What's the most lethal turkey load you have ever used? I know it's hard to judge that but you know what I mean.
For me, it was the old Winchester Extended Range Heavy shot loads in #6. Seemed everything just died right there when I pulled the trigger. I ran out of my stash of them last year (sure wish they never stopped making them), so I've moved on to magblends.
I've shot 3 turkeys so far with the magblends and they just don't seem as lethal. No pellets seem to penetrate the breast or body cavity. The Winchesters would always have some pellets to pull out of the breast. I'm not sold on them so far...might try some straight Hevi 6's.
Anyway, what load has been your most lethal?
I've had the same experience with the old Winchester extended range. At 40 yards pellets will pass through the breast from one side out the other. I've killed plenty with other shells, but those shells are impressive.
They were stone cold killers, did anyone ever hear why Winchester quit making them. I use hevi 7's now but there's no doubt the best killing shell I ever used was the XRHD
Why did they quit making them? Profit? Or maybe the long beards?
Best I've shot to, I've still have a couple of boxes of them.
A Rage tipped carbon arrow has put down the most birds for me.
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Anybody else ever shot Penetrator Activs? All but one or two shells me and my dad had each put a bird on the ground. They were full plastic casing, and something about them was just sweet. Now they're no where to be found.
When I started using the Nitro shells #6 or duplex 6-4-7 it was such a huge improvement over standard loads the mag. Blends were about the same and at 40 yards or less dead is dead.
Just good old Hevi-Shot 3" 5's. About 12 years ago I switched to doing the majority of my turkey hunting with a .62 (20ga) flintlock with 1 1/8 oz #6 lead. My max for sure range is 20 yards and I shoot most of my birds at about 10-12 standing at my decoy. I have dug out the modern gun with HS a few times over the years since and after using that setup, which is quite sufficient mind you, the devastation of the HS just blows me away.
:camohat: Old Winchester Extended Range #6 3 inch, devastating, expensive but a ten round box and devastating! At second, Federal 3rd Degree 3 inch. :OGturkeyhead:
Quote from: HookedonHooks on April 15, 2017, 02:46:52 AM
Anybody else ever shot Penetrator Activs? All but one or two shells me and my dad had each put a bird on the ground. They were full plastic casing, and something about them was just sweet. Now they're no where to be found.
I shot them and they did well for me , they are now Kent Cartridge, their turkey load is the ultimate diamond shot,my buddy shoots them and loves them ,out shot longbeards and everything else he tried !
Federal Heviweight 3-1.5-7's.
First bird I killed with one looked like he was hit with a truck!
All the birds my son has shot with with them have absolutely devastated them!
Remington once made a turkey load that had heavy somewhere in the name I think. Back in 2000 to 2002 I believe. The shells were dark olive green with black brass. They were #6's and amazing turkey shells. Couldn't find them again when I ran out. I haven't been as confident in a load until I picked up a box of LB 3" 6's.
Haven't shot a bird with these but gotta say Winchester 3.5" XR's #5's. I patterned at 30 yards. Forget about a pellet count in a 10" circle as I don't think I even had a 10" circle. I had a grapefruit sized hole where the shoot n see turkey head used to be. Patterned some 3.5" Federal hvywt #7's. Now that was a better pattern for what I'm looking for. Don't think I'll even stuff the XR's in .
The old Winchester xtended range hi density, 3" #4s. I have a few boxes of them, and they are like the MOAB (mother of all birdshot) lol! When they hit, bird is down right now, not even a twitch. It will be a sad day when I shoot the last of them!
With out a doubt Shooter's 12 ga Devastator tss load. I've now pretty much converted to the 20 ga and tss but that 12 ga load is beyond its name sake.
Tss. Without a doubt. 99 percent of the time its bang and no flop.
For me its a toss up between Xtended Range 6s and Magblends. Luckily I have a couple of boxes of each
Quote from: 5arraquiver on April 15, 2017, 08:59:49 AM
Remington once made a turkey load that had heavy somewhere in the name I think. Back in 2000 to 2002 I believe. The shells were dark olive green with black brass. They were #6's and amazing turkey shells. Couldn't find them again when I ran out. I haven't been as confident in a load until I picked up a box of LB 3" 6's.
This was a great load , it was called Remington HD. I still have 7 boxes of BB that crushes coyotes and one box of 20 gauge #6 left.
These were perfectly round super dense pellets that patterned great and hit like a truck.
Not like that teardropped shaped enviro stuff.
If I remember correctly it was Remington that started this heavier than lead HD craze with this load and then gave the market away by discontinuing there loads. What the!
2.5oz of TSS #9s
Looks like I'm not the only one that misses the old XRHD shells. My patterns were never super but they just killed.
I get good patterns with the mag blends but they just don't seem to kill the same. I cleaned 5 birds last week shot by magblends. No pellets in the breast.
May give TSS #8 a try. A friend has all the stuff except the shot.
Quote from: jb177 on April 15, 2017, 02:19:25 PM
Looks like I'm not the only one that misses the old XRHD shells. My patterns were never super but they just killed.
I get good patterns with the mag blends but they just don't seem to kill the same. I cleaned 5 birds last week shot by magblends. No pellets in the breast.
May give TSS #8 a try. A friend has all the stuff except the shot.
? Thought the Winchester XRHD was the same density as the Hevi shot . So what's the difference between the two?
Quote from: Spitten and drummen on April 15, 2017, 11:33:38 AM
Tss. Without a doubt. 99 percent of the time its bang and no flop.
^^^This^^^
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Remington Nitro Turkeys 3" 1 7/8 oz shot. Killed all my spring birds with it. Never used anything else. Call them in close and have fun, no need to shoot past 40.
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The old first Turkey loads Federal came out with in 12 gauge..3 inch with 2 oz. number 5....i still have 4 of these in 12 gauge and i have a full box of 3.5 in 4 and 6...
The first run of Hevi-13 2oz #7's blew the back side of a turkeys head off at 25-30 yards...it's been a while can't remember the exact distance. Haven't seen the same since.
Esse quam videri
Nitro h518 7 shot. No comparison other than tss.
Quote from: wvspitndrum on April 15, 2017, 08:54:58 AM
Quote from: HookedonHooks on April 15, 2017, 02:46:52 AM
Anybody else ever shot Penetrator Activs? All but one or two shells me and my dad had each put a bird on the ground. They were full plastic casing, and something about them was just sweet. Now they're no where to be found.
I shot them and they did well for me , they are now Kent Cartridge, their turkey load is the ultimate diamond shot,my buddy shoots them and loves them ,out shot longbeards and everything else he tried !
I have shot the Kents and they're nice. But they're not the Activs..... Those things were just killer shells and I loved the full plastic. Makes a nice beard topper.
All of them are lethal. Just shoot them in the head and neck and they go right down. I don't shoot them in the breast so I don't really care how far they penetrate the breast meat. I use the Federal Strut Shoks just cause I personally don't like all that copper stuff.
Hevi-13 2oz #7's It just flattens them.
Most lethal Ive ever seen, shot 3.5in Nitro loaded 2.25oz of hevi shot 6x7. It pounds anything in the pattern. Took a while to get them but totally worth it. Actually goin to try some 6x7 duplex in a 20ga for next season.
Quote from: owlhoot on April 15, 2017, 02:37:03 PM
? Thought the Winchester XRHD was the same density as the Hevi shot . So what's the difference between the two?
I know for a fact that the Hevi-shot pellets are anything but round, and certainly not uniform in size. When you purchase #6 Hevi-shot, the supposed average size of the pellets are #6.
If you open one up, the shot looks like gravel or "slag." It patterns well, and still kills better than lead in my opinion though.
The Winchester loads claimed uniform size, shape, and density...
Quote from: 5arraquiver on April 15, 2017, 08:59:49 AM
Remington once made a turkey load that had heavy somewhere in the name I think. Back in 2000 to 2002 I believe. The shells were dark olive green with black brass. They were #6's and amazing turkey shells. Couldn't find them again when I ran out. I haven't been as confident in a load until I picked up a box of LB 3" 6's.
I purchased some last year from one of the hunting forums... They are re-branded Hevi-shot made at the same factory.
Im a rookie Turkey hunter, but I've had great results with LongBeardXR #6's. They don't penetrate the breast like y'all are talking about though.
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Federal Hw7 has been the most powerful loads for us.
Quote from: Marc on April 15, 2017, 11:05:45 PM
Quote from: owlhoot on April 15, 2017, 02:37:03 PM
? Thought the Winchester XRHD was the same density as the Hevi shot . So what's the difference between the two?
I know for a fact that the Hevi-shot pellets are anything but round, and certainly not uniform in size. When you purchase #6 Hevi-shot, the supposed average size of the pellets are #6.
If you open one up, the shot looks like gravel or "slag." It patterns well, and still kills better than lead in my opinion though.
The Winchester loads claimed uniform size, shape, and density...
I have to agree but what I found is the shot tends to maybe even smaller than shot size listed. its oddly shaped but its wicked on the turks
Quote from: Nukm80 on April 16, 2017, 12:11:53 AM
Im a rookie Turkey hunter, but I've had great results with LongBeardXR #6's. They don't penetrate the breast like y'all are talking about though.
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X2 I've had great success with this same load. Good stuff!
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on April 15, 2017, 09:18:47 PM
All of them are lethal. Just shoot them in the head and neck and they go right down. I don't shoot them in the breast so I don't really care how far they penetrate the breast meat. I use the Federal Strut Shoks just cause I personally don't like all that copper stuff.
If you've never had any pellets in the breast you must be a turkey hunting God. Or you just haven't shot that many turkeys. :z-guntootsmiley: :OGani:
Old win extended range and the white hevi 13s that were roll crimped...I loaded tss for my 20 this year so I think it will take over!
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Quote from: Nukm80 on April 16, 2017, 12:11:53 AM
Im a rookie Turkey hunter, but I've had great results with LongBeardXR #6's. They don't penetrate the breast like y'all are talking about though.
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They don't seem to have the penetration that some loads have then . Htl has better penetration than lead loads . Retains velocity and energy better down range. Moving to 5 and 4 shot in lead loads helps to.
I can't say any load I've used is more "lethal" than any other. The birds end up just as dead.
I know dead is dead... and I shoot for the waddles. At 30-40 yards, pellets hit the breast, wings, etc. I was shocked the magblends did not penetrate the feathers. The birds died just didn't see the trauma as I got with the old XRHD. I
The Winchester XRHD were made of Tungsten. I hated it when they quit making these. I called a man that works for Olin, which makes the Winchester shells and he told me it was the price of Tungsten had gone up and by the price increase for Winchester to make any money they would have to charge 70.00 per box. This was the same time steel, copper and other metals went sky rocketing and I really hate it.
Quote from: ncturkeytalk on April 16, 2017, 03:03:47 PM
The Winchester XRHD were made of Tungsten. I hated it when they quit making these. I called a man that works for Olin, which makes the Winchester shells and he told me it was the price of Tungsten had gone up and by the price increase for Winchester to make any money they would have to charge 70.00 per box. This was the same time steel, copper and other metals went sky rocketing and I really hate it.
I don't doubt that one bit. Hevishot was shooting up in price roughly the same time...and they only boxed 5 at a time, instead of Winchester's 10.
Same for me too. Winchester Xtended Range 3" #6. Loved that stuff! Only 4 shells left. Not much flop with that. Followed by the Green Remington hevi shot #5.
Nitro Ray's Nitro rounds (5101's) shot out of a Mossberg 835 with a Rhino choke.
That stuff really whomped the birds.
It also whomped the shooter. :toothy12:
I always liked the old Winchester XX supremes (red shell). I still shoot them in my 835. I've been using Hevi 6s in my 3 inch 870 and they are wicked
Not sure about more lethal but I loved the old Winchester supreme 3 1/2" #6 (black hull). I killed a lot of turkeys with those loads. Never missed one with them and now I have missed two in 3 years with the long beards. ?? May not be the shell though!!??
Fed 3.5" hvywt 7s smash em
Gun - 20 gauge Federal Heavyweight #7's
Bow - Gobbler Guillotines
Hevi-13 2 oz 7's
Nitro Company H517 they are absolutely wicked out of my 11-87 & IC choke, a close second would be 3.5 Hevi-13 7's
Tried various ones over the years but now have settled on Winchester LongBeard XR 12 ga 3" 1 3/4oz #5 shot.
Sunday, took down a nice 2-year old jake at 48 paces; bird just dropped when hit!
I liked the Winchester LB #5 but they are just too tight up close for me. I shot them out of .665 and they were just really tight at 20 yards.
Used to be Nitro H321. Then Hevi 3.5" #7. Magblends.
Now - Nothing compares to TSS.
TSS loads where its legal. Federal Heavyweight 7's in the others.
I got tired of Nitro Rays and their pixie dust shot. They must use the floor sweepings or the shot manufacturer has poor quality control that's passed on to the consumer.
Quote from: 5arraquiver on April 15, 2017, 08:59:49 AM
Remington once made a turkey load that had heavy somewhere in the name I think. Back in 2000 to 2002 I believe. The shells were dark olive green with black brass. They were #6's and amazing turkey shells. Couldn't find them again when I ran out. I haven't been as confident in a load until I picked up a box of LB 3" 6's.
No doubt it had to be these Remington Hevishot...mine were 3.5" #4's through a star dot choke..lethal
The old red winchester 3 1/2 #6 shot was the best I ever shot, don't like nothing with the word heavy in it.
Here in California, we are forced to use non-toxic shot for turkey hunting now... I ain't using steel shot.
I actually think Hevi-shot is a good killer though, and probably out-preforms lead as far as ballistic function and patterning.
Honestly, outside of missing, I have never not killed a bird cause of a poor load... I accidently shot #2 steel a couple years back and killed the bird just as dead as with a proper turkey load.
Nitro H517. 2 7/16 oz. of holy terror on a turkey head. Win extended range as a close second. Anybody ever wondered what would happen if Winchester used the longbeard xr technology with the extended range shot?
Quote from: Greg Massey on April 15, 2017, 05:36:54 PM
The old first Turkey loads Federal came out with in 12 gauge..3 inch with 2 oz. number 5....i still have 4 of these in 12 gauge and i have a full box of 3.5 in 4 and 6...
The old Federal #5's were my favorite also. I have killed a lot with the Winchester shells also. It just seems that there is something special about the 5 shot though.
Used the nitro 4x5x7 heavy for years with great success. Got tired of the buffer leaking and the return game.
Went to heavy 13 straight 5s for two years.
Now handloading tss. WOW!
2 1/2 ounces of 7.5 tss in my sp-10
2 ounces of 8tss in my 11-87 12 gauge.
Devastating killing power.
Quote from: Brian Fahs on April 24, 2017, 06:44:41 PM
Used the nitro 4x5x7 heavy for years with great success. Got tired of the buffer leaking and the return game.
Went to heavy 13 straight 5s for two years.
Now handloading tss. WOW!
2 1/2 ounces of 7.5 tss in my sp-10
2 ounces of 8tss in my 11-87 12 gauge.
Devastating killing power.
Can't even imagine TSS out of your 10 bore Has to be one crazy turkey whomper :OGturkeyhead:
the old white Hevi13 and Winchester HDXR
Those white Hevi beat all I've ever shot.
Jim