Longbeard XR - heavier load versus faster velocity?

[MikeStaten]

In the 3" they offer 1 3/4 oz load at 1200 fps or 1 7/8 at 1050 and 3.5" 2 oz at 1200 or 2 1/8 at 1050.

For those that have done a lot of testing, do you prefer the heavier or faster load?

Will be shooting from an 870 23" barrel with Carlson's Longbeard .660 choke

[Prohunter3509]

My best came with the heavier slower loads a pretty good bit

[dms2511]

Both loads are great, really comes down to what patterns best with your setup. The "magnum
" 1050 FPS loads put more pellets in the 10" circle for me.

[drakehammer]

Let the patterns tell you.


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[coyote1]

I think it depends on your range you plan on shooting. Pellet count is always beneficial, but if you plan on shooting 60+ yard you may need the velocity to ensure you get the penetration you need to make an ethical shot.

If you shoot 60+ yards I hope you are deer hunting with a scoped rifle. Turkey hunting should be about how close you can get them.

X2 it depends on what your gun likes. The 1/78 load put a few more in the ten.Both loads pattern just fine at 40 yards for me, I opted for the extra velocity.

[Prohunter3509]

Amen. X2

[Deputy 14]

I think it depends on your range you plan on shooting. Pellet count is always beneficial, but if you plan on shooting 60+ yard you may need the velocity to ensure you get the penetration you need to make an ethical shot.

Yea if you're doing this you just as well grab a varmint rifle and call it killing instead of turkey hunting. At least you wouldn't be wounding them with a shotgun.

[wvnut3]

I think it depends on your range you plan on shooting. Pellet count is always beneficial, but if you plan on shooting 60+ yard you may need the velocity to ensure you get the penetration you need to make an ethical shot.

If you shoot 60+ yards I hope you are deer hunting with a scoped rifle. Turkey hunting should be about how close you can get them.

X2 it depends on what your gun likes. The 1/78 load put a few more in the ten.Both loads pattern just fine at 40 yards for me, I opted for the extra velocity.

Amen

[deerpoo22]

I think it depends on your range you plan on shooting. Pellet count is always beneficial, but if you plan on shooting 60+ yard you may need the velocity to ensure you get the penetration you need to make an ethical shot.

I won't tell anyone what to do in their neck of the woods, you do you, but if you're the kind of person who wants to shoot that far at least use TSS. 50+ yard shots with lead is unacceptable no matter what the pattern says

[MikeStaten]

Getting a little off topic here.  I'm not looking to shoot past 40, just wanted to know if people were getting better patterns with the magnum loads.  Going to try 2 1/8 oz of size 5 and 2 oz of 6 and see how they do. 

[deerpoo22]

IMO if used LBs id want the extra velocity to get every ounce of energy I could 

[Happy]

I opted for the 2 oz load in 3.5" reason being I had plenty of pellets at 40 yards and I wanted the extra energy.

[Bowguy]

I'm no longbeards expert per se but for about a year I dabbled w longbeards and chokes. I did succeed w em too.
Now my findings were in a 12 ga, 3" gun. The heavier loads were better in a .675 briley choke, the HV seemed to like .665 Indian Creek. I don't think either was a giant change in killing pattern.
I used the load 1/2 season and decided I didn't like how tight they were but I did test them a bit first.
My personal thoughts are why would you wanna throw less lead at faster speed anyway so I shot the heavier loads.

[Sir-diealot]

Thank you for asking this, I was wondering the same thing.

[KentuckyLB]

I think it depends on your range you plan on shooting. Pellet count is always beneficial, but if you plan on shooting 60+ yard you may need the velocity to ensure you get the penetration you need to make an ethical shot.

I won't tell anyone what to do in their neck of the woods, you do you, but if you're the kind of person who wants to shoot that far at least use TSS. 50+ yard shots with lead is unacceptable no matter what the pattern says

50 Plus yards for lead is not uncommon and kills just as dead as any... been there done that for years and years.