What is your favorite turkey load?
 

I am limited to 3 inch but wondering what you folks are shooting

I got a new Mossberg 535 this year and I've shot some Winchester 3 1/2" 5's and 6's with less-than-desired results at 40 yards. I can kill at that range, but I was hoping for more. I tried some 3 1/2" Rem Nitro #4's today with a little better pattern (especially considering the larger pellets). The real kicker is that I tried some 2 3/4 Nitro 4's that my little neice will be using during youth season. The shot pattern is much tighter at 35 yards than the 3 1/2 shells! The pattern isn't nearly as dense due to less shot, but I am seriously considering using them instead of my monster loads.

I will probably go ahead and drop the cash next season for a nice choke tube and try some of those $$$ loads that everybody brags about. But I'll stick with what I have this year since I just spent more than I could afford for the new scattergun. Every bird I've shot to date has been inside 45 yards, so I don't know why I even care, but it would be cool to say that I could put 10 #4's in a walnut at 50 yards! lol

rw

tealboy;
Nitro #7's
Hevi-13 2oz #6's
Winchester Xtended Range 1.75oz #6's
So far I am liking the Hevi-13 2oz #7's as well, but I haven't tested them enough to call them a favorite of anything.

hunt12ga; Even sticking with lead I honestly have no clue why anyone would shoot #4's at turkeys. Do you have a particular reason you shoot #4's?

Winchester Extended Range 6's

#4's are the only size I found in the Nitro's. Surprisingly though, they pattern better than the Winchester 3 1/2" 5's and 6's I shot.

All of my turkeys were shot with 6's except the last two years in which I used 5's. I've never had a gun that patterned well at all with 4's until my new 535. I would definitely use 5's or 6's in these shells if I could find them around here.

rw

I guess many folks are put off by the higher price tag but ANY serious research you can conduct should point you to Hev-13, Hevi-Shot loads! There is a reason why they hold nearly every performance World Record in the N.W.T.F championships! They flat out pattern tighter and put MORE HITS in the head and neck than ANY OTHER manufacturer.

Also, one of THE most notable and famous offerings in the Hevi-13 loads is their 3", 2oz, #5

I've recently picked up several boxes of their latest offering, the new Magnum Blends which is a 3", 2oz load of that combines #5, #6, #7.... that should make a Toms head look like a strainer out to 50-60 yards!!!

My favorite 12 ga. load is Kent 2 3/4 #5 fast lead pheasant loads @1400fps.

It's hevi shot for the 20 though. Any kind.

Winchester 3.5" HV #5

Well at least they pattern well for you, and thats the main thing!
Are you saying you couldn't find Nitro's in any other size than #4's or Remington Nitro's?

gotta use 3 inch all the gun ll' use