Good enough for 50 yards?
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Harford Co Maryland USA
Posts: 4,966
Good enough for 50 yards?
I finally bought the Mossberg 835 Ultimag with the turkey choke. I installed an adjustable fiber optic sight since I'd had read here that the 835 often shot a little high and to the left before adjustment. Mine was low and to the right! After adjusting and readjusting through a box of Win 3 1/2" #5's and a few Win 3" #6 turkey loads, I got it centered. At 50 yards, the #6's put 10 pellets in the vital areas of the head/neck. The 3 1/2 #5's faired a little better at 12 pellets in the vital parts of the head/neck.
Since I'm planning on using the 3 1/2" #5's, should that kind of performance be considered sufficient for taking gobblers cleanly out to 50 yards?
Since I'm planning on using the 3 1/2" #5's, should that kind of performance be considered sufficient for taking gobblers cleanly out to 50 yards?
#2
RE: Good enough for 50 yards?
I'd never shoot lead #6 shot at a distance beyond 40. That's pushing your luck. Personally, try to keep all your shots under 40. If you feel compelled to take the 40+ yarder, I'd multi-pattern with the #5 shot, (or better yet, Hevi-shot), a good number of individual targets to establish an average pellet count in the spine and brain.
If you gun will not consistently and without fail place 6 or more pellets of the #5 shot in the brain and spine, don't take the shot.
If you gun will not consistently and without fail place 6 or more pellets of the #5 shot in the brain and spine, don't take the shot.
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 234
RE: Good enough for 50 yards?
i think you'd be fine. i definitely recommend the hevi-shot, it patterns best out of my 835. you wont be disappointed. get hevi-shot #5's and you shouldnt have any question about it. i wish my 835 shot low so i could adjust it...mine shoots about 8 inches high at 30 yards, so i guess i'll just have to aim at the beard of my bird. i cant adjust the sights any more.it sucks, but oh well...
#6
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Harford Co Maryland USA
Posts: 4,966
RE: Good enough for 50 yards?
I'd multi-pattern with the #5 shot, (or better yet, Hevi-shot), a good number of individual targets to establish an average pellet count in the spine and brain.
If you gun will not consistently and without fail place 6 or more pellets of the #5 shot in the brain and spine, don't take the shot.
If you gun will not consistently and without fail place 6 or more pellets of the #5 shot in the brain and spine, don't take the shot.