doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Slightly OT: Turkey hunting

How pratical or impractical is it to use a 2-3/4", Improved Cyclinder choke with steel 4, 5 or 6 shot for Turkey hunting this Spring? The gun an Ithaca Deer Slayer with red dot scope, sighted in for Brenneke slugs @ 25 yards. Might Heavy Shot be a better choice over steel?

I do have other gun choices at my disposal......12 and 20ga 3" with full and modified chokes.

John

John: Are you restricted to non-tox ammo? TT

TT: NO, not restricted to non-tox!

When I suggest steel shot, I know that the steel density/pattern will be like shooting lead shot through modified choke. My readings have led me to the conclusion that I should be using full choke with lead shot and more open choke with steel. I am just wondering how I might be able to use the Ithaca with red dot scope on Turkey this Spring.

The yardage you intend to shoot your turkeys at should be a critical factor in your choice of chokes and shot. Ultimately, you should strive for the densest pattern you can get while still using a shot size/weight that will break head and neck bones.

Dean

Sounds to me like that is a great gun and plan for Spring Turkeys. We have been shooting a lot of steel this year to see for ourselves how it performs. #3 Kent fasteel does very well in an I/C choke (or mod) on Geese and Ducks and Pheasants at fairly long ranges. Dunno why it wouldnt perform well on Turkeys. #4 should be ok as well...Have fun..

What is it that makes people feel that they need a Red Dot scope on a turkey gun!!!!

Wild turkeys have very heavy neck bones and gobblers(spring hunting) can be very large birds i.e over 20 #'s. As such, the last thing I would use is steel shot of any size including T if allowed. You need a pattern that is measured FULL at 40 yds with the ammunition/gun combo you will actually use and you can purchase Turkey targets to do that showing the neck/head area and you need about 7-9 pellets at least in the head neck area to assure a kill. I went from #6 lead 3" 12 gauge to #5 Hevi-Shot when it took 3 rounds of lead to bring down a 25# gobbler with head shots at 40 yds. You should also contact your state DNR to see if they have any turkey hunting seminars available as turkey hunting is probably one of the most dangerous forms of hunting out there and there are methods that can increase your safety.-Dick

I would opt for the old long tom full choke bbl. Tightest shoooting gun I have is an old mosturd w/a 30" fixed full choke. It's smite'd a tom with 2oz of #6's at a long 47 paces (I thought he was closer.....)

The last 2 toms I've whacked were with 3" #5 heavy13's. With My double I'd have 7 1/2's with an IC choke in the bottom tube incase they got within spit'in distance, and #5 H13 with a cabelas heavy shot full in the top tube.

Brother in law wants to split the cost on some dif shells to do some pattern testing, so I'll prob carry roman candles in 5 or 6's this spring.

Like Dd1 said, it's all about pattern density - hitting them hard.

Gary

A few years ago I was hunting turkeys with decoys, using 1 1/8 oz. of steel #4 in a 12 gauge.

I was a long ways from home, and only realized belatedly that I hadn't put in my tighter chokes for my O/U. I had skeet 2 and IC... what I'd be using the previous fall for hunting mallards over decoys.

So, I made a point of setting the turkey decoys a little closer than usual, no more than 30 paces.

Long story short, on the first morning of the hunt two nice mature gobblers came right in, and I easily dropped the first with the IC barrel. The second Tom looped back to try to kick the downed bird to death, and I dropped him too. Here in parts of Montana you can harvest two Toms.

Though it wouldn't have been my first choice, these chokes and distances worked fine on big Tom turkeys with #4 steel.

Puddle Rat: What does the H13 signify in "#5 H13 or heavy13"? Sounds like I should perhaps stick to my sxs M/F 3" 12ga dbl-trigger gun.
John