Speaking of patterning...

TrkEmon · 03-12-2003, 05:55 PM

Is good enough good enough? If you get plenty of hits in the kill zone consistantly do you try for better, or do you leave well enough alone?

Myself, if I' m confident a laod/choke/gun combo will do the trick, I' m cool with it. If I could afford several hundred dollars in chokes and ammo, I' d be more than happy to put in the extra time and shoulder beating. But to me, a hit in the kill zone is just that.

mauser06 · 03-12-2003, 06:29 PM

my 870 patterned more than good enough with the first choke and first shell...at 20yds i fear a head may come off or its going to make for a bad pic to say the least...even out to 35 its way more than enough to kill a turkey....so i cleaned the gun and put it back on the wall...no reason to waste money time and get hurt for nothing....it will work...dead is dead.....i doubt i need a few more pellets....i have a bunch to spare as is......i dont see the reason to have 100+$ choke...the best of the best shells...and have a pattern blow a hole in paper out to 40yds....thats just not needed in turkey hunting...im in it for the fun...part of that is having my game close.....thats me though...

sour01 · 03-12-2003, 07:52 PM

Good enough is good enough. You can spend a great deal of cash because the combinations are endless---choke size---shell size---shot size. If you are happy with what you have---and---most importantly---if you have confidence in your setup---leave well enough alone.

MOTurkeyTamer · 03-12-2003, 08:40 PM

The hunt for the perfect gun-load-choke combo can and will be never ending. I relate it to benchrest rifle shooting. If you are shooting 3/8" groups, then you can' t rest until you are shooting 1/4" groups. The next thing you know, you become obsessed with it and then it detracts from the reason you are doing it in the first place....to have fun. If you have a shotgun that will put the shot where you want it at the ranges you feel comfortable with, look no further and leave it alone. You can only kill a turkey so dead anyway. But if you have the time and resources and the " want" to seek out the " holy grail" of turkey guns and loads, then so be it. Just don' t let it become an obsession just because you can' t put 99% of your #5' s in a 10" circle at 50 yds. Hey, the world will go on! Just remember what you' re out there for in the first place and that' s to be in the great outdoors and enjoy what God has given us....and be thankful that you are able to get out in the woods and enjoy it....many people aren' t as fortunate. What I' m trying to say is if you are like TrkEmon and your gun suits you, then you should move on to something else, like perfecting your calling on different calls or improving your woodsmanship, things like that. There' s a lot more to enjoy about turkey hunting than worrying yourself to death that your gun isn' t capable when more than likely it is more than enough.........just my 2 cents.

roman · 03-13-2003, 02:24 AM

Gentlemen,
You have valid points. I became caught up in the long range hype. I came so close to spending megabucks on choke-ammo .
I am going to attend a patterning event though. I will be able to try a few other rounds w\o buying more full boxes I won' t use . Besides, it is fun.

benhuntin · 03-13-2003, 07:15 AM

My gun puts about 7 pellets in the kill zone at 40 yards. My buddy, who spent about 200 dollars more on his gun + another $150 or so with different chokes and shot sizes. As a result he now gets 15 shots in the kill zone at 40 yards. Is it worth it? Not to me. Mine kills em just as dead with a few less pellets but its GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

And what is it with these 3 1/2 inch shells. They may work for some but they just leave me in pain. I' ll stick with 3" . ITs not the size of the shell, Its how you use it.

Buckeye Mike · 03-13-2003, 10:47 AM

A lot of good points here. I am not ready to spend $80 for a choke and $4.00 per shell for the potential improvement at this time. However, if I miss one or worse wound one at 35-40 yards I might change my mind.

turkey7 · 03-13-2003, 11:19 AM

I think your exactly right. Good enough is good enough. I hear all the time about 15 in the kill zone at 50 yds. Mine won' t do it, but I did wan' t to get past 35 and I was fortunant enough to have some friends loan me some different chokes. I did spend some on high $ shells I' ll probably end up shooting crows with but I can avarage 5 or 6 in the kill zone at 45yds and thats good enough for me. In the woods 45yds is pretty far.

click · 03-13-2003, 11:31 AM

all yall have me beat i average 6-8 in the zone at 30 yards. however, i am working on this little problem without spending the bucks. trying to do this by trading chokes from store to store. so far it is working. going to pattern a different one this weekend

CamoHunter · 03-13-2003, 01:12 PM

I think Moturkeytamer hit the nail on the head. Good job!