Go Back  HuntingNet.com Forums > General Hunting Forums > Turkey Hunting
 How many pellets in the head/neck area >

How many pellets in the head/neck area

Turkey Hunting Whether it's spring or fall doesn't matter to this bunch. Great tips on calling, bustin flocks, using blinds and more.

How many pellets in the head/neck area

Old 04-01-2005, 11:43 AM
  #1  
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
 
GRIZZLYMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Texas and Arkansas
Posts: 1,496
Default How many pellets in the head/neck area

What is the rule of thumb (if any) on how many pellets should be in the head/neck area when you are patterning your shotgun? When I patterned my 12 ga last week I was getting 50+ at 30 yards and 30+ at 40 yards with #4s,#5s, and #6s. Not to say that I'm going to change chokes or loads but is this a good count?
GRIZZLYMAN is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 11:55 AM
  #2  
Typical Buck
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NY: NYC to Watertown
Posts: 897
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

I'm not a gun person
I bow hunt,
But 50+ seems like a heck of alot,
is there anything left?
i was guessing +20 or so,
Terasec is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 11:56 AM
  #3  
Dominant Buck
 
Rebel Hog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: WC FL
Posts: 26,323
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

Grizz, 2% of that will kill a turkey,just use good ammo to do
the job. Head/Neck shots!
Rebel Hog is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 12:03 PM
  #4  
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
 
GRIZZLYMAN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Texas and Arkansas
Posts: 1,496
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

I had a 8 1/2 X 11 Turkey Head target on 2X4. I would pound it into the ground right in front of a barb wire fence. Every time I shot with the Winchesters, it would flip the 2X4. By contrast, I shot some older Remington #4 magnums (2 3/4) at 30 yards and the 2X4 barely moved and there were only about 6 holes in the head/neck area.
GRIZZLYMAN is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 12:49 PM
  #5  
 
duckhunter81891's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 699
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

20 should do the job if you get a good shot
duckhunter81891 is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 01:14 PM
  #6  
Nontypical Buck
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pa
Posts: 4,647
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

I'm happy with 6-10 in the kill zone at 40 yards... I have 3 turkey guns and I've tryed all kinds of choke shell combo's and the best I've gotton was out of my 870 with a Ventilator choke. I was averaging around 15-18 hits in the brain and neck verteba at 40 yards. You guys that get 20 plus hits from factory guns must really be lucky
Mr. Longbeard is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 01:29 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bowling Green, KY
Posts: 295
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

I got bored a feww weeks ago and decided to pattern my 870 3" gun. I've been using a Super Full Turkey choke with Win Supreme 6's for years without failure.

On this testing day I bought a box of the Fed Flightwads in 6's. I used the Win Supreme 6's as well. I also tried a regular full choke.

The best I got was 16 pellets in the head and vertabrate. I didn't count ones that didn't hit these areas. The winning combo was the Flight wad with the regular full choke. I tested everything at 35 yards. The second best was with what I've been using for years. Super Full choke with the Win Supreme 6's. It scored 12 pellets. The longest bird I've ever attempted was 47 paces. It tumbled over and flopped dead pretty quickly. Had I known it was that far I would have probably waited him in closer.

To get 20+ seems like the next level to me. I would try to get that if my system ever failed me.
Roost em 1st is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 02:54 PM
  #8  
Typical Buck
 
Jollyarcher's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central PA
Posts: 590
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

A target I used a while back, (one that showed the spinal column and brain outlined), had printed in the lower conrner, "6 or more pellets in the vital area for a clean harvest".

Obviously one pellet in the brain is all you need, but having at least 6 in the spine / brain outline should mean that your pattern is concentrated enough at that particular distance to be ethical.
Jollyarcher is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 03:12 PM
  #9  
JR1
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NW AR
Posts: 16
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

Please don't mistake "pellets in the head and neck" for "pellets in the kill zone." It's the ones in the actual brain and spine that count. If you can consistently get from 5-10 in the brain and spine you are doing great.
JR1 is offline  
Old 04-01-2005, 05:37 PM
  #10  
Dominant Buck
 
Chuck7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 25,116
Default RE: How many pellets in the head/neck area

That is extremely good.
Chuck
Chuck7 is offline  

Quick Reply: How many pellets in the head/neck area


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.