Turkey loads

[Brian Dudley]

Not really a reloading question, but...

What available 2.5" shells have some of you found to be effective on Turkey? I have some of the RST lite loads, but I fear they may not have the velocity.

[Dean Romig]

Velocity is not so much of a problem Brian, but pattern density is important. #6 or #7.5 is quite sufficient for head and neck shots. The idea is not to shoot the body but to put the bead right on the naked part of his neck. Pattern density will break the head and neck bones and likely sever the spinal column. If you go up to #5 or bigger you risk spaces in the pattern that might not do the damage you are looking to achieve.

[charlie cleveland]

just dont shoot past 35 steps with the lite loads..any thing will kill a turkey from up close to the 35 steps but past this you need high velocity shells anda gun that shoots tight patterns... charlie

[Paul Harm]

Velocity is way over rated. The round ball, or shot, has about the worst shape for maintaining velocity. The faster it starts out, the faster it slows down. I don't have the info in front of me right now, but at 40 yards and out there's not much difference between 1150fps and 1300fps. In my IMR handbook there's many reloading formulas under 7000psi with 1 or 1 1/8oz loads. Useing fiber wads to squeeze in the 2 1/2" shell the pressures would be even less. And if you still want velocity, in a Remington hull with 25.5 grs of 7625 and 1oz of shot in a CB-1100 wad you'll get 1250fps at 5900psi.

[Paul Harm]

I just loaded a couple of 2 1/2" shells. Useing 20.5 grs of PB and a CB-1118 which is made for 1 1/8 oz - with 1oz of shot - nice crimp. Last one was 1 1/8 oz of shot in a CB-1138 - made for 1 3/8 oz of shot. Used a 1/8 fiber spacer inside the wad to get the shot up high enough. Good crimp. Found out I didn't have to go to fiber wads.