First year doing turkey, recommendations for Invector Plus full- X full chokes??

CoverFire

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Hey everyone, I need some advice as i am new to the sport of hunting and figured id start this year off with joining the turkey season and get some experience. (ive hunted small game, waterfowl, and deer prior im not completely green just a little)

This will be my first year doing turkey. I am going with my dad and a friend (the guide and yes 6ft apart....). They are both experienced so i dont see any troubles with learning the ropes and improving my calling skills. However i do need help deciding a choke. My dad and friend both have beretta's with a different choke system (NOT INVECTOR PLUS) so there options on what to get are irrelevant.
I will be using my new Browning BPS 12 ga, chambered for 2-3/4 or 3" with a 28" multi purpose barrel. the gun came with 3 chokes, one of them being a full choke but upon researching it browning says they pattern 55-85% at 40 yards. id rather get a aftermarket +1" extension to improve accuracy and make it a full or extra full choke dedicated for turkey that i can use in future seasons to come.

I have read that Carlson is a good entry level brand - im looking at the Long Beard turkey choke tube (preferred choice to pair to the ammo) https://www.sail.ca/en/carlson-choke-lbp-turkey-browning-invector-plus-221052 , Ported Turkey choke tube, or the Extended Turkey choke tube https://www.sail.ca/en/carlson-browning-invector-plus-extended-turkey-choke-tube-501955-2875980001
Along with Primos Jelly Head turkey .660 bore
and lastly a original Browning "full strut" choke tube if i can find it anywhere. a browning MIDAS X Full choke https://alflahertys.com/browning-choke-tubes-invector-plus-midas-extended-12-gauge/ or a basic full choke with a +1" extension (least preferred but better than the factory full)

Now these are just some main options ive come across while reading online for several hours! MAYBE there all junk I dont know that is why im needing "Use guys" opinions to help me out.


AMMO CHOICE
All of my friends use the Winchester Long Beards XR ammo either 3" or 3.5" ( varying on the gun) so i think ill try using #5 (if i can find any available) or #6 if i have to in 3" :shotgun: .

thanks for any responses. know your helping a novice only improve by sharing you knowledge / past experiences. :slap:
 
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Winchester long beard XP 3” with a Carlson Turkey choke and I dropped a bird 60y(measured) with a 20” barrel...

You will be fine if the rest comes into play,,, shoot your ammo know your pattern at distances and no reason you can’t drop anything within 50y with a 28”barrel and a full choke, any of those choices you threw up will get you that extra tight pattern and a couple more yards out there.

Be safe, have fun, if your calling give the bird time to get in a range your comfortable with instead of rushing the shot and know your pattern at distances(just like knowing your drops on a scoped rifle).

Best of luck and post pics of the birds you guys get!!!
 
i think i am favoring the carlson long beard XR choke or the Browning midas Extra full as they are in stock locally and i can grab one in peron rather than wait weeks for shipping !! all i need now is a spot to setup targets !! but im still open to hearing personal feedback and opinions.!!
 
Guys were shooting turkeys long before fancy turkey chokes and turkey specific ammo, remember that.

Call them in close. Full choke, #4, #5, or #6 shot. And pattern your shotgun.
 
My first Turkey was with my bps regular full choke he was 40 to 50 yards away wouldn't come closer so I let him have it Winchester long beard 3 inch number 4s he dropped like a rock
 
I use the Carlson's .665 Turkey choke with my Invector Plus Maxus... Use #6 not #5... tighter patterns at all distances... better kills at longer range. Pattern density kills, not pellet size.
 
I ended up getting the browning invector plus flush series ( original replacement ) but they have a extra full turkey gives a 3/4" extension and is rated 75-85% at 40yd. I bought 3 boxes of long beard xr 3", #5 1 7/8 oz the 1 -3/4 and the #6 shot were both sold out in 3" . The packaged it and shipped in 3 hours via UPS!!! Never buying from tenda again and waiting 2 weeks for it to be processed let alone picked up and shipped in 3 hours!!!
 
I have a bps and use the Winchester long beard 3” shells. I’ve found that with those loads, the turkey choke is too constrictive. At 20 yards it was putting a toonie sized hole in cardboard and not spreading out until 30 yards. I had much better pattern with a full or modified choke with the long beard loads. Best thing to do would be buy some and pattern with what you have. You might find you don’t need a turkey choke.
 
I have a bps and use the Winchester long beard 3” shells. I’ve found that with those loads, the turkey choke is too constrictive. At 20 yards it was putting a toonie sized hole in cardboard and not spreading out until 30 yards. I had much better pattern with a full or modified choke with the long beard loads. Best thing to do would be buy some and pattern with what you have. You might find you don’t need a turkey choke.

Which shot in 3" were you running. 4,5,6 and what weight.
Also What choke are you running?
 
Has anyone measured the difference between their full choke and "Extra Full" with a Vernier or mic? I don't think buying a extra full turkey choke is worth it! Buy some good ammo and use your full choke. I have bagged plenty!
 
Recommend Shot #6 or #7. I used to use 5s, but since I went to the smaller pellets, there are more pellets in the vital zone, and more passing through. DRT. I use an xtra full choke and usually pull them in to 25-30yds. I know I can kill further, as I used to, but now if they hang at 50yds, I will try again the next day. After all, bringing them close is the best part.

Patterning with a full size target let's you verify vital pellet count.
 
Some chokes are worth the money others arent. Bad part is you must try them to see. As for carlson turkey choke for my a400 it isnt noticably tighter than my factory full choke so it was a waste of $96. The .650 wp choke i got my mosdberg 535 ats is amazing. Out to distances no turkeys should be shot at with scatterguns. Ive never had a problem getting a killing pattern from any full choke out to 40 yards. I pattern my guns with various loads starting at 15 yards and work back 5 yards at a time untill im not happy with the pattern
 
...I pattern my guns with various loads starting at 15 yards and work back 5 yards at a time untill im not happy with the pattern

I'd like to be your ammo local sales area rep, LOL... But seriously, that is the proper way to do it, expensive but thorough. I would hazard to say that 95% of high end turkey loads end up on paper, same deal as any other centrefire ammo I guess.

They had an expert on the Meateater podcast who stated that a full 80% of the excise tax on ammo (PR Act) is collected from target-shooters, shooting-sports enthusiasts, reloader types.
 
I'd like to be your ammo local sales area rep, LOL... But seriously, that is the proper way to do it, expensive but thorough. I would hazard to say that 95% of high end turkey loads end up on paper, same deal as any other centrefire ammo I guess.

They had an expert on the Meateater podcast who stated that a full 80% of the excise tax on ammo (PR Act) is collected from target-shooters, shooting-sports enthusiasts, reloader types.

Its not so bad. One month ill pick a load and go buy 5 boxes. Next month i buy a different brand or length or shot size. I keep what works. What i dont like i use up blasting crows each winter
A surprisingly good loading is remington game load 2.75" 1oz #6. It patterns very well to 40 yards with turkey chokes and 35 yards with factory full chokes. Its cheap as well and come 25 to a box
 
So after patterning with the browning x-full invector plus turkey choke
https://www.opticsplanet.com/v/1130833-browning-invector-plus-choke-tube.html
Paired with winchester long beard xr 1-3/4oz @1200fps #5's it officially sucks at hitting the 40yd target.....( or maybe it's me:rolleyes:)

I setup 20,30,40yd targets and had a fixed shooting position for consistency. The gun shoots high at 20-30yds. If I put the bead at BASE of the neck I was blasting the heads off the birds ( considering it's a full choke I was kinda surprised). But when I was shooting at 40yds I was having a hard time getting more than 10bbs on the page each time. I noticed each time they were slightly to the left ( I can adjust my aim easily enough) but when I did the shots were still barely hitting the page at 40yd, 75% of what did hit the target was at the head level or above ( again I'm aiming at the base of the neck ).
It seemed as the farther out it shot the higher up the load went ..... so my last shot I aimed at the bottom of the bird and still only got a couple bbs hitting the neck ( maybe 5?)

Again I was shocked by the lack of density due to the x full choke on my browning . My dad shot his full patternmaater turkey with long beard 3.5" #5's 2oz and blasted there necks off......
 
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