Best turkey choke for Remington 870

[Bob33]

I am planning to hunt turkeys this spring for the first time. I have a 12 gauge Remington 870 Express. It has a rifled barrel and a scope mounted on the receiver. I bought it to hunt deer and elk.

I am thinking of buying a Remington 870 shotgun barrel to use for turkeys. I would probably buy a 26" barrel. It comes with a modifed Remchoke. I have read that I need a choke with an extra full pattern so that means I will probably need to buy another choke for the gun.

Which choke should I purchase to go with the barrel?

Thanks for your help.

[jackelope]

I got good patterns out of the Primo's Jelly Head tube. I'm sure you might find something else that works better...but that worked well for me.

[fishunt247]

My younger brother uses the RemChoke Turkey choke in his 870. I've seen tons of patterns from tons of different guns, and it is bar none the best pattern I've ever seen. Here is one of the birds he shot with it. Every time the head is a bloodclotted mess.

[fishunt247]

But like Jackelope, I shoot a JellyHead (out of my Benelli though) and it shoots really well. Not quite as well as that RemChoke though.

[the shootist]

Like every gun that is different even though they my be the same make, model, year, you just have to experiment, and that can get expensive. CURRENTLY I'm using an undertaker with good results but like you always trying, and looking. 

[Phantom Gobbler]

I bought a Tru Glo Gobble-Stopper Choke tube for $20.00 and it throws good patterns with reduced recoil (ported).  I have had good results with everthing I have fed it (except the Federal Flite-Controls which were too tight even at 40 yards)!  

Great choke for the money!

[Bob33]

CURRENTLY I'm using an undertaker with good results

Wow - you mean turkey hunting will lead to my death?

Thanks for all the great tips!

[Phantom Gobbler]

Whatever choke tube you end up with be sure to try out several different brands of shells, shot sizes and pattern them at variable distances.  Good luck and have fun!   

I just put a Sims Limb Saver Reduced Recoil pad on my Mossberg 935.  Those 3.5 inch 12 gauge mags can cause a fellow to potentially develop a flinching habit.  Can't wait to get out to the range and see the difference in felt recoil.

[Bob33]

I plan to try out several different ammunitions.  I am a rifle shooter and understand how much important it is that gun and ammunition like each other.  Everything I have read suggests that #6 shot is best out to40 yards, with #5 second. Pattern density is what matters since you are shooting for the neck and head.  I hope that I can find a choke and ammunition combination that works before my shoulder and wallet are broken.

[Phantom Gobbler]

# 6 Hevi-shot (and other heavier than lead shot), can be lethal to +50 yards in the right choke.  So enjoy your testing and let us know what ends up working best in your gun. 

[TrkyBob53]

I started with an 870 with the factory full choke.  Killed a few birds with it but I wanted a little more distance. Bought a Benelli and put a comp and choke xxxfull choke in it.  Got more distance, and better patterns for me.  My youngest son still swears by the 870 with the factory full choke.  He matches me year for year on birds.  It all depends on how far you want to shoot. How good you are with calling them in close.  Just be sure to pattern your gun with the shot and shells you are going to use.

[Turkeyman]

.665 turkey choke works in my 870 express. Try different loads. Hevi 5 or 6's 

[Whitenuckles]

Indian creek chokes are the best in the world. They have won the NWTF shoot for as long as I can remember.  Oh ya, for the tournament they use an 870!

[Bob33]

Lots of options.  I need to find something I can get locally.  Indian Creek does not list a local source on their website.

I'm going to borrow a friend's 870 barrel and buy a Primos Jelly Head for it.  If I can get a load that patterns well enough at 40 yards to kill a turkey I'll be quite happy. If not then I'll probably try some other chokes.

Thanks for the advice.

[carpsniperg2]

i have used 5 diffrent brands of choke tubes shot5 my birds last year at 38 and 43 yards and it did what its name said it would primose jellyhead i had 50% less pellets in the birds body then in past years at the same yardages. the heads were both packed with pellets and jelly i will never shoot another and the same choke shoot my 4buck/00buck like no other for my yote calling as well 50 yards 80% pellets on paper plate    buy one you will love it!!!!!!!!!

[jackelope]

Lots of options.  I need to find something I can get locally.  Indian Creek does not list a local source on their website.

I'm going to borrow a friend's 870 barrel and buy a Primos Jelly Head for it.  If I can get a load that patterns well enough at 40 yards to kill a turkey I'll be quite happy. If not then I'll probably try some other chokes.

Thanks for the advice.

#5 3" nitro mag turkey loads will get you done.
and they're not terribly expensive.

[Bob33]

Just curious why #5 versus #6 shot?  The idea is to hit the neck or head, isn't it?  Are the 5s in case you miss the neck or do 6s not penetrate the neck?

[jackelope]

just got a good pattern out of them. I might worry that #6's are a little small but the difference is minor.

[fishunt247]

#6's kill turkeys just fine out to 45+ yards. I've seen it happen, oh, about 30 or so times.

[Bob33]

I put a smoothbore barrel on my 870 12 gauge tonight.  I screwed in a Jelly Tube turkey choke.  I have three boxes of ammunition to try.  Will update with results in a couple days.

[bobcat]

I know a lot of people even go down to 7 1/2's for the denser pattern. My first choice would probably be the 6's.

[turkeydancer]

Isn't stae law now 4, 5, or 6 only?  The 4's are larger and have better knockdown power, 6's more bb's, and 5's a good compromise ... but bottom line we always go with what patterns best in our shotguns ....
 

[jackelope]

if I remember the law says nothing bigger than #4's now.

I will say that I have never patterned 6's or anything smaller. I shot 4's and 5's in the nitro mags and 1 other brand I can't remember. I  don't get too crazy with patterning. Once I find one that works well I'm done. I've got 4-5 boxes of the 5's so I'll be set for a while.

[turkeydancer]

Yepper ... if I'm happy with the pattern, I'll also load up with plenty of boxes of shells ... history shows that 4, 5 or 6 are best for getting the job done especially if you like to get them up close and personal like I do ... just doesn't seem to matter much then. 
 

[CP]

if I remember the law says nothing bigger than #4's now.

Yep, stupid law.  It makes about as much sense as having the government tell me that I can wear briefs but not boxers.

[WDFW-SUX]

The states turkey bio told me to use #4's

[Bob33]

I bought a Jelly Tube choke tube yesterday and put it on a barrel that I borrowed from a friend.  I took the slug barrel off my 870 12 gauge and put the Jelly Tube barrel on.  I went to the range today and sighted in the gun at 20 yards. Once the pattern was hitting dead center I moved the target to 40 yards.  I tested three different ammunitions.  The Winchester 3" turkey load (1 3/4 ounces of #6 shot at 1300 ft/second) grouped the best.  I put a life size turkey neck/head target up at 40 yards and shot it with the Winchester load.  I counted 18 pellet holes in the head and neck.

Does that sound sufficient?

[Turkeyman]

That will work go kill a gobbler.

[Phantom Gobbler]

Remember to carry two tags in the NE just in case!!  Nothing wrong with a double!  

Sounds like the birds are generally on the increase. 

[hornhunter]

Isn't stae law now 4, 5, or 6 only?  The 4's are larger and have better knockdown power, 6's more bb's, and 5's a good compromise ... but bottom line we always go with what patterns best in our shotguns ....
 

Turkey regs state this:
• Turkey hunters must use #4 shot or smaller (eg. #6 shot).
 
so 71/2 shot IS legal, hwever I would never use it, my #5 shot has never let me down