When everything got locked down this last april my turkey gun was in the camp safe 200 miles away. No turkey ammo for my 20 but I had some lead 6's for my grandfathers 410. Took her out to see if she could throw a decent pattern. Went hunting with 25yds furthest shot but darn did I love carrying it and patterning. Flat out enjoyable.
Got me a Savage 301 to see if we could throw some respectable patterns a bit further. I took 44 shots today. My jaw is still intact and nothings ringing! Would ya look at that, lovely.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rp9BFFtS/Overall.jpg)
I cleaned pretty good before hand and degreased it all but didn't do any "breaking in" short of sighting in the red dot with a few lead 6's. I ran a bore snake through it after every 2 shots and every 4 shots I ran a brush through it. Took shots with each combo at 10, 20, 30 & 40.
I used:
Factory Choke - .388
Nitro Choke - .390
Federal TSS 9's
Nitro T4100 9x10's
Factory Choke, Federal 9:
30yds – 130 hits
(https://i.postimg.cc/2yXmjjMH/FF-30.jpg)
40yds – 101 hits
(https://i.postimg.cc/bNW8KJQr/FF-40.jpg)
Factory Choke, Nitro 9x10:
30yds – 235 hits
(https://i.postimg.cc/CKHgBs9n/FN-30.jpg)
40yds - 160 hits
(https://i.postimg.cc/sx1dLdx5/FN-40.jpg)
Nitro Choke, Federal 9:
30yds – 91 hits
(https://i.postimg.cc/rmVLStLn/NF-30.jpg)
40yds – 91 hits
(https://i.postimg.cc/5yGdd7QT/NF-40.jpg)
Clear Winner:
Nitro Choke, Nitro 9x10:
30yds – 276 hits
(https://i.postimg.cc/BQLfc0d0/NN30.jpg)
40yds – 203 hits
(https://i.postimg.cc/RCbzHFpd/NN-40.jpg)
40yds 2nd time – 202 hits (it was getting kind of late so I put the orange dot on the money spot to help out, moved it for the pick to lower left)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KYFX2g4G/NN-40-2.jpg)
and at 10 & 20:
(https://i.postimg.cc/TYzMts6W/NN-10.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Dw1VHcvp/NN-20.jpg)
That's awesome.
wow, Nitro choke and nitro ammo seem to be the ticket. Just got a 301 at Christmas time and can't wait to try it out!
Just picked one up yesterday. Hope it shoots that good.
They have one near me. I'm thinking of picking up.
Do you know the ID of the factory choke?
Thanks
Extra full
Thats a great pattern
I have been shooting the Nitro shells for 2 years. They are unbelievable
Rolled em!
(https://i.postimg.cc/jdjwKGRn/IMG-3690.jpg)
awesome congrats
Perfect! You sure put the time and $$ into making sure you had a good set up. Well worth the effort. I finished my Florida season yesterday using my 301 - .410. Fun and enjoyable gun to carry and shoot. Congrats.
Congrats love hunting with mine
Very nice and nice bird
Will have to look into some Nitros
I did not care for the federal, shooting Apex now with mine, still with factory choke.
What shell holder is that you are using?
Nice data thread. Just got my 301 .410 and this info is what I needed.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Shell holder is a Beavertooth "sidecart". Pretty sure I got the rifle version.
https://www.beartooth-products.com/collections/sidecart-sideshell/products/sidecart-rifle-model-in-realtree-edge
Friend called me asking about the 410. Pointed him here and figured I'd just update this thread going forward. 2nd Bird last year.
(https://i.postimg.cc/63NFrGXD/IMG-4076.jpg)
It was hot. They were quiet. I knew where they wanted to be. I had been sitting for 6hrs and ran out of water. Went into town to grab some more, drove by the field just in case. And they were in it. 15 minutes more is all I had to wait. Zero chance of getting in front of them unseen based on property lines & permissions received.
Then I remembered - I have ALL the gimmicky crap in the back of my truck that I pretty much never use. I unpack this stuff every year from the tote in the attic, put it in the truck, and then pack it back up at the end of the year. unused Now was the time!
Attached the fan to the barrel, put on the string pull call, strapped on the shoulder rest...and started crawling. 3 were in the field. 2 saw me and didn't like it, headed for the trees. One started to follow them and then gave me a look. He wasn't in the mood to run away. For every bit of 30 minutes I watched this guy strut, spit and drum his way over while I was working him with the pull string & fan. Every second I assumed I'd be busted and couldn't believe what I was doing was actually working on this bird. By now I was in the middle of the field prone. At 15yds I could take it no more and sent some tss down range.
Hands down, the most memorable turkey hunt I've had to-date. And I was glad for every piece of that gimmicky stuff I brought along for the ride. 410 strikes again.
I am running the same set-up on my 301. It liked the Nitro choke and nitro 9x10's the best. I just ordered some more ammo from Nitro and its a 2 week turn around so keep that in mind if you plan on ordering.