I'm fairly new to the sport of Turkey Hunting and have a question. I have been shooting in my gun and have been getting an average of about 7 in the vertebra/skull area at 40 yards. Would you consider this good? And would you take a shot at a turkey with this type of pattern?
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"I do not Hunt animals to Kill them. I kill animals because I Hunt." Roger Rothhaar
This is only my 3rd year turkey hunting so i am new to this as well.
I just got a new gun and it's puting around 30 or so pelets in the head and neck area, maybe a dozen or so are in the brain area or spine, at 40 yrds.
I would shoot with that at 40yrds.
I would think your would be ok with what you said if it did that consistantly.
I wouldnt feel comfortable with only 7 in the kill zone at that yardage; you might want to consider limiting your shots to a shorter distance or trying a different choke, 7 is not very good @ 40 yds.
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RE: question on patterning
If you are getting 7 bbs consistently in the vertebrae and skull, you're fine...
Most guys will say they want between 12-15, but in reality it only takes just 1...
You just increase your odds, obviously, with a denser pattern.
If you're using #6 shot, your probably on the end of the string, so be sure of your distance. If you're using #4 or #5, you may be OK if you misjudge by a yard or two, as those bbs have more killing power...
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i would think you would get better results from the hevi shot, sme of the posts of guys using that stuff claim good patterning out to 50-60 yrds; dont know as i havent tried it myself.
I used to use fed 2oz #6 and got consistenly 15-19 in head and neck at 40 yards. switched to heavy shot 1 1/2 oz #6 and my numbers almost doubled at 40 yards. that stuff is unbelievable.
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Location: The place that Harry Henderson calls home....
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RE: question on patterning
Bobco,
Seems like you don't have a dedicated turkey barrel (26", I'm guessing non-ported), so the 5-10 pellets at 40 yards is actually pretty decent.
Being that you're new to turkey hunting, have you sighted-in at ~10 yards, just to determine target density and shiftage? Just asking, because it's not like shooting slugs. You just can't set up at 30-40 yards and determine your optimal pattern.
If you haven't tried close range, give it a few shots. Your pattern may be 6 inches to the left/right, which would mean at 30-40 yards a large portion of your pattern could be off the target.
Other than that, I personally would feel comfortable squeezing the trigger at 40 yards with your gun. I've taken birds in the past with a gun that would put 3 in the head/neck at 35 yards...
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"The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own weight." Theodore Roosevelt
question on patterning
