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This Spring's turkey medicine....

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Skychief

69 Cal.
Joined
Dec 16, 2006
Messages
4,351
Reaction score
1,184
Location
The hills of Southern Indiana
Greetings turkey hunters and smoothbore fans!

I made time to shoot some turkey loads this afternoon.

I dusted off Ol' Betsy, my half stocked 12 gauge as she has been neglected the last few years. I felt for her.

In gathering my gear, I found some cushion wads which I had soaked with olive oil months ago. Lubed still, but, not sloppy by any means, I threw them in my bag to shoot just as they were.

My experiment for the day was simple. The load chain would be my regular loading, but, I would try loads of 4, 5, and 6 shot, respectively, and see how each performed.

I set some virgin newsprint paper at 22 yards and commenced firing. I cleaned the bore between each try as that will be its condition a week from tomorrow (our opener). :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Today's results were interesting. I thought of Wattlebuster after reviewing the sheets of paper once the smoke cleared. I believe he favors larger sized shot.

I found that the 4's actually patterned best out of this short barrelled gun today. At the 22 yards, it averaged a pattern roughly 18-20" in diameter.

Upon the paper, I had placed a strip of duct tape to simulate Tommy Three-Toe's neck. They averaged about 20 shot strikes.

The 5 and 6 shot loads weren't far behind the 4's in pattern quality, but the 4's performance have convinced me to give them a shot this year.

After firing the shotloads, I took a .715 ball and patched it with some of my cleaning flannel. This being the last shot of the day, I felt the urge to wake up my gong. I can still hear it ringing. :haha:

I easily found the flannel patch. It was unscathed and worthy of using again. None of my rifles can shoot this material without ripping it. Lord love a smoothbore!

I STILL feel the need to take a whitetail with one of these cannon balls. Perhaps this Fall, but, that's fodder for another thread. :slap:

I may see if Spence is up and mail him a pic of a #4 shot target and get his take. Maybe he will paste it hear for this low tech turkey! :idunno:

Best regards all.

Please send good thoughts my way that I will make it through the next week with little whining, slobbering and sniffling! :surrender:

Waiting for the opener is hard. Harder than Super Man's kneecap!
Skychief.
 
Skychief said:
I may see if Spence is up and mail him a pic of a #4 shot target and get his take. Maybe he will paste it hear for this low tech turkey!
That's a good pattern, I think Tom is in serious trouble.



I've never used #4 shot, never felt the need, but I know a lot of people do use it. I've killed turkeys at 40 yards with #6, so I stick with that.

Spence
 
Shazam!!!! :shocked2:

That was quick Spence! I can't thank you enough for your help. Thanks!

I don't remember ever trying 4's out of this gun. It seems to prefer them by a small margin anyhow over 5's or 6's.

Wondering tonight how well the pattern would hold at farther distances. :hmm: It never ends, does it?

Maybe stumbled onto a decent squirrel loading here.

Thanks much again, Skychief. :bow:
 
I'll be taking my under hammer 12ga to the mountains in search of a meriams brand turkey bird. Hunt begins this coming Monday at zero dark thirty. Skychief special loading of course, 1-1/4 oz #6's. Good Luck in the spring woods everyone.
 
Skychief, Much like you I have not the skills to post pictures. I do have some and would love for members to have a look see but like I said no skills :haha:
 
Good luck fella's!!

My plans to go to Oregon to hunt turkeys this spring have fallen to the wayside! But I will keep telling myself the reason to miss this spring season is a good one! As I will actually soon be moving to Oregon! Lord knows I have had lesser excuses!

Oregon Country here I come! Huzzah!!
 
Based on the pattern Spence posted, Tom Turkey better keep his distance! Let us know if you get some pics of patterns at longer distances.
 
harleysboss said:
Skychief, Much like you I have not the skills to post pictures. I do have some and would love for members to have a look see but like I said no skills :haha:

I've got to be one of the youngest guys on this site and I can't figure out how to post a picture either... :doh: :confused:
 
dsayer said:
harleysboss said:
Skychief, Much like you I have not the skills to post pictures. I do have some and would love for members to have a look see but like I said no skills :haha:

I've got to be one of the youngest guys on this site and I can't figure out how to post a picture either... :doh: :confused:

Well, you are a Boilermaker. :blah: :haha:
 
Skychief said:
dsayer said:
harleysboss said:
Skychief, Much like you I have not the skills to post pictures. I do have some and would love for members to have a look see but like I said no skills :haha:

I've got to be one of the youngest guys on this site and I can't figure out how to post a picture either... :doh: :confused:

Well, you are a Boilermaker. :blah: :haha:

Haha! Ok, you got me there. I also grew up in Nebraska where the "N" stands for naledge.
 
Skychief Sir! Cool. What was pops first name? :blah:

I had biology teacher that insisted we call him Jim. Was hard to get used to but we did, or he called us Mr. so and so!
 
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