Turkey load opinion

[John J Sundelin]

Hi all, tomorrow is is our Turkey opener and I need some advice on shot selection. This is my first time hunting turkey with a gun that isn't 3 inch magnum. I will be using my 1904 VH 12ga with 30inch full and full barrels. I started repairing and cleaning it up 4 years ago but put it on the back burner when my mothers Alzheimer's got to where she needed 24/7 care. She passed awhile back and I figured with this corona virus I better get it back together so my wife wouldn't be left with some guns in various states of repair. This gun hadn't been fired in at least 50 years before the other night. It shot nice, I grew up hunting with a Fox model B my parents bought me when I was 12. Forgot how much I liked side by sides.
These are my choices, all Winchester superX. I have fired the gun 4 times with 7 1/2 trap reloads I have and it patterned great. I won't be shooting past 30 yards, I am thinking 6's in the right with 4's in the left? Are 7 1/2's to small? are 2's to much?
Thanks for any input.
John

[Mills Morrison]

Some friends swear by 6's. This new Tungsten is amazing, but the store bought stuff is mighty strong.

[Dean Romig]

I would shoot the #6's in both barrels. Head and neck shots only and you don't need anything bigger to shatter those bones but a dense pattern is your best friend.

My 1898 Titanic barreled DH is also choked F/F (.033" and .034") and one shot with #6 shot has always killed any turkey I've shot at.





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[Reggie Bishop]

I turkey hunt with a 20 gauge, using 6 and 7.5 shot. Obviously I don't take shots over 30 yards but I feel I have plenty of lethal power using this setup. Personally I wouldn't use that Super X ammo in my classic guns, but others will say they do. I err on the side of caution. Bulged barrels and broken stocks are things I can live without.

[John J Sundelin]

I turkey hunt with a 20 gauge, using 6 and 7.5 shot. Obviously I don't take shots over 30 yards but I feel I have plenty of lethal power using this setup. Personally I wouldn't use that Super X ammo in my classic guns, but others will say they do. I err on the side of caution. Bulged barrels and broken stocks are things I can live without.

Thanks Reggie, I don't plan making a habit out of it due to having to repair the small cracks in the stock already. I will make some milder reloads for next year, didn't have time this year.

[John J Sundelin]

Some friends swear by 6's. This new Tungsten is amazing, but the store bought stuff is mighty strong.

I haven't tried any of the tungsten yet, isn't that really hard? I know the tungsten we used in our tig torches when welding aircraft parts was very hard and brittle. Wonder if the shot is pure or an alloy?

[Randy G Roberts]

John given the options you have provided and the 30 yards max distance I would opt for the 6's. For years the argument around here was whether to use 4's or 6's, I just split the difference and have always used 5's. That decision was made considering the fact that at the time I was shooting 3" and 3 1/2" loads with up to 2 ounces of shot and shooting some distance, or hoping to. Now that I am using my Parkers on turkeys and limiting the shots to 30 yards or so I am more in favor of the 6's for the pattern density as I am using RST ammo with 1 1/8 ounce of shot. RST offers what they refer to as a Pheasant load which is 1 1/4 ounces of 6's at 1200 FPS. I am wanting to pattern that one some day. I am with Reggie on your ammo in that I would not shoot those in my Parker, others will but I will pass. You should have your guns barrels evaluated by a competent gunsmith to determine their integrity also. Forget the 2's unless you want to put one of those in the second barrel just in case a coy dog wanders by :)

[Mark Garrett]

I've kill more than 60 turkeys with number sixes , they work great even past 50 with enough density . 7.5 will do the job out 30 no problem .

[Jerry Harlow]

I am thinking 6's in the right with 4's in the left? Are 7 1/2's to small? are 2's to much?
Thanks for any input.
John

I say yes and yes. If your gun is a number 2 frame, I would not hesitate to shoot 1 1/4 ounces as few times as you will get a chance at a turkey.

The reason I say 6s right, 4s left, is that if you shoot the 6s and miss or cripple, he does not stand there dumbfounded for you to take a second head shot, and you are now shooting at a running or flying bird hauling butt. That's why Charlie on here likes 2s in the left for a body shot.

[John J Sundelin]

I say yes and yes. If your gun is a number 2 frame, I would not hesitate to shoot 1 1/4 ounces as few times as you will get a chance at a turkey.

The reason I say 6s right, 4s left, is that if you shoot the 6s and miss or cripple, he does not stand there dumbfounded for you to take a second head shot, and you are now shooting at a running or flying bird hauling butt. That's why Charlie on here likes 2s in the left for a body shot.

That was my reasoning also and yes, it's a number 2. Thanks

[Keith Sirmans]

I love 5's but 6's would be fine. I shoot fiocchi or Winchester 2 3/4 shells and rst 2 1/2 shells. Rocked one with rst 5's in a Damascus barreled greener two seasons ago at 40 yards with no problem.

[scott kittredge]

6' s always pattern best in my parkers
Scott

[Garry L Gordon]

You've gotten great responses. Just call one in close and take him...and then post to the rest of us suggestions on how it's done. I can never decide between 6s and 4s, so I shoot 5s. I kill birds when I take good shots at reasonable ranges. That's the secret to success. BUT, be sure to enjoy the hunt. It's the reason we get up early and go.

[John J Sundelin]

Well today was a washout. Poured all morning. Should be better tomorrow.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

4's just never seemed to pattern tight enough to my liking, too many spaces, and that was thru a Rem turkey X-Full in my 870 shooting Active 1 5/8 oz of 4's. Patterning 7 1/2's was a real eye opener , nothing could get thru that.
First turkey this year went right down with 1 1/4 oz & 1/2's, and second with 1 1/8 oz 7"s thru my Parker hammer 12 30" F/F. Would keep shots under 35 yds

[George Lang]

Since the 1980's I have used REM-Peters 12 ga 2 3/4" Duplex load short magnum. Its 1 1/2 oz loaded with both #4 & #6's. Only have 2 rounds left but I do have a box of Sears short mag #5, 1 1/2 oz ammo. 4x6 loads worked great, same rounds in 2x6 sucked(open patterns). In 16ga 2 3/4" Peters short mags with 1 1/4 oz loads have performed consistently well. Almost impossible to find today, thankfully I still have half a box left.

[John J Sundelin]

Since the 1980's I have used REM-Peters 12 ga 2 3/4" Duplex load short magnum. Its 1 1/2 oz loaded with both #4 & #6's. Only have 2 rounds left but I do have a box of Sears short mag #5, 1 1/2 oz ammo. 4x6 loads worked great, same rounds in 2x6 sucked(open patterns). In 16ga 2 3/4" Peters short mags with 1 1/4 oz loads have performed consistently well. Almost impossible to find today, thankfully I still have half a box left.

When they first opened the turkey season here we could use duplex loads but I believe they have banned them for turkeys now. I have no idea why, they worked great. College kids and nature conservancy people running the Division of fish and wildlife these days.

[John J Sundelin]

Day 2, another washout, poured all morning and they weren't moving. Back at it again in the morning, should be clear and in the middle 40's.

[Garry L Gordon]

Day 2, another washout, poured all morning and they weren't moving. Back at it again in the morning, should be clear and in the middle 40's.

Keep us posted, John. My season is over, so now I can go along with you through your posts.

[John J Sundelin]

Day 3 was gorgeous morning. I went out and fed the horse just after daylight and could hear the toms across the road at my cousins. I figured this is the morning, I get my gear head through my back pasture knowing those toms are gonna cross the road above my place and come down into my pasture. Walking out all I hear is silence. No clue where they went. I set up in ground blind I have set up, call once in awhile hoping for a response and nothing. I decide to head east along an old stone wall calling every once in awhile and finally get a gobble back! I don't even get set up and I can see the the lead birds red head 50 yards away over the brush. I sit down against a tree, give a few soft calls and 4 jakes come in to 20 yards. I ended up letting them pass, I want to take a long beard first with the VH. It was fun having them come right in. The toms must be henned up somewhere. Will have at it again tomorrow.

[Dean Romig]

Scott Kittredge got a twenty-foah poundah this mornin' but he should post the picture and the story.





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[Dean Romig]

Well Scott's busy scouting for his next one so here's Scott's Big guy from this morning.

24 lbs., 9" beard, 1.125" Spurs taken this morning at 25 yards with 1.5 oz. of #6 with his Ithaca NID Super 10.

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[charlie cleveland]

that's a nice bird and taken with my favorite gauge a 10 ga...charlie

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Wow,that is one big a** bird Scott, congratulations. I've never shot a bird that weighed that much, surprised they can get that big up there. I've got my 2 this year, but still have a tag in another state, so may get out again this week.
Sure going to miss shooting with you guys this year.

[Randy G Roberts]

Congrats to Scott, nice bird! My nephew and I were hunting this morning. Things were quiet except for one really hot bird off the roost. He worked beautifully and gobbled relentlessly. He was coming in and putting on a real show. He was probably 10 yards out of range when suddenly three sultry little yelps came from down over the ridge. See ya :bigbye:

[John J Sundelin]

Day 4 and the turkeys win again. They are not crossing over to my place this week and I can't hunt over there. I am back to work for 6 days then I'll have another week off to chase them again.

Scott, Congrats on that 24 pounder. Awesome bird!

[John J Sundelin]

So at 4:45 this afternoon I'm upstairs in the house with the window open and what do hear out behind the the back pasture? Gobble Gobble Gobble! LOL They must be crossing over in the afternoon. Ugh.

[Garry L Gordon]

Day 4 and the turkeys win again. They are not crossing over to my place this week and I can't hunt over there. I am back to work for 6 days then I'll have another week off to chase them again.

Scott, Congrats on that 24 pounder. Awesome bird!

The turkeys 🦃 win more often than not.

[Jerry Harlow]

The gobblers and I have our annual Turkey Bowl. They get one point (an extra Point) for every day they outsmart me with their pea-sized brain. I get seven points (touchdown and extra point) for each one I get with my pea-sized brain trying to think like a turkey. They are winning 21-14 as of today, because I missed an easy touchdown last week which would have given me the trophy. With a limit of three the best I can do this year is a tie if I score tomorrow. If not, they win because I am numerically eliminated from the championship.