I will be turkey hunting for the first time this year. Have a 12 gauge auto full choke but only chambers 2 3/4 shell. Will this be okay wife won't let me buy another gun dang it. What load do you all suggest. Thankful for all help.

FIRST WELCOME TO THE BOAD, LAST YEAR WAS MY FIRST YEAR TURKEY HUTING AND I USED AND OLD REMMINTON 870 WINDMASTER THAT WAS MY GRAMPAS. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE SIZE SHOT WE USED, BUT A 12 GAUGE IS PRETTY MUCH THE GUN OF CHOICE FORM WHAT I READ IN THESE POSTS. GOOD LUCK AND ONCE AGAIN WELCOME TO THE BOARD.

You're not handicapped very much with 2 3/4" shells. Winchester XX Magnum 6's are very good turkey loads in 2 3/4". Just pattern your gun to find your maximum range.

federal 4s shot well for me in 2 3/4inch shells. But try different loads. you shouldnt have trouble dropping a bird with 2 3/4 inch loads. Thousands of turkeys are killed every year with them.

Welcome , the fellows have very sound advice here...BT

Try 4's, 5's, and 6's. Maybe even the 4x6 duplexes and sxee which your gun patterns the best. I've been shooting Nitro-5's in my 2 3/4 Ithica with good results.

Welcome to the board . The 2 3/4" work fine in my browning auto loader .My buddy used it on three birds last year . I believe he was using # 6 shot .

[Deleted by Admins]

YATES try the different 2 3/4 turkey loads that are out there. Chances are your gun will not shoot them very well past 20-25 yards. If this is the case go to hastingsbarrel.com and check out there replacment turkey barrels.

Also i might add that you will want to buy some turkey targets to pattern your gun on. Remember that when you pattern it the brain and vertebrae in the neck are the only vital hits on a gobbler and you want at least 3 to 4 hits in the vitals. So if you pattern your gun at 30 yards and there are a lot of hits to the head and neck but none in the vitals(brain and neck vertebrae) then you need to back that target up 5 yards and shoot again until you can get 3 to 4 hit consistently.
Good luck with your gun.

Edited by - Mr. Longbeard on 02/08/2002 07:13:38

Edited by - Mr. Longbeard on 02/08/2002 07:23:10

First,welcome YATES40342!If your gun is a fixed choked,you might want to look into the Hevi-Shot loads Remington has available this year.I personally haven't tryed them yet,but from all the reports,they are supposed to be much better than lead loads.If your gun has screw in chokes,I would get a choke made for turkeys.They will give you a better pattern and a little extra range over a standard full choke.