Post by: Craig on February 01, 2016, 08:19:47 AM
Post by: lokidog on February 01, 2016, 08:31:10 AM
Post by: The Gobble-stopper on February 01, 2016, 01:56:26 PM
Post by: mossy8352 on February 01, 2016, 02:01:16 PM
Post by: CP on February 01, 2016, 02:13:19 PM
Post by: CedarPants on February 01, 2016, 02:17:28 PM
Post by: CP on February 01, 2016, 02:54:38 PM
Do you need the most effective pattern to kill a turkey, no you don’t, but it doesn’t hurt either.
Post by: CedarPants on February 01, 2016, 03:56:22 PM
No argument that a 3” or a 2 ¾” or even a 2 ½” shell will kill a turkey. But if you want to squeeze the most effective pattern out of your gun your shell length should be the same as your chamber length. That’s why you won’t find any 3” or 3 ½” chambers on competitive trap or skeet guns.
Do you need the most effective pattern to kill a turkey, no you don’t, but it doesn’t hurt either.
Agreed. I should clarify my statement to include that the birds killed with 3 inch shells have been shot from a gun chambered for 3 inch, and the birds killed with 3 1/2 inch shells have been shot from a gun chambered for 3 1/2 inch.
Post by: Jonathan_S on February 01, 2016, 04:00:02 PM
No argument that a 3” or a 2 ¾” or even a 2 ½” shell will kill a turkey. But if you want to squeeze the most effective pattern out of your gun your shell length should be the same as your chamber length. That’s why you won’t find any 3” or 3 ½” chambers on competitive trap or skeet guns.
Do you need the most effective pattern to kill a turkey, no you don’t, but it doesn’t hurt either.
Agreed. I should clarify my statement to include that the birds killed with 3 inch shells have been shot from a gun chambered for 3 inch, and the birds killed with 3 1/2 inch shells have been shot from a gun chambered for 3 1/2 inch.
Hey CP! Good to see you on here, been a minute.
Post by: mossy8352 on February 01, 2016, 04:38:05 PM
No argument that a 3” or a 2 ¾” or even a 2 ½” shell will kill a turkey. But if you want to squeeze the most effective pattern out of your gun your shell length should be the same as your chamber length. That’s why you won’t find any 3” or 3 ½” chambers on competitive trap or skeet guns.
Do you need the most effective pattern to kill a turkey, no you don’t, but it doesn’t hurt either.
Agreed. I should clarify my statement to include that the birds killed with 3 inch shells have been shot from a gun chambered for 3 inch, and the birds killed with 3 1/2 inch shells have been shot from a gun chambered for 3 1/2 inch.
Never noticed that on the pattern board but it does make sense.
Post by: wadu1 on February 01, 2016, 04:53:34 PM
No argument that a 3” or a 2 ¾” or even a 2 ½” shell will kill a turkey. But if you want to squeeze the most effective pattern out of your gun your shell length should be the same as your chamber length. That’s why you won’t find any 3” or 3 ½” chambers on competitive trap or skeet guns.All my competitive shotguns all shoot 3" with the exception on my Browning 525? Bottom line shoot what every patterns the best in your gun. YFI my Winchester SX2 target gun likes the Remington 3" turkey loads the best with a X-full choke.
Do you need the most effective pattern to kill a turkey, no you don’t, but it doesn’t hurt either.
Post by: Craig on February 01, 2016, 05:10:17 PM
Remington Versa max - up to 3 1/2"
Benelli M2 field gun - up to 3"
Post by: lokidog on February 01, 2016, 06:02:02 PM
Post by: Dan-o on February 01, 2016, 09:22:57 PM
Post by: tgomez on February 02, 2016, 05:12:26 PM
Post by: WAPatriot on February 02, 2016, 05:49:16 PM
Post by: Wacenturion on February 02, 2016, 07:20:58 PM
3" or even 2 3/4", I see no reason to shoot the more expensive, higher recoiling rounds, but I'm not trying to take turkeys at 45+ yards either.
Completely agree. Any decent shotgun shooting 2 3/4" and 3" shells that one has patterned and knows the gun's limitations, will effectively make clean kills on turkeys. Aftermarket chokes are a good investment.
I sometimes think that the bigger is better option is a path to thinking one can make, as Loki said, 45+ yard shots. Many of which can result in crippling. So many times the desire to harvest seems to override the thought process. If the bird is coming in, let him come to a clean kill range. If not, let him play again another day. :twocents:
Post by: Stickerbush on February 02, 2016, 07:45:46 PM
Post by: 270Shooter on February 02, 2016, 08:18:36 PM
Trying to figure out what new gun to buy. One only shoots up to 3" shells and one will shoot up to 3 1/2" shells. So I can't check patterns yet. Most likely stick with 3" unless there is a huge difference in the 3 1/2 if I choose the Remington.I shoot a left hand m2 exclusively. It's a far superior gun than the versamax. I haven't cleaned it all duck season and I hunt a lot. Killed a lot of birds and it just keeps on banging. I usually clean it once or twice a year and it's good to go. I've never had a problem with 3" 2 Oz 6's for turkeys with it.
Remington Versa max - up to 3 1/2"
Benelli M2 field gun - up to 3"
Post by: kevinlisa06 on February 02, 2016, 09:14:45 PM
Post by: Fishnfowler on February 03, 2016, 10:52:29 PM
Post by: RadSav on February 04, 2016, 12:17:12 AM
Post by: Wanttohuntmore on February 04, 2016, 05:02:11 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on February 04, 2016, 05:53:25 AM
What do you like for Turkey? 3" or 3 1/2". and why?
I prefer a longer beard than 3.5" :dunno: ;)
Truthfully I've only taken turkeys with archery tackle but in general, I have found that the 3.5" loads are crazy expensive and not much better than the 3" at killing crows. I coyote hunted with 2.75" and 3" loads for a long time before 3.5" became the standard.
Post by: follow maggie on February 26, 2016, 06:23:03 PM
Post by: Teachers Pet on March 04, 2016, 08:14:10 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on March 04, 2016, 08:36:24 PM
Post by: ICEMAN on March 06, 2016, 08:07:29 PM
Been shooting in my driveway lately with my daughter, readying for the season. My 3.5 shells today put 30 pellets in the bird at 40 yards today. Not too bad. I am thinking of backing up to 45 and 50 just to see what it can do. I was happy with my pattern at 40....
Post by: C-Money on March 07, 2016, 11:00:50 AM
Post by: The Gobble-stopper on March 07, 2016, 11:30:42 AM
I don't turkey hunt but federal did a study of 3.5 and they basically have 50% more recoil with negligible ballistic benefits. Food for thoughtI was with Federal in Texas when we were patterning shells, verses length and gun. We shot Remington, Benelli, and Beretta. We took virtually a whole day shooting thousands of rounds. 2 3/4. 3, 3 1/2. At ranges from 20 to 60 yards. We had the same results. No difference as a whole between the 2 longer shells. Other than recoil. Although there were some loads that shot better in each gun. Some shot better with larger loads. Some smaller. My personal Rem. 870 shined during all the tests. And came out near the top. In fact part of the trip was a turkey hunt. And they had me shoot a turkey at 102 yards. And 1 3/4 ounces of lead, in a 3 inch shell. Put it down without a wiggle. So I still believe that patterning a gun might improve you shots at longer ranges. Because we saw a diversity at longer ranges. With sometimes holes in the patterns. And to really kill a turkey you need to put as much shot in the neck to head area as you can. Heart and lung shots are just to hard to get to through all those feathers and meet. And such a small target. And sure you can break wings or legs and chase the turkey down. But why not do it right? Closer shots though would not matter, they are going to blow his head off. So Length doesn't really come into play. Only practice will help you there.
Post by: 270Shooter on March 07, 2016, 08:12:48 PM
Post by: cowboycraig on March 09, 2016, 12:35:00 PM
Post by: jasnt on March 10, 2016, 07:49:32 AM
As said what ever patterns best in your gun is the right answer
Post by: Ghost Hunter on March 10, 2016, 09:22:14 AM
Post by: Dhoey07 on March 10, 2016, 09:50:17 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on March 22, 2016, 10:29:47 PM
3 1/2 because I can.
:chuckle:
Post by: Eric M on March 22, 2016, 11:06:39 PM