. You are dealing with head shots of course so some type of sights [rifle type] or scope should be used.

November 27, 2006, 11:28 PM	#5
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Yes, choke selection to get a tight and accurate pattern is more important that load weight. Use an extra-full or ultra-full choke if possible. All things being equal, however, I'd prefer a 3" shell with the heavier shot payload. But a 2.75" that patterns good and tight will beat a 3" shell that doesn't. And lead, definitely. Not steel.

November 28, 2006, 04:12 PM	#6
Capp35 Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2006 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 198	I use Winchester's 3" magnum #4 "Turkey Load" with full choke. It uses copper plated lead. Seems to pattern real well and the lead does not deform.