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

You should test different loads to see witch ones shoot the best in your gun.

Just bought and finished sighting in a Mossberg turkey 500 thumbhole. Used 3" and 31/2" Kent and Nitros. Both shot great at 25 yrds. and 30 yrds. 35 yrds still good but 40 yrds. things changed fast. 70% loss of hits in kill zone and pattern was centered. I used the choke that came with the gun. Guess I would need hevi if I want to shoot farther. Or just become a better caller?

I have tried many of these expensive and less expensive shells threw my turkey gun which is a mossberg 535 with a xx full choke and the best patterning loads to date are the Federal Flight control
#5's i love them in 3 or 31/2 inch they pattern awsome.

I am kind of fond of Remington Wingmaster HD #6 1 3/4 oz. out of an 870 Super Mag. But, I haven't gone the Hevi-Shot route yet...maybe when I shoot up all of what I already have.

Currently the Hevishot magnum blend #5,6,7. But as I tinker constantly, who knows what it will be next year!!!

Nitro Company 3.5", 2.25 oz Triplex load of 4/5/7s. Very lethal at ranges you wouldn't believe out of a Mossberg 835 24" ported barrel and Star-Dot .676.

MC

Fav turk loads
 

20 ga- Nitro H276 7's
12 ga- EM 3.5' 2-1/4oz 7's
10 ga- Nitro H210 2.5oz 7's

kicks gobblin thunder choke and nitro ammo

That last sentence caught my attention :) I keep hoping to stretch my gun out past 40 yards, but I think we (myself included many times) keep forgetting that one of the funnest parts of turkey hunting is getting them close to us before pulling the trigger.

rw

i have a mossberg and i did alot of pattern testing today, i had alot of different shells but the best out of them that ive shot would be the superX 3inch #6 there not too expensive either
i have never shot any of the "heavy shot" loads but i hear great things about them ill be buying them this payday
turkey season is sneaking up! i better get pattern test done with.

Nitro Co. 3" 4x5x7's. Over 40 pellets in just head & neck @ 40yds. Dumped nice tom last spring @ 60yds.


Hunt12ga, Don't confuse the Remington Nitro's with Nitro Co's ammo. Just in case going by one my past e-mails on ammo. www.nitrocompany.com

Hunt 12 ga., I have the same gun and same problem. Just orderd a indian creek .665 choke and purchased hevi shoot with mixed sizing 21/4oz. Will post the results when I pattern the gun.

Not many people use Federal Premium Mag Shot Flightwad Control. I shoot these in #6 out of most of my guns.

i shoot rem nitro #5 , 3" shells. 1 7/8 oz shot. i use a primos jelly head choke. i killed a turkey at 60 yds last year. althogh i did misjudge my yardage and would have never shot had i realized how far away it was. i was layin on my belly in an open field and he was on a mission right behind a hen and i knew he wasnt coming any closer.

last year i used remington copperplated no. 5s 2/34 but when i get my turkey gun finished im gonna be shooting 3in winchesters probably

Remington Nitro 3 inch #4s..
Shooting 870 Magnum
at 30 yds..