I hunt fall turkey with a rifle. I have a Marlin 17 HMR and a CZ .204 Ruger. They both ahve high magnification scopes on them. My dad uses a .223. We always go for a head shot. A 17 HMR round goes straight through a turkey and wont kill them with a body shot. Well i prob will if you hit them just right but it is hard. Its easier to shoot about 1in above where the neck and feathers start.