16 gauge for turkey?

[Clancy]

I really want to turkey hunt this spring but the only shotgun I have is a bolt action 16 gauge. I was wondering what kind of shot I should use..doesn't seem to be specific turkey loads for them? 

Would really like to use this gun as i inherited it from my grandpa! any feedback would be awesome!

[turkey slayer]

I used a 16 bolt a few years ago and i used 5's heavy shot. I don't think they make turkey load for 16. I have used 10ga to 28 ga. I just wanted to say that I had killed a turkey with every guage of shot gun o ya and 410.

[whack em]

I met a guy back east who used an older 16 ga for thunderchickens but he had a custom turkey choke for it and was shooting #5's.  He told me that he had confidence out to 40 yards with it.  My first concern would be the choke of your gun.  If you have a full choke, and are shooting 4's or 5's, I'd imagine that you'd be ok in the 30 yard range.  Best bet is to get a couple of different loads and pattern your gun to see what it likes best.  Good luck
   
Here's a link that may help:
http://forums.basspro.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=001076

Keep in mind the regs on pg 63 state that "Hunters must use #4 shot or smaller (e.g. #6 shot is legal) to hunt turkey."

[bearpaw]

I would use #6 and test your gun at 10 yard intervals on turkey head targets to determine your effective range, it probably has a fixed choke, but if it has screw in chokes, get an extra full.

[RadSav]

Most of those old bolt action guns are full choke.  So I would be really careful about shooting any type of Heavy Shot ot steel out of it.  Especially since it is a cherished family heirloom.  I've taken nearly all of my turkeys with nickle plated #5's running around 1,300fps.  May be hard to find off the shelf in 16 guage, but I'm sure you could find someone to load it for you.

[dawei]

I really want to turkey hunt this spring but the only shotgun I have is a bolt action 16 gauge. I was wondering what kind of shot I should use..doesn't seem to be specific turkey loads for them? 

Would really like to use this gun as i inherited it from my grandpa! any feedback would be awesome!

In my 1921 Ithaca® Lefever® 16ga SxS I use Federal® Premium® Magnums with 1¼oz copper plated & buffered #4, & 6 shot. These loads are #P165 6 and P165 4. Now these loads are called Wing-Shok® Magnums. They will do the job out to 50yds!

Is your bolt action 16ga a Mossberg® or a JC Higgins? How is your gun choked?

[Clancy]

I really want to turkey hunt this spring but the only shotgun I have is a bolt action 16 gauge. I was wondering what kind of shot I should use..doesn't seem to be specific turkey loads for them? 

Would really like to use this gun as i inherited it from my grandpa! any feedback would be awesome!

In my 1921 Ithaca® Lefever® 16ga SxS I use Federal® Premium® Magnums with 1¼oz copper plated & buffered #4, & 6 shot. These loads are #P165 6 and P165 4. Now these loads ae called Wing-Shok® Magnums. They will do the job out to 50yds!

Is your bolt action 16ga a Mossberg® or a JC Higgins? How is your gun choked?

I believe it's a stevens? and modified choke. not 100% on any of this until i go home and check! I don't have internet at home and I just thought about it and figured I would post really quick while i had the chance! I'll try to run home later tonight and check all the details. sorry for not knowing in advance 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Your be fine ... just have to pattern or gun like mention above and do not take shots that you know your gun is not capable of !

[Clancy]

I would use #6 and test your gun at 10 yard intervals on turkey head targets to determine your effective range, it probably has a fixed choke, but if it has screw in chokes, get an extra full.

Your be fine ... just have to pattern or gun like mention above and do not take shots that you know your gun is not capable of !

Alright ill do that! thanks a bunch.

[turkeydancer]

As said above, try some 4's, 5's, & 6's from different manufactures at 5 to 10 yard intervals (called patterning your shotgun).  Find out what work the best and ensure that the bird is in an effective range for a clean harvest ... I like to have no fewer that 10 BB's in the brain pan or neck vitals.   If you do that, you will be fine ... if you don't, pray hard to the BB gods ....
 

I have friends that swear by their 20 ga's and their kids harvest okay with 28 ga's.
 

[Gobble Doc]

I think it has more to do with waiting for the right shot than the size of the gun.  I hope it gets used.

[Clancy]

I think it has more to do with waiting for the right shot than the size of the gun.  I hope it gets used.

i've only ever turkey hunted once a long time ago but i sorta figured the same thing. Still figured I would ask what I should shoot outa my gun! :p

[kyle78]

My first turkey that I ever killed was with a Rem. 870 in 16ga. I used 2 3/4 in shells in number 6 heavy field loads and never had a problem. It was 18 years ago, long before they had heavy shot.

[fethrduster]

Since your gun has a modified choke, pattern density will start to suffer past 30 yds with anything bigger than 6's.  1 1/4oz 6's would be ideal for your gun in my opinion, but you should definitely pattern it on paper to find out.  Fiocchi golden pheasant nickel plated loads would be worth trying out also.  I know a guy who uses 1 oz. 9's at close to 1500 fps. and he kills more turkeys than all of us put together.   I have several 16's and use them almost exclusively and 6's are more than capable.  Ballistic Products, Midway, etc all carry lots of 16ga ammo choices online.