POLL: What's Your Favorite Lead Shot Size for Turkeys? Pattern #'s?

[3" 870 Shell Shucker]

What's Your Favorite Lead Shot Size for Turkeys?

Also, what are your pattern numbers at different distances?

I voted for #5 Lead, but I'm slowly coming around to #6 as well.  In areas where the shots are under 40 Yards, I may use a #6, followed by 2 #5's.   I want to attempt to find a good #4 combo too, just for the "journey".  

INV+ Indian Creek SS BDS .665 & 28" BPS Pattern Numbers at 63 Degrees

3" 1.75 Ounce Winchester Supreme HV #5 Lead = 131 in 10" at 40 Yards

3" 2 Ounce PMC Copper Plated #6 Lead = 170 in 10" at 35 Yards

3" 1.875 Ounce Handloaded 4x6x7.5 Lead = 210 in 10" at 35 Yards

All 3 Patterns were nice and even, with close enough POA/POI to use the factory bead.  This is the best "across the board" performance I've ever gotten.  Even better than the patterns I've gotten using my old style .665 Indian Creek in my 870.

I shot the two 35 Yard patterns to compare with some old patterns from last year that I shot through different guns and chokes.

[ctwny1]

Winchester 3" #5's has been my choice. Shooting a Browning "GOLD" with Kick's choke tube works for me.

[chatterbox]

I'm getting 100 in a 10" circle at 40 yards with the old fed pre-flite control lead in 3.5-2-6 with my 835 and a PG .670 choke.

[Spring Creek Calls]

I'm shooting 3" Win XX with 2 oz. of #6 out of my 1300 and a Kicks GT .655. Never counted the pellets, but it's a nice even pattern at 40 with lots of hits.

[jakesdad]

With both 870s

12-Winchester HV(black)3" 1 3/4 #6

20-Remington Premier 3" 1 1/4 #6

Havent really done a lot of counting either.Do know both are very adequate out to 35yds,which is probably 10 yds farther than I could shoot a turkey where I hunt now anyways

[mightyjoeyoung]

Never did any counting with it (I'll havta dig out the patterns), but the old pre-FC Federal Premium 3" #5s put up some amazing patterns out my old man's and my first 835!  Pure DEATH.

[Longshanks]

3" xx  3-2-6's  /Rem 870 / kicks .655

255 in a 10" circle @ 30
100 in a 10" circle @ 40

Bad medicine inside 30yds

[dawei]

My favorite Pb load, 12, 16, or 20ga; is No 4. I have been shooting turkeys w/#4Pb since 1978. The last bird I harvested (04/19/2011); a 25lb Merriams, was at 42yds. I put his beak in the dirt with Winchester® Supreme® 20ga 3" Mag #4Pb (STH2034). I shot him at the base of his neck, and, he had 19 pellets in him when I cleaned and dressed him him out.

[Kylongspur88]

Winn 3.5 HV #4. I get 170's at 35 yards. Definitely a 40 yard load. I had pictures up here but I think that was before the site went down a while back. Absolute hammer.

[Kylongspur88]

Here it is, my lead #4 pattern..

[njdevilsb]

I was always a fan of the Winchester HV 3.5" #6's before I switched to Hevi.  Since I have gotten a few new chokes recently, IC .660 and Pure Gold .670 for my 535, I may have to give those shoulder busters a try again and see what kind of patterns I can get with them.  It might be fun to take a bird with lead again.

[surehuntsalot]

12ga load is a Federal or Winchester 3.5" 2-1/4oz #5
20ga load is a Federal or Winchester 3" 1-15/16 oz #5

[3" 870 Shell Shucker]

If I could consistently get 120 in 10" at 40 Yards with Lead #4, 5, or 6's in a 3" shell, I'd forget about HTL.

As it is, I think one of the wisest uses of Lead, is for setups that limit your range to 35 yards or less.  No use wasting HTL at 25-35 yards.  Take Lead and HTL to the woods and use the right shells for the right setup.

[chatterbox]

If I could consistently get 120 in 10" at 40 Yards with Lead #4, 5, or 6's in a 3" shell, I'd forget about HTL.

As it is, I think one of the wisest uses of Lead, is for setups that limit your range to 35 yards or less.  No use wasting HTL at 25-35 yards.  Take Lead and HTL to the woods and use the right shells for the right setup.

This is a good idea if your rig shoots Lead and HTL POA/POI the same.
I have some lead 3.5 federal pre-flitecontrol, and if it shoots the same as my HTL load, I would save it for when I'm hunting in the woods and my known range is 40 yards and in.

[DKA]

Have used 5's for years and am very satisfied.