#4 shot
 

Do yall think shootin #4 3"shot with a full choke in a 12 gauge is a good choice. Ive heard alot bout mag blends and what not but would just regular ol #4 federals work to a distance of bout 40 yards. Just bought my mosberg today so tryin to figure out what shells to start with

You start out by buying several brands of shot shells in several shot sizes and put up a patterning target and shoot at the ranges you expect to shoot. No one can tell you which shells and which shot size will work best in your gun. Doing that is part of turkey hunting. I prefer smaller shot size # 6 because it has a denser pattern but you have to find your own best fodder for your gun. Do not simply go by what others tell you to use. Short cuts are generally not the best way to go.

What Oldtimr mentioned is exactly the way you should go BEFORE ever hitting the field! I prefer #6 shot for the same reason Oldtimr mentioned and it has plenty of poop to kill a turkey out at 40 yards or better if your gun shoots a tight pattern that can put a bunch or pellets in the head/neck area.

104 thanks oldtimr

I switched over to Winchester XR's in #4's last year, and have been very pleased with the results out of my gun/choke combo. Think Winchester hit a home run with these new shells and there patterning abilities at longer ranges. Cost wise, they are much better on your wallet too. Still wanna try a box of 1 7/8 oz. of #4's yet before this coming season to see how they do.

As you now know.......................

Select the range you expect 80% of your shots will be, and let the patterning board tell you which load & choke works best.

Im a huge fan of winchester for my deer loads and kinda wanna give winchester my money for turkey loads because theyve always been a fair price and reliable. Ill have to look at gettin a box of the XRs

My '80's vintage BPS 12 ga, with the old "invector" style Undertaker tube will pattern just about any Win. #4 turkey load as well as just about any #6 turkey load. It'll pattern the XR #4's better than anything. Won't pattern any #5's consistently at all.

Oldtimr is right, it's hard to just tell you what shells and choke to use, EVERY shotgun is going to pattern differently. I will say, if you want to bypass all of the time spent looking for shells and chokes and wear and tear on your shoulder (and the costs involved), send your gun to Rob Roberts in Arkansas. He'll get you dialed in.

My 80's era BPS with no screw-in choke, just a full choke barrel loved the Federal Premium copper coated pellets in size 4. I sold it several years ago and was it still working over birds on my last use of it. As said before, the gun will tell you what it likes.

The more open your pattern is, the smaller the shot you want to use to increase the density of your pattern, and the more you want to reduce the distance of your shot.

The Magnum Blends are superior shells without a doubt.....
you do need to pattern your gun

I'd recommend win HV #5's at the distances your looking at

I patterned my gun and my lethal range is 30 yards. I emailed clark from allaboutshooting.com and he helped me with critiques on my pattern. Im shooting a moss 500 28" barrel with 3" win long beards #4. They look great. Once i save more money im going to put a red dot on my gun. Then itll be even better

Sounds like your well on your way. What choke you using? Just my opinion but I would think it could easily be a 40 yd gun. Calling them inside 30 is much more exciting anyway. Clark is a great guy. He will go out of his way to help you.
Ray

What Oldtimr said, or borrow a few different brands, loads and pattern them. Even try changing chokes (full, x-full or even modified) and see what combo patterns best in your shotgun. And ALSO HITS WHERE YOU'RE AIMING.
Once you find what combo your shotgun likes the next step is to determine how far that load will pattern for an ethical kill on a mature tom.
I have a little Rem 870 youth model 20 gauge that will, with 3" Winchester Supreme #5 shot, roll a turkey flat at 40 yards. But I like to get them much closer and sometimes I've let them get too close.

Yea my 40 looks decent. I just dont want to risk it at 40. Its fun gettin em real close. And im shootin the factory full choke