I am new to this forum and turkey hunting so hello everyone.
Here are the results from patterning my Maxus and my son's Gold today. All shots were with the factory Invector Plus full choke from both guns at 40 yards at a 10" circle.
Browning Maxus
Shot1 - Winchester 3-1/2" 4 shot 2-1/4 oz = 36 hits
Shot2 - Winchester 3-1/2" 4 shot 2-1/4 oz = 27 hits
Shot3 - Winchester 3-1/2" 6 shot 2 oz = 43 hits
Shot4 - Winchester 3" 6 shot 1-3/4 oz = 24 hits
Shot5 - Remington 3" 4x6 shot 1-7/8 oz = 63 hits
Browning Gold
Shot1 - Winchester 3" 6 shot 1-3/4 oz = 41 hits
Shot2 - Remington 3" 4x6 shot 1-7/8 oz = 55 hits
Next week we will go pattern both guns with the Primos Jelly Head choke shooting the same loads and post our results here. Hopefully we can get a better pattern than we are currently getting from the factory chokes.
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looks like you got that bird but I would not feel too confident with that pattern
I am not confident with that pattern either. I still have about 5 weeks till the season opens and a lot of shooting to do before. When my new choke comes in I will test the same loads with it to see if it gets any better and if not I guess I will buy a few more different loads and try them until I get a good pattern.
With the heavy loads and after market tubes available today you can put well over 200 maybe over 300 in that circle.
I would suggest the Hevi 13 #7,s and a indian creek choke if you'll look back a few pages you can see the pattern I shot last sunday with that combination of shot and choke out of the Invector plus bore.
You might wanna try some Federals with the Flight Control Wads with that full choke, also.
I ordered a Jelly Head choke that will be here in a few days and will check these loads with that choke next week. If I don't get a good pattern with it I will try a few different loads like the Hevi 13's and Federal flight control before ordering a new choke. I've read good things about the Indian Creek chokes and may give it a shot if I can't get good results from the Primos.
I feel you will easily get over 100 with the JH and the lead 6s. Turkey chokes perform so much better than factory fulls for shots past 30-35yds IME, even cheap chokes. I would get away from the 4s, they simply are not needed for turkey hunting and usually provide terrible patterns.
I agree with Stink, if you are gona go flush full, the FC wad is the ticket. They aren't worth a hoot compared to Win loads in turkey chokes IME. One of my buddies had patterns with FCs nearly as good with a flush mod as he did with a turkey choke in his Extrema. I've seen the FCs pattern better out of some turkey chokes than others, but they just don't seem to hang with Win from the right choke when it comes to lead.
Hevi will make even a flush full a turkey killer if you don't desire long range. Hevi in your new JH will open your eyes. Just remember that the higher the counts the less wiggle room you have on close shots.
Good Luck
Reloader
I never really planned to hunt with the flush full. It was more of something to do today and have something to compare the JH tube with when it comes in. I will continue to try different loads / chokes until I get the right combination. The more I read here I notice more hunters are shooting 6 & 7 shot so I may try more of these loads to see how they perform. Thanks for all the replies and advice.
My Browning Gold with a 24" barrell patterns good with H-13 3.5" 7"s , through a IC .665 choke. I can get 280 hits @ 40yds. The H-13 3.5" 6"s pattern good also.
Ive got a gold and just get a ic.675 for the hevi-shot and a ic.665 for copper you will gey in the 200's + E-Z.
brian
Went pattern again today with the Jellyhead choke. All shots were at 40 yards at a 10" circle with factory sight bead. The results were better but no where near what I expected. Maybe I will try some Hevi 13's and Federal next time out.
Maxus
Winchester 3.5" 2-1/4 oz 4 shot = 62 hits
Remington 3" 1-7/8 0z 4x6 shot = 42 hits
Winchester 3" 1-3/4 oz 6 shot = 52 hits
Winchester 3.5" 2 oz 6 shot = 99 hits
Gold
Winchester 3" 1-3/4 oz 6 shot = 96 hits
Remington 3" 1-7/8 oz 4x6 shot = 58 hits
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Dead bird BUT give the Hevi 13 2 1/4oz 6s and 7s a try. Esp. the 7s.
have you gave the barrels a good deep clean or a polish job before? if not you may want to try it because it usually greatly increases patterns
Just changing to #6 makes a big difference. As soon as folks realize this, the ammo makers with stop making turkey loads in anything but #5s and #6s. Out to 40 yds that is a killer every time.
Try shooting at large sheets of paper next time out. Shooting small targets will not tell you much. Your patterns may be centered far off of the 10" predrawn circle targets. A good many shotguns, regardless of make, will not shoot true to the bead. Chokes can have very different POIs from the same gun as well.
You can buy contractors paper in rolls 35" wide x 140' long at hardware stores, Home Depot, or Lowes for 10-12 bucks a roll. Shoot, then draw your circles around the most dense portion of the pattern. You may find you need adjustable sights.
Have a good one,
Reloader
Quote from: TheSportsman on February 27, 2011, 07:05:09 PM
Dead bird BUT give the Hevi 13 2 1/4oz 6s and 7s a try. Esp. the 7s.
Take that lead shot and throw it in the trash and go get you some Hevi 13 #7's. You will never look back or waste your money on more ammo.
Thanks for the advice and patience everyone. This is basically my first year turkey hunting and I am new to most of this. I'll drop by home depot and get a roll of contractors paper and give it another try to see where my gun is shooting and what the true pattern looks like. I will also get some Hevi 13's and give them a try.
My gun may be shooting off to one side but my gun isn't drilled and tapped for a scope so I guess that's out for this year. Are there any adjustable sights that do not require the receiver to be drilled and tapped?
Thanks for the help everyone.
Quote from: 8upbowhunter on February 27, 2011, 08:26:25 PM
My gun may be shooting off to one side but my gun isn't drilled and tapped for a scope so I guess that's out for this year. Are there any adjustable sights that do not require the receiver to be drilled and tapped?
Try these:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=671251
It should be over in the paint section at HD.
Yep, the William US or Tru Glo Pro Series Magnum Gobble Dots will give you adjustment shall you need it.
Just remember that different ammo can have different POIs and different chokes can have different POIs as well. Find what your gun likes and sight in for that. You may find a combo that hits true to your bead, might not.
Have a good one,
Reloader
Quote from: sugarray on February 27, 2011, 07:43:34 PM
Just changing to #6 makes a big difference. As soon as folks realize this, the ammo makers with stop making turkey loads in anything but #5s and #6s. Out to 40 yds that is a killer every time.
So they are going to quit making 7s? Only 5s and 6s? Buy 7s now folk.