Turkey Noob - Shot Size?

Runningfool said:
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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Ok, so what is your point then? Impossible to headshot a turkey with a 4" pattern out of a 12 gauge at close range? Or you can't hit one at 40 yds with a 12" pattern?? My point is shot size/pattern compared to target size. Be familiar with your firearm and it's pattern and bagging game is not an issue.

Yes, for some it takes custom semi-auto 12ga guns and pockets full of special shells. For the OP, try what you have first...you may be pleasantly surprised. Lots of us older hunters are still quite successful considering we don't buy all the latest doo-dads ;-)

As always, YMMV. Practice really does make perfect!
 
I agree you don't need all the fancy gadgets to kill a Turkey. Just good woodsmanship will get the job done. But I have to admit some of the gadgets make the hunt a bit more enjoyable and help the hunter to drag old Tom out of the woods. In saying that they won't help if you don't practice shooting your shooter. I believe that is what porscheman is saying....and in general it goes for all hunting the more you practice, the more confidence you will have when the moment of truth arrives. And confidence kills just ask the ladies!
 
Porschemann said:
Ok, so what is your point then?
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My point is that when you start off saying "OMG, if you can't hit a turkey inside of 20 yds with a baseball pattern then you need a different hobby! So if you can't hit a huge turkey with a shotgun, well just sayin'." and make a comparison to shooting grouse in the head with an old cooey, well you kind of come across like you haven't hunted turkeys before as others have pointed out. Just sayin'.
 
Buddy, who is as dedicated a turkey hunter as any (maybe except Adrian H. ! ) decided to try an "ols school" approach for his second bird a few years back.

No camo, no face mask or camo paint. Dressed all in muted olive & green & wore a brown fedora. Took a very nice Tom with a 100 year old Parker and
one of his Dad's 60 year-old Winchester 2-3/4 Super X papers in No 6. Hand-made wing bone call from down south. Success - one shot, 35 yards out on second morning of season !
 
cdn1canhunt said:
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. .
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I'm guilty of this. Missed a jake at 12 yards because I had my head up looking at the bird instead of keeping my head down on the stock and gun not pulled into the shoulder. This was a self correcting problem, I definitely won't do that again!
 
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Thanks for the advice guys. Here's what I'm thinking:

Get some #4, #5 and #6 shells and some turkey targets. Set them up at 10, 20, 30, 40 yards. Pepper each with the #4. Put up new targets and shoot the #5, and repeat with the #6, then compare the results. Whichever shot size is most consistent over the different distances is what I go with. Then keep practicing until Turkey season.

Sound good?
 
soulchaser said:
Thanks for the advice guys. Here's what I'm thinking:

Get some #4, #5 and #6 shells and some turkey targets. Set them up at 10, 20, 30, 40 yards. Pepper each with the #4. Put up new targets and shoot the #5, and repeat with the #6, then compare the results. Whichever shot size is most consistent over the different distances is what I go with. Then keep practicing until Turkey season.

You will only need to do the whole patterning process one time and save yourself some time, money and most importantly your shoulder. 12 gauge recoil with Turkey loads sucks after shot 2-3...trust me! Test your 4,5,6 shot on 3 targets with a 30" circle at 30 yards, clean blank paper. Then look at each target ....you are looking for the shot size that gives you the most dense and evenly distributed shot pattern.
Once you decide what shot size gives you the best pattern, stick with it and preform your 10,20,30,40 yard testing with some Turkey targets. Your max range is when you get less than 8-10 pellet hits into the turkey's vital head and neck area.

That should make you feel good about your chances of snatching the gobble away from a crafty old Tom turkey this spring.
Good Luck!
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You don't need heavy recoiling shells either. My sxs guns pattern 7/8 oz #6 amazingly so that's what I use. Just fill the hopper with #6 instead of #8 and my skeet loads become my turkey loads
 
Shot over a dozen Turks with #5 winchester 3" copperplated with the buffer in the shot preferably 2oz. In my opinion and experience it's the ideal size. We use full choke.
Sometimes we use #4 because it's a bit heavier but I don't reccomended #6 as it is a bit light.
If it's your first time hunting Turks I wouldn't recommend taking shots past 45-50 yards.
Aim for the Toms chin and if you pull a bit you'll still get him. Many times the excitement gets new hunters (including myself) and you pull a bit and shoot right over the head with such a tight pattern if he comes out at 15-20 yards.
 
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One thing to remember when Turkey hunting. It is an awesome experience when old Tom comes strutting and gobbling into your set up. That is what we are all out there for and when it happens you want Tom to keep on coming .....Try not to get to caught up in the moment.
Remember your shot pattern is at its largest and most even between 30-35yrds! That is the highest percentage time to squeeze off your shot. When Tom gets up all close up and personal, that's when crazy misses occur. guys kick themselves most when they blow the 8yard shot.
I'd guess more turkeys are missed at 8 yards than 40.

If you can......take your shot at a fair distance if Tom presents you the opportunity.
 
I can not do it I want them at 10 yards ,that is what gets the heart going ,I love it when the biggest tom in the woods jumps up on my decoy ,then shoot him in the head ,that's turkey hunting . this is why I us a scope so you can clearly see the toms head and neck no worrys about getting your head down on the stock ,D
 
Been hunting turkeys for quite some time and shot quite a few. I have missed a few also. Not the ammo's fault, my fault. I have only shot 1 with a 3inch magnum all the rest were shot with the old Remington Express and Winchester SuperX and Imperial 2 3/4" duck loads. Coax them in close and smack them hard. When I first started hunting them I didn't have camo, just used an old Military coat outer shell and jeans, it is movement that that gets us busted not so much the color. (within reason) To answer the OP's question, I like #6 shot but #5 will do.
 
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I suggest every new turkey hunter buy the federal flight control wad shells in 5 and 6 shot size ,try these shells with your regular full choke at 30 yards before you spend a ton of cash on high priced chokes and shells ,these shells will work well in almost every shotgun and will kill turkeys with out all the hype ,plane and simple thy work ,and it is a cheap way for a newby to get a idea what his gun is able to do .Dutch
 
hoytcanon said:
#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.
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You won't get more sound advice than this!!
 
dutchhunter said:
I can not do it I want them at 10 yards ,that is what gets the heart going ,I love it when the biggest tom in the woods jumps up on my decoy ,then shoot him in the head ,that's turkey hunting . this is why I us a scope so you can clearly see the toms head and neck no worrys about getting your head down on the stock ,D
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Hear ya dutchhunter that is Turkey hunting in all its awesomeness! And if you know your gun and can keep your emotions in check and head down....it's a dead gobbler. But if you forget any of those 3 things all bets are off...lol

I would counsel a new hunter shoot at your first good opportunity...... if you really want to check on toms beard length after he stops flopping.

After you bag a few toms its all about the experience the kill becomes anti-climatic. Getting them close is the best way to feel the rush and add to the experience! At least that's how I look at it, the longer I hunt the more I look for a quality experience. Now the kill definitely adds to the experience but I don't always have to kill to enjoy the hunt.
 
My trouble is after 17 years of chasing the birds is I like to let them get close to see the spur length. I have enough 12" beards only one set of 1 7/8" spurs though and with the heavy snow the last two years I don't expect to see any that length soon. I put my decoys where I want to shoot them usually 3-4 yds. That way if they hang up they are usually 20-25.
For me it is Winchester Supreme 3.5", #6, 2oz. An example of differences the same shell in 2 1/4oz sprays like a garden hose
 
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