mauser06

id agree if that was 20 yards id keep tinkering around....20 yards thats a dead bird....but by 30+ that pattern might not kill the bird...trial and error.....its what its all about when it comes to patterning.....20yards a good turkey pattern will mess the target up pretty bad....id keep searching....unless you know you can get them within 30yds.......i personally like more confidance in my pattern then that.....

Wooddust

Im always amazed at these discussions. Statements that at 20 yards you shouldn't be able to count pellets, and that seemingly the goal is a tight pattern at 40 plus yards...Ive killed a lot of turkeys and I have never considered a 40 plus yard shot.

I believe that we have set people up for failure. Too tight a patern at 20-30 yards will lead to misses and wounded birds. Better to know what the gun is doing and take the shot when the bird fits the pattern for a clean kill.

Just my opinion but all the focus on super tight patters and shots over 40 yards is silly.

KitsapCaller

I'm not trying to stir the pot or anything but I have to side with wooddust on this subject. I don't think most shots are going to occur at 40 yds. That is nearly half the distance of a football field! And remember it doesn't take 100 pellets in a ten inch circle to kill a turkey. Many turkeys have been killed with only a handful of pellets to the head.

benhuntin

What is your maximum range going to be? Theres nothing wrong with limiting your shots to 30 yards but I guarentee you will have many birds hanging up at the 40 yard mark. Especially in more open areas such as fields. I bring my birds in as close as possible most of the time but when they hangup at 40 yards , (Which is alot) I like the thought of a clean kill at 40 yards. Its all a personal preference. Just know what your gun will do at 20, 30
and 40 yards so you will know your maximum effective range in case that bird doesnt quite make it to the 30 yard line.

X Legion General

The original question was asking if it was a good pattern or not. At 20 yards sure it is a good pattern for killing a turkey. But it is not a good turkey hunting pattern.