shotgun turkey chokes

[huntnfmly]

Howdy
   Looking to take my daughters turkey hunting and wondering if there is such a thing as screw in chokes that are made like a brake that would help with recoil? They have 12 gauge benellis and are use to the lighter loads for clays but
 would like to see about helping them out with heavier turkey loads
Thanks

[CP]

You may find some chokes that make some claim as to reducing recoil but the low pressures of a shotgun (compared to rifle) makes recoil reduction by redirecting pressure ineffective.

Better methods for reducing felt recoil are:

Stock fit
Mercury or mechanical dampers
Recoil pads
Semi-auto vs fixed breech action
Increase the weight of the gun
reduce the load

[Karl Blanchard]

I've been taking youth hunters out for turkey for some years now and one thing I do with my kids is never let them feel a full power load.  They shoot 2 3/4" target loads at 10 and 20 yards for practice until they get comfortable handling the gun.  Then when you go afield you toss a turkey load in and they never know the difference.  When shooting at a bird the adrenaline will absorb all the recoil.  It's been a very effective method for my hunters.  Also stay away from 3 1/2". 

[CP]

I've been taking youth hunters out for turkey for some years now and one thing I do with my kids is never let them feel a full power load.  They shoot 2 3/4" target loads at 10 and 20 yards for practice until they get comfortable handling the gun.  Then when you go afield you toss a turkey load in and they never know the difference.  When shooting at a bird the adrenaline will absorb all the recoil.  It's been a very effective method for my hunters.  Also stay away from 3 1/2".

That’s good advice. 

The effects of recoil are cumulative and turkey hunting generally only requires one shot.  It’s a lot different than taking a repeated pounding while shooting trap or duck hunting.

Also, turkeys are not as hard to kill as ammo companies would have you believe.  You don’t need 2 ounces of shot traveling at 1500+ fps to kill a turkey.

[jasnt]

Could send your barrel to vang comp.
https://vangcomp.com/portfolio-item/demo-sierra-farm/


Do you reload for said shotgun? I have a great load that has worked very well for my niece hunting turkey.  I'd be happy to share with you. The load has killed several turkey last youth season.

[Karl Blanchard]

  as long as you as the father know the capabilities of the gun and load and keep shots inside that effective kill range then you'll be fine. The way I figure it is if the child has lots of time on the gun there going to be more comfortable with it and therefore more accurate with it. If you throw a kid behind a turkey shooting at a target then that kid is probably going to flinch in the field because he got his butt handed to him out on the range.

Same reason I hand load extremely reduced recoil loads for the rifles for my youth hunters.  Time behind the trigger is soooo important for young hunters, so if you can make it a positive and fun experience they are more apt to want to continue it it.

[CP]

Could send your barrel to vang comp.
https://vangcomp.com/portfolio-item/demo-sierra-farm/

Don’t waste your money.  I own a couple sets of ported shotgun barrels and they do nothing to reduce recoil.

The easiest and cheapest method to reduce recoil is to add weight to the stock.  Most shotguns have a hole drilled in the stock.  Put something heavy in that.  Fill an empty shotshell with lead pellets, crimp it and stick it in the hole.  You can probably fit 2 or 3 in there.  Each one will add about 3.5 ounces to the gun.

[jasnt]

Could send your barrel to vang comp.
https://vangcomp.com/portfolio-item/demo-sierra-farm/

Don’t waste your money.  I own a couple sets of ported shotgun barrels and they do nothing to reduce recoil.

The easiest and cheapest method to reduce recoil is to add weight to the stock.  Most shotguns have a hole drilled in the stock.  Put something heavy in that.  Fill an empty shotshell with lead pellets, crimp it and stick it in the hole.  You can probably fit 2 or 3 in there.  Each one will add about 3.5 ounces to the gun.

the vang comp is more than just porting.

[huntnfmly]

Thanks guys for the info and offers to help with handload info.They both shoot .257 Roberts and .50  muzzies and I was thinking they needed the heavy 3 1/2 in. Loads good to know they don't.Any suggestions on factory loads? We are going to be hunting with Jarrod at Ovgs and hoping the shots won't be to long. Thanks

[Karl Blanchard]

I'm pretty sure my shoulder thanks that I have shot every turkey load known to man . I had finally settled on 3 inch 5 shot. It just seemed like a good compromise between weight and pattern density. It really is sort of a trial and error thing because some loads with some chokes out of some guns work well and some don't. I would start with something simple like Kent loads. You can get them at bi-mart for six bucks a box and I've killed quite a few birds with them. I switched to Hevi Shot Magnum blend two seasons ago when I got a new turkey gun and nothing was working. I will tell you, they are absolutely everything they claim to be but they're also very expensive. 

The way I test loads is I shoot one at close range (5-10y) just to make sure POI is on, then I just immediately back it out to 40 yards.  I shoot a 10" circle.  If they don't group at 40, I move on to a new load or new choke. 

[huntnfmly]

Is it usually full choke for turkeys

[CP]

Thanks guys for the info and offers to help with handload info.They both shoot .257 Roberts and .50  muzzies and I was thinking they needed the heavy 3 1/2 in. Loads good to know they don't.Any suggestions on factory loads? We are going to be hunting with Jarrod at Ovgs and hoping the shots won't be to long. Thanks

For recoil sensitive I’d look for something around 1 ¼ oz at 1200 fps #5 or #6 shot – such as Federal Heavy Field loads.  That’s plenty for turkeys at reasonable ranges.  Or even 1 1/8 oz - same recoil as a heavy trap load.

http://www.basspro.com/Federal-Premium-GameShok-Upland-Game-Heavy-Field-Load-Shotshells/product/120829053333616/

[CP]

Is it usually full choke for turkeys

Yes, you want as tight a pattern as you can get.

[jasnt]

The load I do for the kids is 1 1/8oz #6 shot with hogdens long-shot  book lists speed at 1475fps. Idk what it does in my shotgun but with an X full it has taken turkey at 30 yards. I try to keep it closer if possible and normally in the youth season the toms just come in a lot closer ime sometimes too close lol

[tgomez]

I use the modified choke that came with my Remington 870 Express, and can dump em up to 40 yards. I like using 3" #5 Winchester Double X turkey loads. Seems to do me just fine with my 28" barrel.