Will,
Just my opinions, not worth too much.
I wrote the article in the last PP you are referring to. I only shoot turkeys in the head when their head is turned sideways (profile) and neck is up, never in a strut. You mention a turkey's head is not made out of steel... well just hitting them in the head is not what kills them. Stun them yes, as in my story with 1150 fps 6s at 35 yards. I am so accustomed to killing them with 3.5 inch 10s and 12s and hevi-shot, I chose the wrong barrel.
But the head shot is designed to go through the eye socket and into the brain or through the skull into the brain or break a neck.
If you will look at the data, most low pressure loads are about 1200 fps, some less. To have the energy to break a neck bone, penetrate the skull, etc. in my opinion it takes more than lead 6s at over 30 yards going only 1200 fps. Now copper plated 6s or 5s may do it. But a load of number 4s or 2s at the same distance and fps will do the trick.
Most turkey loads designed for modern magnums are pretty slow but contain an awful lot of shot, up to 2.25 ounces in 10 and 12 magnums. You can kill them with almost anything at twenty yards or less, if you can hit their head with a small pattern. The hunting shows and turkey choke tube commercials are fun to watch a ten yard shot, but the gun has a choke and pattern to allow a sure kill at certain distances. If you are going to shoot a turkey at 15 yards, you don't need an extra extra full.
I believe the large bore guns with full chokes are designed for the 30 to 35 yard ranges, with the right shot size, for a certain kill. You'll notice in my story there was no problem with the last turkey at 30 yards with 4s. A broken neck put him down. For me it's 4s right, 2s left. Full and Full or Mod. and Full. If a 6 will kill him, a 4 certainly will.
And I don't care who you are or how long you have been hunting, when a big tom stops at 35 yards in the wide open (and it will always look to you like 25), starts looking around like he has changed his mind, most people are going to pull the trigger.
If I had your 16 with a M & F or F & F I would do 1 oz. copper 6s in right out to 20 yards, 1 oz. 5s in the left out to 25. Remember, the 16 is considered the biggest of the "small bores."
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