Which size of shell and shot are you turkey hunting with?

[Bob33]

QUESTION: why use anything larger than #6?  Has anyone experienced #6 shot not penetrating a head/neck?

[carpsniperg2]

some guns pattern better with larger shot with the choke they are using my old 870 express super mag would not shoot 6 or 5's worth crap but was killer with 4's so more about the gun and pattern for me

[bow4elk]

some guns pattern better with larger shot with the choke they are using my old 870 express super mag would not shoot 6 or 5's worth crap but was killer with 4's so more about the gun and pattern for me

I had the same experience with my 870 express super mag.  I found 3" Federal 4's pattern really well as do the 3" Rem Nitro Turkey 6's.  I posted a 30 yard pattern a couple weeks ago, and am going to be using these loads from now on.

[tlbradford]

I lied earlier.  When I checked my safe I was out of the #6 hevishot.  I am using Fiochi Golden Turkey in #5.

QUESTION: why use anything larger than #6?  Has anyone experienced #6 shot not penetrating a head/neck?

Bob, I like the heavier size shot because I shoot at the very lowest point on the neck.  So theoretically half my shot will be thrown into the upper part of the body, and the heavier shot penetrates better.  The benefit is that the base of the neck can't move.  Last year in the spring, I got caught up in watching the turkey's head and aimed at the eyeball.  He ducked at the shot and I missed a 20# stationary bird with a shotgun.     Pretty embarrassing.   

[Intruder]

3" 6s... have used 3 1/2" before but don't really need the extra cost/recoil.  90% of the guns I've seen patterned shoot 6s the best. 

[KimberRich]

QUESTION: why use anything larger than #6?  Has anyone experienced #6 shot not penetrating a head/neck?

My 3 1/2" 6's penetrated great on my birds this year.  Almost to good in some areas!  I shot one of my birds at about 30 yards and with the pattern spreading out a bit at that distance I got a few in the breast.  I hit the bird on the left side and found some shot had completely passed through the left breast and were about 1" deep into the opposite side!!  I couldn't believe it.  So I would say I'm quite happy with the penetration of my 6's but they also pattern the best from my gun.  Like others have said, if my gun shoots 4's better I would use them.

[Bob33]

According to shot size charts I've seen, there are about 225 pellets in one ounce of #6 shot, and 130 pellets of #4.  Since the #4 shotshell starts with about half as much shot as #6, it would have to pattern twice as well to put the same number of pellets on a target.   Is that right?  Can #4 really pattern that much better?

[KimberRich]

According to shot size charts I've seen, there are about 225 pellets in one ounce of #6 shot, and 130 pellets of #4.  Since the #4 shotshell starts with about half as much shot as #6, it would have to pattern twice as well to put the same number of pellets on a target.   Is that right?  Can #4 really pattern that much better?

I agree with that math..      Thats why I shoot 6's.   

If you had 4's that patterned very similar to some 6's and wanted the additional energy generated by them I guess someone could go that route maybe??

[Tom Tamer]

Federal  12ga 3" 2oz. #6's  out of a T'c Encore with a tru Glo ported choke. at 20 yards a direct hit will decapitate the poor bugger. And throws a good patterm out to 50+

Kent with the same stats except only 1 3/4 oz. will do just as good and cost $10 a box less