Shot over 40 yards
 

I have patterned a lot of turkey guns and I my self have 3. Two Rem one NEF 10ga... I have prob bought 10 chokes over the years and have not found a combo that will shoot past 45 yards. I read these post from guys saying that they shot birds 50 55 60 yards and I really have a hard time believing that these guys are killing turkeys that far away...

Anybody else out there shoot a lot of guns and see the same thing that I see. Just curious:D

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

Ken, I stretched one shot a few years ago while shooting those Winchester HV's #5's. I almost lost that bird by trying it though. Never tried testing the Nitro's loads at that distance. Just curious, maybe next spring when patterning my gun again, I'll be sure to try some at a farther distance just to see what they can do. After that almost one mishap, I now limit my shots to 40 yards max.;)

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I agree with you Mr. Longbeard. I hunt with four others and before season starts we pattern our guns very year trying new chokes and loads looking for that perfect combo. Four different guns Remington 870, Winchester 1300, Stoeger Auto, and a Benelli SBE. none pattern well-passed 40 yards. We’ve been doing this for a number of years and I think over that time we’ve tried just about everything you can buy off the self at any sporting goods store. I wouldn’t trust a 45-yard shot with any of the guns.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I shoot my gobblers under 30 yards. Those guys that say they killed there bird at 50 yards are the same guys who shoot 200# deer. There in dream world.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

It's not impossible. Most people dont do it, but it happens.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

Ken,no doubt about it turkey huntin for most of us here is a up close and personal sport!!The thrill of the hunt is foolin a longbeard in close and NOT neccassarily seeing how well our so called turkey gun can pattern on a gobbler out there at unethical downrange yardages!Yes I've seen some incredible patterns past 50 yards and yes I've even killed birds past 50 but to make it habit forming to me,"makes light of the sport and in my opinion shows alot of inefficiencies in ones character as a turkey hunter"!

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I gotta agree.Callin em in close is what it's all about.Over the years I've passed up alot of shots that were maybe's but I just didn't feel comfortable takin it.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I took a bird in 2003 at 48 yards (lazer rangefinder after) that hung up at a fence with Hevi shot reloads. I have tryed the Rem. 1 5/8 load on paper both will do the job with the right choke if you don't choke. But I perfer it like this year 12 yards!

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I shot a good tom this yaer at 40 yrds. He just wouldn't come in any closer. Had a good clear shot down a dirt road. I took him as he started to go for the woods. I was using a 12ga over & under, full choke and 2 3/4" #4s. It shoots a good pattern at 30 yrds, but I knew it was going to be stretching it at the 40 yard mark.

I ran up to him and when I poked him he stood up. I gave him a few seconds to see what he was going to do, then finished him off. I think I was lucky. If he had been any further out I would have had to let him go.

50 yards is way too far for a 2 3/4" shell and a stretch for a 10ga. even with mag loads.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

the people that don't believe that there are choke tubes that can take turkeys over 40 yards are either; 1] OUTDOOR WRITERS,2]PEOPLE WHO TALK ABOUT TURKEY HUNTING BUT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT,3]PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE PAST WITH GUNS HANDED DOWN BY THEIR FAMILY OR PURISTS THAT SET THEIR OWN STANDARDS FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO FOLLOW RIGHT OR WRONG.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I don't believe shots should be taken over forty yards...but... Nitro Co. Hevi-shot 4x5x7's will do it!!!! I killed ten birds this past spring and two were killed over fifty yards!!!! (63 yds.....dropped like a rock!!!!) This load shoots so tight in my Browning 3 1/2" Gold. That I can't let them get with-in 30 yards!!! Believe it!!!!! I missed four birds because of the tight pattern!!!
TRY IT....YOU'LL LIKE IT!!!! G.G.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I was at my local sporting goods story today to order a rifle. I noticed this guy standing there from Briley(spelling) chokes. Anyhow he went on to tell me about how I could get my gun to shoot out to 50 and 60 yards. They have this new choke out that is pretty awsome. So anyhow I'm a believer now he pretty much told me all the things I could do to my gun to make it shoot better. I will be taking it to my gun smith soon and I'm definetly going to get that Briley choke!!!

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

Apparently you'ins haven't shot my gun. I didn't pull the trigger but I was a camera man on a bird shot with my gun at 55 yards. I killed my bird at just over 40 yards and it's just as thrilling by all means. I'll allow a bird to walk in as close as he wishes and allow him to walk off before pulling the trigger. It's not about killing for me and pulling the trigger is secondary to anything about the hunt and if I decide not to pull the trigger on a bird that is 10 yards, 20 yards or 50 yards, that's my decision and the hunt is specatular in every way on said distances. My gun can do it....and if you doubt it, your welcome to come shoot it. I'd sooner have them at 35 yards than I would 20 cause I do enjoy eating them instead of destroying them.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

:D;)Well said loner and very true!!!Rob great accessment!Once upon a time we were very limited as far as sound ethical shots with our turkey thumpers.Obviousily through modern day technology with not only our firearms(backboring,choke & site systems)and the diversity offered to todays turkey hunter in ammunition,the old stand-by of shots must be taken inside 35 yards is ancient history!!!Theres fellas on this board who have done everything possible to maximize the output of there gun and I personally hunt with a few who have done the same and it would scare you what the performance these type of guns CAN produce!Rob is exactly right it boils down to what you personally want out of the sport and have confidence in!I've already stated for me I like it up close and personal and my equipment suits to that end and gets the job done!
No question its a great thing to see equipment evolve year after year but with that said I have seen good modern day equipment make a turkey hunter become lazy in relying more on his gun and decoy than understanding the art of calling and overall woodsmanship!I've never quite understood the fella that pays hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars to make his turkey gun kill gobblers out to 70 yards yet criticize and look down on those that shoot rifles at turks...maybe in another few years turkey guns will be able to thump a gobbler at 100 yards,I dont know but it all boils down to what you want out of the sport and to each his own!!Sorry guys enough of my rambling but just something to think about!!:)

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

thanks for the comments ! any responsible sportsman must know their equipments's capability prior to taking the shot.this is the unwritten code of ethics.it just burns me to see comments that are not founded by facts or common sense but are only opinions or hearsay.i can back my comments with pics and proof,anyone else should be prepared to do the same!

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

My son killed his first gobbler this year, with a 20 gauge Benelli Nova, Carlson turkey choke, and #5 HeviShot at 55 yds.

That's fact.

He just got a bit anxious and shot way too soon. I gave him a good lecture afterwards, but tempered it somewhat since getting your first is a big deal to me, and he was still somewhat upset about missing one earlier in the week, and too anxious on this shot. I stepped it off to show him how fortunate he was to have killed the bird rather than cripple it, and then showed him the 35 yd mark and reinforced the lesson that 35 yds is as far as he should ever try to kill one with that gun.

My son has never shot at or killed a deer, and neither have I.

Hal

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

hawglips whats the deal on never killing a deer. To me deer and turkey hunting kinda go together. I dont think I've ever met someone that hunted turkeys and didn't hunt deer...

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

My setup is a mossburg 835 12 guage , 24 inch ported barrel, with an comp-n-choke .655. i use winchester high velocities 6's in the 3 and a half inch. I have shot many guns from the super black eagle, to the 870 super magnum, brownings 12 and 10 guages, the list goes on and on. The question is can you kill a turkey at 60yrds? My answer is yes 100%. If you find the right gun and the right choke, put it together with the right loads and you've got yourself a turkey killing machine. Now don't get me wrong, if the shot is not right, or you feel that it's to far, you shouldn't shoot. It comes down to you knowing your weapon and it maximum effective range.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

mr lb,here is the site where you can see what you never heard of.
http://www.remington.com/accessories/chokspec.htm
believe it or not ,you will find in life there are a lot of surprising things out there.i am 62 and still learn something every day!;)

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I try to limit all my shots to 40 yards or less. But there are times when that bird just seems a little closer than he actually is. Ive shot at and killed 3 birds over 40 yards. ONe was about 55 yards, another at a little over 50 and this years bird a hair under 50 yards. 2 out of the 3 required follow up shots. I do have a friend that shoots a gun chambered for 3 1/2 inch shells. His 50 yard pattern just about equals my 40 yard. His is actually a little better. Even with the newest innovation in choke tubes and shells, I havent seen any that would, in my opinion, make consistant
killing shots beyond 55 yards. Ive tried alot of them and saw alot of them.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I grew up in the swamp country of northeastern NC hunting quail, dove, ducks, geese, rabbit and squirrel. Deer hunting in those parts was a matter of parking the trucks around the block of swamp woods you were going to let the dogs loose in, and talk to each other on CBs and wait for the winded deer to come running out. Never appealed to me at all. Watching pickup trucks chasing deer across those huge fields was a turn off too. We would always try to find somewhere else to hunt when deer hunters were anywhere in sight. Not knocking it, just explaining. I was an adult before I ever knew people that hunted deer in tree stands.

I'd rather spend what few days I have to be out in the woods in the fall and winter hunting quail, waterfowl, or scouting new turkey holes.

One of these days I might take up deer hunting. My boys have been a couple times, but never killed anything. Maybe if they ever get into it as they get older I'll start to take an interest in it.

Hal

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

While I try to limit my shots under 40 yards, I have taken turkeys out to 55 yds. But I shoot my gun in NWTF sanctioned turkey shoots at 3" circles at a measured 40 yds. I know what it can do. Even though I know what it can do I have passed shots inside 35 yds. The fartherest I have seen a turkey killed was 63 yds. my buddy misjudged the yardage. And when we measured it, it was 63 yds. with a Knight TK 2000 muzzleloader.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I wouldn't recomend a long shot at anything unless your very confident in your abilities but a 200 plus shot at a deer is not all that uncommon out West. May not be as much back east but come out this way and look at some of the terrain...you'd end up shootin 200 plus to on occasion. I've done it twice(successful both times) and would do it again if the need arises.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

About half of my NWTF chapter's committee was rabid upland birders. Most of them hunt no big game at all, just birds only. They had the exact opposite comment you had:) They'd never met anyone who hunted big game that started turkey hunting. Then again out here Turkey hunting is as new to us as Elk hunting is to a lot of folks east of the Mississippi.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

Everything you've said I have seen and done, but the fact is, You are right. I couldn't say it any better myself.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

I've shot most of them at about 20 to 25 and a few at 8 to 10yds. I think the part of the thrill is to get them in really close to where you can hear those course feathers dragging and their footsteps. I have shot 2 long range birds...one running at 45 paces and one walking across an old logging road at 50 paces. I don't like to make a habit of it and prefer the short stuff. I shoot a Remington with 3.5" Winchester High Vel Supreme in 6 shot.

RE: Shot over 40 yards
 

You will hear of shots clean up to when that last pellet has enough energy to enter the eyeball and penetrate the brain. What you won't hear is about all the misses at those ranges.