12Ga 2 3/4'' Turkey load?

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troy fairweather

troy fairweather

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Looking to make up some turkey loads, I have 2 3/4 hulls and have 1 1/4 wads both Remington. I am very limited on powder but think unique should work. I have 7 1/2 shot, #6, and some #5. What would you use. I have some shot that got mixed up, think it's 5-6-7 1/2 mixed together anyone ever try any.

These will be shot from a western field 30 pump. Has a 32'' full choke. 2 3/4 chamber.
 
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IMHO you need at least #2 lead shot for Turkey. Also my opinion is that you need some Blue Dot so you can load 1 1/2 oz of shot.
The heaviest load with Unique is 1 1/4 oz...I think. Unless you get them in really close and get a head shot I don't think #5 shot is adequate.
 
mcb said:
#5 lead works very nicely on Turkeys in my experience. I killed a Turkey at ~55 yards with #5, all be it 2.25 oz of #5 from a 3.5 inch gun but still #5. If I was using a shorter shell I might be tempted to go to #6 just to keep my pellet count up.
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thanks for the info. All I've ever used was #5 the few extra shot with the #6 may help.
 
mcb said:
We nearly wiped out turkeys using 2-3/4" shells you will do just fine with 1-1/4 oz
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I could do a black powder load, 2 oz would be easy and I have all the stuff lol. But ya I've shot them with 20ga before and never had problems, just bad luck. u tend to call in deer better then Turkey's.
 
Aim for head/neck. Adding sights to a barrel can help.

#6 shot, magnum or plated. A plastic buffer agent should be added to tighten patterns. https://www.ballisticproducts.com/

The shot must be kept round. The buffer keeps pellets from deforming.

Its possible to get #2 copper plated shot to patern 100% at 40 yards.

In the dark ages, i used flour as a buffer. Not safe. Flour draws moisture. Not a good thing.

Lower velocity is better then the highest velocity, for tighter paterns.

Extra full chokes may blow the pattern. Dont over choke it.
 
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243winxb said:
Aim for head/neck. Adding sights to a barrel can help.

#6 shot, magnum or plated. A plastic buffer agent should be added to tighten patterns. https://www.ballisticproducts.com/

The shot must be kept round. The buffer keeps pellets from deforming.

Its possible to get #2 copper plated shot to patern 100% at 40 yards.

In the dark ages, i used flour as a buffer. Not safe. Flour draws moisture. Not a good thing.

Lower velocity is better then the highest velocity, for tighter paterns.

Extra full chokes may blow the pattern. Dont over choke it.
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Book says 23.5 of unique with 1 1/4 load. Can shells be loaded with less powder and still keep the same shot, the gun is about 100 years old and has the sharp chamber.
 
troy fairweather said:
I would use more shot if I could but for me the 1 1/4 should work out fine. Thanks.
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Yep! That will get the job done. Birds (lots of them) were being dropped long before 3 and 3.5 inch magnums hit the scene. I like the fact that you're getting that old gun out in the field. Good stuff! Happy hunting
 
Sweet Gun! Waiting on a new Butt Stock for mine - the Boyd's that I ordered bore no relation to the 520a whatsoever.

If 1 1/4 oz of No. 5 shot doesn't kill turkeys, we have a real problem on our hands!
 
First off, I would get you some better shells. The Fiocchi hulls have more space for more shot and powder at less pressure. A box of cheap trap load and popping some clays will generate these for you, otherwise they are generally thrown away at trap ranges. You can work with the Unique, but Hodge Longshot or Alliant Blue dot would be better options. You'll get a better velocity at lower pressures. Hodge has 1 3/8 oz loads listed at a lower pressure than other powders at comparable speed using the Fiocchi hull, Rem wad and Longshot powder. I would go that route with #5 shot. Longshot also has some heavy handgun loading applications, and I really like it for high velocity 1 1/8 oz field loads for grouse and pheasant if you need to justify another use for it.
 
Random 8 said:
First off, I would get you some better shells. The Fiocchi hulls have more space for more shot and powder at less pressure. A box of cheap trap load and popping some clays will generate these for you, otherwise they are generally thrown away at trap ranges. You can work with the Unique, but Hodge Longshot or Alliant Blue dot would be better options. You'll get a better velocity at lower pressures. Hodge has 1 3/8 oz loads listed at a lower pressure than other powders at comparable speed using the Fiocchi hull, Rem wad and Longshot powder. I would go that route with #5 shot. Longshot also has some heavy handgun loading applications, and I really like it for high velocity 1 1/8 oz field loads for grouse and pheasant if you need to justify another use for it.
Click to expand...
I have Remington gun cubs, and xp12 wads. So no need for anything else.
 
Armored farmer said:
I have killed nearly all of my turkeys with 2¾" loads.
Three things....:pattern, pattern, pattern.
I like the range of #4 but they're sparse. #6 patterns good but they are light.....so I use #5s.
*hint: #5 in the chamber, then load a #4 in the magazine, followed by a #5.
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I used to do the same thing but used #2s after the #5. Never had any #4s tho. Plus if I happen to call in a coyote they will help.
 
Well I loaded up 15 to try, I just used my dippers, did not feel like setting the Lee up for so few. I used all the #5 I had for the 15 shells. I have more #6 but it's not the best and has some corrosion from when the shot got wet, so I'll just save that for squirrel loads.

I can't adjust on the Lee so I used some over shot cards under the crimp and there nice an level.
 
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