Ammunition for turkeys

[Dan-o]

Ok I am going to ask why 3.5.  You all must not like your selves.  3.5 for water fowl yes I see that but turkey have a much harder punch then water fowl loads.  I want to save my shoulder.  3 inch Hevi-Shot Magnum  blend 3" 40 yards all day long

Yea they punch harder but I don't mind. I think it is fun actually.

You can often find a better price on 3.5 due to higher demand of the 3".

Letting that 3.5 rip is a great way to wake up your friends.

  plus for me, I added another 15+ yards to my range by going to 3.5" loads. I can confidently shoot to 60 yards with my setup. Never lost a bird and have rolled several over 50 yards, but I still try to get them closer.

For me, honestly, 3.5" is just because I can.

It's no more expensive than 3"   

I don't notice recoil when shooting at game.
But I bet I'd be a flinching fool if I ever tried to shoot a couple rounds of trap with it. 

[cem3434]

Get a Beretta with the kickoff system and it with change your world when it comes to shooting 3.5" shells. 3.5" is all I shoot for turkeys and a lot of my waterfowl loads are 3.5" as well. I can honestly say, I cant tell the difference in recoil between a 2.75" and 3.5" with my Berettas.

I did make the unfortunate mistake of shooting a Tristar that was a backup/buddy gun just to pattern it and I can tell you would not ever shoot 3.5" shells out of it again. The Berettas have spoiled me as the Tristar absolutely rocked me and I had no idea what I was in for after shooting Berettas with the kickoff system for so long. 

[Russ McDonald]

I would think Benneli's system would be the same.  Only semi auto shotgun have is my .410 all others are pumps.  Wife has a Benneli Nova that shoots smooth as silk.

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[konradcountry]

plus for me, I added another 15+ yards to my range by going to 3.5" loads. I can confidently shoot to 60 yards with my setup. Never lost a bird and have rolled several over 50 yards, but I still try to get them closer.

Yea I can definitely push out a bit farther with them.

Calling them in is better but I like having the option of a long shot when running and gunning.

[cem3434]

I would think Benneli's system would be the same.  Only semi auto shotgun have is my .410 all others are pumps.  Wife has a Benneli Nova that shoots smooth as silk.

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My wife has a Benelli Nova and I ended up buying her a Beretta Ultima specifically for waterfowl hunting. It only shoots 3", but it has noticeably less felt recoil than her Nova shooting 3" shells. Not sure which Nova your wife has, but I'm guessing it doesn't have a recoil deduction system in the stock.

[Russ McDonald]

I would think Benneli's system would be the same.  Only semi auto shotgun have is my .410 all others are pumps.  Wife has a Benneli Nova that shoots smooth as silk.

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My wife has a Benelli Nova and I ended up buying her a Beretta Ultima specifically for waterfowl hunting. It only shoots 3", but it has noticeably less felt recoil than her Nova shooting 3" shells. Not sure which Nova your wife has, but I'm guessing it doesn't have a recoil deduction system in the stock.

I made the mistake of letting her shoot my Mossberg. 410 semi-auto she said she will not shoot anything else and I must buy her one.

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[hunter399]

Gonna look around some more today for those grand slams.
My kid thinks those are the best shells.
Already got him some Winchester double x turkey loads.

You guys will think I'm weak ,I don't shoot anything over 3in.
All my guns take 3in or less ,but I would never shoot 3 1/2.
I'm still on the fence ,but I might just buy my turkey tag this year.
My options are a 20 gauge full choke 3in
12 gauge double barrel with full chokes in both barrel 3 in.
Stoeger upland shotgun I got as a gift,and haven't shot anything with it. I put new chokes in it last year and took it out ,made sure it fires.
3 in out of that double barrel kicks pretty good.
I might use 2 3/4 ,but one 3in to kill a turkey might be ok.

[ghosthunter]

Gonna look around some more today for those grand slams.
My kid thinks those are the best shells.
Already got him some Winchester double x turkey loads.

You guys will think I'm weak ,I don't shoot anything over 3in.
All my guns take 3in or less ,but I would never shoot 3 1/2.
I'm still on the fence ,but I might just buy my turkey tag this year.
My options are a 20 gauge full choke 3in
12 gauge double barrel with full chokes in both barrel 3 in.
Stoeger upland shotgun I got as a gift,and haven't shot anything with it. I put new chokes in it last year and took it out ,made sure it fires.
3 in out of that double barrel kicks pretty good.
I might use 2 3/4 ,but one 3in to kill a turkey might be ok.

I shot 3.5 a few times. I still have a few, but only as a last resort. Guys kill turkeys every year with 2.5 and 3 inch shells. At some point with any game you reach a line. Is it the killing or the hunting you are there for? If rifles were allowed there would be folks hunting turkeys with rifles, but what’s the point in that. I like to turkey hunt to interact with the birds. But maybe that’s why I have never shot one. Call them too close and miss.
One final note, every guy I know that hunted mainly with 300 WM type rifles or shot 3 or 3.5 a lot in latter years ended up with shoulder issues. Something to consider.

[HAGEMANIAC]

Gonna look around some more today for those grand slams.
My kid thinks those are the best shells.
Already got him some Winchester double x turkey loads.

You guys will think I'm weak ,I don't shoot anything over 3in.
All my guns take 3in or less ,but I would never shoot 3 1/2.
I'm still on the fence ,but I might just buy my turkey tag this year.
My options are a 20 gauge full choke 3in
12 gauge double barrel with full chokes in both barrel 3 in.
Stoeger upland shotgun I got as a gift,and haven't shot anything with it. I put new chokes in it last year and took it out ,made sure it fires.
3 in out of that double barrel kicks pretty good.
I might use 2 3/4 ,but one 3in to kill a turkey might be ok.

Not weak at all.  I've all but transitioned everything to a 20g. Waterfowl, upland and this year probably turkey as well. They are light, swing great and more enjoyable to shoot. Get the bird close enough and it doesn't really make much of a difference what you shoot.  Use what works for you sir!

[hunter399]

Here is a pic of the double barrel.
The 20 is a Mossberg pump .
Nothing too special.
I'll have to check the double for function and safety again.
I have to take the kid out for practice and pattern his gun before season. Just put a red dot on his for his birthday.

[hunter399]

Back on topic .......
Ya 3in 20 or 12 gauge turkey load should get the job done.
Is there better ,Heck ya there is.
TSS is like Lord the rings,1 shot shell to rule them all.
But is does come at a cost.

[Russ McDonald]

I can tell you all this is lead is going to become a thing of the past.  Non profits like RMEF and NWTF and others are starting to get onboard with non toxic shot. Even manfactures of ammo are talking about it.  I keep hearing rumblings from above that it is coming.

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[HAGEMANIAC]

I can tell you all this is lead is going to become a thing of the past.  Non profits like RMEF and NWTF and others are starting to get onboard with non toxic shot. Even manfactures of ammo are talking about it.  I keep hearing rumblings from above that it is coming.

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Wouldn't surprise me one bit, Russ.  That's the day I will shoot the same load for Pheasant/Turkey.

[Russ McDonald]

I can tell you all this is lead is going to become a thing of the past.  Non profits like RMEF and NWTF and others are starting to get onboard with non toxic shot. Even manfactures of ammo are talking about it.  I keep hearing rumblings from above that it is coming.

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Wouldn't surprise me one bit, Russ.  That's the day I will shoot the same load for Pheasant/Turkey.

There is a lot of turkey hunters I know out there shooting water fowl loads.  I started out using Remington Super Nitro 5 shot with a 12 ga fixed choke 2 3/4".  Progressed on in guns to 3" using super nitro turkey loads, then hevi-shot magnum blend 12 ga.  Then Federal TSS 7&9.  Now my .410 Federal TSS 9's.  Also have some Federal Diamond Turkey loads in 8.  They are copper.  Kill out to 30.  My stand by loads when I can't find any TSS.  With the 5 boxes of Federal TSS I brought back from Nashville I should be good for a couple years again.

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[salish]

I can tell you all this is lead is going to become a thing of the past.  Non profits like RMEF and NWTF and others are starting to get onboard with non toxic shot. Even manfactures of ammo are talking about it.  I keep hearing rumblings from above that it is coming.

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That's one of the reasons I bought a case of Boss for my 16ga guns. I still have lead and I'll try to use it up before we go to a total lead ban, though.