Hunting Turkey Saturday - What to use?

[Bullseye]

I have a couple old shotguns.
An Ithaca NID 12 ga & an Ithaca model 37 16 ga.
I used to have a single shot H&R Topper 12 ga and it used 3 in #4 steel shot magnum shells, I gave it to my hunting buddy. I suspect #4 size lead is the way to go but I am not sure what to take hunting between these two Ithaca's.
I think they should only use 2 3/4 length shells.
I am leaning toward taking the pump 16 ga.
Any suggestions on what I should buy to use on the big bird?
Never took these turkey hunting yet.

 

[WestKentucky]

Whichever has the tightest pattern. Shoot paper at 20 yards and measure your spread. Whichever is tighter at 20 will be tighter further out.

 

[Bullseye]

I'd like to try that W KY but I am looking for an ammo suggestion.
I have a lot of #6 shot (too small maybe) in 2 3/4 and longer shells with various loads but I don't think I want to abuse the old girls or cripple a Tom.
Looking for a brand easily found at a LGS or Walmart.

 

[tomturkey]

It does not take big shot to kill turkeys

Figure out the number of pellets in a #4 shot vrs a #6 shell. There are way more shot in a #6 load to do the job.

I have used Remington Premier Magnum copper plated 6's since they came out with great success. YOU are shooting at the head/neck so penetration is not problem with the lighter 6's.

It is some times a problem to find them in 6's but you should be able to order them from Cabelas even in 2 3/4 inch.

 

[WestKentucky]

Depending on where your at, you have different options to look for. If you are in an area where pheasant are on the menu, then use high brass pheasant loads in 4 or 6 shot. If your in a duck hunting area then go with high brass shells there in #4. The key is going to be balancing the shot wad and power. Out of a 2 3/4 gun you are limited by the shell...actually the shot wad.

 

[Laphroaig]

You never said how either gun is choked. If one of the 12 ga. barrels is full, that's what I'd use. I'm assuming the 16 is modified which is OK too. In fact, my Dad had a 16 Ithaca 37 and killed a few birds back in the day. BTW he used #4 shot.

I prefer #4 for turkey but many people use #5 or #6 with good results.

Laphroaig

 

[Bullseye]

16 pump is modified
12 double is mod & full.
Not sure if the NID 12 can handle 2 3/4 mag #6 but I have those.
The #4 I have looks pretty old, one is a factory, the rest look to be qualty reloads with a dab of wax for a seal.
The 16 look to be mid size brass and the box clearly says rabbit & squirrel but a good shot wouldn't make much differences to a turkey.

I guess I'll go out in the back yard and see how a few do tomorrow.

LATE EDIT: I drew some turkey-ish silouttes on some cardboard boxes and shot two of each at 15 yards. Neck and head shots only, that will be good.
The 16 ga pump was on but spread out considerably more than the double 12 with a few leads off the back. The reloads and mags were tighter & more on target selecting the right barrel first. The mags didn't seem to be trouble for the double but I think I'll just use the reload in the left and that factory Winchester #4 in the right and tote the NID.

 

[urbaneruralite]

I'd use the 12. Back off to thirty yards and fire at a 10" circle with a 2" in the middle. Whichever puts at least 10 pellets in the 2" and no turkey head sized holes in the 10" is what I'd use. If it doesn't move up five yards and try again. You can go down to 7 1/2s for more pellets if you're limiting yourself that close. A heavy pheasant load of 7 1/2s will usually do fine for turkey to thirty yards.

If you want more distance, Federal has a 2 3/4" turkey load with the flight control wad. I don't know enough about NIDs to say 1 1/2oz of #6 at 1315fps is too much for it or not, though.

Shotgun patterns will fall apart in a hurry, so you don't want to shoot any further than you've tested. Sometimes five yards further might as well be a mile.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but I think the NID is fine with heavy loads. Flues, Lewis, or the other one, Crass I think it was, probably not.

 

[eastbank]

60-70 years ago 12ga 2-3/4 inch 1-1/4 ozs 5-6 shot was killing turkeys just fine, but since then the turkeys have discovered kevlar. eastbank.

 

[tomturkey]

Eastbank How true. It is all about macho now.

My first 4 or 5 turkeys were shot with #5 duck loads. A few of those loads were paper shells, the others were early plastics. How did they ever kill a turkey.

 

[gamestalker]

I've killed turkey with a .410, 20 ga., and 12 ga..

My first choice would be something in 12 ga., and use a 3" mag. with #4 Lead or copper plated lead, not steel. If you don't have anything 12 ga. with a 3" chamber, then go with 2-3/4" magnums, #4 lead or copper plated lead shot. Full choke or extra full will be best, though I hunted turkey for years with a Modified choke, no problem, just make sure you pattern it prior to the hunt at 20 yds. and then 30 yds..

If you must, you could go with the 16 ga., but I wouldn't unless you have no other option. But if you do, make sure you can get your hands on some magnum lead loads. Them birds aren't as easy to kill as you may think. Head shots only!!

GS

 

[jrdolall]

When I was in high school I had a Mossberg 20 g bolt (still have it and took it rabbit hunting this year) and that is what I killed deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, dove, quail...you get the picture.

Now I use a 3 1/2" magnum $1600 shotgun. I guess it allows me to reach out a little farther but the turkey still winds up dead. I wouldn't use #6 unless you are going to wait until they are inside 20 yards. #5 will work as will #4. I personally would use the 12g on full choke. That assumes of course that it patterns better but all guns shoot differing loads differently.

 

[eastbank]

#6,s will kill at twice that range if you shotgun will hold a pattern, my rem 1187 witl put 326 #6,s on a 14" square at a true 35 yards,1-3/4 oz load. eastbank.

 

[Bullseye]

Didn't get a shot and saw one loner pretty far off for a couple seconds. The flocks got scattered pretty quick at daylight. A gobbler here and there off in the distance and then BANG! One kept making a racket up til 9:30 down over the bank and then things quit without a shot. My buddy saw a hen up close.
I got some answers from my old Lohman box call but he just wouldn't come up.
I took the 16 ga anyway. It didn't make any difference. It was as good as a slingshot would have been today. I'm going to pick up some #4 2-3/4 16 ga mags and keep the double at home next time out anyway. Sitting there, I was glad to have the lighter gun to keep me company. It was good day though, haven't been to the cabin since deer season.
Thanks for all the responses.

 

[rcmodel]

IMO: Concerning 3" Mag turkey loads.
If a 1 1/8 oz #8 trap load can pulverize a clay target into a puff of dust at 40+ yards?

It can do the same to a turkey's head and neck at the same distance.

They are not armor plated!!

rc

 

[eastbank]

no turkey for me either, ran into a nice gobbler but he was henned up and was not going to leave what he had for a sour sounding maybe. i did bring up a young jake to 20 yards ,but didn,t shoot as i was still hoping to get a crack at mr. big. going out of the woods i saw a nice single gobbler but he was to far to go after it as we must quit at 12 am. monday i,ll be back at the same spot. i had a little company as a porky climbed a tree next to me. eastbank.

 

[urbaneruralite]

A clay target is of very different material than a turkey neck and head. Perhaps if you got it a little wet, covered it in clay and some feathers...

25 yards would be pushing it with #8s. They just don't carry enough energy, not to mention the difficulty of holding a pattern in cold or wet weather. If you want to go to forty you want at least sixes. You could go to fives if you want to go to fifty, but it takes a heavy load to hold a reliable pattern that far. Going to a pellet larger than #5 requires a very heavy load that is hard to choke down enough to hold a pattern at a distance far enough to take advantage of the extra energy.

If you want to go with lighter loads and smaller pellets, you have to go with the heavy tungsten stuff or shoot them very close. I realize this is a little off topic, but I hope to save some birds from being wounded. I find pellets of too many sizes in birds I kill as it is.

 

[cowpoke]

please dont shoot a turkey with a target load. Im sure some people have done it but some people are,,,,, well . Use a good turkey load or high brass load 4,5,6, Is a good place to start

 

[rcmodel]

A clay target is of very different material than a turkey neck and head. Perhaps if you got it a little wet, covered it in clay and some feathers

You make me smile.

You ever seen a turkey neck & head yourself, up close & personal???
Like dressing one after you shot it??

They are not normally wet, unless it is raining.

They are never covered in Mud, or thick feathers.
And they are for sure, not armor plated that #8 or 7 1/2 shot won't pulverize them at the same distance the same load will pulverize a clay target.

BTDT, time after time after time.

rc

 

[urbaneruralite]

I've seen lots of them because I have actually killed lots of them with shotguns. I really doubt you have. I'm positive you haven't killed even one with a trap load of lead 8s at 40+ yards.

 

[Bullseye]

If Pilgrims shot em, then so can I. I never pull a trigger unless I am sure I'll get the results I intend to get. I will follow up on how things turn out if I'm lucky enough to bag one. I won't be posting about maiming an animal because I won't do it.
RC has been knowledgable and helpful to me countless times, even in posts I never was involved in. Out of 52,000 + posts he has always been 1st class. I haven't run across a single comment of his that was balonious.

(Yes, I just made up that word ... balonious. meaning a comment from one who is full of baloney.)

EDIT: Apparently balonious is not mine, I googled and found it has been around.

 

[ldlfh7]

First turkey I shot was with a single shot 20 ga modified at 30 yards. I was using plain old #6 shot because it was what I had and nobody ever told me I needed a "magnum" turkey load. I'll be damned it the bird didn't flop over and die right there. I have since used the same gun every year but moved to #5 only for tighter patterns.

 

[eastbank]

no turkey today,i had one on the way at 6:25am but a few deer ran by and scared him and he ran the other way. tomorrow i,ll be back out tomorrow.. eastbank.

 

[ZeroJunk]

The only turkey I ever shot was at maybe 20 yards with a 3 1/2 inch load of 6's and extra full choke. I shot the bird low in the craw and he flopped down this steep bank maybe 100 feet. I wasn't sure exactly where the property line was and was in a hurry to get him out of there. I grabbed the bird by the foot and started up the bank and I though he was going to break my arm. I turned him lose and right back down he went. So, I walked down there and blew his head clean off.

So, if you put a pellet in their brain, end of story. If not they are pretty tough.