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