Choke and Load Recommendations for Spring Turkey Hunt

Cintax said:
Don't worry about camouflage on your gun plenty of birds have died with wood and blue or in your case black. If you are going to apply a camouflage the gun; there is products specifically designed for this application. You can find it at sporting goods stores and Wal-mart. I, personally, wouldn't be using duct tape in case it won't come off, or damages the finish.
Click to expand...

Okay that's what I figured. I might have a look at Walmart. I have seen kits at Select Shooting Supplies that wrap the whole shotgun. They look intersting but $50 + shipping I think I'll wait.

Cintax said:
Camouflage for yourself is important. I just use real tree camouflage that I got at Sail and Bass Pro. It's nothing special, just a hoodie, long sleeve shirt, hat. gloves and some pants. I actually bought the Redhead camouflage hat from Bass Pro and it has a built in face mask and came with gloves. That being said, the stuff you have should be fine.
Click to expand...

Thanks. Bass Pro is a place that I never remember. Buying gear is fun - for me. I will wear it home and hopefully sneak it by the missus.

Cintax said:
You don't actually need to buy turkey loads to kill turkey. Turkey loads are just heavy like a pheasant load. Anyway, for well priced turkey loads you can look to Bass Pro right now since they are having a turkey sale right now. I have experience with the following ammunition out of my stock full choke for my SX3. All of them patterned well and I really don't have a favourite. The least expensive was the Kent Diamond Shot at $6.97 for 10 rounds but I see it's gone up to $7.99 still a good price.

Remington Nitro Turkey (#5)
Federal Premium Mag-Shok Heavy Weight (#6)
Kent Ultimate Diamond Shot (#5 and #6)

I picked up some Federal Premium Mag-Shok Copper plated in #5 and #6 to try as well this season. I also recently purchased a Carlson's Turkey choke so I will be patterning all the above through that soon. You don't need 3.5" and 2 oz. to kill a bird so try not to get sucked into the hype. There are plenty of loads for under $15 that will put a bird down just fine.

And $35 for a turkey choke isn't expensive, some of them get to over $100.
Click to expand...

My SXP has a 3" chamber, so won't be going down that road. I think that I'll spend the money on trying different loads with the most constricted choke that I have, Full I believe.

Thanks for the tips will give this ammo a look.
 
I'm new at turkey hunting aswell and need some clerification.
From what I've read, the extra full chokes are more for use with sot sizes 6,7,7 1/2
Where as a standard full choke is used on 4,5,6
In Ontario we can only use 4,5,6 so I see little point in an extra full choke....especially if using ammo with a flight control type wad.(Non petal shot cup)

How has this held up in actual practice?
 
ciphery said:
I'm new at turkey hunting aswell and need some clerification.
From what I've read, the extra full chokes are more for use with sot sizes 6,7,7 1/2
Where as a standard full choke is used on 4,5,6
In Ontario we can only use 4,5,6 so I see little point in an extra full choke....especially if using ammo with a flight control type wad.(Non petal shot cup)

How has this held up in actual practice?
Click to expand...

An extra full choke will provide tighter patterns with all shot sizes you've mentioned. But, like you mentioned, flight control wads typically work better with the more open chokes with some people reporting great patterns with modified or improved chokes.
 
canadian hunter312 said:
An extra full choke will provide tighter patterns with all shot sizes you've mentioned. But, like you mentioned, flight control wads typically work better with the more open chokes with some people reporting great patterns with modified or improved chokes.
Click to expand...

You should also note that Federal specifically states that you should not use FliteControl wads with ported chokes.
 
Last edited:
Winston1984 said:
Thanks. Bass Pro is a place that I never remember. Buying gear is fun - for me. I will wear it home and hopefully sneak it by the missus.
Click to expand...

No problem.

Buying gear is always fun. I went down to Bass Pro today and met my brother there. We were both shopping for turkey stuff and I made a mistake when I read the flyer. The sale starts March 31st and runs through to May 4th. Sucks when you are driving from Orillia. Oh well, I got to have dinner and spend time with my brother so no loss there.

Winston1984 said:
My SXP has a 3" chamber, so won't be going down that road. I think that I'll spend the money on trying different loads with the most constricted choke that I have, Full I believe.

Thanks for the tips will give this ammo a look.
Click to expand...

You can hunt turkey with a full choke. You just need to pattern your loads and determine your maximum range with that choke and load combination. I'd try the factory full choke and see where you are in terms of pattern before spending money on a choke.

Also, some manufacturers suggest more open chokes with their products. An example is the Hornady Heavy Magnum Turkey with the VersaTite wad. The load patterns tighter due to the hardness of the nickel plating and the design of the VersaTite wad (similar to the FliteControl wad). Hornady suggests using either improved cylinder or modified choke. The idea being that the most common choke is modified, so you can buy this load and go hunt without the expense of buying a new choke.
 
Last edited:
ciphery said:
I'm new at turkey hunting aswell and need some clerification.
From what I've read, the extra full chokes are more for use with sot sizes 6,7,7 1/2
Where as a standard full choke is used on 4,5,6
In Ontario we can only use 4,5,6 so I see little point in an extra full choke....especially if using ammo with a flight control type wad.(Non petal shot cup)

How has this held up in actual practice?
Click to expand...

The information regarding the extra full being used more with the smaller shot is incorrect. You gain benefit from choke no matter what shot you use (within reason).
 
Winston1984 said:
Thanks for this post. I'm heading out for the first time this year and I have the same equipment. I'm going with a friend who is a member here and guided by an experienced family member. Life is good.

I think the farm is either in 87A or south part of 80 (Ontario).

I was looking at one of those turkey chokes ($35) but didn't grab it. Will be patterning on cardboard before going out. I'm not against the turkey choke but I wish I could do a little more trial and error with different shells before purchasing. It looks like ammo can get really expensive, so I wonder if a $35 turkey choke will get better results with cheaper ammo (still within the regs of course), so it would pay for itself over time....

Another question since the thread is drifting:

Camo, I was thinking of looking for a 'shell' type thing so I could dress in the right layers underneath and just put a waterproof shell on top. Southern Ontario in April could be Miami or Dawson's City.. So, I know the birds have great vision, but would 'woodland camo' pants work? Or is the realtree type really necessary to avoid spooking them? Was hoping to get a realtree shell and a good hat / face cover, and then wearing some woodland pants and covering my boots with foliage. Gloves too of course.

Also, my SXP is black - I saw home depot had some real tree duct tape - would that help temporarily?

I don't want to spend a fortune on gear before actually getting out there. Would like to have high odds for success. Haven't talked to family member guide but will this weekend.

Was hoping to get some thoughts from you guys here. Thanks all.
Click to expand...
for the camo, here is my Harrington pardner pump with a camo kit from mossy oak found at Canadian tire for 30$ and a extra full extended choke
 
Thanks for all the advice guys! Going out for the first time this spring so the advice is appreciated.

I'll go up with my buddy to check out the sale at Bass Pro.

Also check out the Lee/Grant wallpaper in the post above, definitely the most appropriate wallpaper I've seen for a gun room.
 
Most of the turkeys I shoot are with factory fixed f/m chokes using 7/8 oz of #6 shot. I do have custom chokes for tight patterns far away. My 0.650 choke was designed for #5 shot. #4 thru it opens the spread.

Turkeys are usually shot on the ground. Usually in the head. You don't need camo super mag gun with heavy super fast pellets fired thru the narrowest hole you can screw on your gun.
That said if you want to spend the money go right ahead. If you want the biggest baddest turkey killing gun out there go ahead and build or buy one. I do love my sxs 10 ga firing 2-1/4 of #4 but i hate carrying around a 12 lb gun

The thing is try a few loads find out exactly what your gun can do and stay within its limits. Turkey hunting is fun and a wide variety of guns can be used

P.s. I wish Ontario would allow 22 rimfire for turkeys. No other reason then I love hunting with a 22
 
For 12 ga I use 2-3/4" 7/8oz #6 full choke in my sxs's. Same load thru a 0.650 choke in my mossberg

Never had a turkey walk a shot to the face off yet

With my 10 ga guns I like to use 2-1/4 oz 3.5" #4 or #6

Thing to remember is find out what exactly your gun is capable of and hunt with in your limits
 
brybenn said:
P.s. I wish Ontario would allow 22 rimfire for turkeys. No other reason then I love hunting with a 22
Click to expand...

I agree that it would be awesome. I don't agree that it would be anymore dangerous but I do believe that camo would no longer be a viable option. Bring out a centerfire season haha, I know they have good eye sight, but not that good :)
 
brybenn said:
Most of the turkeys I shoot are with factory fixed f/m chokes using 7/8 oz of #6 shot. I do have custom chokes for tight patterns far away. My 0.650 choke was designed for #5 shot. #4 thru it opens the spread.

Turkeys are usually shot on the ground. Usually in the head. You don't need camo super mag gun with heavy super fast pellets fired thru the narrowest hole you can screw on your gun.
That said if you want to spend the money go right ahead. If you want the biggest baddest turkey killing gun out there go ahead and build or buy one. I do love my sxs 10 ga firing 2-1/4 of #4 but i hate carrying around a 12 lb gun

The thing is try a few loads find out exactly what your gun can do and stay within its limits. Turkey hunting is fun and a wide variety of guns can be used

P.s. I wish Ontario would allow 22 rimfire for turkeys. No other reason then I love hunting with a 22
Click to expand...

And I would say a .660 long taper would out shoot what you have now.

Average turkey hunters buy one maybe 2 chokes and what works good is a go. Then their point is, that will do and its the best. When you spend money and use a number of different chokes in different sizes you come to find that the constriction is an important issue in a pattern.

Yes Ive done all this to get a 20 gauge to shoot as good as most 12 gauges and I had done the same with the 12 gauge back years ago. I will never carry a 12 gauge again while turkey hunting because my 20 gauge will out shoot most 12's

Is that very tight pattern really needed ? well in my mind it is because I have killed gobblers after gobblers in situations that most would not even consider taking the shot like in very dense cover and all you have is a 2x2 hole to get the shot to the gobblers head. The most shot placed in a small target can be a good thing. Then again I don't just hunt turkeys that are all easy to kill, I have killed a lot of gobblers that have been hunted all season and you got a 6 second chance at a shot and he turns and gone so the tight pattern helps deliver a success story to the target...

The 22 idea is not a good idea because hunters would be shot all the time...
 
Nothing stops a Turkey Cold like a well placed shot.
turkeyheadshot.jpg
[/IMG]
I gleaned this from another successful hunter, but forgot to get his name for credit where credit is due.
Tight Chokes !
Rob
 
Last edited:
Adrian J Hare said:
And I would say a .660 long taper would out shoot what you have now.

Average turkey hunters buy one maybe 2 chokes and what works good is a go. Then their point is, that will do and its the best. When you spend money and use a number of different chokes in different sizes you come to find that the constriction is an important issue in a pattern.

Yes Ive done all this to get a 20 gauge to shoot as good as most 12 gauges and I had done the same with the 12 gauge back years ago. I will never carry a 12 gauge again while turkey hunting because my 20 gauge will out shoot most 12's

Is that very tight pattern really needed ? well in my mind it is because I have killed gobblers after gobblers in situations that most would not even consider taking the shot like in very dense cover and all you have is a 2x2 hole to get the shot to the gobblers head. The most shot placed in a small target can be a good thing. Then again I don't just hunt turkeys that are all easy to kill, I have killed a lot of gobblers that have been hunted all season and you got a 6 second chance at a shot and he turns and gone so the tight pattern helps deliver a success story to the target...

The 22 idea is not a good idea because hunters would be shot all the time...
Click to expand...


My custom choke extends 3.8" past the muzzle. Don t think a longer tube is needed. Many states use rimfire and they seem to not kill each other. Tell me how you figure a rimfire is so dangerous to other hunters? Do you think we should stop target shooting on private and crown lands aswell? Rabbits squirrel grouse coon fox and coyote are all hunted legally with rimfires. How would turkey b any different?
 
brybenn said:
My custom choke extends 3.8" past the muzzle. Don t think a longer tube is needed. Many states use rimfire and they seem to not kill each other. Tell me how you figure a rimfire is so dangerous to other hunters? Do you think we should stop target shooting on private and crown lands aswell? Rabbits squirrel grouse coon fox and coyote are all hunted legally with rimfires. How would turkey b any different?
Click to expand...

Because we 3X more hunters in a smaller area hunting turkeys. Don't give me your smart ass fact attitude of the USA because I hunted turkeys across most of it and know the difference...
 
More hunters in a smaller area and u choose to shoot thru a 2x2" hole in thick bush and snap shoot at moving birds. Hunters like that shoot other hunters. I'm sorry if you can't handle a rimfire without hurting someone but most of us are safe and pay attention to the back ground before they shoot. Rimfires are no more of a danger then a shotgun if handled properly
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom