I happen to have a backup gun as a Remington 870 3" with an extra full choke. If I was to use it and shoot 2 oz. of #5s out of it how far could I expect to consistently kill a turkey? I will pattern it hopefully in a couple of weeks but I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with a similar setup?
My gun is an 870 express 3" with a 28" bbl. I get good results with it, but I use turkey chokes. I bet an extra full with a 2 oz load of #6 HS would be a killer out to 35 or 40.
you will have to shoot it to know, but probably be fine. My 870 patterns more evenly most of the time with 3" loads vs the same shell in the 3.5 version. don't know why but it likes 3' 2 oz 6's or 7's.
I think the extra full choke is a .687", mine always shot better with #4's, usually the 2oz loads. If I was using one now I would try the Federal Flight Control wads in 5's or 6's if you are set on lead loads.
I've used 3" #5 shot turkey loads for the last 12yrs. This year will be my first year using the 3.5" turkey loads. Just find a shell that patterns well and you'll be in good shape. I've always done well with the 3" #5 turkey loads.
Thanks for the input everyone. Can anyone recommend a specific choke and load for this particular gun? Thanks ahead of time
Yes, it's enough......
Are there other alternatives in new ammo technology, choke tubes, etc.? Sure. But you can kill turkeys all day long with the setup you described. Spend some time patterning it and figure out a comfortable maximum distance for your setup and go hunt and have fun.
I shot that choke back in the late 80's with Remington Nitro Mags 1 5/8 #4 and killed sevral birds, If your tight on money, the Remington Ventilator tube with 3 Winchester HV or XX in #6 should give you a 40 yard pattern but you will still need to pattern at that range to be sure, You cam get that choke tube for 25 or 30 dollars, someone posted a site in the last week or two were you can get it, for the money its a really good choke.
The Ventilator is a good tube, here is one for $17.20: http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/Detail.aspx?pid=956890&filter=956890&catid=0
There may be a place that sells them cheaper, but this is the cheapest I could find. Mine did good with Win HV 3" 1.75oz #6's.
Mine has always patterned best with Winchester HV 3" #5's out of a Primo's Tightwad choke.
I use a Remington 870 with a 3" shell, 4 shot, gobblin thunder choke. I have killed all my turkeys with it, 11 to be exact, and I love it. The longest kill shot I made on a turkey was 48 yards back in 2009.
i have2 remington 870 that are only 3'' and a super mag thats 3.5 but all i shoot in them are remington nitro number 5 in a 3 '', if sighted in properly they wont walk at 40 but i dont shoot past that if he dont come closer than 40 he lives another day,,,,,,i have a venilator in one a primos tight wad in one and a remington extra full turkey in the other,,,,plus i have an 11-87 in 3'' and i shoot a undertaker in it, they are all killing machines,,,,,dont hesitate, you have a machine there on cdnn investments they have the ventilator choke for 12.99 you will be suprised how it shoots,,,,,
I have an 870 supermag but only shoot 3" shells out of it. For years used Winchester High Velocity #5 shot. Killed several turkeys between 50-55 yds. (using Comp-N-Choke XXXfull turkey choke). Changed up to an Indian Creek last year and started shooting Hevi-shot Magnum Blend. I know it will kill a turkey out past the 55 yd mark - would take a shot at 65 if I thought I needed to. Just prefer to get them in close like most everybody else.
Again thanks for all of the help everyone. Awesome people here on this site, the best forum I've ever had the pleasure to be apart of. I think I am going to go with the ventilator and the Winchester HVs in either #5s or #6s. Hopefully I get a decent pattern! It's beginning to look like I might have to use my backup gun for this season so I figured I should get everything in order for the upcoming season. My ultimate goal is a successful pattern at 40 yards because I honestly doubt I would shoot much farther than that.
3" has been killing them for years
ventilator choke is a good choke, like i said i have one in a 21'' barrel and it will bust a target,,,,,,remember my pm,,,,,,
3" is plenty gun... That's what I shoot. I'm pretty sure the Remington Super Full choke is a .675. Not sure if that's the same as the Extra Full. That said, my Rem SF patterns the Hevi 6s decent at 40.
My old 3" 870 loves win HV #6# and I have tried several chokes and most shot with in 10% of one another, in fact once I found what shell my gun liked the shell made more difference than the choke.
My 870 3" with a 21" barrel and Rhino .660 will put 230-250 in a 10" circle at 40 with Hevi #7. A couple years ago my wife shot a gobbler at 52yds with that gun using a factory superfull and Win HV #4.
An 870 Express 3" magnum is what I've used since the 1990's.
In short the answer is yes. I can shoot 3.5 but choose not to. You'll be fine.
There are literally millions of those 3" 870s taken to the fields and woods every year and they account for for a lot of game each year. It's a great gun and true workhorse.
Just a couple of recommendations I'd suggest. The first is that you "deep clean" the bore and the second is that you consider 3" Hevi-13 "Bronze" shells with 2 oz. of #6 shot. The #6 shot flows very well through just about any barrel and choke and especially with H-13, delivers all the energy to the target, turkey head & neck, at 40 yards to cleanly and ethically kill him, as long as we do our job.
If you wanted to improve your patterns without breaking the bank, the SSX is a good choice for a turkey choke with your gun and those shells.
Whatever you choose, best of luck to you this year in the turkey woods.
Thanks,
Clark
I use an 870 3" with a jelly head choke. Works well with Hevi-13 2oz #6.
There was a longbeard killed out of my blind last year at a lazered 50 yards with 3" Magblends and a .660 jellyhead. He dropped like a bag of hammers.
Patterned my Rem 870SM/ JH .665 this morning and turned better numbers with lead with a 3in shell rather than a 3.5. The Hevi patterns were better with 3.5 than 3 but i would be completely satisfyed with the 3in pattern. Hevi 3/2/6's bronze may be one of the most consistent shells out there when it comes to HTL.
You don't have to believe this, but I have killed as many birds with a 2 3/4 in mag as I have a 3 in mag; never have had a gun for 3 1/2 and they don't interest me at all; it is VERY IMPORTANT that you try as many shells as possible and pattern your gun to see which load your gun "likes"; my 870 has the factory extra full extended turkey choke and I wouldn't be scared to shoot a turkey at 40 yards with a 2 3/4 in mag remington or a winchester supreme elite but I keep my shots 25 or less;
Don't worry at all with your 3 in being enough; it's more than enough..................rem
3 inch and 3.5 inch don't kill em any deader than 2.75 that I started with.....just gives a little more wiggle room and confidence in your shot. Been shooting 3.5, but looking to go back to 3 since they get very similar patterns, sometimes better with the shorter 3 inch.
Enough for sure.
With powder charges being equal on a pellet for pellet comparison:
2.75" (1 5/8oz) hits harder than a 3" (2oz)
3" (2oz) hits harder than a 3.5" (2.25oz).
In other words, if one pellet is going to be in the kill zone at an extended range (50 yards or more), you can put your money on the fastest pellet hitting hardest. The fastest pellet will come from the 2.75" shell.