I would like to try hunting turkey with a traditional side hammer ML rifle, but am unsure of the caliber I should use. I want something that will offer a humane harvest, but that does not destroy the bird. I have been looking at a .36 and a .45 in a southern appalachian hammer lock. Has anyone had any experience with either of these.

Compadre make sure its legal where you intend to hunt first!!Here in Calif it is not legal to hunt turkeys with a rifle!!

Shotgun or bow my friend. I prefer bow, since it is more challenging. Hunting with a rifle will get you in trouble, with both the law and other hunters. I really do not see the benefits of hunting wild turkey with a rifle. I believe you need to rethink your plan of action.

Handguns, rifles, and muzzleloaded rifles are legal for the fall seasonin PA.

when i am out of college im builing a flintlock....probably a .72 cal brown bess musket smoothbore......smooth bore so i can load it with shot......its about equivilent to a 12-13 ga shotgun.......and can also shot GIANT roundballs from it.....can you imagine how big a .710 round ball would be in your hand??? but my main reasoning for it is so i can have a flintlock shotgun....a smoothbore of any caliber can be loaded with shot..tweak loads and compenents and you can get a decint pattern...no 12 ga with hevi shot pattern...but a killing pattern at a half decint range.....and then you can hunt or plink with a roundball for big game if you wanted......i love flintlocking.....thats why i want to do that....i cant wait till then...

I would like to clarify. I was agreeing with bobgobble with viewing the sate laws. I have dealt with too many "first timers" of turkey hunting and they use the wrong tools. If the state allows you the use of the rifle, then great. If not, then like I said, hunters and the law will not be friends of your own. On a personal note, rifles are not even my choice, and if the states laws here in Cali change, I will still never use a rifle for a turkey. It is overkill in my mind, but that is what is great about this world. Opinions make the world go around, even if they disagree.

guys....a 36 or 45cal caplock with iron sights and a round ball is a little diffrent from a .30-06 with a scope and ballistic tipsif legal in his state he will be in the same boat if not worse off then a shotgun hunter......if i were him id opt for a large cal smoothbore how i said......that way its equivilent to a 12 or 13 ga.....and can be loaded with shot.....

I agree cs!!!