16 Gauge for Turkeys - Updated with pictures

CoryTheCowboy

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Hey everyone, I'm (tentatively) going on my first turkey hunt in the Spring with my Uncle and was planning on bringing my 16 Gauge. I know I obviously have to "know my gun" and pattern it, but any particular loads I should try? I've been told to get as heavy load as I can get? I have some #5 lead, so reloading isn't out of the question either. Would a 1 1/8oz load of #5 would well if the patterns are sufficient?

Thanks guys,

Cory
 
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You need a dense enough pattern to hit the brain or neck vertebrae, with enough penetration to break bone. 1-1/8 of 5's sounds about perfect as a first try at the patterning board. I shoot and load for 5 different 16 ga. guns, and have owned several more. Few 16's will pattern 4's or bigger shot with any consistency. Yours might, but I'd bet good hard #5 shot will give you deadly patterns. I do not hunt turkeys, but have done a fair bit of penetration tests of various shot sizes. I don't think that you should hunt turkeys with anything smaller than 6's because the difference in penetration between 6's and 7-1/2 is amazing. For example, at 30 yds, 6's will shoot right through a 3/8's spruce plywood, 7-1/2's will stick in the near ply. 5's are better penetrators than 6's of course, and 4's better yet, but pattern density is the main limiting factor.
If you want to try big shot for body shots, I have been very disappointed with the patterning of 2's and BB's in the 16 ga, but both will kill big stuff well if you are close, say within 30 yds or so. Just 10 yds more and the big shot does very poorly out of a 16, patterns have too many holes.
 
Good luck with the 16ga. Just do you due diligence at the pattern board before you go out, & remember Ontario regs state shot size must be either 4,5, or 6. Happy turkey hunting!

George
 
I've never shot a 16ga before, but I use a 12ga with turkey loads. 1 1/8 oz of #5 sounds about right, with as much umph as you can safely load in that gun. As for longwalker's recommendation of using bigger than #6, remember you can only use #4,5, or 6 in ON. Also body shot are not recommended as you will have a tough time getting enough penetration and will get too much meat damage. Aim for the head and neck, but be sure your gun patterns well at reasonable distance. I'm not sure how far my 12 will reach reasonably, but pattern is still quite dense at 35yds, so I use that as my limit. This fella was about 11yrd out when he met my 12. I think this was a good pattern at that distance.

turkey003.jpg
 
I have a Mossberg 195 bolt action with a C-selct choke in 2.75". I use #5 Remington Nitro mags. Never had a problem, farthest was 42 yards. They are BIRDS and NOT bullet proof. Use the heaviest load you can find and have at 'er! Bullet placement is the key, know your pattern and hunt within the gun's capability.

Good luck,

-Jason
 
The reason you don't shoot a turkey in the body is because you will ruin the breast meet.

You can stick a load of 4's, 5's and 6's into the center of a turkey from a frontal angle and that bird will hit the ground hard.

How is your 16 choked Cory?
 
The reason you don't shoot a turkey in the body is because you will ruin the breast meet.

You can stick a load of 4's, 5's and 6's into the center of a turkey from a frontal angle and that bird will hit the ground hard.

How is your 16 choked Cory?

Thanks everyone, I figured that 1 1/8oz of #5's would be a good place to start, but I wanted to make sure.

I have an Ithaca 37 that's somewhere between a Mod and a Full, and a Stevens 311 with Mod/Full barrels.

Cory
 
Cory, I have found that #6 seems to pattern the best from Full choke for Turkey. Probably because of the number of pellets. 7 1/2 or 8 would be better again but not legal for use. ( I mean pattern density ) I think I have a box of Remington magnum 4's for the 16. You are welcome to try them. Maybe one of your guns will like them and pattern them well. I will start digging and let you know what I have.

Darryl
 
A little bit off topic but I use #6 in stiff game loads on snowshoehares in heavy cover.
Often when spotted, if they don't run, they try to hide behind the trunk of small spruce trees or fallen logs. Pretty much 100% of the time, a few of these 20 gauge launched pellets make this a fatal mistake.
 
Well, after hunting for about a week, here's the results. I used Winchester Super-X 1 1/8oz of #6.

First bird. 13 paces.

IMG_0687.jpg


Second bird. 18 paces

TurkeyTripSpring2012002.jpg


2 shots. 2 birds. Obviously the range wasn't tested a whole lot, but the shot on the second bird was a tad low, and all of the pellets exited through the chest area.

Thanks for the help everyone,

Cory
 
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