My 12 gauge turkey load

J

jetman

New member

First off, Here we have no restrictions on what we can use for turkeys other than it has to be a shotgun in the spring.

I can't afford and won't buy the heavy shot stuff for $10 a pop.
I do reload so I can make anything I want.
We have very few turkeys on my side of the state so IF you find one and get it to come close I want it dead right there.
SOOO.
I loaded up some 3" 1 1/2 oz lead BB loads. Bluedot powder Fiocchi hull and primers 1300 fps, ported extender .670 choke 78 pellets.
It puts an average of 60 pellets in a 20" circle at 50 yards.
OVER kill?
 
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Seems most wanna say 100 pellets inside of a 10" circle, some say 80 will do. Assuming you're going for head/neck breakage, not full on body shots? With BB's in lead, that may just do it. You would have to look at it from more of a "goose" killing point of view then, rather than breaking the neck/skull per se. Difference being turkeys can run much better when wounded than geese, and tend to have more brush to hide in.
 
WOW that would be some full choke to put 100 pellets in 10" circles at 50 yards. At 20 would the shot even be out of the wad?
 
100 pellets in 10" @ 40 yards is an acceptable minimum. However that is with more normal size #6,5,4's. And a two ounce swarm of #6's has a whole bunch more pellets than Jetman's BB load. My 12 gauge Benelli M1 with Indian Creek choke and 3" Hevi 13 #6's averages right at 200 pellet strikes in 10" @ 40 yards.
 
Jetman, I would try a .680,.690, and .700 choke....just for giggles and grins. As long as I have been loading buckshot, I get surprised frequently as to changes that will help. Some wads are a lot thicker than others requiring less choke, etc. You maybe over choking it. Are you using buffer of any kind?

I have had really good luck with copper or nickel plated 6's. As the range gets out there, a heavier pellet like your BB's will shoot a hole clean through a Turkey's head and neck. If you don't believe me, put up a small piece of 3/8" plywood at 50 yards and get ready for the shock of your life on penetration.

I jump shot turkeys here with 1 5/8 oz of #2's with a warm load of 2400 at 1350, and the load is not for the weak of mind...patterns very tight. BPS gas seal and BP12 wad slit two times 3/4 the way down. Some of the old manuals will show loads with 2400, the powder builds pressure slowly, with soft set back on the shot column. Be aware that it burns dirty.

Dang, GC, have you ever shot crows with your load?
 
We don't have restrictions on shot size here either. I use 3 inch 1 7/8 oz copper plated lead BB's that I still have left made by Federal. I also reload the same load with nickel plated lead BB's and Nickel plated #1 shot. You don't need many lead BB's to kill a turkey.
 
I was defiantly was not complaining about my pattern.
I reload a coyote load similar there LEAD "F" ( 51, 22 caliber pellets) and a big charge of steel powder with the same choke. I kill dogs well over 70 yards and yes the leaf F punch all the way through a prime winter coyote most of the time.
 
Here in Virginia there is no restrictions on what type of gun you can use to hunt turkeys but in the spring if you are using a shotgun you can not have any shot larger than #2.
 
I dropped a jake last year a little over 85 yards with long beard #4's. It hit the ground so fast and never flopped that I thought I missed...TKO! Never knew it was that far or I wouldn't have shot at it. They only hit that penetrated and passed completely through was a pellet that hit right behind the ear and exited the eye on the opposite side. I found seven hits total in the neck. The rest of the pellets never broke the skin and left purple bruise marks. When I skinned the neck it it was all blood clotted and looked like jelly underneath. I have approximately pounds of lead #2 id be willing to trade for some #4, #5, BB, or F. Got it on trade and was told it was #4 which is the largest legal shot I can use.
 
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