shot size for turkey

[Patocazador]

Spence, I don't believe it was luck at all. Congrats!

Like Brad and Troy I like #5 shot the best. However, I have no problem with either #6 or #4 shot. I have some nickel-plated #5 shot that I bought and it patterns the best in my SxS 12 ga. I use plastic cups to hold a tighter pattern since my shotgun is cylinder bore in both barrels.

 

[JeffG]

#6 shot has served me well out of my .54 smoothbore. Head and neck shots, and try to keep under 15 yards.

 

[Skychief]

I tend to like #6 shot Spence. Always try for the head and neck.

I did kill a gobbler with a dose of 4's in, I recall, 2018. I mention this as I had a couple pieces of the 4 shot enter the breast. I was curious enough to do a post mortem. Surprisingly both pieces penetrated the breast and entered the vitals cavity. Wouldn't have believed it possible had I not checked myself. I think that gobbler was around the 20 yard mark or a fuzz farther when I shot. All this written about, for what it's worth....

Best regards, Skychief.

 

[Ponderosaman]

I tend to like #6 shot Spence. Always try for the head and neck.

I did kill a gobbler with a dose of 4's in, I recall, 2018. I mention this as I had a couple pieces of the 4 shot enter the breast. I was curious enough to do a post mortem. Surprisingly both pieces penetrated the breast and entered the vitals cavity. Wouldn't have believed it possible had I not checked myself. I think that gobbler was around the 20 yard mark or a fuzz farther when I shot. All this written about, for what it's worth....

Best regards, Skychief.

Another good reason (perhaps) to avoid a body shot is spreading around in the meat whatever is in that green sack that is connected to the liver? I don't know, maybe I'm wrong and the green sack thing is delicious.

 

[L W Smith]

Another good reason (perhaps) to avoid a body shot is spreading around in the meat whatever is in that green sack that is connected to the liver? I don't know, maybe I'm wrong and the green sack thing is delicious.

 

[L W Smith]

I have shot many turkeys with either BP 12 gauge or 12 gauge pump shotgun .I have always used one size of shot that being #4copper coated in a 1.5 oz load .I always you the same aim point . Makes no difference if the bird I am calling is strutting or just coming straight in . Knowing where your gun shoots high or low at 20 to 40 yards is very important .I always use the waddle for my point of aim . This has been very productive for me and hardly ever had any shot in the body.usually maybe 6-8 #4s in the head and neck area....don’t like cleaning feathers and blood out of the breast.....good hunting...!!

 

[Brokennock]

wanted to know if anyone routinely aimed for the body. So far, no one has said they do that.

I would shoot for the body when used to hunt them with archery gear.

 

[Beekeeper]

Another good reason (perhaps) to avoid a body shot is spreading around in the meat whatever is in that green sack that is connected to the liver? I don't know, maybe I'm wrong and the green sack thing is delicious.

Yep, the gallbladder. I think headshots are the best option. I my first one with a bow, and spent too much time chasing that bird until it expired... I think I'll stick to a gun. #5 shot is my preferred shot size for most critters anymore including turkeys.

 

[Troyfairweather]

I shot a turkey one year, up close maybe 10 yards. Just about took the head off. That Turkey took of like a rocket to the woods, I went after it and looked for 10 minutes. I finally found it in the hole of a blown over tree.

 

[Sidney Smith]

Up til now, Ive only killed turkeys using modern shotguns, a 12 gauge single to be exact. I always use no.6 shot. No.6 to me is the ideal size for most all small game and turkeys. My son rolled a turkey a couple years ago using a 1 oz. 20 gauge no. 6 pheasant load. Ive given up buying those overpriced turkey specific loads. Theyre just a gimmick. 1 1/4 oz of no.6 out of most any shotgun will stop a turkey cold as long as it patterns decently. Dont believe anybody who says otherwise.

Not sure Im going to hunt birds with the 20 gauge flintlock this year, as I have limited time to go afield, but I might just take it out once.

 

[Ponderosaman]

Up til now, Ive only killed turkeys using modern shotguns, a 12 gauge single to be exact. I always use no.6 shot. No.6 to me is the ideal size for most all small game and turkeys. My son rolled a turkey a couple years ago using a 1 oz. 20 gauge no. 6 pheasant load. Ive given up buying those overpriced turkey specific loads. Theyre just a gimmick. 1 1/4 oz of no.6 out of most any shotgun will stop a turkey cold as long as it patterns decently. Dont believe anybody who says otherwise.

Not sure Im going to hunt birds with the 20 gauge flintlock this year, as I have limited time to go afield, but I might just take it out once.

Without getting into details and going off bounds in the discussion, I agree with your 1 1/4 oz no. 6 opinion. Perhaps since blackpowder may have slightly slower velocities it could make sense to go to no. 5 or no. 4 when reaching out from greater distances. Since many muzzleloaders have less choke and the distances for a good shot are closer, I wonder if it makes sense to use the smaller shot like 6 or 7 1/2. I mean if you are 10 or 15 yards to keep you cylinder guns pattern small, maybe smaller shot would work great.

 

[Skychief]

At 10 yards, buckshot would work well...

 

[Yewbender]

I’m using the skycheif load with 6’s in my .62 Cyl bore fowler, no turkeys taken with it yet but hopefully soon. 25 yards...

Now this is the Skycheif load i tried, 70gr 2F and 1 1/2 oz of 7.5 magnum lead shot at 25 yards. I don’t have a pick of the metal coffee but the shot went through it.

This was my buddy’s attempt at drawing a turkey head or squirrel...i think

 

[Skychief]

Looks like that should leave a mark Yewbender!

Your buddy outdid himself!!!