turkey loads
 

a question for you turkey hunting fellas...whats your favorite load and ga for the big bird... charlie

Hand loaded 12 gauge 1 3/8 oz copper plated, buffered #6 with 800X

8 Gauge punkin balls!! :corn:

Seriously - I use 12 ga. 1 1/4 oz. #6 shot.





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Turkey Loads and Ga
 

I've shot them with every gauge from 8 ga down to .410 and always with a SxS using #5 and #6 shot. I like the RST shells; they work great. The important thing is to know your gun and have patterened it; with every gauge and each brand of shell. As an example, with the .410 I knew the bird had to be at 18 yds or less to have a "sure" kill. I got him in to 14 yards. That's the fun of the hunt; working the birds and getting them to come in for a "sure" kill. I put a #6 in the first barrel and a #5 in the second. Haven't had to use a #5 now in 6 years. These guys using huge magnum loads and taking 50-60 yd shots are missing out on the fun and really don't have a handle on the real sport of turkey hunting. Typically with a 12 ga. I want the bird at 25-28 yds and have little problem getting them in; I just won't take a chance of only wounding the bird; it's a clean kill or no shot. Long way of answering your question but that's how I do it. Seeing a lot of turky's these days and looking forward to spring and going after them. Have hunted several states in the past but probably only Wisconsin and SC this spring; oh, maybe Nebraska.

I have taken many with 12 ga 1 1/4 oz of #6. Herco powder if I recall correctly. Would have to go outside to check but am lazy. My son got one with hs 16ga last year again 1 oz #6 that I loaded but too lazy to check that load as well.

1 1/2 oz 6's 10 ga ,fed .hull ,win 209 primer, 39 grs. bluedot,sp10 wad, over card and roll crimp. this drops them good

Scott, what kind of p.s.i. does that load produce?

Dean, around 7900 psi + -, ,scott

Nice gun!

:crying: i know ,its yours now

This is an interesting thread. I just checked in my stash of shotshells and found two boxes of 12 gauge I could use very well for turkey hunting. One is Remington Express Extra Long Range 2 3/4 inch 3 1/4-1 1/4-4 shells. The other is Winchester XX Super Double X Magnum extra long range copper plated shot. It doesn't list the dram weight but it is 1 1/2 ounce of number 6 shot. I think either one would be great for turkey if I get a chance to go out one of these days.

Wow! 1 1/2 oz in a 12 gauge? Is that a 3" load? If not, I would guess that it won't pattern very well

It is in a 2 3/4 inch shell. I am curious as to why it would not pattern well in the shorter shell. The load is the same length and diameter no matter which shell it is in isn't it? It isn't as if the load is strung out as it might be if it was the same load in a 20 or 16 gauge. It seems to me the load would be the same no matter the exterior length of the shell.

Scott, not to steal the thread but I notice your recipe above for a 10 gauge load. I have loaded thousands of rifle and handgun loads over the last 50+ years but few shotshells. Those were with an old Lee hand press kit. I have an 1884 3 frame 10 gauge with lightly pitted barrels and I have fired it with 1 1/8th and 1 1/4 RST loads. Is there someone who loads 1 1/2 ounce shells that I can safely shoot out of my Parker? You mention using Federal shells. Are they cut down 3 1/2 inch plastic shells? I would like to load some Nice Shot and take the gun duck hunting this year if I have the chance to do so but would like to use the heavier load. I would appreciate comments from anyone. Thanks.

Dennis

Yes cut down 3 1/2 in. shells, i load 1 3/8 oz bismuth for duck and same but BB's for geese, good luck hunting, scott

Dennis make one of these to trim shells , reloading supplies can be purchased here http://www.ballisticproducts.com/?gc...FUWd4AodhXEAdg
Someone can forward the PDF file Pete Lester put together which will cover any load you may need.
You will also have to buy a ten gauge press and a short kit...look on ebay for Mec press

Dennis - In order to get that much lead in the hull, they would have to use a wad with a very short compression section, resulting in less cushioning of the charge, and more deformed pellets. Secondly, in order to accelerate that heavy load, I suspect they have used a very hot powder, which, again, will result in severe setback, and deformation. I'm personally a big fan of slow-burning powders. My turkey load is copper-coated #6's filled with "grex" (powdered polyethylene)in front of about 26 gr. of 800X

For those of us who don't reload, I like the 2 3/4" RST Premium grade in #6 shot through my damascus 12 gauge.

Bill

http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6feb4c66.jpg
http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/...ps35096d15.jpg
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Thanks Bill - those are killing patterns for sure and that's what my patterns look like from my DH 12 with .0034" and .0035" choke restriction with 1 1/4 oz. #6

I'm sure my friend Dean means .034 and .035.

Yup, he does. :o

Dean, i just loaded 12, 1 1/2 oz 10 ga. with 38 grs bluedot for you. i will bring them to the RI shoot sat. i just patterened one out of my EH at 28 yds, put 26 holes in head and neck:) should work good for you to "catch" a turkey with., scott

Thanks Scott... I'll put a couple of them to good use in Vermont next month. The rest I'll save for Ohio turkeys and keep what's left for future turkey seasons.

Dean there is only 12 shells,:rotf: scott

I'm allowed two birds in Vt and two in Ohio... If you did your job I'll do mine :rolleyes: