Need help with my TK 2000: UPDATE 5/3/09
 

Hi all. I need help dialing back my TK 2000. Let me give you a little history. I am a 135 pound woman and have been hunting about 10 years now. Mostly deer and turkey, but some small game too. I live in a shotgun only state for deerso my primary deer/turkey gun is my 20 gauge Rem. 870. I also use a 50cal muzzleloader for deer which I absolutely LOVE even more than my shotgun.

I was given a brand new TK 2000 a few years back that has been sitting in a box up until today. As much as I LOVE my ML rifle for deer, I thought it would be way cool to use a ML for turkey. I had read up on this gun and heard how much it kicks, but I thought I could handle trying a shot. So I read the manual, loaded it up with 100 grains powder and used the shot wads that came with the gun (they hold 2 1/2 oz of shot I believe). I put on a recoil pad (the kind you wear over your shoulder)and a winter coat and sat down on my shooting bench out in my pasture. I concentrated on where the butt of gun was resting and held the gun nice and tight to my shoulder. Took the shot.Well now my shoulder is SCREAMING. After some ibuprofen and an ice pack, I am now a semi-rational human being again. I've been bruised by hard shooting guns before, but this was so much more than I expected. Obviously, I need to do some readjusting of things before I shoot the gun again.

So here is the list I came up with (feel free to add and comment).

1. Go down to 90 or even 80 grains of powder.
2. Less shot (I have a question about this, see below)
3.One of those add-onrecoil pads on the butt of the gun. (or two or three, Just Kidding!)

Since I am a ML shotgun newbie, I have questions about loading shot. If I want to load with less shot, I will need to buy different size shot wads, correct? I mean, you can't take a 3 1/2 inch shot wad and fill it part way, right? You are suppose to fill the shot wad full??? Can I use regular shot wads like the ones used in re-loading shotguns? I don't need a special ML shot wad or do I?

Thanks so much for any help you can give me!!!! I still think it would be cool to shoot a turkey with a ML shotgun.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Well, first off I don't know why you would ever use that amount of shot. I have used exactly half that much and taken dove pheasant duck and geese as well as turkey, get some 1 1/4 and some 1 oz wads and pattern your gun [a big piece of card board and a roll of butchers paper] try several different shot sizes to see what the gun likes start with the same volume of black or pyrodex as the volume of shot and work down ward when you get the proper pattern for the choke of your gun you have your load.
A couple of points: a black aiming dot with marking pencil and a string with a tack on one end and a pencil on the other I usually use a 20 inch so I end up with a 40 inch circle to check the pattern.
A selection of wads from a reloader would be a big help its had to tell which ones will shoot best in a given gun.
Hope this helps Lee

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

What you might want to try for your next adventure is get some of the smaller plastic shot cups. They are for upland birds. I shoot them in my New Englander 12 gauge, and the recoil is much less. Drop the powder charge down to 80 grains and just a measure of that smaller shot cup. It will reduce your effective killing range, but it might not put you in traction. Also since you're going to shorten your killing range, go to a #6 shot and it should add to the pattern for you.

I have a TK2000 and believe me, I am not recoil sensative. BUT I added a RED DOT to my shotgun a couple weeks ago,and was patterning the gun to the RED DOT with full blow turkey loads. I shot it about ten times that day and it was all I cared to shoot. They are brutal. But you have to remember, your shooting 100 grains of powder and a 2-1/4 ounce of lead shot. That's like loading your 50 caliber with a strong powder charge, and the monster of all conicals. So there is going to be recoil. Perhaps a Simms recoil pad would help...

Good luck with your shotgun.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

2 1/2 oz? That's brutal. Tha tis like what the market gunners used to load into their 8 guage cannons. Enough to bring a big man to tears and choice words and maybe put him on his a$$. At 438 grains to the ounce that comes to 1095 grains or double loading 2 X 500+ grain conicals. The same volume of lead as powder was what I was told when I shot skeet with a friend's 2 barrel 12 ga front stuffer. A standard 12 ga shotshell load is 1 1/4 oz. I wouldn't push it past 1 1/2oz. Anticipating a heavy recoil can cause flinching = missed shots. Just my $0.02 worth.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

drdi = I have to agree. 2 1/2 oz of shot is a lot of shot. And it takes a lot of pressure to get it moving and part of the excessive recoil you are experiencing. I suggest you go to Walmart and pick up a slip on recoil pad, drop you charge down to 80 gr and try no more than 1 oz (preferrably 7/8 oz) show wads. That should be more than enough medicine for turkey out to 25 yds.
Also to ease the recoil a might, you may want to consider not shooting off the bench. Try standing and shooting offhand. Pattering a shotgun is brutal when using heavy loads. And I've seen more than one burly guy wince at the recoil of a heavy turkey load. I know its not on my list as one of my favorite things to do.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Quote:

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David,

From extensive testing I can tell you that 100-110 grain of Triple 7 loose ffg powder and using the 3 1/2 “ shot cups loaded with 2 ½ oz. of #4, 5, or 6 should produce a pattern @ 30 yards like no other. You should maintain roughly 380-425 #6 shot pellets in a 30” circle. Hope this helps, thanks.

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I was talking to Gordy Edwards at Knight rifles about the TK2000 and what he felt was a good turkey load for it. That was his answer to an email I sent him. But as I was saying, that might be a little much in the recoil department for you. I have a bunch of smaller shot cups that load in the TK real good. I have not patterned them for a turkey load though. Maybe if I think of it, I will take it out on the range. As long as it is good to 30 yards, is actually plenty. But according to Gordy, on film, they have a kill at 72 yards with the TK2000. I also have a friend who lives to hunt turkey. He collects shotguns like I do muzzleloaders. And his go to turkey gun is a Knight TK2000 with #6 shot. He claims he took a turkey at 45 yards once... And I have no reason to doubt him.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Ican flat out tell you the truth as God is my witness thatI took a bird at 62 yards with 110 grs of Pyrodex and a 3-1/2 shot wad full of #4 shot. I took the shot as all conditions were perfect, no wind, clear shot and I have practiced many times the shot. Does it kick absoletuly, but just remember to pack the stock tight against you and all I feel is a push with no jarring what so ever. When turkey hunting I have a turkey vest with a padded sling I use andI do not have an added recoil pad. You may want to custom cut your wad cups until you get a shot that feels comfortable. Take a 3-1/2" cup and cut it to 3/4, 1/2 in that size and see what happens. (They also make a 2-3/4" cup as well.) The full 3-1/2 holds 2-1/2 oz of shot, I use it and the results even at 20, 30 yards are devastating on birds, I have targets that look like you put your fist through it as the pattern is so tight. In my opinion and experience these are the best but you need to try all kinds of testing for your gun. I know a fellow that has one and does not use a wad cup, you load your powder, then a cardboard wad, your measured shot then an overcard and pack it tight then your ready to go. His patterns nice out to 30 yards. I have done testing out to 65 yards andI am confident in my loads on anything that crosses in between. I am also a bowhunter and shoot some extreme shots at 70 yards at targets but when deer come in at 20, 30 yards they seem like chip shots. The same is true in shooting guns. I only take the shot if everything is perfect and that has only happened once and maybe never again.

My long range load is 110 grainspyrodex
Remington Kleenbore 209 primer
3-1/2" shot cup filled with #4 shot
Shot card on top and packed as tight as you can get on the powder

I have shot many times with 120 grain of pyrodex but the results were similar to the 110 grains so I say save the powder.

When I first started I used 80 grains and the full 3-1/2" shot cup with #4 and had decent groups at 20 yards. The recoil was not bad all compared to a 50 caliber muzzy with 100 grains. If you plan on taking birds closer than 30 yards this load will be a good starting point. Keep in mind this works in my gun, your gun will have different results as all guns are made different even if producedone after the other.Good luck and post any results you may have.My turkey season starts the 20th and I am taking off work to take my dad who has never hunted turkey before.He is having an itch toshoot my TK so I might let him, might.:D

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Here are the wads I've used:

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=3221235
http://www.ballisticproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=3221235US

Overshot cards:

http://www.ballisticproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=N712

Great products if you shoot a lot.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Go visit Doc Whites web site, he has some loads listed for the White Tominator that use as little as 1 1/4 oz of shot. http://www.whitemuzzleloading.com/images/whiterifles/Tominator.htmthere are also some lighter loads for smaller foul hunting that could work for turkey too. The Knight you have is not much different from the White Tominator and load information should be interchangable. Be warned, working up a load can be time consuming with all of the varriables involved with shotgun components. Have fun.

Oh, my present load consists of a BP Multi-Metal 12 gauge 3.5" long cup, 2.25 oz copper plated #5 shot and 80-90 grains of Goex Pinacel powder, 80 grains ofTriple 7 workswell too. I don't use an over powder wad but do use an over shot wad, I make my own over shot wads out of pink or blued foam construction insulation board I find on job sites, use an IP choke to cut out plugs of foam then slice them into 1/4' thick disks. I use 2 of the foam disks on top of the shot to hold it in place. And the choke is .665" constriction.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Here is a pattern I can get consistency out of with #6 shot at 45 yards. It usually tears the target and yes it groups that tight.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p119/gotbuck1127/Turkey_target.jpg

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

WOW!! that is a great group.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Hi,
First of it's good to another Female who Hunts, second my Wife is 5'2" and 110 and she also Hunts Turkeys with a ML and uses half the shot you do and only 62gr of 3f.
Next try this and it works because I use it for Bowhunting Turkeys and nothing beats it.
Put your decoy (if you can use one) in the (opposite diretion) the Bird is comming from. Stand behind a tree facing the decoy. When the bird see's the decoy he'll walk right by you and fan out, when he fan's out SHOOT, usually you'll have a CLOSE shot at the bird and his fan will block him from seeing you as he approaches the decoy.
I and My Wife have taken birds at 5yds and closer, and even the smallest load will put him down at that range, so dont worry about the load your using, just out-smart the bird and he's your's.
Best of Luck and Happy Hunting!
Ron (BP)

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Holy mackerel Gotbuck - That's better than my 3 1/2" 870 does with a superfull turkey choke. That is some dandy turkey medicine.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

I sold all of my other non-muzzleloading 12 guages years ago and this one's a keeper for sure. The key to the tight pattern is to ram it home harder than hard to the point at which you think the ram rod will snap. The groups are just so tight. I usually find the wads shot at about the 40 yard mark and you can see the sillouettes of the shot embedded in the wad from ramming it so tight. It works and I'm sticking to it. The 20th could not come any sooner. There is a group of 6 big ol gobblers where I hunt that I would like to meet this year. Provided the coyotes had not beat me to the punch.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

drdi ; I should be able to help you with your TK2000 issue. I worked at Knight's for years in the customer service dept. before they left Centerville, Iowa. During the off seasons I traveled extensively around the country with the TK2000,s and did a lot of women and kid's shooting events for the National Wild Turkey Federation and others promoting the TK. My wife also worked forthe NWTFat the same time and hunted all over the U.S. with the TK. She stands only 4 ft. 12" tall and ways about what you do.
Part of my job was to test the Tk with every load imaginable, and to help people who were having problems with getting their gun to pattern well.
This is what I found to produce the best patterning turkey loads bar none.My wife and I have shot tons of turkeys with this load. It consists of 80 TO 90 GRAINS(we use 85grains) of Triple 7 FFG powder and Ballistic Products "TPS" shotcup.. The 3" 2oz. shotcup is what you want. They should be Yellow in color. The shotcups used to run around $11.00 for a bag of 100.Top this off with the same little styrofoam over the shot wafer thaat knight sells to hold the shot in the barrel. The shot that almost always shot the best is copperplated # 6 if you can get it. (actually HEVI-SHOT patterns unbelievable with this combo, but is very expensive).If you can't find copperplated , the chilled # 6 will do.They best way to measure out your shot, is to take an empty cup and wrap a bit of electrical tape around the top, and fill it heaping full with shot. Always try to make each load as consistant withthe other as possible. That means always try to seat your components with the same pressure too.

This is the exact load my thousands of shots at the factory exceeded all others. It will pattern much, much better than what Knight will tell you to use.Plus the recoil will be manageable for smaller shooters.

If you have trouble fing the shotcups at BP's website, I will look up the part # for you.

Good Luck!

SW

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOO much for all your replies. That helps so much. I didn't get much accomplished this past week with Easter and all, but this week I'll have time to get out some. I'm looking forward to trying some of your suggestions. Thanks again!

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

spwidmar....would be interested in your TK2000 knowledge. Have tried everytyhing with this gun to no avail. Switched to HeviShot and it shows promise but still not as good as it should be. Do the different wads really make much diff because I have tried a lot of wads andd they all seem to shoot about the same. Anyone else with any ideas. And yes the Hevi is spendy.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

OK guys, I can now shoot my TK2000 and live to tell. :D

Still kicks hard, but doable. I need to spend some time getting the best pattern possible, but I can only shoot so much at a time. I feel confident it is field ready out to 30 yards (the same as my 20 gauge). So tomorrow I am going to take it to the woods with me.

Question? If I take it out on a rainy day, should I put some electrical tape over the opening of the barrel like I do with my ML rifle? Didn't know if that would affect a shotgun? I'll have to put two strips across because the shotgun barrel is wider than the rifle.

Thanks so much for all your help! Now all I need is a turkey in range! :D

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Put a condom over the barrel. Works like a charm.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

Good luck drdi. I hope we get to see a picture of your kill.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

The turkeys around here are henned up. I missed a nice gobbler saturday as he picked me off and started to run away, I had him in my sights and shot at 30 yds. I did not see the 2-1/2" sappling tree in front and blew it in two pieces.I should have took a picture and it was damn funny. These group like no other shotgun. I always laugh at the range when guys are happy to get 9-12 pellets on their targets at 30 yards. I then load up and shoot at the same range and easily can count 250 plus pellets and they just shake their heads in disbelief. Great gun and great fun. Goodluck, and once you connect you have a sort of addiction with the gun and turkey hunting.:D

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

OK Gearheart - How is she going to explain to her husband why she has condoms in her hunting pants?. In case it rains...yeah right...:eek:

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

:) I knew I was gonna get into tgrouble over that:eek:

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

drdi....did you use the loads spwidmar was talking about? I am thinking about buying a bag of TPS wads from BPI to try with hevi shot. I never could get lead to pattern at all out of my TK so I swithced to hevi shot. It is better but after hearing what some TK's shoot like I wonder if somethimng is wrong with mine.

RE: Need help with my TK 2000
 

That target of mine is with the "chilled" type lead shot. The key after practicing with loads it to pack it tight as hell to the point where the ram rod feels like it will break. I can get it to where it almost hits like a slug. I truly believe that the shot is staying in the cup longer upon exit and it holds a pattern tighter than no other I've seen. Load your powder, then ram the empty cup home, load your shot and pack the shot with the ram rod, then add your wad and pack it tight as mentioned. The gun shoots well this way. I can "feel" with the ram rod how tight it is then I know I'm good to go. The Hevi shot is expensive so I went cheap. All I can say is this works wonders in my gun and I must be lucky. Others have tried and have had so so results. All you can do with a gun like this is try all you can as we all know every gun is different. Longest birdI took was lasered at 62 yards and yesI practiced at that distance many times. This is one hell of a gun and I would recommend it to any one looking for a fun 12 ga blackpowder smokepole canon.