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Old 11-07-2020, 07:12 PM
  #5  
JW
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Wisconsin
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Many do use #5 and swear by that size. Others like #6.
Yes #6 has the highest pellet count but I was looking at velocity. #4s gave me an extra 5 yds down range in my 12 gauge.
I use #5s in my 20 gauge.
But my goal now when I turkey hunt is to take my shots less than 20 yds or closer. My average for birds taken is around 23 yds.
yes I have taken longer shots in my early years but now I want them close.
My advice is to pattern with different shot sizes. Some firearms just shoot different loads better. And some with different chokes.

My goal when patterning using a Turkey head target is a consistent 8 to 12 pellet holes in the neck vertebrae, skull and eye. That is all I look at. When I drop lower than that then I have determined what idnt my lethal range.
I also highly suggest sites. Using sites do a few things for you.
1. It forces you to keep your head down on the stock as you must align the back ramp to the front post.
2. With today's tight Turkey chokes you do have tight pattern. So treat that shotgun like a rifle as you are aiming at small target, ie. The head.
3. I like to align my sites or, my scope so my aim point is centered on the waddles (where the skin stops and feathers start). Its easy to see on any bird.
4. That waddle pinpoint is the bottom center of my oval shot pattern. Why? By aiming there I know I am circling the whole head and neck.
its like a trap gun. You float the clay target on top of your barrel bead rather than blot it out like you would with a field shotgun. I hope that makes sense.
5. Always pattern to know your lethal maximum ange. Know your equipment.
When I set up to adjust sites I start at 10 yds with cheap trap loads and try to knock out a 25 cent piece dot. Trap loads are easier on your shoulder. When I think I have my sites aligned then I use my Turkey loads and tweak from there.
good luck
JW

Last edited by JW; 11-07-2020 at 07:16 PM.
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