Went out today and spent thirty bucks on 3" federal #6 Heavy with the flight control wad. Wow, what a tight pattern. But is it too tight? Shot at a Thompson Turkey Target and not a single bb flew outside the large white 14 inch circle at appx 20 yards. Almost tore the head off the turkey. Shot a winchester #6 3 inch and a Remington #5 3 inch. Both of those have quite a bit wider pattern. More room for "shooter error". I'm concerned that if I get a bird inside 20 yards with the federal heavy, it would be like shooting darn near a slug at it! By the way I shoot a remington 870 express with 21 inch barrell with the stock remington full turkey choke. Any thoughts on that?

try the number 7's if you can get a hold of them. They are the best thing that has come out in a long while as far as turkey loads. I mean the nitro's are nice, but they cost an arm and leg just for a couple of shots. The federal 7's are simply amazing. Once again they went far and beyond today when I killed my second gobbler at 40 yards! Great turkey load!

Make sure that shot size is allowed in your state. In missouri its 4,5, and 6 only. I think that at 20 yrds that is a great pattern.

If a guy is just shooting a bead there is always the possibility of a "whiff" with an ultra tight pattern at close range. Iron sights, a scope, or a red dot sight are a tremendous advantage over a plain old bead at close range provided of course they are sighted in for the correctpoint of impact.

It is great to have a gun that will kill them at 50 yards but probably 90 percent of your birds more than likely will be under 30 yards many less than 20,so you have to take that into consideration. The tighter the pattern at longer ranges the more of a handicap it is at close range. A guy doesn't think he can miss at close range with a shotgun but it happens every year to fellas across the country.

Try your improved choke and high brass #4's...

That might give you the pattern your looking for

I shoot Fed Flite Control #6 but not the heavy's outta my Rem.Tried a few shots with the Heavy #7 a couple weeks ago.Really like them but like as said before.Some of the places I hunt 7's ain't legal.