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Post by Renegade on Jul 3, 2004 14:15:33 GMT -5
When pattering a load for turkey, how many pellets do you like to have in the kill zone? I'm asking so I know what to look for when I pattern some loads for next season. I did go out today and patterned some loads. But not knowing what to look for in the pattern, I don't know if one load is better than the other. I shot magnum loads with #4 shot and loads with #5 shot. The #4 shot held a much tighter pattern than the #5's, but I only had 11 pellets in the kill zone on the target. Will that load get the job done or should I keep trying different loads? Thanks for the help guys.
Later,
Dave
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243
Conservation Officer in Training 
There's a place for ALL Gods creatures,next to the mashed potatoes & gravy
Posts: 1,216
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Post by 243 on Jul 3, 2004 22:38:29 GMT -5
only takes one.but it depends on several things.distence is you main thing,on a calm day,i wouldnt shoot a gobbler over 35-40 yds with a 12 GA. scattergun
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Post by Renegade on Jul 3, 2004 22:51:39 GMT -5
The wind was calm at the range today and I was shooting at 25yds.
Later,
Dave
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243
Conservation Officer in Training
There's a place for ALL Gods creatures,next to the mashed potatoes & gravy
Posts: 1,216
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Post by 243 on Jul 6, 2004 22:31:17 GMT -5
what gauge?
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Post by Renegade on Jul 7, 2004 16:32:07 GMT -5
12 gauge Remington 870 Express Magnum.
Later,
Dave
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243
Conservation Officer in Training
There's a place for ALL Gods creatures,next to the mashed potatoes & gravy
Posts: 1,216
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Post by 243 on Jul 7, 2004 16:42:43 GMT -5
you should be able to shoot out to 30 or 40 yds
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Post by Renegade on Jul 7, 2004 16:44:30 GMT -5
The way my luck has been when hunting, I probably won't even see a bird to even shoot at.
Later,
Dave
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243
Conservation Officer in Training
There's a place for ALL Gods creatures,next to the mashed potatoes & gravy
Posts: 1,216
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Post by 243 on Jul 7, 2004 16:45:47 GMT -5
thats about my luck
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Post by Danny on Jul 10, 2004 17:03:24 GMT -5
Dave,
Start off by getting a turkey pattern target. It's usually a 30" or so circle. If not already there, draw a crosshairs thru the circle dividing it into 4 pieces of pie. Shoot that at 40 yards and see where the most shot hits the target. That will give you your aiming point. If most of your shot is in the lower right portion of the target, you'll have to aim high and left to get the pattern to shift to zero. (Of course, if you have a vent rib on your gun, you can buy fiber optic adjustable sights for it).
Then, get you some of those targets that have the turkey head and neck on them. Start at about 40-50 yards and shoot different loads thru different chokes. The combination that puts the most shot into the head and neck area will be your starting point. Work closer then with that combo and make sure that there's no "holes" in your pattern the closer you get. At 20-25 yards, you should be able to pretty much blow a large hole thru the target. As long as you keep a good amount (I like at least 10-15 #4 shot in the neck/head area) you'll be good to go.
This is just what I do, I'm sure others here have different ideas. Hopefully, they'll share.
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Post by Renegade on Jul 10, 2004 17:07:24 GMT -5
I was using the targets with the turkey head and neck on them. I didn't count all the pellets in the head and neck area, just the one's that hit the skull and spine.
Later,
Dave
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Post by Danny on Jul 10, 2004 17:09:25 GMT -5
Well that's what I meant!  |
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243
Conservation Officer in Training
There's a place for ALL Gods creatures,next to the mashed potatoes & gravy
Posts: 1,216
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Post by 243 on Jul 10, 2004 22:59:40 GMT -5
just takes one to kill it,it's just where it hits
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Post by Renegade on Jul 10, 2004 23:04:05 GMT -5
Still got to pattern some more loads before I make a final decesion on which load the gun likes the best.
Later,
Dave
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Post by Renegade on Jul 17, 2004 15:43:22 GMT -5
Went to the range today and shot some Remington Premier High Velocity Magnum loads. Man those 3" shells are STOUT! I did see a marked improvement in the pattern density! Had 6 pellets clustered around the eye of the turkey. I'm thinking this load may be the one to go with. What do you guys think?
Later,
Dave
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Post by Swampbird on Aug 7, 2004 18:56:33 GMT -5
When your pattern has less than 5 shot in the "Lethal kill Zone" (brain/spine) you are out of the gun's maximim effect range, with that choke/shot combo! It may take just 1, but if that one misses, you've lost that bird. A minimum of 5 are insurance that there are enough shot within the area to hit the target.
EXAMPLE: (Yds....Shot)
30yds.....14
35yds.....10
40yds.......5 (Maximim Effective Range)
45yds.......2
Maximim effective range is the limit at which you can expect to have enough shot within the Lethal Kill Zone to put birds down.
Better to let him walk away and work him again later or another day than to wound him and have him die somewhere in the woods. You won't work or take that bird.
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