Best turkey choke for Remington 870

[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