Head and neck are the vital spots for shotgunning. I like to aim midway down the neck as sometimes the head will bob at the wrong time. I used to cringe everytime I thought about patterning loads for turkey hunting. At one time I had a 3.5" 10 gauge NID that would cross my eyes at the pattern board. 2 1/8 oz. Nickle-plated BBs for long range (dense enough for head and neck at 40 yds, a bona fide 96%) and the right barrel held 2.5 ozs. of magnum lead #3s with the shot collar trimmed off the BP wad to spread it out of the full choke. It yielded 55% and was my closer than 40 yds. load. (I haven't seen Lawrence #3s available in 25 years) Overkill for sure, but turkey hunters... I now shoot a 20 and a 12 for turkeys. One thing that has really made patterning less painful is the Evoshield shooting shirt--no bruises or soreness after patterning. I don't wear it hunting as I don't hear the shot much less feel it when shooting at a gobbler. I won't dove hunt without it, however.
