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Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 31 Location: Eastern Washington

Can anyone recommend a decent 16ga turkey load? i have longshot and fed/win/cheddite hulls. I was thinking 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 of 5's. Also, I thought that the bp MM16 wad would probably keep patterns tightest. Thanks

Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 224

The only recipes I know for the MM16 wad are listed in the BPI 16 Ga Manual, however, I have tried a few of their loads and they are way overpressurized. I'm currently trying to make a 16 ga load using the MM16 wad...or even the MM20 (it fits in a remington wad nicely), but I won't have it tested before this turkey season.

Here is some of the progress I have made:

You are right that the MM16 will give the tightest pattern. In my testing, I have had the best patterns with the wad split in 4 equal petals, with the splits being about 2/3 the length of the wad.

I have had my best patterns so far with 1 1/8 oz load rather than 1 1/4 oz, although I am still experimenting.

BPI nickel plated shot is a scam. It is very soft, and seems to be just a nickel wash over almost pure lead. The patterns I have with it always clump up and leave holes. Also, the size is not correct. I ordered #5 1/2's. What they actually are are #6's (by diameter) with the nickel coat. I'm getting ready to test some high antimony #6 shot (Remington) to see how that patterns. Copper plated #5's might be a good option as well, but I don't have any on hand as of yet.

These loads have the highest recoil of any 16 load I have made to date. Keep that in mind If you try and make a turkey load.

About the only useful powders for these loads are Steel, Bluedot, and Longshot. I'm trying to focus on Steel, as it has the lowest pressure characteristics for the heavy loads. Bluedot tends to get physically to hot and melts the ends of the hull. I don't like that. Steel isn't quite as bad about that.

My test loads are buffered. I find Mix47 works the best so far. The BP Original buffer patterned the same as Mix47, but had a tendency to melt and leave a thick residue in the hull.

The MM16 wad is a little deep, even for a 1 1/4 oz load. I have been using a 1/8" 20 ga felt wad in the bottom of the cup to raise the 1 1/4 oz loads to the apropriate level, and 2 felt wads for a 1 1/8 oz load. I have also experiemented in cutting the MM16 wad to length, removing the gas skirt, and using an OB16 with a 1/8" Nitro Card. That has promising results with a 1 1/8 oz load...not so much with a 1 1/4 oz load.

But this is all experimental, and as I said, I won't have test results by this season. My goal is to make a 16 ga turkey load that rivals a commercially available turkey load for the 20 and 12 ga. So far, I have the pattern size that I want...but not the evenness. I am hoping that the use of the high antimony lead will fix that problem.

Other will probably recommend just to use one of the other available recipes for a 1 1/8oz or 1 1/4 oz load, using an SP-16 or other wad. These will work if the turkey is close. You might look at the LPG website and see what they have listed. I believe the load listed as "Scott's Pheasant Slayer Load" might be a good choice. Or, you could try the 1 1/4 oz load listed on the Alliant website using a federal hull and an SP-16 wad. If you do a search for turkey loads, or under Charles Hammack, on this site you will find a load listed for turkey, I think using 7 1/2's at about 1500 fps. I think it is Charles's go to turkey load. I tried it, but the patterns were not great for me. I would like to know the choke he recommends for that load.

Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 224

The alliant 1 1/4 oz load: http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?shotype=&weight=1.25&weightdis=1%201/4&shellid=526&gtypeid=3&gauge=16

or a 1 1/8 oz load on the Alliant site: http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?shotype=&weight=1.25&weightdis=1%201/4&shellid=526&gtypeid=3&gauge=16

You could try the Hodgdons Reloading Center website for more 1 1/8 oz loads as well.

Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 224

Charles Hammack's load:

Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 31 Location: Eastern Washington

Bowbuilder,
thanks for all the info. That last one of Charles' looks like a thumper. I think I'll try it. I am shooting a remington mod 11 with a full barrel so I think it should work nicely. I'll try that and a 1 1/8 load of fives with the sp-16 and let you know how they pattern through my full choke.
Your goal of developing a turkey load to rival 12 and 20 is very cool, and i am sure it can be done. I might have to start fooling around with something like that myself.

Member Joined: 28 Oct 2005 Posts: 665 Location: Louisiana

Turkey loads around here are typically the 2-2-10 formula for the 12 gauges. 2 dr.eq./2 ozs. shot/#10.

I have had good luck with a similar load for the 16 using 1 ounce of fine shot (71/2's do well) loaded to produce a lower velocity (900fps or so)and hence allow the shot cloud to remain dense.
In my experience turkey shots are generally head shots and are at relatively close ranges. Tighter chokes and slow dense patterns will take the head right off old Tom.
Try this load on paper(remember for turkeys you may actually be "aiming" your shotgun) and compare it with your hyper-velocity loads of larger shot--see what you think and what your gun 'likes'.