Post by: kerrdog on January 30, 2011, 09:56:43 PM
I'm planning to hunt turkey with unleaded shot; my wife is concerned about lead :bash:. I've got a full choke on my 870 Express that came with it and it says "lead or steel." I used it to hunt duck this year with steel. Anyway, do I need to get a turkey choke for turkey? The one I saw for Hevi-Shot was over $100 bucks! My shotgun only cost $200 back in the day. Is it worth it? What's the best unleaded shot for Turkey?
Post by: bobcat on January 30, 2011, 10:03:51 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on January 30, 2011, 10:12:47 PM
Post by: C-Money on January 30, 2011, 10:33:39 PM
Post by: Bob33 on January 30, 2011, 10:51:34 PM
There are quite a few more #6 pellets per ounce than even #5s, so I would start patterning with them. If you can get tight, even patterns with good shot material you're set. Lead is very good and it's still legal for turkeys in most places. Hevy Shot is probably better than lead in most instances but it's more expensive.
Good luck!
Post by: bearpaw on January 30, 2011, 11:06:18 PM
I have seen birds shot with about any cartridge or shotgun imaginable. Honestly, a cheap Mossberg or Remington will kill any turkey just as dead as the most expensive Benelli or otherwise. The choke makes a huge difference though. Every year some hunters show up at my place with full chokes and at least half are sorry they did after a bird or two fly away. They end up using one of our guns with an extra full.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, before you waste several hundred dollars on fuel going to hunt, just to miss a bird, spend $50 on a good choke tube. This link is for a super full, you could go with a choke not quite as tight, but a full is really not good for turkey. With this super full choke and #6 or #7 1/2 hevy shot, you will be darn effective out to 50+ yards with this setup. But if you are close, you will need to be right on, or you will miss.
I always recommend #6 lead because there are almost twice as many pellets as #4 and also many more than #5. You really want the thickest pattern you can get, so 7 1/2 hevy shot are flat killer, I saw a guy drop a bird at 60 after I told him he better not shoot, I was really surprised.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=remington+hevi+shot+choke+tubes&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=16491212804652806516&ei=A2FGTbPxOYa0sAPw9-zzCg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CGIQ8wIwAQ# (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=remington+hevi+shot+choke+tubes&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=16491212804652806516&ei=A2FGTbPxOYa0sAPw9-zzCg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CGIQ8wIwAQ#)
Post by: bearpaw on January 30, 2011, 11:18:30 PM
Cartridges are the cheapest part of hunting, get the best you can buy and you won't regret it. Why take a chance for $15 difference in price? ;)
Post by: satchel3006 on January 31, 2011, 10:22:00 AM
http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/remington-choke-tubes/RemSF (http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/remington-choke-tubes/RemSF)
9.99 its rated for lead, hevi shot, and steel. I ordered 2 for for my 20 gauge (1 was for my dad) and it got here in a few days. I haven't shot mine yet but i hear good things its hard not to try it when it 10.00 bucks
Post by: CP on January 31, 2011, 11:38:19 AM
http://www.kentgamebore.com/tungsten_matrix_high_performance.asp (http://www.kentgamebore.com/tungsten_matrix_high_performance.asp)
It should shoot fine out of your 870’s full choke.
Post by: jackelope on January 31, 2011, 12:12:11 PM
Post by: bearpaw on January 31, 2011, 01:05:15 PM
PATTERN PATTERN PATTERN!!
I agree, just as important as location, location, location, in real estate....
Post by: jackelope on January 31, 2011, 01:09:24 PM
I don't know what non-lead shot to tell you to use because I never tried any of them.
Post by: Andrew on January 31, 2011, 01:25:51 PM
I've yet to shoot past 20 yards, as well, I've yet to find a pellet while eating my birds if this is the worry about eating lead shot. BTW - biting into Hevi has more risk of damaging a tooth versus getting lead poisoning from eating a lead pellet.
My advice, if you are going to buy non toxic turkey rounds and go the Hevi route...I'd buy a choke specifically aimed at Hevi cause similar to my experience I'm sure the research and development of which was used solely with Hevi loads. I personally would not spend the money, like many others have stated lead will knock them down hard with a patterned gun, and a responsible shot.
Post by: bearpaw on January 31, 2011, 01:42:17 PM
Post by: Button Nubbs on February 06, 2011, 08:35:24 AM
Post by: mossy8352 on February 06, 2011, 08:58:49 AM
Post by: luvtohnt on February 06, 2011, 09:34:11 AM
I used a Primos Jelly Head in my 870 with #5 Nitro mag turkey loads. They pattern real well.
I don't know what non-lead shot to tell you to use because I never tried any of them.
:yeah:
I love how this combo patterned compared to my full choke. I was new toturkey hunting so I wanted something that held a tight pattern out to 40+ yards. Now that I have been hunting for a few years and the shots are getting cloder my full choke does well. If you go with the jellyhead be prpared for some seriuos kick. This year I am going to go with the new longbow!!
Brandon
Post by: skagit on February 19, 2011, 10:56:46 AM
Post by: woodswalker on February 19, 2011, 12:07:00 PM
PATTERN PATTERN PATTERN!!:yeah: