Favorite Shot Size for shooting Turkey in face?

[cowboycraig]

I am new to turkey hunting and heading out to pattern. Have some #4 Hevi Shot shells from last year... is that a standard with you hard-core Turkey slayers?

Have a Benelli Nova and headed out with full choke in barrel.

Thanks!
Craig


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[jackelope]

Not sure if I'd call myself a hardcore turkey slayer but I've killed a few. I like #5's because they pattern best out of my gun. That's what's most important.

[JoneZz423]

Every gun has its own "personality" it's best if you take several different types of load with ya. I'm still in the process of pattering my gun.


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[carpsniperg2]

5's for me

[kevinlisa06]

I shoot Remington 4x6 3" duplex loads

[270Shooter]

I've shot them with 5's and 6's. Going to pattern some winchester long beard xr #6's soon.

[tgomez]

#5 has always done me well at all ranges to 40 yards, with modified chokes, out of 12 guage pumps.

[Henrydog]

I have had good results with #4's and #5.  But its more important the load patterns IMO

[buckcanyonlodge]

  T shot and 2's .......That my favorite..






only they outlawed it several years ago. I have since used Hevi-Shot blended and nickel coated #5 shot

[WARHORSE]

I am new to turkey hunting and heading out to pattern. Have some #4 Hevi Shot shells from last year... is that a standard with you hard-core Turkey slayers?

Have a Benelli Nova and headed out with full choke in barrel.

Thanks!
Craig




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I shoot the same gun with hevi shots turkey choke best combo i have seen/ found!!!!

[bearpaw]

I like #6 in lead or #7 in hevishot. #6 lead has double the pellet count of #4 lead so there's a much tighter pattern and less chance of a miss. I strongly discourage #4, if you doubt the difference shoot some paper targets with #4 and #6 shot at 40 yards and you will see the difference.

#7 hevishot has roughly twice the bb count as #5 hevishot, but #7 hevishot has the same energy as #5 copperplated lead. Shoot #7 hevishot at 50 yards on a paper target, great patterns. I've seen several turkeys killed at 60-65 yards with 1 load of hevishot.
(you need more open chokes with hevishot or you risk damage to your gun, hevishot makes choke tubes too)

I know hevishot costs a lot but considering what you already spend to go hunting does another $20 matter?

[jasnt]

I like #5's.   I do have some fed 3rd degree I need to test and pattern.

[Duckslayer89]

I like #6 in lead or #7 in hevishot. #6 lead has double the pellet count of #4 lead so there's a much tighter pattern and less chance of a miss. I strongly discourage #4, if you doubt the difference shoot some paper targets with #4 and #6 shot at 40 yards and you will see the difference.

#7 hevishot has roughly twice the bb count as #5 hevishot, but #7 hevishot has the same energy as #5 copperplated lead. Shoot #7 hevishot at 50 yards on a paper target, great patterns. I've seen several turkeys killed at 60-65 yards with 1 load of hevishot.
(you need more open chokes with hevishot or you risk damage to your gun, hevishot makes choke tubes too)

I know hevishot costs a lot but considering what you already spend to go hunting does another $20 matter?

Plus when turkey hunting you only shoot once usually. Make a box of 5 last 5 seasons. Start buying it for duck hunting and it begins to hurt!

[The Gobble-stopper]

Not sure if I'd call myself a hardcore turkey slayer but I've killed a few. I like #5's because they pattern best out of my gun. That's what's most important.

Exactly, every gun is different, every choke, and every brand. Pattern your gun, and any size in legal shot will kill em, if they are in range!

[cowboycraig]

Thanks for all the replies. Will head to the field with a few suggestions and see what works.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I shoot Remington 4x6 3" duplex loads

I shoot these too because that is what patterns best in my go-to shotgun.

[kevinlisa06]

My 835 and the wife's 500 love them


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[Duckslayer89]

Thanks for all the replies. Will head to the field with a few suggestions and see what works.

You could get really creative and use your new muzzleloader man! Buy some loose shot. I don't know if you need a smooth bore though...

[cowboycraig]

I see lead shot for turkey at the store, that isn't legal in WA right?

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[jasnt]

Six is legal

[carpsniperg2]

lead is legal for turkey hunting.

[Deer slayer]

I am not a fan of that Kent.

[cowboycraig]

I am not a fan of that Kent.

Details Details!
Why is that?

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[Deer slayer]

I don't like the way they cycled out of my pump. I don't like the way they patterned. I gave up before I finished the box.

[270Shooter]

I've not heard many good reviews on patterns from those shells. Lead is legal for turkeys. Check out the winchester long beard xr in 3" 5 or 6. If you want to read all about shells go to oldgobbler.com and read those forums. Some of those guys are super in depth about patterning many different loads.
I am not a fan of that Kent.

Details Details!
Why is that?

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[The Gobble-stopper]

Thanks for all the replies. Will head to the field with a few suggestions and see what works.

You could get really creative and use your new muzzleloader man! Buy some loose shot. I don't know if you need a smooth bore though...

Yes I wouldn't use anything but a smoothbore. I am not sure you could find a wad that would fit in a traditional rifled barrel unless you made your own. And the rifling would fling the shot all over the place. I took all three species of wa birds a couple years ago, with a smooth bore muzzleloader. And it was a kick, not only fun, but it kicked. 2 1/2 ounces of shot at a time. I would layer it 4 then 6 then 7 1/2 Talk about a pattern. You couldn't miss. Except for the fact that the bird would jump the sound of the cap.

[The Gobble-stopper]

I am not a fan of that Kent.

Kent works well in my 870, but only for ducks. Makes a great pattern. But not tight enough that I would use it for turkeys.

[The Gobble-stopper]

Your post says you are looking for shot to shoot the turkey in the face. Do not be ashamed to shoot him when his back is turned. I know the westerns on TV frowns on back shooters. But anything is fair game when you go after a wiley turkey...

[bearpaw]

Every gun is different. I've seen guns that shoot Kent, Federal, Remington, or Winchester good. Every gun I've seen that shoots Hevishot does better with Hevishot than with what was previously being shot. What's most important is that you shoot your gun on paper at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 yards. Do this and you will know where your gun shoots, how well you need to be on the bird at various yardages, what cartridges work best, and how far your gun has an effective pattern.

(I've seen many birds missed at 10 yards, shoot your gun at 10 yards and see why.)

I'll attach a turkey target anyone can print out to try their gun to learn what cartridges are best for your gun.

[mossy8352]

For my Mossberg 835 it is Hevi shot Mag blend first and their #7 second both are very good loads for turkey and other critters!

[270Shooter]

here's some patterning I did today. This is 1 3/4 of 6's winchester long beard xr. From my benelli with a carlson .665 choke tube. 209 hits in a 'rough' 10" circle at 40 yards. These shells are the real deal, best pattern I've ever gotten out of my gun.

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[270Shooter]

just for fun I tried the same gun and load at 60 yards, now I don't think I'd really shoot a turkey that far, but it's nice to know that your gun is capable of doing it. I pulled the shot slightly. Counted 92 hits in a rough 10 inch circle.

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[Timberstalker]

270shooter;

All you have to do is your part with that patterning. 

That's good stuff.

[sakoshooter]

I just patterned a few Kent Diamond shot and Winchester Long Beard in #4 and #6 in both 3" and 3 1/2" out of my 30" 870 with a fixed full choke and out of my Beretta A400 Extreme with a Patternmaster Turkey choke. Shot only 3" out of the 870 and both out of the Beretta at 40 and 50 yds. 50 yds is questionable in my opinion based on my results. 40 yds - everything would have been super dead. 6's were by far the best as far as total hits in the neck/head with #6 Kent Diamond shot winning. Both patterned good but the Kent was more even.
I will say this, those heavy loads have some serious recoil when you're only wearing a T shirt, LOL.
If I get a chance, I'll take pics of the pattern results and post em.

[Dan-o]

I like #6 in lead or #7 in hevishot. #6 lead has double the pellet count of #4 lead so there's a much tighter pattern and less chance of a miss. I strongly discourage #4, if you doubt the difference shoot some paper targets with #4 and #6 shot at 40 yards and you will see the difference.

#7 hevishot has roughly twice the bb count as #5 hevishot, but #7 hevishot has the same energy as #5 copperplated lead. Shoot #7 hevishot at 50 yards on a paper target, great patterns. I've seen several turkeys killed at 60-65 yards with 1 load of hevishot.
(you need more open chokes with hevishot or you risk damage to your gun, hevishot makes choke tubes too)

I know hevishot costs a lot but considering what you already spend to go hunting does another $20 matter?

Great thread.

I've only huntied turkeys 5 years, and have been very fortunate to take 4 turkeys.

But I went with 4 shot, thinking bigger is better.

This post from Bear Paw made me go out and buy some 6 shot.   Great logic.   

[C-Money]

Lead Remington or Federal 3" 1 7/8oz or 2oz, 4, 5, or 6s. Hammers them!

[bearpaw]

A new combo load of 5/6/7 in 20 gauge smoked a nice tom this morning. 

[Tjv28]

#5 is the biggest shot size legal in Washingtion state. I was thinking #2 3" mags would give me some extra range, but found out it aint legal!

[benhuntin]

#5 is the biggest shot size legal in Washingtion state. I was thinking #2 3" mags would give me some extra range, but found out it aint legal!

you can use #4


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[Tjv28]

#4 it is! my bad

[dawei]

My wife & I hunt with 20ga guns and use Pb ammunition...
• NEF® Single Shot does best with 3" Federal® Mag-Shok® #6
• Remington® SPR220 SxS patterns best with 3" Remington® Nitro Turkey™ #5
• Mossberg® Mdl 500C Pump shoots 3" Winchester® Supreme® #4

It is all about the capabilities of your ammo-choke-gun combination.

YMMVH

[270Shooter]

30 yards with 1 3/4 Oz 6's. These winchester longbeard XR are devastating. And not one single pellet in the meat.

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[mossy8352]

Mag Blend's 3 inch opening day four out of four tags filled all one shot clean kill good enough for us. A great hunt and quick kills.

[PA BEN]

I've always shot 3" #6, full choke

[alexjm]

I'm a #6 man, but that also fits with the choke diameter I like to shoot (.665).  Different barrels & chokes & diameters like different loads.  I agree with everyone else on here about the winchester xr's.  Just patterned up a new barrel/choke combo on my 870 with 204 pellets in a 10" Circle at 40 yards with 3", 1 3/4oz, #6's.  At 20 it's shooting baseballs.  I've shot federals and remingtons over the years, all with success, but nothing touches the performance of these winchester xr's.  Devastating.