ORIGINAL: RedAllison

Absolutely DON'T use steel on turkeys. There is NO reason to do so. I assume that you are wanting to use steel so that you will get as tight a pattern as possible? Then you need to look into the new lead alternative shot materials like Hevi-Shot, Winchester Extended, Nitro etc...

The problem with steel isn't that it doesn't expand (which it certainly doesn't) it's problem is WEIGHT. Or lack thereof I should say. Steel weighs about half what lead does. That is why you shot ducks with #7.5, 6 and 4 lead and yet you see everyone shooting 3.5" 2s and BBs at ducks with steel shot. Steel shot SUCKS and I wouldn't shoot my neighbors cats with that crap. Good way to wound ALOT of animals!!! [:@][:'(]

My first pick would be the 3" Nitro 1 3/8oz triple 4,5 & 7 Hevi-Shot. This load from a modified 20ga will SMOKE a turkey out too 40-45yds. They are expensive but cheaper than a new gun if that 20 is all you have. Also Hevi-Shot Remingtons are available in 20ga as well. The thing to remember with Hevi-Shot types of shot is that that material actually weighs more than lead so you don't have to have as big of a shotsize with it like you did with lead. But it DOES have the ONLY postivie aspect that steel has, it patterns incredibly tight and you don't have to restrict it as much as you do lead. That Nitro load I spoke of in a Mod choke will shoot with and in many cases out pattern a lead load from a much tighter Xfull tube.

If you can't find anything but lead then stick with quality turkey loads like those from Winchester Supreme and I would recommend copper plated 5s and keep the shots inside of 40yds unless you have patterned the gun at 45 and can assure yourself of 10-20 pellets in the head/neck region at a given yardage.


Good luck,
RA