Turkey choke

L

loogin28

New member
Bought a Carlsons Extended non-ported choke for my Rem 870. Its is .660 restriction. It patterns good to 40yd with Winchester Supreme #5 1 3/4oz load. Ordered some Winchester Long Beard #5 to try with my 2 best chokes. The other choke I use is a Carlsons Coyote choke.
For my final test I use a regular size soup can for a target at 40yds and got 8 hits. Would like to try and stretch out the performance a little, maybe 45yds and get a few more hits.
 
Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike + Hevi 13 3" two ounces of number six shot (3-2-6) = excellent center dense patterns. Use a large backer with a 10" circle in the center at 40 measured yards and shoot to ensure you are actually shooting (point of impact) to point of aim, then count the number of pellet strikes inside 10" at the center of your pattern. Hopefully the POI and POA are the same. If not, that must be corrected. At least 100 pellets inside the 10" circle is a very reliable turkey killer, good rigs will go over 170+ hits with tungsten shot. Good lead loads yield about 130+. Soup cans aren't reliable measures of a shotgun, choke and loads efficiency.
 
Sounds good if I lived where there was a good ammunition supply. Unfortunately I am from Canada and the city and surrounding area has limited turkey ammo. I have patterned my shotgun with cardboard and a turkey target. Getting average 89 shots in 10" circle and seems to always have 8-12 skull and spine shots. Using a TRS25 and the POI is same as POA.
I have been mulling over the Indian Creek choke as well as the Kicks Gobblin Thunder .660 but being from Canada puts a high price with Shipping and import fees for these items. Hopefully the Long Beard with the chokes I have give me the reliability I need. Thanks for the advice.
 
Last edited:
Going out this weekend to pattern shells and chokes. I will update you when I get results. I really wanted a Primos Jelly Head choke which they apparently carry at a store here. Got terrible customer service when I went to store to order choke. I'm currently emailing there customer service and emailing Primos to see if I can get some action from them to be able to purchase one. By the time I'm happy with my choke and shells I will be broke.
 
Just got back from a patterning session. Rem 870 12 ga w/ Carlsons .660 extended non-ported choke was best at 40yd & 50yds

Winchester #5 1 3/4oz Long Beard XR
40yd
10" circle average- 146
Skull/Spine shots - 10-14
50yd
10" cicle average- 93
Skull/Spine shots - 7-10
Don't know if I would get better patterns with .660 Jellyhead choke? If I do decide to buy ONE more choke.
 
Last edited:
Those are good patterns for number five lead loads. I have always had good luck with The Jellyhead chokes. I have used several of them over the years and they have all shot well. The Jellyhead is my sons best performing choke tube in his Benelli Vinci.
 
Also tried my Coyote 4buck and didn't seem that great at all.Stick with my Patternmaster for that.
Benelli Vinci looks like a very nice shotgun.
I have bought so many choke tubes and so much ammo for patterning Coyote and Turkey I'd be afraid to add up cost. However I know when I shoot,its DRT. I feel better that way.
So I think I know where this Jellyhead choke purchase is going,haha.
Maybe it will be like a lazer beam,don't know till you try. I was nicely surprised by this Turkey ammo the pattern was very good. I should just settle with what I have,however always wanted a Jellyhead.
 
Midway has the RemChoke 0.665 Gobblin Thunder on closeout for $32 and change (US). Not sure if they have a Canadian Site with the same deal or not. The 0.660 is regular price, but the other sizes are also discounted.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the chokes johral and for your advice GC. If I decide to buy one more choke,it will be the Jellyhead. Hevi 13,Indian Creek and Kicks chokes are hard to find with a big price tag unfortunately. I may not get a better pattern with the Jellyhead so still debating. I was shocked at the pattern difference between Winchester Supreme Turkey and Long Beard XR. To prove to myself, that I have a bonefide 50yd Turkey Slayer I will need to take a few more shots. I like at least 3 shots, going to take another 3. Thats just me I'm a skeptic. The proof is in the pattern, and I guess the kill. C'mon turkey season.
 
45-50 yards seems like an stupidly long turkey shot to me.
scared.gif
I've never fall hunted and I've heard you can't call them in as well in the fall, but for spring hunting I've never taken a shot past 20 yards. Turkeys are insanely tough birds. The worst story I've heard was where a friend hit one hard at 40 yards, rolled it, it popped back up, ran 50 ft to the edge of a bluff, locked its wings, and glided clear across the valley to become future coyote food. I don't doubt people can kill them at that range, but I'd be more concerned about getting a real tight pattern at 20-30 yards. If you take that long shot be ready to get to the bird fast, bring your gun, and watchout for spurs! Call'em in close and bag em!
 
Ahh my friend, its all in the gun. Some people think a 500 yd shot is stupid for deer hunting and now long shots are far beyond that range. It can be done. That is why I spend all this time,money and effort to pattern my shotgun,so I make sure I know the kill range. Your right 45-50 yards is a long shot for turkey. I will prove it can be done. Just gotta see a bird. I'm hoping for a close shot,however I will be ready for that long shot.
This spring I passed on a 50 yd shot because I knew me guns capability. It was frustrating watching that huge tom hold up and not willing to come closer.
 
I'm very confident with a 45-50yd shot on a bird. Here is my 835 with a Rhino Choke (.695) shooting 3.5" Nitro Company shotshells (4 X 5 X 7 hevishot) at 42 yards. 300+ pellets in a 10" circle.
 
Wow beagler thats impressive for sure. Still waiting for my Jellyhead and will see if I can improve my patterns. Otherwise I will fly with what I have.
 
Last edited:
Also I wonder if the Long beard XR in #6 lead would drop a turkey at 50yds. That is why I chose #5. I haven't tried to pattern the 6's. I know my distances,however if I misjudge and the bird is at around 55yds will he drop. All this is still up in the air. I am battling with the store I ordered the Jellyhead from. Ordered July 23,still waiting. Hopefully when it does get here I am not disappointed.
 
Well unless I make a trip to the USA I seem to be hooped to try and get a Jellyhead choke tube. Unless of course I want to pay for shipping and import fees which end up to be as much as the tube. Tried to order one from my local Canadian Tire store and the bastards had one come in and forgot to phone me,put it one the shelf and guess what,IT SOLD. So now they tell me they can't locate one. I'm so tired of the garbage service that is so common now a days. I really have wanted one of these chokes for a long time. Help
 
As luck would have it I was able to have a Jellyhead Maximum tube shipped to me.
Went out today
40yd
10" circle average- 151
Skull/Spine shots- 10-14
Total pellet count on a 25"x30" cardboard- 286
50yd
10" circle average- 109
Skull/Spine shots- 9-12
Total pellet count on a 25"x 30" cardboard- 271
Pellet count in shell- 311
Took 4 shots at each distance
Possibly get a better pattern with a higher end choke,possibly not.
This is the choke that will be in my Turkey gun.
Only complaint about this choke is the rings that are at the end of the tube you see in pictures are rubber O-rings. They pulled out of grooves just pulling out of my case.
They are just for show anyway,just why make it like that.
 
Originally Posted By: Bernie P.beagler if your 835 came with the Ulti-mag .695 choke how's that pattern the same load compared to the Rhino?
Not sure, can't remember what factory chokes it came with to be honest. Only factory choke I kept was for steel shot.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top