I've heard that with a turkey load, the pattern is what matters most. #6 federal 3" pattern best in my gun with more than 5 pellets in the killzone at 40 yards. But I've always used #4 shot because my buddys said it had more power, and that the #6 was too light for long shots (40 yards).

With #4 shot, I couldn't shoot beyond 30 yards with my mossberg 500 3". I was thinking that I could extend my range (to 40 yds) by using smaller shot (#6), am I right or does the larger size matter more? Maybe I should go with the middle and use #5 shot for more "knockdown power?" and a better pattern than the #4.

I know the mossberg 500 isn't the best turkey gun but it's all I have. Also, does it really matter it I use a turkey choke or a full choke in my gun? I didn't notice any change in my pattern but I use the turkey choke anyway, before last year I always used a full choke and did just fine, I still cound't kill a turkey beyond 30 yards. What is the best practical choke tube? I've taken a few turkeys but I'm still a beginner at this.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

&quot;Hey ya'll, watch this&quot;

Hey there's nothing wrong with the Mossberg 500. It's not all that pretty but it's a workhorse and workhorses arn't for beauty pagents <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> I use a Star Dot .665 with Federal Premium 3&quot; #5's and my gun is a 35 yard gun. Your gun sounds like it isn't a 40 yard gun also. At least in my opion five pellets in the kill zone is not sufficent. Every one has their own opion about patterns and the number of pellets needed in a kill zone. I have heard so many differn't numbers that I can't remember squat [;0] I like to go with a minium of fifteen in the kill zone. (don't ask me where I got that number but I have used it for some time with good success) As for shot size, again each person has their own opions on what works best for them. I used to use #6 shot and had great success with it, I only moved to #5 because my new gun/choke combo prefers it over #4 & #6. It is true that #4's will carry more energy down range but it doesnt' do you any good if your pattern isn't sufficent to cleanly make a kill. just my .02

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That's why I use #5's as well. My guns don't pattern #4's worth a hoot, and #6's loose steam at the longer ranges. #5's are a great compromise!!<img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

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Kodiak there's nothing wrong with the M-500. It sounds like you need a new choke. With there right choke your gun should pattern well out to 40 yards. Try the Hastings or the Tru Glo...

Kodiak lots of good advice here by all!I've always felt if your gonna shoot 40 yards or more you owe it to the bird to make it as ethical as possible,and that means heavier shot size such as 4's and 5's with a pattern thats been proven.By proven I mean not neccassarily in the field but knowing not only that it has enough knockdown power but proven on paper.I reload my own 3 1/2's for my 10 gauge and for many years I new it had plenty of knockdown power shooting 2 1/8 ounces of lead 6's at 1350 fps.I killed many a turkey with this load until one day my brother-in-law decided to pattern our guns on paper.Boy did I get a slap in the face as this load was only patterning in the high 60 low 70% range.The paper dont lie!I slowed the load down just a bit and switched to 4's and now pattern consistantly around the mid 80's!Your shootin a good gun,my son also shoots one, and I agree with Mr.Longbeard,match a good choke with the right load and your mossberg will lay em in the grass at 40 yards with the most pricy of turkey guns! <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

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The only choke tube I can find is the one that mossberg makes that is a xx-full .670 choke. Is this a good tube? Truglo only makes chokes for the mod. 835. Hastings makes a &quot;compensator&quot; (sp?) choke tube and it doesn't say what the diameter is on it. Which one of these works best? What is a good bore diameter for a turkey choke?

Like I said, I am a beginner at this. I love turkey hunting probably more than anything else. I've hunted them for 3 years and got 5 toms, all taken with a barrowed remington 870 3&quot;. The last one I got was the furthest shot that did anything to the turkey, 30 yards and the gobbler dropped. He didn't flop or anything and it made me nervous (never seen one not flop around) so I ran over to him and stepped on his head. We stood there like that for about two minutes...then he took in a deep breath and started beating me like a red headed step child! He knocked me down and started slashing me with his spurs and pecking and beating with his wings, I've still got scars on my legs and arms. I grabbed his legs and flung him against a tree (didn't phase him) then while holding his legs in one hand I picked up my shotgun that I had dropped in the other hand, stuck the barrel about two inches from his head and shot. The shot didn't even penetrate his skull (that's a first) but it dug a hole in the dirt behind his head about 4 inches. The bird still flopped for another minute or so. The only thing that my last shot had done was split the skin on his head. It was then I realized some birds are tougher than others and I need to get a setup that does better at 30 yards...Turkey's, a dangerous game. But I got him, all 20 pounds with 1&quot; spurs and 9 1/2&quot; beard. I was bloodier than he was in the end.

&quot;Hey ya'll, watch this&quot;

All the major after market turkey choke makers make a choke for the 500. It's the same choke that is used in the Browning Invector Plus and Winchester. The 835 is a differn't choke all by itself. The Mossberg XXFull choke didn't shoot worth a darn in my 500 with any load I tried. Funny thing was.... it shoots great in my Dad's Winchester.

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my 11-87 pattern's 4's very well out to 40 yds and 4x6's just as well but just because i know it will shoot that far i still go for a closer shot sounds like your on the right track looking into choke tubes you could try the rem. 4x6 as well