Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

Turkey Guns & Shooting => Turkey Guns => Topic started by: Tomtaker47 on August 13, 2012, 12:52:04 AM

Title: Lead or steel?
Post by: Tomtaker47 on August 13, 2012, 12:52:04 AM
i was wonder on what ur guys favorite type of shot is for turkey hunting? :fud:
Title: Re: Lead or steel?
Post by: jrseale82 on August 13, 2012, 01:07:19 AM
neither
Title: Re: Lead or steel?
Post by: 3" 870 Shell Shucker on August 13, 2012, 03:29:16 AM
If you want to limit yourself to a 30 Yard ethical pattern range, Steel shot will work.  Lead is better by far.  Much better retained energy, and tight choke friendly.
Title: Re: Lead or steel?
Post by: Skeeterbait on August 13, 2012, 01:42:44 PM
I would never throw steel at turkeys.  For waterfowl it is a common understanding that to retain the downrange energy of lead, you must go up 2 shot sizes in steel.  However for waterfowl you are taking body shots.  Turkeys, your target is head and neck.  Much smaller target and requires dense patterns of shot to ensure good hits on the smaller target.  But increasing shot size in steel only ensures less pellets in the shell and thinner patterns.  180 degrees out of phase for what turkey loads are trying to achieve.

Most turkey hunters either use heavy payloads of lead or a heavier than lead alloy in small shot high pellet count size.
Title: Re: Lead or steel?
Post by: beagler on August 13, 2012, 08:39:00 PM
H-T-L loads. I would NEVER shoot steel for anything other than waterfowl.
Title: Re: Lead or steel?
Post by: BandedSpur on August 14, 2012, 08:32:14 AM
Quote from: Skeeterbait on August 13, 2012, 01:42:44 PM
I would never throw steel at turkeys.  For waterfowl it is a common understanding that to retain the downrange energy of lead, you must go up 2 shot sizes in steel.  However for waterfowl you are taking body shots.  Turkeys, your target is head and neck.  Much smaller target and requires dense patterns of shot to ensure good hits on the smaller target.  But increasing shot size in steel only ensures less pellets in the shell and thinner patterns.  180 degrees out of phase for what turkey loads are trying to achieve.

Most turkey hunters either use heavy payloads of lead or a heavier than lead alloy in small shot high pellet count size.

This.
Title: Re: Lead or steel?
Post by: Kylongspur88 on August 14, 2012, 08:35:35 PM
On a budget shoot lead, hevi is great too. Steel shot is just not for turkeys.