Try a good load of #5 with as heavy a shot weight as you can get. I have a few boxes of Winchester that are 2 oz loads that work great. Adjust your choke and limit your range to whatever distance you get a good consistent pattern. IMO 50 yards is asking a lot unless you have premium loads and a matched choke with plenty of testing.
2020 Wild Turkey Season Thread
- Thread starter 1963beretta
- Start date
Card carrying member here as well. The Win LB XR #5's have patterned very nicely to 40+ yards in a couple of guns I have tried it in. Pattern density in the kill zone was considerably better at the longer ranges than standard Winchester Double X.However you have be precise at close range. Depending on gun and choke, the 2Oyd patterns may only be the size of a soft ball so it would be easy to miss.
I very much like the Federal Third Degree loads. The mix of shot types covers everything from "up close and personal" to "reaching out and touching them". It won't win any awards for tightest grouping at long range , but is an exceptionally effective load in the field in "real world" hunting conditions from 10 meters out to 40 meters plus.
Go easy on the 40+ recommendation... what kills birds at distance is pattern density, not larger pellets... pattern density means smaller shot and more shot. You will kill more birds at range with #7 than you will with 4, 5, or 6 or any combination of those three... I would be shooting #8's if it were legal.
40% of the Third Degree shells are #7 Heavyweight/TSS so they pack a punch at longer range when lead has run out of steam. I’ve patterned my shotgun at 40 meters and it is without question a lethal pattern.
I don’t purposely shoot at birds beyond 40 meters, but like to have some “wiggle room” if my range estimation is off in a quick encounter where I can’t use my rangefinder.
I don’t purposely shoot at birds beyond 40 meters, but like to have some “wiggle room” if my range estimation is off in a quick encounter where I can’t use my rangefinder.
They sure are, I picked up a tick 4 years ago Spring Turkey hunting in Belleville area and ended up with Lyme Disease.
Be very careful out there and shower as soon as you get home.
Good luck with the turkeys I will be out there at sunrise waiting and listening.
Imagine how nice the pattern would be if 100% of the shot was #7. The concept of combining shot sizes for Turkey loads is completely defunct. Lighter shot is the way to go without question. Stay away from #4's or 5's...
I've seen as many turkeys missed inside 20 meters as I have seen missed at 40 meters plus when using specialized super-full chokes and premium loads. A decade ago Winchester Supreme (their first heavier than lead option) and a specialized turkey choke were my preference as the down range patterns and energy were very impressive. I've actually backed away from the super tight downrange patterns by moving back to a factory full choke and the Federal Third Degree shells - much more forgiving in tight.
Not to sound like a Federal salesman, but I like the concept of having some of the Flitestopper pellets in the Third Degree load that spread very quickly to broaden the pattern on shots under 20 meters. My patterning reveals the concept is not just marketing hype. They're also 1/3 the price of the full #7 Federal TSS load.
There's no question if you want the tightest pattern and best long range energy a full tungsten or equivalent load is the best option.
With the exception of tungsten( TSS) smaller lighter shot has less energy and knock down power at longer ranges. There is a reason the hunting reg's until recently specified only #4-#6 lead. The heavier pellets pack greater punch down range which increases the chance of clean ethical kills out to 40+yards. With the introduction of tungsten smaller shot is much heavier, #9 tungsten is equivalent to #5 lead. With #7 TSS you have the advantage of high pellet count and still have good long range knock down power. But at $10+ a shot its not practical for everyone. For now I will stick Win Winchester Longbeard #5's. I get great patterns to past 40yds and they have excellent knock down power.
Again... the larger pellet myth has been debunked time and again in testing... pattern density is the key to killing at range. At 20 yards, anything kills, but as distance increases so do loose patterns and crippled birds... if you want to put them down hard, smaller shot and tighter patterns is the key. Lead or tungsten is moot to pattern density, with regard to comparable shot dimensions and pellet counts for given pay loads. Don't try to hit them with one large pellet, hit them with a dozen small ones.
Debunked? Lol.It's a fact of physics that heavier shot will retain its velocity for longer ranges and hit harder than lighter shot thus penetrate further. That's beneficial on a tough bird like a turkey. As for pattern density we are in agreement. Anyway good luck this season.
If more lightweight pellets are better #7 steel should be the best turkey load. Fast lightweight and patterns great.
Ill stick with #6 lead or crossbow bolts myself and continue to fill tags
Tss wont dominate the market until the prices reduces at least 60%
Ill stick with #6 lead or crossbow bolts myself and continue to fill tags
Tss wont dominate the market until the prices reduces at least 60%
We are not talking about maximum energy... we are talking about "enough" energy couple with tighter patterns. Turkeys are tough on a body hit, but a CNS hit to the brain pan or neck is instantly lethal, and what has been tested out to 60 yards and beyond is that a single #7 pellet will do that as easily as a single #4 pellet... which one do you think that you have a better chance of making that CNS hit at 50 yards? The better option is "enough" energy and tighter patterns... ergo, smaller (legal) shot.
At any rate, hopefully everyone will have their tom within 25 yards and shot size won't matter. Good luck to you aswell... only five more sleeps!
A great test is to take a spruce 2x4 and cut 6" lengths and place them at 40 45 50 55 and 60 yards and shoot at them. Im not sure how much energy it takes to break a turkey skull (i may test with hard boiled eggs to see penetration after breaking the shell)
At 50 yards #7.5 shot merely bounces off the spruce with faint marks of hits. Ive never tested #7 shot. #6 will indent and several will be stuck in the wood. #5 embeds in the wood. #4 completely buries in the wood. Lead bb shot goes half way thru . #4 buck will bulge the offside. 00 buck exits.
I havent played with tss nor will i at the current pricing.
Also for using #4 shot many turkey chokes are too tight. A normal full or even in some cases like my teague im choke pattern very dense at 45 yards with #4. Any tighter and the pattern opens up. Proves to pay. No pattern is guaranteed but the more patterning you can do will give a better respresentation of what most likely will occur
At 50 yards #7.5 shot merely bounces off the spruce with faint marks of hits. Ive never tested #7 shot. #6 will indent and several will be stuck in the wood. #5 embeds in the wood. #4 completely buries in the wood. Lead bb shot goes half way thru . #4 buck will bulge the offside. 00 buck exits.
I havent played with tss nor will i at the current pricing.
Also for using #4 shot many turkey chokes are too tight. A normal full or even in some cases like my teague im choke pattern very dense at 45 yards with #4. Any tighter and the pattern opens up. Proves to pay. No pattern is guaranteed but the more patterning you can do will give a better respresentation of what most likely will occur
- Location
- Okanagan Valley B.C.
I've not been Turkey hunting , around the North Okanagan they tried
to establish them 35 years ago .
Easter Sunday morning we're having coffee on the back deck , I see
this flock of something I'd not seen before. It took some time to register
here is Six 6 wild Turkeys
flying from ground to tree top and tree to tree;., not more than 20 mtrs from the
house . They hung in all afternoon. A little unheard of right here in the city.
to establish them 35 years ago .
Easter Sunday morning we're having coffee on the back deck , I see
this flock of something I'd not seen before. It took some time to register
here is Six 6 wild Turkeys
flying from ground to tree top and tree to tree;., not more than 20 mtrs from the
house . They hung in all afternoon. A little unheard of right here in the city.
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
Don't let the cold discourage anyone. Flocks have dispersed over the last couple weeks and the show is carrying on as usual despite the weird weather.
Going to be chilly sitting in the bush before daybreak if this keeps up. I woke to 1/4" of ice on the pool today...
Ontario hunting laws make it illegal to hunt wild turkeys withing 400 metres of deposited bait unless the area has been free of bait for at least seven days.
Plan accordingly, everyone.
canadian hunter312
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County
Seeing as baiting turkey is clearly illegal and the part saying this is easily found in the regulations, I assume you meant you were dropping corn for squirrels. Right?
That said, using bait for turkey is simply cheating and would make it far too easy to kill them...
