Velocity Vs. Penetration
03-26-2003 | 09:00 PM
#12
Fork Horn
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: WI USA
RE: Velocity Vs. Penetration
UNCC Grad - The number thrown around by the " experts" is 2.6 foot-pounds of energy. That is what you need minimum to consistantly penetrate, break bone, and kill a turkey. I believe that number is based on some research that has been done on the subject. As someone already stated, lead #6' s drop below that minimum at around 35 yards.
Does that mean it is impossble to kill a turkey at 40 or 50 yards with 6' s? No. Will 4' s or 5' s produce more consistant kills at those distances than # 6' s, assuming you have a sufficient number of pellets in the kill zone? Probably.
I don' t think most turkey hunters go out planning to shoot 40 yards at a turkey anyway, but if the bird hangs up at that distance it is nice to know that the option is available. If you are concerned about misjudging the distance at 40 yards, 4' s or 5' s would give you a couple yards to play with, assuming your gun will pattern well with those loads.
Does that mean it is impossble to kill a turkey at 40 or 50 yards with 6' s? No. Will 4' s or 5' s produce more consistant kills at those distances than # 6' s, assuming you have a sufficient number of pellets in the kill zone? Probably.
I don' t think most turkey hunters go out planning to shoot 40 yards at a turkey anyway, but if the bird hangs up at that distance it is nice to know that the option is available. If you are concerned about misjudging the distance at 40 yards, 4' s or 5' s would give you a couple yards to play with, assuming your gun will pattern well with those loads.
03-28-2003 | 06:22 AM
#14
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 25
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From:
RE: Velocity Vs. Penetration
Mr. Longbeard, we will just have to agree to disagree on the subject of #6s. God forbid, but if I ever cripple one with #6s, I will switch to a larger size shot or Hevishot. What matters is that we both get the gobblers of our dreams this season. Good luck to ya!!!
03-28-2003 | 05:16 PM
#15
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
RE: Velocity Vs. Penetration
With a .650 choke no wonder your stuck on #6' s. I have a Ventillator in my 870 and it will flat out throw a nasty pattern with #6' s. I can imagine what a .650 would do. The longest distance i have killed a gobbler at to date was in the neighborhood of 50 yards. It was my first bird and i wouldn' t take that shot today. I was using high velocity #5' s and i didn' t put very many in the head, but the bird went down. I' d like to pattern some 5' s out of my 870 even though the 6' s shoot great. However, i have killed birds with 6' s from 10 to 30 yards and didn' t notice any difference. Though i do remember using 4' s one season and the birds i killed with them hit the ground like a stone.
Greg
Greg
