# of pellets needed for a kill

[Tokul]

What is the optimum number of pellets needed to kill a turkey?  I've heard 8 -10. 

[jackelope]

i'd like to have 20+

[Tokul]

That makes sense.   

[yelp]

One pellet will kill but the ethical objective is a quick death..Jelly head or Decapitation is the most efficient way to take down a tom...therefore minimum of 15 but up to 40 cna be possible depending on distance and choke/shot selection..

[PA BEN]

One

[Gutpile]

They way I understand it is that you want 5-8 in the head/neck. Pattern your gun out to 40 yards or so and if your load gives 5-8 hits in the vitals your good to go. A good choke/shot combo will give far more than that at forty though.

[CP]

Yep, one in the right place will do the job.  But any number of pellets in the wings isn’t much good if the legs still work, and vise-versa.  The breast is very thick and hard to get through to the vitals, don’t expect all the pellets that hit the breast area to get through.  Head and neck is the key, get as many pellets in that area as you can. 

[strutnrut1984]

one in the brain or neck bone, dead bird. but i like to see a heavy mass pattern centered half way up the neck. my best pattern this year is 54 in that area, from a hastings xtra full choke, federal premium mags 12ga. 3 1/2 in. #6s 2 1/4 oz. out of my custom mossberg 835 ultimag.

[Phantom Gobbler]

My shoulder is still sore from shooting 3.5 inch 12 GA loads out of my Mossberg 935 with a Tru Glo Turkey Choke.  My best pattern was using 2 1/4 oz of 6's in Hevi-shot.  At 50 yards I had 8 pellets in the vitals and an even distribution.  Could not get the same pattern with Federal Flite Controls in 6's.

[strutnrut1984]

forgot to mention that was at 35 yds. and i also use a pro diamond scope

[rosscrazyelk]

forgot to mention that was at 35 yds. and i also use a pro diamond scope

Can you do that?

[TrkyBob53]

Yes you can have a scope on a shotgun for turkeys.  I checked with a local wildlife agent a few years back.  I wanted to put one on my wifes shotgun.  He could not find anything that said you couldnt.

[rosscrazyelk]

Guess I know my next purchase then.