Ammo question?
 

Hey Y'all,

me and my buddy were talking turkey about turkey hunting season coming up in May.

We have decided to go turkey hunting this season, for him it's nothing new, for me its my first season. So I got a 2 part question.

First part.

Will this ammo work for turkey? Or will it screw up the meat pretty bad?

Second part of the question.

Or stick with my Crossbow, and buy some turkey broad heads off amazon.com?

IMO, it's not an ideal load, but it would work. A lot of guys use a #7 shot size. You'd want to of course pattern it with the gun/choke you'd be using and make sure you're getting enough shot in right places for a clean, ethical kill. I'd say anything over 40 yards with this load and you'd want to look into heavier/larger shot...something tungsten-composite in #4,5 or 6. #7's lose velocity quicker due to lack of mass.

As for your bow question, I don't have any turkey experience with one and wouldn't be the guy to answer that.

Thank you Cj, The 12 Ga is a fixed choke shot gun.


So I really cannot do much with it.

Not really a good load for a big bird like a turkey and I don't know of many people using that size unlike what the previous poster stated! Look at the various loads in this link if you're going to get into turkey hunting. You want something big enough and with enough energy to break the neck bone and/or hit them in the head. Shooting a turkey in the body, unlike doves, etc., is a nono and will result in a lost bird most of the time! You should also really have a full choke or tighter and pattern whatever load you'll use BEFORE hunting with it so you know it will put a good number of pellets in the head/neck region out to about 40 yards like most pattern a turkey gun. If your gun is only a modified choke your distance will generally need to be shortened to insure a good tight pattern is maintained. Don't shoot any further than you can get a good number of pellets in a small killing head/neck circle every time.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...mo&Form=IQFRDR

That's a very light load, some may hunt with #7, but I use something a bit heavier. More importantly, its a game & target load, which is also a lighter load, and it's steel shot, which retains less energy down range because compared to #7 lead since steel isn't as dense. So if it was #7, lead, 3" mag., I'd say go for it, though I'd personally still look at #5 or #6, but I would not go with what you got there. A turkey is a big, tough bird.

Thank you guys, I will look into further, My hunting mentor is coming over Sunday to hunt some squirrels in my backyard, He is bringing over shot 6 3 inch spent shell and see if it will work in my 12 ga, If it does he will give me 6 of them for Turkey season in May so I wouldn't have spend my money on shells.

What gun are you shooting and what is the chamber length and choke size? It sounds like you may not even know the maximum length shell you can shoot in it! It should be labeled right on the barrel near the action (2 3/4", 3", or 3 1/2"). DO NOT put a longer shell in it than what it is labeled for!!! Either shoot some shells at a paper target BEFORE you hunt to make sure it shoots a tight pattern where you are aiming or don't go hunting. It's a simple ethics thing and if you can't afford a box of shells then don't shoot at game by guessing at what your gun will do!!!

You know sir, I came in here to learn, not to get belittled by someone like you. The whole point was to learn what ammo to get? FYI I cannot afford new shells at the moment, I am moving to a different state.

I don't know what shot gun it is, it's some off the wall brand shotgun my brother got when he was a younin. I know its a Brazilian gun. So that being said I will ignore your statement and be the better man.

Have a good day Sir.

Nobody is belittling you and you haven't answered a single question I asked in order to be helped!!!! You asked for advice and everything I gave you was on the up and up with 6 decades of experience. If you don't know the chamber size of your gun you could kill yourself by shooting too long a shell in it! You also need to know the choke size and shoot the gun a number of times BEFORE hunting to know what it will do and not be guessing or you will miss, or even worse, wound a majestic bird! If you don't follow those simple rules of ethics, THEN don't hunt! One box of shells should not break the bank if you save a dollar a week until it's time to do your thing. It's as simple as that and anyone else that replies to you will tell you the same thing.

Ok first of all sir, I have answered your questions I told you it was a dumb Brazilian off the wall brand shotgun.

But you obviously didn't read that part and went on huffing and puffing.

Anyways, I'll just stick to my Crossbow least I know what I need for the Crossbow, Sorry Y'all you had to see this.

Some people are jerks.

***Nobody is huffing and puffing except for yourself! You are not trying to be helped by coming back with posts like the last two! You haven't stated what the chamber length or choke of the gun is, so how can you say you've answered the questions so you can be helped? It may be best to stick to your crossbow because it's starting to sound like you might be dangerous to yourself or others with a gun in your hands if you can't even answer a couple questions asked of you so I can help or maybe save your life! Calling me a jerk when I'm doing my best to help you is pretty pathetic, so you have a good day and stick to you crossbow so you don't kill yourself by using the wrong ammo!

Green Horn - you'll find turkey, duo to its size/smarts/speed, is a little more specialized of a hunt than a lot of other animals. Most gun/ammo makers have a completely separate segment of product turkey-specific and for good reason. A tight choke and heavier shot load are really two items that are worth their weight in gold and from what you've noted your present set-up is not ideal. Hope this discussion has helped out and best of luck with your bow if you go that route. I've always admired someone who can take a turkey the archery route!

You have been reported and block sir, You have NO RIGHT to say that to me, You are not JESUS! Only Jesus can judge me and not the likes of you Sir.


Good Day!

See Green Horn

You have a picture of 2 3/4 length shell and then say your buddy is coming over with a 3" shell to see if it will work. That is a serious red flag. If your buddy is experienced at hunting turkey why don't you call him up and ask him what you need?

I am leery of anyone who only knows they have some sort of shotgun that was made in Brazil. Tells me that you really are a green horn at hunting. It's guys like you that scare seasoned hunters.

I know that Topgun 3006 came in a little egotistical but in the end he gave good sound advise. I made the mistake for the first time last season of not patterning my shot gun and it cost me 2 birds. Went behind the house and shot the gun and the next weekend I laid a thunder chicken to rest. I think in the end that Topgun just wants to make sure that if your going to use a shot gun, that it's done the right way. It's better for you and the bird your hunting. Good luck in the spring, no matter your weapon of chose

Can you believe this Greenhorn guy, LOL! He's reported me and blocked me off when all I'm trying to do is help him get started turkey hunting the right way and maybe even save his life! He comes on with a box of #7 shells marked as 2 3/4" and then says his friend is going to see if a 3" shell will work in his gun, then can't even answer a couple simple questions as to what chamber and choke the gun is. I think his name fits perfectly and he has no idea what he has or what he's doing. I give up and since he's blocked me I wish someone would ask him what state he's moving to because I'll head in the opposite direction.

Thank you Sir for being civil I like that, I am just going to stick to what I know and that is Archery and a little trapping.

I am not familiar with guns unless its my 22 long long rifle which is just for squirrels. And I've never clamied to be a pro or an expert, We all start some new some times.

And my friend would look at my shot gun first he knows more then I will ever do.

And that, Sir, is all you needed to say to me and that is that you didn't know the answers to the questions I was asking in order to help you. It was rather obvious that you didn't, but rather than just say you didn't know what I was talking about, you kept coming back at me with stuff like I'm a bad guy.

CHECK your local regs! Many states do not allow shot smaller than #6 for spring turkey hunting. There are companies making specialized loads with "hevi-er than lead" alloys with #7 1/2 shot, BUT...that isn't what was pictured.

Will the ammo pictured kill a turkey? Yes, but you'll have to be 25yds or less to put him down quick, especially with a gun choked MOD or wider.

For the sake of versatiltiy, I seriously recommend you look at getting a basic pump-action 12ga. There are a few makes & models that come with screw-in chokes; CYL/IC-MOD-FULL. You can usually find one on sale for >$300 that will work.

Whatever you do, do not try and stretch your shots.

Good luck this spring, and have fun!

JoeA---Greenhorn says he can't even afford a box of shells and is going to have a friend give him six. How do you figure he can afford to buy a new gun?

NO on the load!!! Steel #7's game load bad idea.... If you can't afford new shells you prob can't afford to go hunting... Is sit this one out till you learn a little more about the game your tryin to take...

I agree 100%. I shoot squrils and rabbits with 7 but that is all. 4 is all I use for turkey. when you get much smaller than 4 you runn the risk of wounding the bird and letting it suffer a long slow death.

I agree, if you can afford to go hunting for even just one day then you can afford a few shells that will HUMANELY take your game. #7 loads in todays "heavier than lead" material is serious turkey killing stuff, but STEEL ISN'T! :s8: It won't penetrate properly and you'll likely just wound the bird. Even a common, 2.75" #6 lead game load is a better turkey load than those #7 steel rounds you have. Squirrels and doves is about all that would be "acceptable" for. (I personally wouldn't use that crap for anything over snakes) If you were required by regulation to use steel on turkeys then I'd recommend nothing smaller than #2 shot!

As for the crossbow, I CERTAINLY WOULDNT recommend that! You obviously have never turkey hunted so I doubt you are competent enough to properly place the shot in the animal. If you can afford broadheads then you can afford a few rounds for the shotgun.

As for a "cheap Brazilian" shotgun as long as it has a modified or tighter choke and with a decent lead or heavier than lead shot round, you should be able to competently take turkeys out to 40ish yds.

No on the #7, too small. Oh my!

All I can say is how pathetic. A shotgun is a shotgun, even if it's a "Brazilian knock off". It will shoot a shell, if it fits. AND DONT USE A TOO LARGE OF A SHELL. IT IS ETCHED ON THE BARREL HOW LONG A SHELL IT WILL FIT!!!! Go to your mentor Greenhorn and ask him if he knows what he's doing. Sounds like he doesn't. :confused0024:

I will say that the #7 Heavishot loads are awesome in the right gun/choke combo. They have the knockdown power of heavier loads and retain the velocity of size shot.

If you have a chance check out the Nitro #7 loads.