Who here of the old lead shooters is stickin with older lead ammo,you know the old federals,grey box winnies,black box winnie HV,etc and not making the switch to the LBs?
Im kinda getting tired of trying and retrying load/choke combos every year and have pretty much decided i'm for the most part just gonna hang on to what has worked for me in the past.Figure it'll save me some $$ and a lot of frustration in the long run :z-dizzy:
This is NOT a knock on anyone trying different combos if thats what one likes to do,so lets not start down that path.
I easily converted two of my 870's over to Win LB's. All I did was move my sights down a bit. Easy conversion. Shoot the XX and HV out of a couple of my other guns. Best thing is see is folks struggling to get 100 in a 10" @ 40 after trying allot of chokes and shells are easily able to turn their guns into 180+ set ups. I would say if you are happy with the way your guns shoots..no reason to change.
I'm gonna shoot a traditional lead load this year just like last year. I'm tempted to try the longbeards but really see no need. The shells are already 18-25 dollars a box. With so many buying them up and the popular reviews given I'm quite sure they'll be 30-38 dollars a box next spring. Might as well shoot hevi shot or other hd or hw load. But that's what I'm going away from. Don't get me wrong i think they're great if you need them and can afford them. Certain places I've been on away hunts i have more open field opportunities and the possibility to mis judge distance on a bird or birds so i have some hd loads stuck back for those hunts. But the other majority of my hunts will be in close range jungle like terrain so there's no need for me to keep over spending for hd loads when all i really need is a solid cheap lead load.
I get 119 in the 10" and 282 (total) in the 20" with Fed Turkey Thugs. I am really happy with that and don't see a need to switch over.
I've got a few more shells from last year that produced a pattern I liked, so I'm not going to change things until I shoot those up. Most of the places I have available to hunt aren't going to produce many 60-yard shot opportunities anyway.
I simply don't have the money for new chokes and shells this spring. It has caught me at a bad time this year. If I had known that the shells would quickly get better, I probably wouldn't have stocked up on the older stuff I have. But I'm broke now anyway, so I still wouldn't be stocking up on the new shells.
I stocked up before my retirement in Feb. I guess I'll stay with that plan.
I,m sticking with what has worked for me over the years,don't need them.
I,m not into the little holes in a piece of paper.
I'm going to try the LB's to see how they pattern but unless there is a significant improvement I will stick with my HV's or premier magnums.....all in 3" #5's
Quote from: surehuntsalot on March 31, 2014, 07:27:49 PM
I,m sticking with what has worked for me over the years,don't need them.
I,m not into the little holes in a piece of paper.
first let me say this is not an attack or judgement on you but i have read that so many times on here and i just don't understand that staement. more holes in a sheet of paper equalls more holes in a gobblers noggin. maybe I'm wrong though
Quote from: knightrider on March 31, 2014, 09:16:34 PM
Quote from: surehuntsalot on March 31, 2014, 07:27:49 PM
I,m sticking with what has worked for me over the years,don't need them.
I,m not into the little holes in a piece of paper.
first let me say this is not an attack or judgement on you but i have read that so many times on here and i just don't understand that staement. more holes in a sheet of paper equalls more holes in a gobblers noggin. maybe I'm wrong though
I think what he's saying is that some people(me included) would rather have a solid but bigger pattern as opposed to trying to get as many as possible in a 10" circle.While I like to have good numbers in the 10" myself,I look at how a pattern performs outside of that magical 10" circle.Im looking for good even coverage out around the 15" mark if I can get.I can look at a pattern and tell if its one I want to hunt with without having to count a bunch of holes.Nothing wrong with either way of doing it though.Use whatever gives you the most confidence in your setup.
Quotei have read that so many times on here and i just don't understand that staement.
I think he's just not into the numbers game, to the extent of having to keep chasing bigger and bigger numbers; since he knows that 100, 120, 140, etc. will work fine.
I recently shot a pattern at a measured 40 Yards with #6 Strut Shok, NOT the Turkey Thugs load.
It had 90 in 10", with a total of 151 in 15". There were no holes big enough for a turkey to slip through. Not an impressive number, but a nice even pattern. He'd probably hunt with it.
I'm sticking with the Win "Supreme" HV 3 1/2" 2 oz. #6 shot in both my 10 and 12 ga. Also staying with the old Federal 3" 1 5/16 oz. of #6 shot and Win. 3" 1 5/16 oz. #5 shot in my 20 ga. I have enough of each to last quite a while and all these loads have worked fine in the past. I really see no reason to change.
Not me. I have never been one to chase the numbers but after seeing the dense even patterns that the LB produced I can't not shoot them. Its affordable and an easy test.
I'm sticking w/lead (Pb) albeit in a 20ga. I've been killing turkeys since 1978 and all of them were harvested w/#4 Pb. I see no reason to change at this late date. I will continue to use Pb for all my turkey hunting until WDFW changes the rules or the good Lord calls me home. My two turkey guns do best with Winchester® Supreme® & Double-X™.
New improved hunting products come out every year but the old stand byes work just as good as they did the year before. I use the same shell I've always used and it kills turkey just as dead as the best newest turkey shell on the market and I paid $2.00 a box on sale a Walmart.
Quote from: mike3132 on April 02, 2014, 06:18:15 AM
New improved hunting products come out every year but the old stand byes work just as good as they did the year before. I use the same shell I've always used and it kills turkey just as dead as the best newest turkey shell on the market and I paid $2.00 a box on sale a Walmart.
You stole them...WTG
I have plenty of Win 3.5" HV 5's and Win XX 3" 5's to get me thru until the day I die. No need to buy more shells.
My favorite old lead load was the 3" Rem 4x6 Duplex...killed quite a few birds with that set up...even though I have switched to HTL and like the results I've gotten out of the LB XR if you were to drop me off at an old loggin road at daylight with nothing but my shotgun, a slate, and a box of those 4x6 Duplex I'd be a happy man :you_rock:
QuoteI have plenty.....to get me thru until the day I die. No need to buy more shells.
Ain't that the truth!!!
QuoteIf you were to drop me off 300 Yards from Gobblin' Turkeys with nothing but my Shotgun, my Box Calls, and either a box of 3" #6 Turkey Thugs or a box of 3" Win HV #5's I'd be a happy man.
There, I fixed it for you. :icon_thumright:
^^^ I suppose that within 300 yards of gobblers would be better than at a random logging road but I'll still bring my duplex 4x6 :-P:::::::::::::::: :lol:
Quote from: knightrider on March 31, 2014, 09:16:34 PM
Quote from: surehuntsalot on March 31, 2014, 07:27:49 PM
I,m sticking with what has worked for me over the years,don't need them.
I,m not into the little holes in a piece of paper.
first let me say this is not an attack or judgement on you but i have read that so many times on here and i just don't understand that staement. more holes in a sheet of paper equalls more holes in a gobblers noggin. maybe I'm wrong though
don't mean nothing by it,I like a good even 20" pattern,not looking for tight softball size patterns
I have accumulated a pretty good stock of Winchester and fed pb, along with Winchester hd and magblends so no switching here. I picked a box of Lb's just to try for giggles in 3"# 4s and while they put up the best 10" numbers I've ever got with 4s (119) there wasn't much of a 15". When I'm shooting lead I will stick with the winny "grey box" 5s or the 3-2-5s or fed thugs in 5s or 6s. Those loads put up good 10" and 15" #s at 40 and were not overly tight at 20yds. I got into chasing numbers last year without taking into account the usual range I shoot. Both the gobblers I took last year were right around the 10yrd mark and it would have been very easy to miss. Anything patterns really tight at those ranges but I felt like I may be handicapping myself at 25yrds with the super tight 40 yard patterns so this season I'm changing it up and loosing up the patterns to be a little more open. My thinking as of late is to match the gun and load to the terrain and normal range which I can expect to shoot and if he is too far I get him closer or he gets another day.
me; tried the LB's, they're shooting high/right on both of my guns. sticking with the old "tried & true" shells I've already got.
Turkey season crept up on me this year so I am shooting the old Federal Blue and Gold 3.5" #6's. May try the longbeards next year, but the 4's are going to have to really shoot for me to stop shooting the old Feds.
I have guns that turn some crazy numbers, 333, 289 etc. I'm hunting with win HV 3" 5's. Turns 110 @ 40. The guy hit on the head when he said set up for your terrain. I killed one at 10 this year and missed one at 30 with a super tight LB pattern. Shots at our place are common at 15-18 yds. One of our members missed one the other day at 15yds with a Hevi 6 set up. Tight patterns have cost me some turkeys hunting in ridges and thick timber. Tight patterns are awesome on more open ground like in the midwest. Thickets of MS..need a scatter gun.
Killed my opening day tom with Win Supreme XX 6s (red shell). Been buying more boxes when I find them now that Win is making changes.
Quote from: jblackburn on April 18, 2014, 03:45:40 AM
Killed my opening day tom with Win Supreme XX 6s (red shell). Been buying more boxes when I find them now that Win is making changes.
They are getting kinda scarce now..found 10 boxes or so at Bass Pro last year I haven't seen any this year.
well i almost was then i tried the longbeards the are better there is less shot in them 1 3/4 vrs the 1 7/8 not many less but there are more in the paper about 25 to 30 in each shot now that is the thugs vrs the longbeards . nowi will admit that is does get to be a hassle but i do enjoy shooting and trying new shells . the only drawback is they are expensive . i will say this i never went the heavy shot route. always shot lead .
I have about ten years worth of the old Win Supreme loads in the old style box before the change to XX. Went looking and stocked up when I saw the change. I shoot beads and won't ever have to check sights or pattern that gun again. Why would I change?
I've got enough Pb Winchester® Supreme®s to last me the rest of my life & the wife too. :D IMHO Winchester® Pb Turkey loads are the standard which all other manufacturers aspire to. :you_rock:
Quote from: dawei on April 23, 2014, 04:38:33 PM
I've got enough Pb Winchester® Supreme®s to last me the rest of my life & the wife too. :D IMHO Winchester® Pb Turkey loads are the standard which all other manufacturers aspire to. :you_rock:
They are absolutely the most consistent shells on the market. I see variations all the time with HTL but with Winchester XX, HV and Super X, I know what I have when I drop the hammer on ole Tom. For this reason I'm hunting with Win Pb now.
Old technology for me. I have about 60 12 ga. 3" and about 155 10 ga. so that gives me somewhere around 215 lead shells total so I wont be needing anything new soon. Certain ammo for certain chokes/guns depending on terrain and foliage. If I were to shoot all of this stuff up I would easily be able to buy 1 type of ammo for my pair of 10's and 1 type of ammo for my 12 and make life easier. Remington 2 1/4 oz. #4 for the 10's and Federal FC 2 oz. #4 for the auto 12.
Quote from: old3toe on March 30, 2014, 11:16:08 PM
I'm gonna shoot a traditional lead load this year just like last year. I'm tempted to try the longbeards but really see no need. The shells are already 18-25 dollars a box. With so many buying them up and the popular reviews given I'm quite sure they'll be 30-38 dollars a box next spring. Might as well shoot hevi shot or other hd or hw load. But that's what I'm going away from. Don't get me wrong i think they're great if you need them and can afford them. Certain places I've been on away hunts i have more open field opportunities and the possibility to mis judge distance on a bird or birds so i have some hd loads stuck back for those hunts. But the other majority of my hunts will be in close range jungle like terrain so there's no need for me to keep over spending for hd loads when all i really need is a solid cheap lead load.
It's next spring and they cost the same
I have some longbeards but when they are gone I don't know if I will get any more. They really shoot great patterns but keep going up in price.
Cost the same as last year here where I am
Cost the same here also.
Shooting lead this year too. I have a 5.56 ammo box crammed full of it mostly in Win and another 10 boxes or so of Thugs in mainly 5's. I enjoy chasing #'s sometimes, but between the chokes and shells it gets expensive fast! Isn't it William at Sumtoy who says "how dead do you want them?"
Well, I switched to Longbeards but am switching back to older lead loads. I think the Longbeards are more for paper and counting holes than for turkey hunting. I like a good hunting pattern, I will probably stick with Federal Strut Shoks if I can find them or Turkey Thugs, not much, if any difference between the two.
im thinking about using paper shells on my next bird just to try it.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on April 28, 2015, 05:37:34 PM
Well, I switched to Longbeards but am switching back to older lead loads. I think the Longbeards are more for paper and counting holes than for turkey hunting. I like a good hunting pattern, I will probably stick with Federal Strut Shoks if I can find them or Turkey Thugs, not much, if any difference between the two.
Why? Yesterday morning sitting in the woods as a tom gobbled his head off i keep looking at all the places he could show up, was in tight cover so i could see myself missing. Had a Fed. hw 7 in the chamber which shoots more open at 20-25 yards, but thought if lead the old strut shok 4 or the thug 5 in my vest would be good. No place for a longbeard there, but have there place . I just think for the 40 yard shooting the Fed. Hw 7 give me what i like.
And are plenty cheap for the super henned up toms i been dealing with in Missouri ! LOL sure spending alot more on road trip hardees burgers than shells :(
Owl,
I just think the Longbeards are more of a handicap for most hunting situations than they are a benefit. Traditional lead is and always has been so effective at 40 yards. The Longbeards can't kill any deader at 40 than a traditional load such as the Thugs, Strut Shoks, Kent Diamond Shot, Winchester Supremes. All of these will pound birds at 40 yards but give a little more coverage for a close in shot than the Longbeards. Also, I don't think you can overlook all the problems that so many people have experienced with the Longbeards with regards to inconsistency. When you are shooting basically a slug at 15-20 yards, it better be consistent to point of aim. You have to think about turkey head movement, the time you have to get a shot off, usually a couple seconds for me before the bird realizes the gig is up and he is out of there. Just my opinion.
Yes , there seems to be a lot of inconsistencies with the long beards , i went back through some targets and with the 3" 5's noticed what longshanks had commented on about oblong patterns . I also have a few with good 10 counts but very strong to one side of the pattern out to the 15, other side has weak 15". Could be the resin you mentioned?Wonder if ported or un-ported chokes show a difference or constrictions?
too tight for me in some of the places i hunt or anytime a tom gets close. for some reason i can get a bit shaky when a tom gobbles at 20 yards :) in the fun zone!