hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

what is everyone using in there turkey gun? I have been looking at Federal, Winchester and Remingtons Hevi-shot loads....wondering if the cost is worth it or just stick with a lead shot?

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

Used only lead until last year, Rem Hevi-shot last year was very impressive patterning in my Win 1300 and I don't think I'll be going back to lead.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

Over the years I've used a mess of different loads, even the expensive "Custom" loads by Nitro but for the past 2 years I've used Winchester Xtendeds and they have performed extremely well and actually rival the "Custom" loads...Turkeys just drop when hit with a load of 3" #6's...no floppin...no nothin...;)

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I wasn't hunting turkey before tungsten shot came on the scene, so I don't have a lot of experience with killing turkeys. All I know is that each one I have shot with a version of hevi-shot did not even flop. All have been taken within 30 paces.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

If you plan on, or need to do a lot of shooting at 50+ yd.'s, you might need the hevi-shot loads. I can see where if you've got to hunt in open country, you might consider it. Where I hunt it's unusual to get a shot beyond 30 yd. That being said, I've killed a turkey stone dead at 52 yd.s with #4 lead (mis-judged the range in the rain).
Since then I bought one box of Win Xtended Range after trying them. I have the X-R shell as my second shot in the magazine. I haven't needed it yet.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

Put a piece of tin at about 40 yds. Shoot it with lead and Hevi-shot. The lead will stick in the tin. The Hevi-shot will blow right on through. You can kill them with lead, but you can kill them farther with Hevi-shot.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I did the same test except I used masonite. My test was Winchester 3" mag's 2 oz. of #5 lead vs. Heavy shot 1 5/8 oz. #6. In my gun the lead gave me both better patterns and penetration. For me the lead is cheaper and works as well.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

what is your setup...gun/choke?

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

Remington 11-87 12 ga. 24" barrel with a Wright's choke (.660)

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I have a Benelli SBE with3 different turkey chokes. I tried federal 3 1/2" 5 shot, the equivalent in Winchester and always got better patterns with the Winchester. I tried Rem. hevi shot and even got a special choke for the load and didn't get that good a pattern. Last year I tried the newer federal flight control high velocity 3 1/2" no. 5 shot and got the best patterning with it. Consistent patterning is the most important to me. Harder hitting Hevi Shot doesn't work for me if the pattern isn't tight.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

Like some of the others, I've tried various brands of the hevishot stuff myself as well. Let's just put it this way:I'll never go back to using "lead shot" ever again.;)

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

which choke were you using with the federal? is your gun the SBE1 or 2?

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I would go with whatever patterns best out of your gun. Try and get a good, dense pattern that doesn't have any holes. Either shot will do the job. If price isn't a factor in your buying decision, then the hevi-shot might be the best, assuming it patterns good out of your gun / choke combo.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I will shoot what ever patterns the best in my gun at 40-45 yards... If it Hevi shot then thats what I'll hunt with... If it copper plated lead then thats what I'll hunt with;)For me right now my 870 SPT shoots 3.5" Win HV #4's the best... Took a Longbeard at 56 paces 2 springs ago

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

My gun is an older SBE1. It kicked like hell when using 3 1/2 mag loads so I sent it off to a gunsmith to port it and extend the forcing cone. It shoots nice now. Ordinarily I don't go for anything ported but I only shoot the thing a few times per year on the range with ear protection and when I hunt. I had them make a custom choke that was (.660). I got it from Ballistics Specialties in Battesville, Arkansas. I can pattern better with that choke than with stock full choke or the two others I bought. The last one I bought was due to the fact that I was going to try Hevi Shot and someone told me I needed a special choke. I have tried all sorts of combinations with shells and chokes and came back to the newest Federal offering with my .660 turkey choke. I like the way it shoots and patterns now and figure I have it the best it will ever be. Great gun especially for turkey since it is so light and you can crank out the shots if needed.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I know that I have to pattern my guns with different loads and to use what works best and to learn my limitations and stick to them, but. My only choiceis a Mossberg 500 20 gauge with a modified choke and a Savage 20 gauge single shot with a full choke. Whichever gun performs the best I'll still have range limitations over the average turkey hunter, I'm thinking probably about 30 yards max. With this in mind what is the smallest pellet size that will remain effective at 30 yards. I'm thinking that number 6 shot will get the kob done but could you use 7 1/2 hevi-shot? If anyone else uses a 20 gauge I'd like to hear your thoughts.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I agree with the patterning thing. That's #1, along with knowing your gun's effective range. The Hevi-shot patterns far better in my gun--a Remington 870 Supermag with an Undertaker choke.

Hevi-shot will out-penetrate lead every time in any gun. If the pattern's equal---Hevi-shot is what you need.

Having said that----I've killed more turkeys with 2 3/4 #6 lead shot than any other shell.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I haven't tried a choke made for the heavy shot but in all my Remingtons my 3.5" heavy shot hevi-13 patterned good, but my 3" Federal flight controls blew it away. This year I am gonna try the heavy shot again in my Stoeger Coach gun with a dead coyote choke and some others and see if the results are the same. Just gotta get a box of 3" heavy 13

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

Hevi shot all the way. Haven't tried the Win. xtend, but I hear they do great. Thought about trying the new Rem. wingmaster. It's the new hevi shot from Rem. Of course all of the hevi shot type loads are going to cost a pretty penny since the price of ammo has increased by 15 to 30% in the past few months.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

OK Centaur1, now we have a much more specific question. If limited to a 20 ga. gun in full or modified fixed choke, is hevi-shot necessary or even desireable? Why not start a new thread and we'll gnaw on that one for a while.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

Shot lead for almost 30 years using my own handloads.The beards on my wall tell me I dont need to go trying to fix something that aint broke.Its all about knowin your pattern at lethal ranges.To me you cant improve on dead under 45 yards,thats my personal limit as far as range is concerned.Very nice to see many here doing what they can to make clean kills....;)

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

I shot my first turkley with a 2.75" Win. Supreme #4. You couldn't have made him any dead-er. After 3 with hevi-shot, I'm now like many others...won't go back to lead, if I can help it.

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

Man your just like that jalvja, you Old uns just can't see better in the future :D[8D]

RE: hevi shot vs. lead shot
 

ROFL!!!!Jim might be a little old...(lol)..., but I can still see these....:):):)
;);););)

Hevishot will greatly out perform any day of the week
there is truly not much of a comparison from a ballistic
standpoint

Another newbie bringing up a thread that's ONLY 9 1/2 years old!

I tried the Magnum Blend shells for the first time this past
turkey season. I was fortunate to take a huge TOM at
63 yards. I am amazed at how good the Blends perform
No more lead for me

Wow! Somebody did some paleontology to dig up this particular thread. (2008).

Ahhhh the memories...:sign0004:

Carlson's Longbeard XR choke with Winchester Longbeard XR, for me, is deadly. I shoot an Ithaca 12ga, 3" #6 shot. Dropped a nice gobbler last year at ~55 steps in an open field, he didn't twitch. The year before I took a bird under 15 steps that literally produced a jellyhead...

The Longbeard XR greatly outperforms anything else I've shot, and is vastly superior to lead. My son's 20ga Weatherby is setup with the Hevi-shot choke for the Hevi-shot Magnum blend, but this year we're trying the 20ga Longbeard XR (choke and #6 ammo), which we just couldn't get before it sold out last year...