Mark_Mark
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I think it’s worth it if you get a successful hunt.
what’s the bag/tag limit a year on turkey? 2-3? box of shells would last you years
Stupidly expensive Turkey loads
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what’s the bag/tag limit a year on turkey? 2-3? box of shells would last you years
kalielkslayer
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The bismuth I’m currently using is BOSS. It’s mail order only. I bought a case of 1 1/4 oz #5s last year along with 4 boxes of 1 1/8 oz # 7s.
Beware, their cases are only 200 rounds, their boxes only 20 rounds.
I patterned the 5s at 40 yards with my gun and the pattern was consistent with lead 5s outta my gun. But lead 6s were so much better and I think the 6 lead carries as much energy as bismuth 5s.
Our chukar hatch was terrible this year so I only killed 30 birds, 1/2 in California with bismuth. Based on this small sample size I know I did better with bismuth than steel. Jury is still out comparing it to lead.
Hoping for a great hatch this year!
lonniemike
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For FL hunters, your limit is two spring gobblers. Centerfire rifles not allowed. Fall archery either sex. GeoDudeFL I'm guessing that you're not from FL. Someone earlier said that "he'd heard that wild turkey didn't taste that good", yea right, and back strap is the worst too. I say, it's mighty fine eating. Best All
George P
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A lot depends on WHAT those critters have been eating.............
GeoDudeFlorida
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Native born and reared Floridian. Nice job proving at least half the old saying about assuming is true. Bless you and yours.
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AJC1
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Spot on for what I wanted to know. Thank you for the insight.
35 Whelen
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Good marketing has led us to believe we need 3 1/2" 10 ga. loads and scopes with which to hunt turkey. Many years ago I had a partial bag of high antimony #4 shot sitting around so I loaded up a couple of boxes of turkey loads with 2 3/4" shells; some 1 3/8 oz. some 1 1/2 oz. I never lost a bird with either. Several years ago I was guiding a fella and and we got his bird, the Tom's just kept gobbling. So after taking pictures of his I called up one for myself and killed him with an old Fox Model B 16 ga. and a Winchester factory load of 1 1/8 oz. of #4 shot. A buddy of mine had a Tom gobbling outside his bathroom window and took him out with a #8 shot Dove & Quail load.
Get 'em in close and most anything will work.
35W
Get 'em in close and most anything will work.
35W
bigpower491
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I paid 20 a box for Nitro Turkey 3-1/2s.......they were the only shells on the shelf....
Captcurt
Member
I am so glad that our LGS doesn't gouge. I priced some 3" 12ga TSS at his store for $45. I didn't buy them and will stick to my Longbeards, but his price was below all others that I have seen.
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AJC1
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We had some come in at bps today in Memphis prices not near what was related to me.
35 Whelen
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I can't help but wonder how hunters killed turkey before the advent of shotshells that cost $8 - $10 apiece.
35W
35W
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AJC1
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The only other authorized way in my state is a bow. DNR was literally standing behind me and I asked him a bunch of questions to quell some of my ignorance
bigpower491
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The exact way you described in post #58.
Opener here is hours away, and ill be using some of them "Turkey " shells I picked up for a reasonable number at the sporting goods. I like the fact that they'll have enough gogo to get out a ways if need be, but had I not picked these up, I'd be using my pheasant loads out that extra full
Dale Alan
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Same way, just some folks don't mind trying new things . Can't condemn a hunter because he is willing to spend more money , price police be damned.
Barbaroja
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Paying for premium hunting ammo to hunt anything is generally a drop in the bucket compared to all the other associated costs of hunting.
Clothing, tags, guns, calls, gas/airfair, food, lodging (not everyone hunts from their back porch)is all very expensive. After all that, l think fretting over the cost of ammo for a low volume hunt like turkeys where you will be beating the odds to even get 1 shot, doesn’t make much sense to me.
Ever had a Tom come in but hang up just outta range? In that moment I bet you would be willing to give the turkey that $8 you saved for him to come in a few more yards.
Clothing, tags, guns, calls, gas/airfair, food, lodging (not everyone hunts from their back porch)is all very expensive. After all that, l think fretting over the cost of ammo for a low volume hunt like turkeys where you will be beating the odds to even get 1 shot, doesn’t make much sense to me.
Ever had a Tom come in but hang up just outta range? In that moment I bet you would be willing to give the turkey that $8 you saved for him to come in a few more yards.
That price that on the new TSS loads is extreme. They're about $35/5 here for TSS loads. I'd go back to 12 ga with 3" #5 lead pheasant loads before I even thought about trying those shells for that price! I hunt turkeys with a 20 ga and use 3" Federal Heavyweight#7's. It's a bonafide 50 yd load out of either of my 20's with a Trulock HW7 choke. When federal discontinued the HW#7's (to go to TSS loads) I went and bought all they had, on sale, for about $3/shot, and I thought that was a bit much. We have gauge and shot size restrictions here, so I can't Hunt with the TSS#9 shot anyways. In all honesty, the longest shot I've taken has been 52steps and it stone cold dropped him. All other shots have been between 8 and 30yds. Do I need em? No, but I sure am confident in them.
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n2omike
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THIS. I have a lot of buddies who Turkey hunt and swear by it. They say they can shoot out to 70+ yards. The tiny tungsten shot still has good density out to that range. For the time/money put into a Turkey hunt. The cost of a $10 shot shell is insignificant. The magic is being able to make #9 shot deadly. Tungsten is the 'magic bullet' here. When you can use #9 instead of #2-5, shot density increases DRAMATICALLY.
Captcurt
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I am a LongBeard fan. Just got back from the range after testing loads and chokes. I was really amazed by the Indian Creek .665 coupled with the Longbeards. #4, 5, or 6's shot very tight patterns at 40 yards. It put 0ver 30 #4's in the head and neck at 40 yards. The Undertaker .650 and a Hasting .650 shot well with the 6's, but was a little too tight for the larger shot. Our season opens Monday so maybe I can post a picture of a dead bird next week. Key word: "Maybe".
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