Help with turkey loads!
 

I am shooting a Charles Daly 3" 12ga with a .665 Jellyhead with Xtended Range 3" #6's. it absolutely destroys turkeys at 30 yards, but at 40-45 the pattern gets pretty sparse. I tried shooting Nitro 4x5x6's today, and wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be. I had around 30 pellets in the head an neck at 40 yds, I was expecting 50+. Maybe those expectations are too high, but I know guys getting much more than that. Just wondering if I should shoot a bigger shot size in the XR's or maybe a different shell altogether. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Umm...30 pellets in head and neck is good. I read that
It takes 7 pellets in a gobblers head & neck to kill him. After seeing a few beards hit the dirt, I think maybe less will do the job.

One in the CPU will cause a major system-wide crash. Are you trying to vaporize the gobblers head?

Do this. Put a coke can on a stick at 50yds. If your gun, choke, shell
combination will wipe it out, you're good to go. 5-7 pellets in the can should do it. If the can opens up or rips, and you keep testing new loads, you're just giving $$ to ammo companies.

Good luck this spring. May you bust one bigger than your dreams.

30 pellets in the head/neck at 40 yd. is a very good pattern. My standard for a good turkey load is 20. Keep in mind, before the development of "turkey" loads. It was advised that you had to have at least 3 in the head/neck to have a good pattern. You are good to go.

I guess I'm expecting more than I should. I have 100+ pellets in the head and neck at 30 yds. And to go from that to 30 at 10 yds farther just seems like a lot. The 40 is not what really concerns me. It's the fact that it must get way worse at 50. I shot at a bird at 52 last year on the next to last day, and he basically got hit but wasn't phased. But, a week later, I went out of state and shot a 5 bearded bird at 32 and The taxidermist is having to patch feathers around the neck because of how bad I messed him up. I feel like I can kill them at 40, just would like to know I had more knock down power and hopefully a bit tighter at 50, just in case I needed it. Below is a pic of my pattern at 30 yds, and to go from that to 40 is a huge difference.

I know guys shooting over double in the head and neck at 40yds than I am, with a Jelleyhead and Xtended Range #5's. I figured my shot size must be too small for the constriction of my choke and working against me. That's why I was wanting to switch.

Kinda makes me wonder how they killed turkeys in the Depression era with a single shot 12 gauge and using paper shells... :)

Not saying I can't kill turkeys, just want my best chance possible, just as I do with a bow or rifle for deer.

I'd say you're golden with that pattern.

I have to agree with the others that 30 pellets in the head and neck at 40yds is a good pattern. I shoot 3.5" and do not get that many more in the head and neck at 40yds and have killed turkey at 50yds. All it takes is a couple of pellets in the head/neck region to kill a turkey. I heard of guys shooting 65+ yds, not advising that you should be shooting that far, and only hitting them with two or three pellets in the head and killing them.

I don't think it's a terrible pattern, just think going from 120 pellets at 30yds to 30 pellets at 40, seems like a huge drop off. I don't think the #6's have enough weight to kill a bird at 50. I hit one last year at 50 and he ran and flew off. He acted like I busted him and then got away. I wonder if I should switch loads for more knockdown power.

I've had good results with Win. 3" , 2oz. #4's. In my gun they pattern almost as well as #6's. One of my 50+ yard birds was taken with that load. It's usually the second shell in the magazine. A tradeoff with larger diameter shot, with increased energy per pellet you have to accept fewer holes in the target.
Or you could go the heavishot route.

Sounds like a fine pattern to me.

Couple questions. How long is your barrel? A longer barrel will improve the pattern.
How many shots did you take with the Nitros? I ask cause I've heard guys talking about taking only one or two shots and being done.
Were you using a Lead Sled or sand bags on a bench? When sighting in or patterning my gun I like to make sure that I am as steady as possible. You need to take all variables out of the equation. Did I flinch? Was I steady?

One more thing....As much as I love the Nitros and how they pattern at long ranges....try being patient and make shorter shots.

Answers:
1. 26" barrel
2. 7 shots with Nitros
3. Used a bench with sandbags and was rock steady. Pattern was same every shot. And used a huge backdrop to establish my pattern.

I have shot lots of birds, but 30-40 yards isn't what I'm worried about. It's the birds that hang up at 50ish yards that concern me. I think my pattern is exceptional at closer ranges. But I am in the hunting industry and am blessed to hunt a lot. And hunting 30-40 days of turkey, the occasional 50 yard bird isn't uncommon. Just trying to be able to make it count when this shot arises. So, far, my birds don't fall at 50 yards, but at 30 they cut backflips. Just trying to get a bit more distance. And to me losing 90 pellets in a pattern at 10 yards more isn't acceptable. Maybe I'm overly anal about it, but I know guys dropping birds at ridiculous ranges that I'm scared to say how far. I should be able to kill them at 50, but for some reason I'm not. My 3 1/2" SX2 with a Rhino choke or Kick's Gobblin' Thunder is no better than my 3" gun at these distances. And I'm shooting the rowdiest rounds on the market, I figured for better patterns.

I shot a bird at 50+ last year with HeviShot Magnum Blend and he went from happy to taking a dirt nap as soon as I pulled the trigger. HeviShot #6 is certainly capable of killing birds at 60 or more yards, however, I don't think it is ethical as the chances of wounding the bird are high. The pattern you are describing is o.k. Try a box of Hevi-13 #6 and see how they work for you, you'll probably do a little better than your present load.

Thanks! I have been also thinking of trying the magnum blend.

And herein lies the problem...You are popping off at turkeys at 50 yards, with a shotgun...That is why you wounded one last year...Being in the hunting industry you need to set a good, ethical example...If you have that much time to hunt you should have no problem getting your limit in birds by getting them within 40 yards...This seems to be your setups limit...

Work on your calling, setup, purring, those things will bring the birds in closer...

As you know, the common theme is going to be to keep your shots under 50yds at max...but I have one suggestion that I think might help you knock the birds down that you are worried about. Use #4's.

I hunted with #5's and 6's for many years thinking "the more BB's the better". I had flip flopping birds on occasion and even a couple times had to make follow up shots. One time I shot a full strut tom straight in the face at about 45 yards with regular lead #6's and he did a full roll, got up and started to fly, I luckily shot him out of the air and he had more holes in him than a screen door, but many of the pellets when i plucked him were only skin deep. I decided that since I was using a 3 1/2" shell I had more than enough BB's anyway to just move to the #4's. I can tell you it was a stark difference. The birds just hit the deck now. I've shot some at 10 yards and several at 30-60yds and they just look like they've been hit by a heavyweight fighter instead of slapped by several angry women like they used to. I haven't patterned my shells like you, but I can tell you the results are unmistakable to me. Good luck!

I'm not going to go on and on with you, but you don't know anything about me. Other than the fact that I shot at one turkey at 50 yards and didn't kill it. That is the only turkey I've ever shot at that distance. I usually shoot birds within 15 yards. You have no idea of my setups, calling abilities, etc. just because I shot at 1 bird and didn't kill it, means zero. If you can sit here and tell me that you've never shot at one that far or ever had one get away, then either you're a liar or haven't had too many encounters with a turkey. I'm not a puppy, I've been around the block. I came for advice, not criticism. But I have shot many several thousand dollar setups with every choke and port and polished yadda yadda crap a shotgun can have and there's no magic weapon. Birds that get hit at ridiculous distances with one shot are 99.9% of the time killed with 1 to very few pellets.

I'd say #4's, #5's or #6's with a full choke.

Dead bird !

I feel your pain tankdogg. I don't think you WANT to shoot birds at 50+ yards, but you'd like your rig setup so its capable. I know from my standpoint I could shoot birds all season long at 25 yards, but if my gun didn't pattern as good as other hunters setups at distance I'd still be bothered to some extent by the "what if".

For perspective....My mx quad never sees 5th gear on a motocross track, but if it wasn't jetted properly and when i rode it around a field it popped and farted in 5th gear only..i still wouldn't be happy with its setup.

Well, you come on here asking for help and when you get an honest opinion you fly off the handle... :)

If you don't agree with what I say on here then go ahead and keep doing what you are doing...

But I have to ask, if you have all this experience and know plenty of others getting better patterns and killing toms way out yonder then why don't you simply ask them for their setup????

It reminds me of fellows coming on here wanting to know how much a bullet fired from a .270 will drop at 500 yards...

Only experience and working with your equipment will teach you these things...

There is much more to hunting than using the latest, greatest, most expensive equipment out there...There are ways to get a gobbler in close, so close that you may not want those super tight patterns...The two birds I killed last year were shot at 20 and 25 yards...I used a Browning B-80 with the Remington Nitros 3 inch mag #5 shot you can buy at WalMart...They were number 15 and 16 I have killed with those loads and both were jelly headed...My choke is a Hastings .640...

Frankly, my setup is over kill...This year I'm going back to my 12 gauge double that I got in 1967...I killed plenty of birds with that gun before there were screw in chokes...

And no, I have never and will never shoot at a turkey at 50 yards...

And I have never wounded a bird either...The two go hand in hand... ;)

You know as well as I do, that I can take 20 of the same shotguns with the same setups and there will be 1 phenomenal shooter and 19 good/decent shooters. And if I posted asking on here, don't you think I've asked them as well?? This wasn't a cry for help, I was just being social and chatting with fellow hunters cause it's what I enjoy. I am just looking for opinions on your setups, just to see others that are similar. That way I'm not wasting hundreds of dollars on ammo. I have a great setup, but I ain't killing birds at crazy yardages either. Then again, I have taken one shot at a bird at a distance of 50 yards with my setup. The rest fell dead. I'm a sportsman and to me that is someone who does what the good LORD has provided for them, with all respect to the animal while doing so. I don't take crazy shots. And yes, anyone can buy walmart ammo and kill birds at 25 yards. Sometimes even luck up and kill one at a long distance. But, without a serious setup, no one is killing birds consistently at 50-60 yards with a shell that cost $10 for 10 shells. And if they are, I'd love to buy their setup. I have a friend that once threw a beer bottle at a turkey and killed it, so they can be killed with things other than an $8 shell. And again, if every shot you've fired at a turkey has killed him, then I tip my hat to you, cause there are no others like you! Unless you and them haven't been hunting very long or haven't shot many birds. If you have ever shot at a turkey that didn't die, you may assume you missed, but you may of "wounded" him just as you say I did. But, I appreciate your criticism and I will try and find it constructive instead of just "trash talk". Enjoy your season, best of luck to you! ;) to you as well

That is exactly right, it is all about confidence. If all turkeys ran in and strutted to 25 yards, we'd all be golden! But when that moment arrives and you need a 50 yard gun, It'd sure be nice to have it! I hope I never shoot one over 30 yards, but I'd like to know I can if I needed to.

I suggest trying an Indian creek choke with the
Nitro shells and see want you get for a pattern.
However, bottom line is 50 yards is a long
Ways and while people take turkeys at
Those ranges and occasionally get lucky
And make longer shots. There are bound
To be birds that run off at those ranges---
Always better to wait for closer shots
Whenever possible.

Your good to go with those numbers, but I will tell you that I have had trouble with 2 ounces of shot in a 3 inch gun in the past. If you can get 1 7/8 ounces of shot that might help at longer ranges. Also, you are right about 6's and their limited range. Number 5 shot is a better choice. I wouldn't mess with mixing shot sizes. Each pellet size has different ballistics and you want your pattern to be in a uniform trajectory.