Turkey Hunting

[wtfooptimax200]

Ok, it's not exactly a CB related question, but I am trying to find out what everyone likes for a turkey choke? I have heard many good things about Kick's, but they seem to not totally endorse the use of high density shot. This worries me since I was planning to use hevishot for a bit more killing power.

Suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Branden

[DIRT Farmer]

The only gun I have ever hunted turkeys with is a repo Brown Bess musket, flint lock 11 ga. 1 1/8 oz of shot from a cylinder bore works well. I have lost track of how many I have taken with it but it is around 20. You only get to shoot one here so add an element of challange.

[stubshaft]

I usually use my Pedersoli 12ga BP double with mod and full chokes in it.

[Reload3006]

I use pure gold .. But I only use lead shot. I hunt with a BPS 10GA it was the only choke that would give me a good tight pattern. I wouldn't shoot at a turkey over 50yds anyway. I learned that I needed a choke that would strip the wad for me to hold a good tight pattern. You may have a different result. Unfortunately it took me 3 chokes to find one that would do what I wanted it to do. Good luck.

[waksupi]

I've shot most of mine with 20 bore flintlocks, cylinder bore. I like 7 1/2 or 8 shot for a dense pattern. One in the head, is all it takes.

[smoked turkey]

Well I cheat a bit as I use my Knight TK2000 12 bore. As many of you know who are some what familiar with the TK2000, it is a jug choked gun and comes with an extra full turkey choke. I wish it were not jug choked but they didn't make them any other way. I have replaced the extra full choke with a modified and find that my usual load of 1 1/8 oz #4 lead shot over about 80 gr Pyrodex/powder card/ 1/2" cushion wad works good for me. I do on occasion use a BPI multimetal shot wad in place of the card/cushion wad combination and that works very good. The key for my gun is the choke being modified that makes it work good. I have taken very large toms out to a true 50 yards with it.

[camotruck]

I shoot hevi shot with a Primos Jellyhead. It does as advertised.

[bowfin]

I am not a big fan of super tight chokes for turkey hunting. I like my patterns to be basketball size at short range, not softball size.

So my vote is just a plain old full or improved modified choke.

[bandit7.5]

never got a turkey with a shotgun, tried many times missed many times. My turkey weapon is a model 340 bolt rifle in 222 with a simmons scope, 11 turkeys,11 head shots.on my land.

[smoked turkey]

In response to bandit7.5 I wish we were allowed to use a muzzleloading rifle for turkeys here. However we can only use shotgun. I wrote to the Conservation Commision and asked them to consider a muzzleloading rifle season for turkeys. I suggested it could be limited to the smaller calibers such as 32, 36, and such. Probably nothing will come of it but I mention it when ever I can.

[RevGeo]

My turkey gun is the drilling I inherited from my old man. It's 16gaX16ga over .22 Sav HiPower AI. The shotgun barrels are choked full and modified. It would be an ideal turkey gun if my state allowed turkey hunting with rifles.
I like #7 1/2 lead shot.

[Doc_Stihl]

I use the factory poly choke on my mossberg 500. Crank it down until the pattern is where I want it.

I setup my brothers 835 ultimag with a factory mossberg turkey choke and it's so tight ya really need an optic.

[TheSmurf]

the stock choke? My stock Modified Rem-choke gave extremely dense patterns out to at least 35 yards. This was using number 6 lead shot, 1 1/8 oz. low base. Velocity around 1325 fps. Shot so tight in fact, that after patterning it I stopped using that Modified for most situations. Went and bought a Remington skeet choke, which patterned much more reasonably for me. Hope this helps someone :smile:

P.S. I miked the Modified Rem-choke and it was within industry spec.

[TheSmurf]

also showed point of impact about a foot high at 35 yards with that load. Good to know that kind of thing before taking to the field :smile:

[RMc]

Open sight handguns are legal for spring turkey hunting in Alabama.

[bowfin]

smurf is right: Patterning your shotgun ia as important as sighting in your deer rifle.

It's also a good idea to compare penetration of the shot with stacks of wet newspaper or phone books when it comes to bigger critters like geese. Turkey heads, maybe not as critical, but a single sheet of patterning paper makes #9 shot and 000 buck look the same as far as penetration goes.

[KCSO]

If you can call them in a 410 will do the job you don't need much to kill one at 20 feet. If you are not much of a caller you might need more gun. Like Waksupi most of mine have been close with a trade gun. I did drop two for the pot last year with a full choke 16 Ga at about 35 and 40 yards but that was camp meat.

[waksupi]

A good way to test penetration, is sit a soup can out at your desired range, and shoot it. If the shot will penetrate the can, it will kill a turkey, assuming a head shot. .

[ilcop22]

I use the .690 x-full turkey choke that came with my Mossberg 835 Turkey Thug.

[Flinchrock]

never got a turkey with a shotgun, tried many times missed many times. My turkey weapon is a model 340 bolt rifle in 222 with a simmons scope, 11 turkeys,11 head shots.on my land.

That'll do it!!!!:grin:

[roverboy]

I use a Hastings .640 choke in my Mossberg 500. I've killed turkeys out to 45 yards with this outfit.

[Buddy]

+1 for the Jellyhead.

[mx5tc]

I use the extended turkey choke that came with my Stoeger M2000 12 gauge semi-auto. After some experimentation, I've settled on 3" magnum #5 turkey loads.

[Bealzybub]

I'm with Bandit. I've shot a dozen or so turkeys none with a shotgun. Its always been a head shot with a Marlin model 60 22LR in the head.

[reloader28]

My wife shot a triple beard with 1" spurs last week.
She was pretty pumped. :p
I told her it was like shooting a B&C deer or elk. She shoot her bird with a 12 gauge mossberg 835 turkey gun with 7/8 oz of 5 shot.

[roverboy]

Tell your wife congratulations, reloader28. She's got me beat. My best had 2 beards.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

+1 for the Jellyhead.
+2 for the jellyhead 12ga Encore
next year Encore 209x12ga

[DrCaveman]

Congrats on the scores.

For a "fun" version of turkey shooting, try the Kent diamond shot 3" x 1.75 oz #5 shot in an NEF single shot 12 gauge Pardner.

Don't bother with a limb saver, it may just enflame an outbreak of pussitis. :twisted:

Now if ya want to actually bag a tom, then probably don't listen to me. Batting 0.000 so far.

[waksupi]

Saw these on the way home from the weekend shoot.

[Crawdaddy]

Waksupi- how did you convince a pretty girl like that to marry you?? :) Congrats to her on the bird.

[waksupi]

Waksupi- how did you convince a pretty girl like that to marry you?? :) Congrats to her on the bird.

Dat ain't my wife! [smilie=l: