Turkey patterning

[Chuck]

I ended up patterning my turkey gun yesterday. Since I've never hunted turkey before I'm looking for some feedback from those with experience. I tested with Winchester 1 3/4oz high velocity load and Remington's 2 oz. load. Both loads were use #6 shot. My best results were with the Remington load which allowed me to put 18 pellets into the head and neck of the Quaker Boy turkey patterning target from 40 yards.

On the target itself it says that a minimum of 5 hits are needed to the head and neck. That really doesn't sound like a lot to me for immediate incapacitation but what do I know? Not much really. So to the experienced turkey hunters, does a pattern density of 18 #6 pellets to the head and neck area at 40 yards sound as good as I hope it does?

Chuck

 

[Waterfowler]

Don't worry too much about how many pellets are in the kill zone. You will never hold your gun at the exact same point of aim and the bird may move slightly, as you pull the trigger.

You want an even, dense pattern at the point of aim. I do all my patterning on 8.5x11" paper. As long as there is good coverage on the paper, it will be a dead bird.

The number of pellets required to kill varies depending on where they hit. You may need 5-6 pellets in the neck area, but one in the brain will do it too.