My conception of all this is: the more shot in that ten inch circle, the better chance you have of killing the turkey humanely. I was questioning how many hits I needed myself. Feel better now. Just handed a friend (who will be a first time turkey hunter this year) one of my guns to use this spring. Mossburg 535 with a simmons prodiamond scope and a Winchester extra-full choke and a box of Winchester 3 1/2" #6 turkey shot. I patterned it at 40 yards and had 125 shots in the ten inch circle. I think my friend has a pretty good shot at his first turkey.