The Best Turkey Load

I've cleanly taken toms with a 18.5" cyl barrel with flight control wadded factory ammo.
Where and how you hunt also plays a role. I hunt some ravines that are extremely thick with undergrowth and shots are never more than 10-12 yards. I've missed before as my bead completely covered the toms head. Don't know who was more surprised me or the Tom lol. The second shot ruined his day though
 
Have yet to find a shotgun/choke combination that doesn't excel with the Winchester Longbeard 3" load, the same goes with half a dozen guys I know that use it. Once you take the time to punch paper with pellets you quickly become a convert...
Are there denser loads out there? Absolutely! I hear and read that the Indian Creek and/or Pure Gold chokes coupled with heavier-than-lead pellets are the absolute best. The price however of both the chokes and the ammo is quite expensive.

For the average hunter, the combination of a $30 aftermarket turkey choke and a $27 box of shells is the sweet-spot of performance and price, I know it is for me...

IMHO, a very important factor that's often overlooked is range estimation. You can have the best choke and load but if you screw-up on range still end up with a miss. I personally always take out my rangefinder and spend my downtime ranging a theoretically maximum "fan" of effective range around my shooting position. I do this just before legal shooting time and comefirst light I know that any bird within that "fan" is shootable.

I'm confident in my choke and ammo combination for distance, but like others have said, don't underestimate the close shots! Ask me how I know... Part of my prep each year is to practice shooting offhand at turkey-head sized targets, offhand at 10 to 20 yards, not as easy as it seems...especially with the tighter patterns. Been lucky the last couple of years and shot my turkeys at under 20 yards. Part of me feels that I'm overdoing the patterning and planning part but things might change this year and the only shot I get could be at a longer range. Better safe than sorry...
 
My favourite is Win Xtended, 3", #6. I don't know if they're still available, and as I need to buy ammo, I think I'll pattern some Longbeards to try.
 
Easy question. The best turkey load is the one your shotgun patterns the best! So... Buy several types, and try them out!

Cheers
Jay
 
I use the Winchester black box Supreme, I believe, 2oz, 3.5", #6, in my dedicated 12 ga turkey slayer. 870 SPS 26" barrel and Undertaker choke topped with a 42 mil red dot. I have shot a butt load of birds with this gun over the years from 2 yds to 53(and I swear to this day that bird was no more than 45, ranging through a thicket of sumac can do that sometimes and the bird was not staying any longer and it had taken the better part of a week to get that close to him) Only issue I have with this rig is I have missed more birds in close, 3-15 yds, as I sometimes forget in the heat of the moment to pull down where the feathers meet the neck or I will shoot over every time.

Last year I wanted a change so I bought a 18" Sinsinati in 20 ga from Corwin. Showed up the day before the opener, couldn't find a turkey choke or pattern anything in time so the LGS suggested I try the Hornaday Versatite turkey loads and recommended I used a cylinder choke. I come from the school of choke a turkey gun down so the pellets come out single file if you can so I did not have high hopes. I ate the proverbial crow that afternoon. These loads patterned as well as my 12 ga at 35 yds which was a 14" pattern with most of a 20 ga load of #5s in that circle with well over 20 pellets in the head, neck. I dumped two birds with that rig last spring. One at 26 yds the other at 37yds and not a twitch from either. All from a gun that weighs about as much as 3, 3.5", 12 ga shells LOL.

This will be 20 yrs this spring chasing these birds and I look forward to it each year.
 
I suppose as long as you can stuff a shell of reasonable velocity #4,5,6 and now 7 shot, you're able to play the game. If you're a good caller and able to sit perfectly still and silent, you've got a decent chance of them waltzing up to you, so premium shells might not even make a difference. This will be the fourth or fifth season I've been trying to bag a gobbler, we've got no problem calling and finding birds, finding a jake or tom without a handful of hens is the hard part.
 
This year my goal is to shoot a turkey with my father in laws old 16g single shot with paper shells .old imperial #6 &5 shot .he gave me this gun a few years ago and I carry it for bunny's. It does pattern very well with the old paper shells and thy smell so go when you shot them
 
I patterned extensively with both of my 12's and I've been floored at the patterns I get from 3 inch Winchester Longbeards.

You definitely need to pattern for yourself to see what's best, but the LB's represent a great value.
 
The correct answer goes to Canvasback Not a turkey on the planet that will withstand a 1 1/4 oz or 1 3/8 oz load of no 4 lead even out to 60yds if you really want to pile drive him make it bufferd
 
I used to shoot turkey with the Remington 4x6 Duplex - the best ever but for some reason you can't buy then anymore.
 
This year im planning on using a full ounce of copper plated #6 shot pushed by an equal measure of black powder from a roll crimped 2.5" shell. Should be a blast
 
This year, because I already have them, I will be using The Bismuth Company 12 gauge 2 3/4" shells loaded with 1 3/8" of #6 shot. That will be used in my fully restored 1909 Fox A grade with 30" barrels choked full and full. Knowing the barrel wall dimensions and condition as I do, and knowing the gun's complete history since new, I have zero qualms about using that ammo in that gun. Assuming I do my part, I have every confidence that old, short chambered gun and that load will be completely adequate for the job.
 
Winchester Supreme turkey loads. #4
They're expensive but a box of 10 should last you 10 successful hunts!

Doesn't matter the size... I've killed plenty with 2&3/4.
 
Denser patterns are what kill birds, use smaller shot... 6's are better than 4's... don't let anyone fool you with the "energy spiel."
 
hoytcanon said:
Denser patterns are what kill birds, use smaller shot... 6's are better than 4's... don't let anyone fool you with the "energy spiel."
Click to expand...

Very interesting discussion recently on the DGF about re-loaders using #9 in a very dense shot (can't remember the name of the shot right now). Very persuasive about smaller shot.
 
Personally I've tried just about every shot out there and the cheapest Winchester groups as well as the most expensive. But that's my gun. I've seen no difference in density or range. Nothing noticeable that is. My dad loves the longbeard xr from his benelli. Every barrel and choke combo is different
 
Doesn't really matter what you shoot if you can call. The super duper extra long range marketing hype is for those who aren't confident in their calling. I'm no expert but the longest shot I've ever taken was about 26 yards. Don't need anything fancy at those ranges
 
I took my first bird way back when with my 16g Beretta using plain jane Remington 1100fps game loads in 6 shot. I called the bird in close and dropped it dead in its tracks. Inside 15 to 20 yards at target load can get the job done
 
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