turkey patterns...

[charlie cleveland]

today i fierd over 30 rounds of ammo at dummy turkeys head at 40 steps....i used mostly factory loads...remington nitro turkey 3 in no 4 5 6 shot usedin 12 ga...winchester turkey loads and winshester premier turkey in 12 ga 3 in and 3 1/2 inch in 2 s 4 s 5 s and 6 s....used winchester turkey in 2 3/4 inch 1 1/2 ounce load.... 10 ga remington in 2 7/8 inch no 4 shot... 8 ga in winchester hulls no 6 shot 2 1/2 ounce...after avery through inspection of all the shots fired and holes counted in the head and neck area i percieved that any one of these fine shells will kill a turkey at 40 steps....the average no of pellets in the kill zone was 6 ther was some as high as 12 ... i shot single barrel 12 ga a lc smith 10 ga a browning pump 12 ga magnum a 12 ga stevens 3 inch gun and the 8ga loomis....and the 8 ga parker ....any of these guns will do a turkey in at 40 steps.... yes these guns will kill further but i know for sure at 40 steps he ll be coming home with me.... hope i get to try thes guns out on a live turkey before long... charlie

[CraigThompson]

I kinda got this 25 yard thing going on !

25 yards max for deer with a bow

25 yards max for deer with buckshot

25 yards max for turkey with a shotgun

:whistle:

[Dean Romig]

With the full/full Parkers I have, in gauges from 12 to 28, I'll keep my shots at less than 40 yards.

[charlie cleveland]

i would agree on keeping the distance at 40 yards or less withthe 16 20 28 ga.... but the 12 ga and up in full choke guns will do the job at 50 yards if need be...these turkeys were i live are educated pretty good 29 steps is the clooset one ive ever taken...most ive taken have been in the 40 step to 50 step range.... one taken with a load of no 2s in the old 8 ga a clean kill at 65 steps.... charlie

[Mills Morrison]

:corn: Waiting for my ship to come in so I can get a Parker 8.

[charlie cleveland]

hope your ship arrives soon...an old 8 is a hoot to shoot and kinda good piece to tell stories about...ive been intriged by the big bores since i was a kid...

[charlie cleveland]

done some more patterning to day was just to rainy and windy to go hunting.....patterned 12 ga 3 inch in the old 10 parker using chamber mates...the patterning is almost unreal...range was 40 and 45 steps...target was normal turkey neck and head...the right barel would put and average of 6 pellets in the head and neck now the left barre put and average of 10 pellets in the head and neck...the shells used were 3 inch remington nitro mag in the 1 7/8 ounce load of no 5 s....next i tried the 3 1/2 inch 12 ga in the same brand remington nitro mag but in the 2 ounce load...results was very good the best shot out of 3 trys was 16 pellets in the neck and head... next i went to the extreme for me i got out a lc smith 16 ga field grade with 28 inch full and full chokes now the 16 put 5 to6 no 6 shot in the head and neck area several times..this was at 40 steps but when i went to 45 steps the little 16 only put 1 to 3 shots in the kill zone...i would have to give the little 16 credit for at 40 steps and under it would be a turkey killer...thought i mite try the 16 ga out if i getr one with the ten first....gonna use the 3 1/2 12 ga loads in the morning...hope the old ten gets to shoot at something besides paper targets.... charlie

[David Holes]

Just curious Charlie, why not shoot 10 guage shells in the ole girl? Dave

[charlie cleveland]

i do shoot 10 gahells most of the time in it...like this morning while turkey hunting i had a 10 ga in the left barrel and a 12 ga 3 1/2 inch in the right barrel....i guess its just one of them charlie things...but to be honest on paperthe 12 ga magn um load is patterning better than my 10 loads...but either barrel is capable of taking a turkey cleanly at 50 yards.....i believe the 12 ga shells with all there modern componets are the reason they pattern better than the 10 ga remy loads from the 1970 s period im shooting...yes i love those old green plastic nitro loads of no 4 s....my hunting parter this morning just shook his head when i showed him my 10 and 12 gadouble barrel parker.... charlie

[Mills Morrison]

My RST shells for turkeys arrived today. Ordered them in 12 and 10 gauge, so now I just need to decide whether to take the 12 gauge or the 10 gauge.:draw:

[charlie cleveland]

hope you get to use them rst shellon a turkey....ive not connected with mr. gobbler yet but i aint giving up to the fat lady sings....what ounce of shot are the loads you got from rst....and size.... charlie

[Mills Morrison]

No. 5's. Can't remember the other specifications. It is what RST recommended, so we will see. Going to my parents' place Sunday, so hopefully the turkeys will cooperate.:usa: