ORIGINAL: Todd1700
You can't necessarily look at what those guys in still target competions are doing as the ideal example of what you should carry on a turkey hunt. In their game if a 30 inch barrel improves their patterns by an average of 2% then it's well worth using. On a turkey hunt however the inconvieniance of that longer, heavier barrel just isn't worth it for such a modest improvement. Besides most of the patterns those guys are getting in still target competions are far denser than what is necessary to simply kill a turkey at 40 yards.
I agree that we certainly can't use the still target championships as theONLY word, HOWEVER..... it is an excellent reference to suggest the highest quality chokes and most consistent shot material and pattern densities. One only needs to assume that our shot performance from shorter barreled hunting rigs isnt going to be as impressive. It does indeed tell us what patterns are consistently throwing better, tightershot groupswith less shot deformation. The highest quality equipment, be it chokes, shotshells, etc, will always be better than the rest and the equipment that I'll be sure to test in my own conditions. It would be stubborn and bullheaded to disregard any finding on the most impressive turkey rigs. Food for thought..... remember, it all comes down to ONE shot,...... whats your tropy Gobbler worth?
Good luck and good shootin'