Turkey loads?

[simondude]

Just wondering what people's favorite turkey loads are. What you have had the best results with.  I have had the same ammo for like the last 3 years,  but not getting a very good group with it.

[kevinlisa06]

Well I have been shooting the same load for about 10 years Remington 3" 4X6. This weekend I am going to try out the new Winchester Long Beard shells in 3 1/2" 6shot hoping for a better pattern than what I'm getting now.

[bowhunterforever]

I have had good luck with the Remington nitro turkey loads 3' 1/2', 4 shot and they don't cost that much. Good luck

[scottcrb]

i love the hevi shot magnum blend #5,6,7 all in one patterns great just haven't had a chance to kill any birds with them yet. this shot was at 45 yards. Carlson turkey choke 12 gauge benelli super nova

[simondude]

That looks like a great pattern.  I will have to find those somewhere and check them out.  Thanks

[rittem1]

I just patterned in the new Winchester Longbeard 3", size 6, 1 3/4 oz load. They packed the shot in a resin which is supposed to hold the integrity of the shot and results in a tighter pattern down range. I noticed a substantial increase in pellets within my target at 40 yards. Less than $20 per 10 shell box so it isn't too harsh on the wallet.

There are some youtube vids out there that go into greater detail on the technology but it is pretty cool stuff, I think.

[djnoodle]

I just bought a box of Winchester Double-X Turkey Loads in 3.5" No 5 Shot 2 oz.


I'll post results as soon as I can get some down range...

[kevinlisa06]

Just shot the Long Beard 3 1/2" 6shot patterned good I got 26pellets in the dot and 55 total pellets in a 4" circle at 40 yards with my 835 with factory choke .695 I pulled the shot a lil bit is my only complaint.


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[bearpaw]

I've seen hundreds of turkey's killed and the most awesome loads I've seen are 3 1/2" Hevi-Shot #7 1/2, I've seen lots of 50+ yard shots and 3 gobblers dropped at over 60 yards with those loads. Extra tight pattern due to the high shot count and the extra weight of hevi-shot really reaches out there. Been thinking of buying them for myself, in the past I've always recommended and shot 3 1/2" Copperplated #6's.

[simondude]

Thanks for the input guys, appreciate it.

[kevinlisa06]

You just have to find a great combination with your gun choke and shell. It can get spendy when you start buing chokes tho.


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[C-Money]

I have always used Federal, or Remington 3" 2oz loads, in either 4s, 5s, or 6s. Seen them all work, no real preference. I have 5s right now. I shoot the Remington extra full turkey choke, through the 870 or 11-87.

[simondude]

I was shooting some Remington stuff that had a flight control wad. I was shooting a remington 887 with a primos jellyhead choke. I got a new shotgun now so need to get a new choke and shells.

[jblackburn]

I like 3.5 inch Winchester XX 6s (red shell) out of my 835.  My 870 with and Indian Creek choke loves 3 inch Hevi Shot 6s. 

[Fishnfowler]

I am completely old fashioned.  I'm using 2-3/4" shells with 1-1/2 oz high antimony #6.  I reload and tried bunches of different magnum loads and found I get my best patterns with this.  I'm sure that some heavier-than-lead shot would give me better patterns, but out to 40 yards I'm golden with my current pattern and it is dirt cheap to load. 

[MtnMuley]

Well I have been shooting the same load for about 10 years Remington 3" 4X6. This weekend I am going to try out the new Winchester Long Beard shells in 3 1/2" 6shot hoping for a better pattern than what I'm getting now.

After getting low on shells, I've done a bunch of research lately on the best 3 1/2" turkey load.  Not a heavy shot fan at all.  I've had better luck with cheap Winchesters and Remington loads.  I bought those Long Beards in #6 as well, and can't wait to try them out.  All the reviews and videos showed some great down range accuracy.  The one video had a 14 bb's in the head at 70yds!  I can't even see that far, lol.

[turkeydancer]

I like the full show that patience brings, and all but one of my 50+ harvests has been at 7 to 20 yards range  ... one only was at approx 35 yards. Although I can still reach out a lot further for a harvest, I prefer not to and have never had to start depending on the BB gods to manuever the magic BB into a turkey's brain pan.        

[MtnMuley]

I like the full show that patience brings, and all but one of my 50+ harvests has been at 7 to 20 yards range  ... one only was at approx 35 yards. Although I can still reach out a lot further for a harvest, I prefer not to and have never had to start depending on the BB gods to manuever the magic BB into a turkey's brain pan.        

I totally agree with you.  10 yards is pretty common.  I'm a little worried with these new shells at 10 yards.  With a turkey choke, I'm guessing I'm going to have a few embarrassing moments.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Well I have been shooting the same load for about 10 years Remington 3" 4X6. This weekend I am going to try out the new Winchester Long Beard shells in 3 1/2" 6shot hoping for a better pattern than what I'm getting now.

After getting low on shells, I've done a bunch of research lately on the best 3 1/2" turkey load.  Not a heavy shot fan at all.  I've had better luck with cheap Winchesters and Remington loads.  I bought those Long Beards in #6 as well, and can't wait to try them out.  All the reviews and videos showed some great down range accuracy.  The one video had a 14 bb's in the head at 70yds!  I can't even see that far, lol.

70yds shooting up in a tree at a bird on roost is one hell of a hard shot....

[MtnMuley]

LOL, I have no desire to shoot past 40, but just found these new Long Beard XR's impressive compared to most others.

[jasnt]

My shot gun patterns best with my extra full choke and win double X 3"  1 3/4oz #5 copper coated.

[MtnMuley]

My shot gun patterns best with my extra full choke and win double X 3"  1 3/4oz #5 copper coated.

I've killed more turkeys with that exact load than any other.

[jasnt]

My shot gun patterns best with my extra full choke and win double X 3"  1 3/4oz #5 copper coated.

I've killed more turkeys with that exact load than any other.

I've killed 2 with it, both where 20ish yards and both dropped dead with a few wing flaps. I then learned what jelly head meant!!!

[The Gobble-stopper]

I reload my own, 3" mag, mix of 4,5,6 shot. Pattern similar to Scottcrb's hevi shot loads at 40 yards. 25 shells for about $8 bucks. Didn't seem to make any difference in what wad I used. Shooting from a Remington 870 with super extended turkey choke. I believe that choke is not available anymore. I do not have the recipe by my side, but I got it from Remington. Remington gave it to me and said it will only shoot through this gun with this choke and will blow up all others.  It kicks like a mule. But puts the birds down. I won a guided turkey hunting trip to Texas about  ten years ago, with the owners of Federal cartridge. And they were amazed at the patterns, out to distances of 100 yards. They let me try some of their Federal premium loads, fresh off the drawing board and not yet marketed. They worked great. I used those for my first bunch of slams here in Washington. As they gave me a bunch to bring home. I finally ran out. And now went back to the loads Remington had formulated for me and reloaded myself.

[jackelope]

I shoot 3" Remington Nitro Turkey #5 shot with good results. Have killed 4 turkeys out west with that load.

[simondude]

Thanks guys.  I ended up getting the hevi shot magnum stuff.  Hopefully it works out for me cause that stuff is spendy.

[kevinlisa06]

Good luck to ya sure hope it patterns good for ya!


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[dawei]

I shot my first turkey in 1978 while stationed in Virginia. As a young soldier I didn't have a lot of money. My shotgun was an H&R® Mdl 058 12ga single shot 3" Mag 28" barrel with fixed MOD choke. This is the load I used.....
• http://www.winchester.com/Products/shotshell-ammunition/Performance/Super-X-Shotshell/Pages/X12MXC4.aspx

Beginning in 2000 I hung up my 12ga guns becauce of age, infirmities, and injuries and started using 20ga guns. I killed my last Turkey in 2011 hunting w/Jerbear. My gun was a Mossberg® Mdl 500C 20ga pump 3" Mag 26" barrel with a SWARM™ .555" choke using this ammunition.....
• http://www.winchester.com/Products/shotshell-ammunition/Advanced/Double-X/Pages/STH2034.aspx

I was unable to Turkey hunt in 2012 & 2013 because of family obligations but I am cocked, locked, and ready to rock this year! I'll be hunting the areas Jerbear showed me; and I'll be using the same 20ga & load.

Conventional wisdom is to use smaller shot, for increased pattern density; particularlly when using a 20ga because of smaller payloads. I have always had the best performance however, in my guns using #4Pb.

[chuckster]

Just got done patterning. Benelli super black eagle, truglo gobble stopper choke, and 3 1/2 inch Kent diamond shot 2 1/4 oz 5 shot. 102 hits in a 10 inch circle at 40 yards. That should do the trick and not bad for $6.99 shells.

[d.winsor]

I have used Winchester supreme High Velocity #5 shells since 1992, no reason to ever change.

[Skylerb]

Hey everyone! New to the site and love turkey hunting. Anyway just tried out the newish winchester long beard xr. 3" #6.  That is a great round and cheap too compared to the heavy shot.  The picture is from shooting at 40 yards. Supernova with the new primos jellyhead maximum choke tube. Also shot at 20 and 60 yards. Both would be dead birds. I'll post the pics tomorrow.

[irishevox]

using NITRO TURKEY

[sabot92]

I shot two different loads yesterday. Winchesters long beard in 3' number 4 shot and Kent's diamond shot in 3' number 5 shot. Both shot really well at 40 yards. Further then 40 yards the long beards produced much better. I was shooting an easy 3 inch group with the long beards at 45 yards with my Benelli Nova and Pattern master full choke.

[djnoodle]

I had previously patterned my gun out with Remington Nitro 3" #4 1 7/8oz out to 40 yards. At 30 yards it was quite deadly. At 40, it was ok, but clearly reaching it's potential.

Yesterday I shot a Winchester Double-X 3.5" #5 2oz load at 40 yards. I doubled the number of BBs in the critical zone.

I will be hunting with the Winchesters.


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