Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Turkey Guns & Shooting => Lead Shooters Section => Topic started by: Rockhound on March 27, 2012, 10:53:58 AM

Title: #5s VS #6s
Post by: Rockhound on March 27, 2012, 10:53:58 AM
Ive always been a #5 fan but looking into some number 6s where will the energy run out on a #6 as compared to a #5?
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: 3" 870 Shell Shucker on March 27, 2012, 11:01:29 AM
#6's will do 40 Yards.  #5's will get your post deleted on Old Gobbler. :TooFunny:
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: 3" 870 Shell Shucker on March 27, 2012, 11:04:54 AM
I bet that 90% of turkey hunters ask themselves this same question, "5's or 6's?".  The other 10% probably use 4's.  I see 5's as being the perfect compromise between pattern numbers and on-target energy.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: jtg88 on March 27, 2012, 11:21:17 AM
I know a #6 lead pellet will hold enough energy to crack a gobbler skulls at 42 yards.  I choose pattern density over the additional energy of a #5 pellet.  If you can't put pellets on target, that extra energy doesn't matter.

If I could get a #5 load to throw 130+ at 40 yards I'd prefer that but I haven't been able to do it yet.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: stinkpickle on March 27, 2012, 11:38:28 AM
#6's are fine...but that's coming from a guy who shoots #7 1/2's.   ;)
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: paboxcall on March 27, 2012, 12:44:56 PM
Quote from: jtg88 on March 27, 2012, 11:21:17 AM
I know a #6 lead pellet will hold enough energy to crack a gobbler skulls at 42 yards.  I choose pattern density over the additional energy of a #5 pellet.  If you can't put pellets on target, that extra energy doesn't matter.

If I could get a #5 load to throw 130+ at 40 yards I'd prefer that but I haven't been able to do it yet.

Well stated.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: Rockhound on March 27, 2012, 12:52:56 PM
Quote from: jtg88 on March 27, 2012, 11:21:17 AM
I know a #6 lead pellet will hold enough energy to crack a gobbler skulls at 42 yards.  I choose pattern density over the additional energy of a #5 pellet.  If you can't put pellets on target, that extra energy doesn't matter.

If I could get a #5 load to throw 130+ at 40 yards I'd prefer that but I haven't been able to do it yet.

I can do 140+ with my 835 and fed fcw, believe it or not the xx mags in number 4 will put up extremely good numbers with my 10 gauge, But i have found some number 6 for my 10 (first ones i have seen besides fed fcw) but dunno if i want to risk the 6s when i can get 5s
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: Longshanks on March 27, 2012, 06:40:55 PM
Quote from: jtg88 on March 27, 2012, 11:21:17 AM
I know a #6 lead pellet will hold enough energy to crack a gobbler skulls at 42 yards.  I choose pattern density over the additional energy of a #5 pellet.  If you can't put pellets on target, that extra energy doesn't matter.

If I could get a #5 load to throw 130+ at 40 yards I'd prefer that but I haven't been able to do it yet.

That's my experience as well. I can't break 100 @ 40 with 5's with all the testing I have done. Killed allot turkeys with them when I used to shoot 30yds or less. In the old days we patterned at 30 and kept the shots close. Until I started testing at 40 I had no idea how bad lead patterns detiorate from 30-40yds. Testing and good choke/shell combos has me shooting 160's @ 40 with 3" 6's with Pb ..I have only recently started hunting with Pb again thanks to the help I have gotten on Old Gobbler. Thanks guys!
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: surehuntsalot on March 30, 2012, 09:26:43 PM
I love my #5's
will use 6's from time to time,but 95% of the time it's #5's
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: FttFttVroom! on April 01, 2012, 10:29:44 PM
The 6's will do the job as far as you need to be shooting.  I've shot lead 6's several years and they always delivered.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: dawei on April 01, 2012, 11:39:08 PM
Quote from: 3" 870 Shell Shucker on March 27, 2012, 11:04:54 AM
I bet that 90% of turkey hunters ask themselves this same question, "5's or 6's?".  The other 10% probably use 4's.  I see 5's as being the perfect compromise between pattern numbers and on-target energy.
That would be me, and in a 20ga no less. LOL! :z-winnersmiley:
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: surehuntsalot on April 03, 2012, 08:41:17 PM
found me some Winchester #4's in 20ga that I got to try out
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: dawei on April 03, 2012, 09:25:37 PM
Quote from: surehuntsalot on April 03, 2012, 08:41:17 PMfound me some Winchester #4's in 20ga that I got to try out
Which Winchester® load, Supreme™, Double X®, or Super-X®?
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: bushwhacker on April 03, 2012, 10:15:54 PM
They have winchester double x 1.25 ounce 4's at wally world for 8 bucks a box.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: surehuntsalot on April 04, 2012, 09:13:46 PM
Quote from: dawei on April 03, 2012, 09:25:37 PM
Quote from: surehuntsalot on April 03, 2012, 08:41:17 PMfound me some Winchester #4's in 20ga that I got to try out
Which Winchester® load, Supreme™, Double X®, or Super-X®?



Supreme Double X
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: dawei on April 04, 2012, 10:46:44 PM
Thanks, I'll now be shopping for some!
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: LBSS on April 07, 2012, 12:02:21 PM
My 10ga would put 88 #4s in a 10" pattern @40. But I don't like those older win loads from dunns the 2 1/4oz ones. They dont have a good wad. Just a fiber card and plastic wrap.  The hv loads pattern alot better . 100+ hits though I think handloading I could get more hits
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: Ol'Mossy on June 12, 2012, 05:06:44 PM
I've been using #6's since I began turkey hunting 18 years ago and I never had a problem killing any turkey out to 40 yards and beyond.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: WildTigerTrout on June 12, 2012, 09:24:11 PM
I like and use #6. IMO Win. Supreme High-Vel. are the best of the lot. I use the 3.5" 2oz. loads in my SBE.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: BrowningGuy88 on June 13, 2012, 09:18:25 AM
I use 4's, 5's, and 6's in lead. I have killed turkeys with them all, but I just prefer 5's.

I don't think in the field there is enough difference in the loads to argue over. Just shoot what patterns best for you.
Title: Re: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: bigredneck61088 on June 14, 2012, 08:35:03 AM
I like the energy of fives, and my gun shoots better with them, i just use em because they are a good happy medium between 4s and 6s

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: 3" 870 Shell Shucker on June 27, 2012, 10:11:35 AM
QuoteI like the energy of fives, and my gun shoots better with them, i just use em because they are a good happy medium between 4s and 6s

That's every reason to shoot 5's all rolled up into one sentence.

I like 5's too.  They really do hang with 6's at 40 Yards in some setups.  Or maybe those setups just don't shine with 6's?
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: BandedSpur on June 27, 2012, 01:30:56 PM
Quote from: 3" 870 Shell Shucker on June 27, 2012, 10:11:35 AM
QuoteI like the energy of fives, and my gun shoots better with them, i just use em because they are a good happy medium between 4s and 6s

That's every reason to shoot 5's all rolled up into one sentence.

I like 5's too.  They really do hang with 6's at 40 Yards in some setups.  Or maybe those setups just don't shine with 6's?

I think it boils down to using whichever puts up the best numbers. Sixes carry enough energy to kill to any range the pattern holds up. But I agree there is no reason to shoot 6s if the 5s outpattern them.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: 3" 870 Shell Shucker on June 29, 2012, 04:58:34 AM
Quotethere is no reason to shoot 6s if the 5s outpattern them.

I say there's no reason to shoot 6's if 5's will just "equal" them pattern-wise.  If the two patterns are really close to one another, I'll take the bigger pellets every time.
Title: Re: #5s VS #6s
Post by: BandedSpur on June 30, 2012, 03:24:05 PM
Quote from: 3" 870 Shell Shucker on June 29, 2012, 04:58:34 AM
Quotethere is no reason to shoot 6s if the 5s outpattern them.

I say there's no reason to shoot 6's if 5's will just "equal" them pattern-wise.  If the two patterns are really close to one another, I'll take the bigger pellets every time.
Can't argue with that. If the numbers are equal, then by all means shoot the 5s.