Turkey Hunting with your Parkers.
 

I have a 12ga Parker VH from 1927 that I'd like to turkey hunt with this year.

Choked M/F.

Just curious what you guys are using for turkeys out of your old Parkers.

I have some RST #5 shot 1.25 oz loads that I think will work well as long as I keep it to a sporting range..... :)

That combo should be perfect.

I use 1 1/8 oz. of #6 for all of my turkey hunting - except when I use my 10-gauge Grade 3 Lifter. Then I use 1 1/2 oz. of #6.





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Almost all of my Turkey's have been taken inside of 30 yds.... So, I agree that load should work. They are labled pheasant loads, but I don't think the turkeys will be offended that they are being shot at with something that doesn't have a turkey picture on the box.... :-)

Right, and I like the smaller #6 shot for the denser pattern it provides.

Use #4 and larger only if you're taking body shots. Head and neck shots are not protected by dense feathers and the bones are pretty dainty and are easily busted up with #6 or #7 and the more pellets you put on that small target the better your chances of success.





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I have taken 3 or 4 turkeys with that exact shell Joe. Personally I just try to keep the shots under 30 yards. I have always used #5's. Seems like over the years the argument has always been 4's vs 6's for the most part so I just split the difference and went with it, same for phez.

I use a 32" 20 gauge DHE with #6 shot. I use 20 gauges for most all of the hunting I do. I feel no need to use anything larger, although I do like my 30" 16 ga DHE as well.

When I first started turkey hunting, I always thought #4's.... I guess... because I grew up a duck hunter, and a turkey is bigger than a duck, and #4's is the largest legal shot size, that is what I used. Many years ago, I switched to using #6 or #5. I just happen to have 3 boxes of #5 RST's, so that is what I am likely to use. I wouldn't mind sticking a #6 in the mod barrel, and a #5 in the full..... :D

That would be a good split.





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I shoot 6 s in my 10,12 and 20 ga guns 1 1/2 oz in 10 ga, 1 1/4 oz in 12 ga and 1 oz in the 20.
Scott

I like a no 2 in the left barrel and a no 6 in the right barrel...a 2 ounce load in the 3 1/2 inch 12 ga and 2 1/4 ounce in the 10 ga and this year 2 1/2 ounce in the 8 ga. works for me