I'm relatively new to really setting up a good turkey gun. i have my remington 870 drilled and tapped for a scope and its going to be put together this weekend. my question is what is are the opinions on the different sizes shot available. i figure i will try to pattern some long beards since that is 90% of what i am seeing. i want to have maximum penetration and range incase i misjudge a distance. i have been told that #4 will fly farther and hit harder than smaller shot. is there a significant difference in running #4s over #5s or 6s since i will be greatly reducing my amount of pellets? probably a very juvenile question but i would appreciate some help
It depends if you wanna shoot lead or hevi. Lead- I'd go w/5s. Hevi- I'd go w/ 6s. Just my opinion.
Quote from: Hooksnhorns on February 27, 2014, 01:11:41 AM
It depends if you wanna shoot lead or hevi. Lead- I'd go w/5s. Hevi- I'd go w/ 6s. Just my opinion.
:agreed:
Nominal pellet count for 3" shells:
4-236
5-298
6-394
So there is a significant decrease in pellets available as you increase shot size, but retained energy per pellet increases significantly as well. Bottom line: with the proper choke, any of these shot sizes will have adequate pattern density and pellet energy at 40 yds. It's beyond 40 yds where things get interesting, and we don't talk about that here.
Its all up to you. You can shoot htl #6's or #7's generally or you can shoot #4, #5, or #6 lead. It depends on what you want to spend and what patterns well for you.
In your case go to #5 lead Win LBs or #6 /#7 Fed HWs.
I do not condone thinking about an extra long shot as much as waiting until you know it is within range of whatever you are shooting.
I see above that you say you have a 870. If you tell us what length of barrel and what choke your going to be running we might be able to get you in the right direction. A lot of guys on here hunt with a 870 or have had experience with them. But all in all as far as sizes go, I think you got great advise in the first couple of post. Can't go wrong with #5 lead or #6 Hevi.
Quote from: BandedSpur on February 27, 2014, 08:28:03 AM
Nominal pellet count for 3" shells:
4-236
5-298
6-394
So there is a significant decrease in pellets available as you increase shot size, but retained energy per pellet increases significantly as well. Bottom line: with the proper choke, any of these shot sizes will have adequate pattern density and pellet energy at 40 yds. It's beyond 40 yds where things get interesting, and we don't talk about that here.
:agreed:
#6 lead is all I've shot for the past 15+ years and I've killed a lot of birds with it. Now if #6 will kill so will #5 and #4 but I just like to have more pellets to do the job.
I am partial to the #7 shot in federal or hevi. I like the extra pattern density. The hevi seem to pattern better than th he feds. Imo....for factory loads it goes federal hw then hevi then lead.
From my readings on here #7 feds hit like 4 lead and the #7 hevi hit somewhere in the #6-#5 lead range.
Quote from: Hooksnhorns on February 27, 2014, 01:11:41 AM
It depends if you wanna shoot lead or hevi. Lead- I'd go w/5s. Hevi- I'd go w/ 6s. Just my opinion.
Same here, but do use hevi 7s.
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I use a 870 supermag, 23inch barrel. Right now I'm using hevi 13 #6, 3 inch 2 oz. this load patterns well and I have had lots of success with it. When I run out of these shells, I have hevi 13 #7, 3.5 in 2.25 oz. shells that I'm going to be using. I got a good deal on em and had to buy em.
These are all good answers but I say just get yourself a few different brands and sizes and maybe couple of chokes and just experiment a little. There's nothing better than seeing what your gun likes the best when you hit the range! Patterning is one of the fun parts of the preseason!
thanks for all the info guys i got myself a pattern master code black. havent heard a lot about this choke but i shoot a code black goose for duck hunting and its amazing. oribably gonna buy as many shells as my pocket allows. wish i had access to a couple more chokes but i will just have to see what happens probably gonna try long beard #5s as well as some hevi blends and whatever else i can get my hands on
Whatever shoots good out of your gun.......................
Well because everyone has been so testy here lately let me first say I do not care if you or anyone else shoots lead, hevi, TSS, #4s, or #9s. They will all kill birds everyday. I would bet more birds are killed each year by #4 and #5 lead then all other shot types combined.
I personally will only shoot Hevi #7s. I like to put a pile of pellets in the birds head and neck, even though it really only takes one I like a pile of them. I shoot a 870SM with Hevi 13 3.5" 2.25oz #7s (the past 3 seasons, 2014 I plan on shooting Nitros, got my order in yesterday so hopefully they make it in time). My best pattern to date is 324 pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yards.
I don't like shooting much past 40-45 yards but mistakes happen. Case being last year I while hunting a field bird in the rain I thought the bird was 40 maybe 45 yards away so I shot, he was coming closer but I thought he was where I wanted him so I decided not to wait. Turns out he was at 55 yards. That bird dropped where he stood. After looking him over I realized the shot actually broke one of this wings. This shows me no only will the Hevi shot #7s give me the numbers I want but they can also break bones when mistakes are made.
If I said anything to upset anyone please PM me and lets not turn this into a 5 page bashing or argument about why anyone would shoot pixy dust at a turkey.
My gun patterned well with longbear 5, but bad with the 4. After reading this I might try the 6.
Go with HTL 6 or 7 shot, and find a Jelly head choke, they love Hevi 13 shells,I shoot the 3 in. 7,s and get a 22in pattern at 40 yards with over 50 hits to the brain and spine on a lifesize turkey target.
Find the right choke and the rest is very easy.