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< 16ga. Ammunition & Reloading ~ Acceptable Size Shot for Turkey |
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Posted:
Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:44 pm
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Joined: 12 Sep 2010
Posts: 1973
Location: Maine
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A lot of folks upthread have noted 8s are insufficient for turkey. I agree. What I wanted to add was the first thing a turkey hunter should do is look to his state's regulations. Many states (mine included) limit the shot size one can use for turkey. And that's both the largest shot and the smallest. So, here in Maine (where turkeys have taken over the single most complained about nuisance animal! We have lots of them!) the rules say:
Shotgun: A person can use shotgun gauges 10 through 20, using shot sizes 4 through 6 or mixed loads that include shot sizes 4 through 7. In addition, shotgun gauges 10 through 28, including .410, may be used with shot sizes 7 through 9 in Tungsten Super Shot (TSS). A person must possess a valid big or small game hunting license and a turkey permit.
So, lead or steel, no bigger than #4 and no smaller than #6, but, if you used mixed loads it can be between #4 and #7. And your gun can be a 10 ga through a 20 ga.
TSS, you can use that 28 ga or 410 and the TSS can be #7 through #9. |
_________________ “A man’s rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.”
Frederick Douglass, November 15, 1867, speech in Williamsport, Pa. |
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Posted:
Wed Mar 10, 2021 3:14 pm
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Joined: 16 Nov 2006
Posts: 367
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Used a Marlin Model 90 for upland game & squirrels, using the Win Mark 5 shells loaded with#5 shot, and For grouse and squirrels and rabbits that load was deadly and I did not picked out much shot for cooking. it to pass through better that #6 shot.
Using a M37 16ga for past four years of Turkey chasing and do not feel under-gunned.
Hint: practice your calls or the Tom's and let them get CLOSE! |
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Posted:
Wed Mar 10, 2021 3:52 pm
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Joined: 25 Jan 2014
Posts: 229
Location: MN
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Same here
If you can't find suitable shells soon, send me a PM. I'll gladly help you out.
Marshall |
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Posted:
Wed Mar 10, 2021 6:29 pm
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017
Posts: 45
Location: Virginia
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I use #6 in a pinch. If high brass 7 1/2 won’t kill a turkey, you’re not doing your part. |
_________________ It is always hunting season somewhere. |
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Posted:
Wed Mar 10, 2021 6:29 pm
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017
Posts: 45
Location: Virginia
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I use #6 in a pinch. If high brass 7 1/2 won’t kill a turkey, you’re not doing your part. |
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Posted:
Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:21 pm
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Joined: 11 Dec 2017
Posts: 77
Location: South Dakota
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It would definitely be in a gray area. #7.5 used to be a much more common size for turkey, and it worked out to about 40 yards. I think most would agree a #7.5 doesn't have a lot of potential left past 40 yards. If I plug that into the KPY shotshelll calculator, I compared #7.5 to #8. According to that, if #7.5 is marginal at 40 yards, #8 comparable to that at 34 yards. So I'd say say you should be ok. If these Browning shells are higher velocity pheasant loads, that could buy you another 4-5 yards too.
As for ethics, there are an awful lot of turkey hunters that still swear the holy grail of 12 gauge lead turkey loads was the Federal 2 ounce buffered load of #7.5. Personally I think #6 is generally the best around size for turkeys, but that is just me. #5 works great if you have the payload, which a 16 gauge does not. I have yet to have a #4 produce acceptable patterns, maybe in a monster 10 gauge load. |
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Posted:
Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:50 am
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Member
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 1863
Location: Wisconsin
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I shoot 7.5’s in my right barrel (mod) and 5’s or 6’s in my left (full). I limit the right barrel to 25 yards and let the left barrel take over to 40 yards. Penetration is the first consideration and pattern density is the second. If you hunt them for fifty plus years you learn that woodsmanship is the best ally in the turkey woods and properly used will have you inside forty yards when you squeeze the trigger. Getting them in range is only half of the equation, killing them is the second. Please take the time to pattern your gun for density at a variety of ranges and try your best not to fall victim to new lore and marketing of products that tout 50+ yard infallibility; crippling one for predators to finish is an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Letting a bird walk because the shot wasn’t ideal and killing him later is very gratifying.
Reno |
_________________ If you speak ill of farmers, don't do it with your mouth full. |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 23, 2021 5:13 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 2170
Location: Florida
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Two Pipe Shoot wrote: |
I shoot 7.5’s in my right barrel (mod) and 5’s or 6’s in my left (full). I limit the right barrel to 25 yards and let the left barrel take over to 40 yards. Penetration is the first consideration and pattern density is the second. If you hunt them for fifty plus years you learn that woodsmanship is the best ally in the turkey woods and properly used will have you inside forty yards when you squeeze the trigger. Getting them in range is only half of the equation, killing them is the second. Please take the time to pattern your gun for density at a variety of ranges and try your best not to fall victim to new lore and marketing of products that tout 50+ yard infallibility; crippling one for predators to finish is an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Letting a bird walk because the shot wasn’t ideal and killing him later is very gratifying.
Reno
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well said ! |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 23, 2021 6:29 pm
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Member
Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Posts: 371
Location: mpls mn
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I talk with Tom Roster every once in a while
He did testing at NILO farms and shot a couple 1000 turkeys he says #5s are the best in magnum lead quality hard shot being the key
I've been using 1 1/8 tss hand loads in 7s for a couple years its pretty amazing |
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Posted:
Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:15 am
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Member
Joined: 09 Jan 2013
Posts: 2170
Location: Florida
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9 1/2 TSS will kill them further than you need to shoot them . |
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Posted:
Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:19 am
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Member
Joined: 10 May 2011
Posts: 171
Location: North-Central CT
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OP - I'll mail you a couple boxes of #4 if you want. Just ask you pay shipping.
Would be #4 1-1/8 oz Remington - the old green and yello box. I have more than I will ever use.
PM me if interested. |
_________________ 16 ga Citori Lightning Feather 28"
16 ga Grade II Ugartechea 26"
16 ga Stevens 5100; 16 ga Mossberg 500; 16 ga Sears-Roebuck Model 20 pump |
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Posted:
Wed Mar 31, 2021 4:01 pm
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Member
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 1863
Location: Wisconsin
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Back before no-tocks, we’d buy 25 round boxes of 3” 12’s in 4’s and 6’s for ducks. There was one load of 4’s that patterned incredibly tight. Gobblers shot with 4’s often don’t even flop they die so dead. Over the years I have spent a fortune on 3” shells in 4 trying to find one that would pattern like the old days. Same gun, same barrel, same gunner, no dice. Then I decided to try a 2.75” 4 in that left barrel and that ten round box, reduced to seven by patterning, killed seven gobblers. I tried to find another 4 load to replace the others and finally gave up over a hundred dollars later.
It often takes a lot of time, money and energy to get a bird in range. I don’t guide anyone that won’t show me a pattern for the load they intend to shoot at a gobbler I call. That’s a waste of my time.
Reno |
_________________ If you speak ill of farmers, don't do it with your mouth full. |
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Posted:
Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:25 pm
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Member
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Posts: 393
Location: St. Charles, MO
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pepperdawg---check your P M |
_________________ Griff |
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Posted:
Thu Apr 01, 2021 12:21 pm
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Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 3373
Location: The Great Northwet
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A couple decades ago, I was talked into buying an 3.5" 12ga 870, with a spring loaded recoil reducing stock. Shot a turkey at a whopping 25 yds with it, and the recoil coupled with the spring loaded stock made my thumb give me a bloody nose. Needless to say, I sold it, and that howitzer became the reason I tried a 16ga sxs. I've never looked back since. All that simply to make the point that turkeys are not difficult to kill at reasonable ranges with a tight choke. Don't overthink it. |
_________________ Gun art: www.marklarsongunart.com
Gallery art: www.marklarsonart.com
The man's prayer from the Red Green Show: "I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to. I guess." |
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Posted:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:14 am
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Member
Joined: 10 May 2011
Posts: 171
Location: North-Central CT
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Stack16 wrote: |
pepperdawg---check your P M
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Back at you Stack |
_________________ 16 ga Citori Lightning Feather 28"
16 ga Grade II Ugartechea 26"
16 ga Stevens 5100; 16 ga Mossberg 500; 16 ga Sears-Roebuck Model 20 pump |
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