Turkey Noob - Shot Size?

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soulchaser

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This will be my first turkey season and was just wondering which shot size you seasoned guys and gals prefer.

We'll be hunting some open field and wooded lots. I was figuring #6 would be best for open field, and #4 for wooded lots. So would #5 be a good choice to avoid having to carry different ammo?

Hopefully we won't be taking too many shots beyond 40 - 45 yards. Would a 3" shell #5 shot have the downrange energy for a good kill? Should I consider magnum rounds?

Lead shot? Copper plated lead?
 
You have to pattern your shotgun before all the questions can be answered. I would use #5 shot,but I have patterned my gun and know how it preforms.
 
#5 will be fine, but #6 will be better... pattern density is more important than downrange energy... put more pellets on the bird... especially in thicker cover... IMO don't use #4's anytime... and always pattern your gun... a load that is excellent in my gun may be full of holes in your gun.
 
Patterning is very important. Lead shot kills gobblers as dead as they need to be for cookin', but you can also take a look at the modern non-toxic loads like Hevi-shot, Hevi-13 etc. as they are deadly as heck at longer ranges. Expensive as heck too, but a good ON turkey season should only require 2 shells anyway and the heavy non-toxic shot materials are a fantastic choice. I'd suggest any 3" "turkey load" in #5 or #6 shot size, as pattern density is more important than individual pellet weight inside responsible gobbler whackin' range (which is 40-45 yards max, IMHO). Buy a few different loads and hit the patterning board to see what your gun prefers - best way is to get a few buddies together and split on a few boxes to test before laying in a supply. Any full choke will work as a start and there are tons of turkey choke options out there if'n you feel a need to up the cool factor. Once you've patterned your gun and selected a load that looks good for 40 yards, be sure check your pattern at 30, 20 and even 10 yards. You'll likely kill more turkeys inside 30 yards than over 40 and its very important to be aware of your point of impact and pattern size at closer ranges. I've seen too many guys go through lots of $$ buying expensive ammo and chokes and finding a combo that will kill 'em at 50, then miss birds inside 20 yards because their pattern is the size of a baseball. Good luck!
 
buy your self a box of Winchester long beard #5 ANd a box of federal flight controlled wad #5 shot and get a dozen paper targets try a full choke at 30 yards and see what works for your gun ,Dutch
 
The Baron said:
Patterning is very important. <snip> I've seen too many guys go through lots of $$ buying expensive ammo and chokes and finding a combo that will kill 'em at 50, then miss birds inside 20 yards because their pattern is the size of a baseball. Good luck!
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OMG, if you can't hit a turkey inside of 20 yds with a baseball pattern then you need a different hobby! Or maybe it's just gobbler fever. We hunt grouse with a .22 and plink them all day at up to 25 yds with an old Cooey. So if you can't hit a huge turkey with a shotgun, well just sayin'.
Too many get caught up in the hype and need to buy all sort of 'fancy gear' when what they have gets it done. #6-3" with a full choke and you are good to go. But yes, you do need to know the POI for your gun and the load you use. Same goes with ANY hunting.
 
Porschemann said:
OMG, if you can't hit a turkey inside of 20 yds with a baseball pattern then you need a different hobby! Or maybe it's just gobbler fever. We hunt grouse with a .22 and plink them all day at up to 25 yds with an old Cooey. So if you can't hit a huge turkey with a shotgun, well just sayin'.
Too many get caught up in the hype and need to buy all sort of 'fancy gear' when what they have gets it done. #6-3" with a full choke and you are good to go. But yes, you do need to know the POI for your gun and the load you use. Same goes with ANY hunting.
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Just curious if you hunt turkeys Porschemann? The target on a gobbler is the head, so it's not "huge" and a struttin', thunderin' gobbler has a way of making most guys' come unglued so yes, gobbler fever is a major factor. Really, hunting turkeys makes grouse hunting seem like a bore on the adrenaline scale (don't get me wrong, I love my grouse hunting). But from your last sentence it sounds like we agree - all the magazine ads promote bigger, faster, tighter, further for turkey loads and too many noobs fall victim to the marketing and gear up for the 10% of opportunities, not realizing they're handicapping themselves for the 90% and need to know where their pattern is in close.

As for popping grouse all day long with your Cooey .22, you're probably completely familiar with exactly where your rifle's POI is and are cool as a cucumber having shot so many grouse. That's definitely not the case for so many new turkey hunters! :rolleyes:
 
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Porschemann said:
OMG, if you can't hit a turkey inside of 20 yds with a baseball pattern then you need a different hobby! Or maybe it's just gobbler fever. We hunt grouse with a .22 and plink them all day at up to 25 yds with an old Cooey. So if you can't hit a huge turkey with a shotgun, well just sayin'.
Too many get caught up in the hype and need to buy all sort of 'fancy gear' when what they have gets it done. #6-3" with a full choke and you are good to go. But yes, you do need to know the POI for your gun and the load you use. Same goes with ANY hunting.
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I doubt you have hunted turkeys...
 
I have a question as a soon to be first time turkey hunter... From my research I agree with all the comments about a dense pattern of #6 or #5 shot for head shots on a standing bird at 45 yards or less. And patterning the gun. I am wondering if anybody uses big shot like #2 for a second, backup shot in case the first shot is a wounding shot and the hit turkey turns and runs or flushes? I'd think that #6 in a turkeys rear would not help much to anchor a wounded bird. What's your thought on this?
 
Longwalker said:
I have a question as a soon to be first time turkey hunter... From my research I agree with all the comments about a dense pattern of #6 or #5 shot for head shots on a standing bird at 45 yards or less. And patterning the gun. I am wondering if anybody uses big shot like #2 for a second, backup shot in case the first shot is a wounding shot and the hit turkey turns and runs or flushes? I'd think that #6 in a turkeys rear would not help much to anchor a wounded bird. What's your thought on this?
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IN Ontario we have to us shot sizes 4 . 5, or 6 by law ,so no number 2 for back up ,I find the federal number 5 with the flight controlled wad to work well out of most shotguns and it is a great place to start for any new turkey hunters as thy do not break the bank and will give you a great starting point to move forward with ,the new long beard from Winchester is a fantastic load I am just waiting for them to come out with a 20g version .D
 
The Baron said:
Just curious if you hunt turkeys Porschemann? The target on a gobbler is the head, so it's not "huge" and a struttin', thunderin' gobbler has a way of making most guys' come unglued so yes, gobbler fever is a major factor. Really, hunting turkeys makes grouse hunting seem like a bore on the adrenaline scale (don't get me wrong, I love my grouse hunting). But from your last sentence it sounds like we agree - all the magazine ads promote bigger, faster, tighter, further for turkey loads and too many noobs fall victim to the marketing and gear up for the 10% of opportunities, not realizing they're handicapping themselves for the 90% and need to know where their pattern is in close.

As for popping grouse all day long with your Cooey .22, you're probably completely familiar with exactly where your rifle's POI is and are cool as a cucumber having shot so many grouse. That's definitely not the case for so many new turkey hunters! :rolleyes:
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Yup I think we agree... know your pattern and don't get caught in the hype. You don't need a semi-auto special choke 12 gauge and a pocket full of shells. Geez I hunt with gus that think that they need semi-auto 12ga to hunt with and laugh when I show up with my old bolt action H&R 12ga Gamester goose gun and two shells. I just smile and we bet a case of beer. I have NOT paid for a case of beer yet.
BTW, the target on a grouse with a .22 is the head as well. If you can shoot a grouse with little over a 1" head target with a .22 (and I know MANY on here do just that every season) then shooting a turkey with a 3-4" pattern in the head is somehow impossible? That target and shot pattern is huge compared to a single .22 bullet and a grouse. I don't get it.... anyone on here also skeet shoot? Now how fast is that 4" target moving AWAY from you? I practice trap for all bird. It helps for that eye hand coordination with all shotgun shooting. Give it a try!! Your duck hunts will be more successful too! But Gobbler fever, yup, I can understand that. Hell I've seen guys miss bucks at almost point blank range before too and that's a huge target!

So again, to the OP, use what you have. Go practice with your gun. Get familiar with it at a variety of ranges so what you do is instinctive. Trap shooting is perfect for this. Learn to control your emotions and you will be successful in whatever you hunt!
 
#5 is a good intermediate, I flaunt between the Hornady Turkey Magnum Versatite and Federal #5 Flitecontrol. The longbeard XRs look interesting, just might have to buy a box and see.
 
Porschemann said:
Yup I think we agree... know your pattern and don't get caught in the hype. You don't need a semi-auto special choke 12 gauge and a pocket full of shells. Geez I hunt with gus that think that they need semi-auto 12ga to hunt with and laugh when I show up with my old bolt action H&R 12ga Gamester goose gun and two shells. I just smile and we bet a case of beer. I have NOT paid for a case of beer yet.
BTW, the target on a grouse with a .22 is the head as well. If you can shoot a grouse with little over a 1" head target with a .22 (and I know MANY on here do just that every season) then shooting a turkey with a 3-4" pattern in the head is somehow impossible? That target and shot pattern is huge compared to a single .22 bullet and a grouse. I don't get it.... anyone on here also skeet shoot? Now how fast is that 4" target moving AWAY from you? I practice trap for all bird. It helps for that eye hand coordination with all shotgun shooting. Give it a try!! Your duck hunts will be more successful too! But Gobbler fever, yup, I can understand that. Hell I've seen guys miss bucks at almost point blank range before too and that's a huge target!

So again, to the OP, use what you have. Go practice with your gun. Get familiar with it at a variety of ranges so what you do is instinctive. Trap shooting is perfect for this. Learn to control your emotions and you will be successful in whatever you hunt!
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I agree with the go practice thing but trap shooting has jack all to do with Turkey hunting.... The best advise for Turkey practice is do to like you would for a rifle. Or get on the ground, steady your gun with your knee, aim, breath and squeeze that trigger just like a rifle Do that at 10,20,30 and 40 yards make sure you know where to aim at those distances to optimize you shot pattern on that head/neck kill zone.
I find most misses are because guys are so intent on watching the Tom strut, drum and gobble. They forget to weld their cheek to that stock, close one eye and aim. Skeet guys have trouble sometimes because they are so used to pointing that shotgun rather than aiming it.
If you think you'll have trouble try a scope, red dot or conventional. Scopes kind of force you to keep that head down and focus the dot or crosshairs on a single spot.
 
Porschemann said:
BTW, the target on a grouse with a .22 is the head as well. If you can shoot a grouse with little over a 1" head target with a .22 (and I know MANY on here do just that every season) then shooting a turkey with a 3-4" pattern in the head is somehow impossible? That target and shot pattern is huge compared to a single .22 bullet and a grouse. I don't get it...
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Give your grouse a double espresso so he won't sit still and put his head on a long neck that swivels it in 3 dimensions and then see how your 22 to the grouse's head goes :d . I'm not saying it is "somehow impossible", I'm just saying grouse and turkey is kinda like apples and oranges.
 
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