What shot count do you consider acceptable at 40 yards in a 10" circle for turkey patterning?
100 is considered the acceptable norm.. with pb. I look for much higher.
PB? Peanut butter? Lol
If you can put 100 evenly spaced pellets in a 10" circle your good to go. If you want wiggle room 200. Me.....I want 500.
150 plus is acceptable...though less works...I remember just counting the hits in the head and neck Back in the day...10-15 was good...then heavy shot came out and wow...now with tss my 20ga throws patterns nearly twice as good as the hevi did in a 3.5 inch shell!
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My uncle told me that back years ago if you could get several pellets in beer can at 30yds, you was good. Now that's an empty can mind you! Seriously though anything over a 100 will kill turkeys. A lot of loads I've tried wouldn't even do that, and some folks swear by them as turkey killin loads. Remington Nitro turkeys come to mind!
Quote from: Izzyjoe on February 26, 2018, 11:25:55 PM
My uncle told me that back years ago if you could get several pellets in beer can at 30yds, you was good. Now that's an empty can mind you! Seriously though anything over a 100 will kill turkeys. A lot of loads I've tried wouldn't even do that, and some folks swear by them as turkey killin loads. Remington Nitro turkeys come to mind!
yep....the rem nitro turkey probably the worst turkey load ive ever shot.
Years ago, I believe Winchester, published that you needed 80 in a ten inch circle to be effective. Then we evolved the 100/10" rule as it was a solid standard that killed turkeys. Now everyone is chasing some magic number 200, 300, even 400 and it's doable with today's loads and loads data. The down side for many is close shots with the super tight patterns. If you want to play the numbers game educate yourself about point of aim vs point of impact, get some sort of sights and sight in your rig. I personally use TruGlo mag gobble dot sights and although I shoot around 260/10 with my 20 ga and 320/10 with my 12, I know what my pattern is doing at ranges from 10 yards to... Well let's say out yonder. That said I killed a lot and I mean a lot of turkeys shooting Win HV#6 that averaged 120+/10. Simply know your gun.
Don't guess, shoot your gun at different yardages. Get a load/choke combo that puts a good pattern out to 40 yards and at 8 also. All the birds that I have missed in my life were inside of 30 yards. My head on the stock would have been better that a million pellets in the 10", LOL
Thanks all the replies fella's
I am in the low 100's with what I tested yesterday. (110-125). Gonna try a few more loads to see if I can get it in up into the mid to high 100's. If not. I'll probably break down and get a different choke. Maybe should have done that to start, all this ammo is expensive!
What gun , choke and loads are you using Dave?
Quote from: owlhoot on February 27, 2018, 07:35:59 PM
What gun , choke and loads are you using Dave?
Benelli SBE3, Criochoke full. Got it a few months ago for close up predator hunting. Decided I'd try turkey hunting with it too.
Tested those crappy Hornady's and some Win LB 3" #4 and 3.5" #5's. LB worked pretty well.
Quote from: Daveb on February 27, 2018, 07:38:31 PM
Quote from: owlhoot on February 27, 2018, 07:35:59 PM
What gun , choke and loads are you using Dave?
Benelli SBE3, Criochoke full. Tested those crappy Hornady's and some Win LB 3" #4 and 3.5" #5's. LB worked pretty well.
Ok that sheds some light.
Hornady turkey loads, post with mostly nothing but bad for years here . A friend bought some and we patterned them.All I could do was laugh.
Next 4 shot isn't going to have a real high 10"count due to not a lot of pellets to start with . That said we had numerous guns with Federal grand slam loads that did 125-140 .
Now the best thing you can do do is get a extended real turkey choke. You don't have to have the most expensive. You can read the threads on here to get some ideas of the good ones along with the loads.
Now that people know what you have they will post on their experience.Lots of information here you just need to get it.
Good luck.
Try 12 gauge benelli pattern pics in the turkey gun section.
Quote from: owlhoot on February 27, 2018, 07:55:03 PM
Quote from: Daveb on February 27, 2018, 07:38:31 PM
Quote from: owlhoot on February 27, 2018, 07:35:59 PM
What gun , choke and loads are you using Dave?
Benelli SBE3, Criochoke full. Tested those crappy Hornady's and some Win LB 3" #4 and 3.5" #5's. LB worked pretty well.
Ok that sheds some light.
Hornady turkey loads, post with mostly nothing but bad for years here . A friend bought some and we patterned them.All I could do was laugh.
Next 4 shot isn't going to have a real high 10"count due to not a lot of pellets to start with . That said we had numerous guns with Federal grand slam loads that did 125-140 .
Now the best thing you can do do is get a extended real turkey choke. You don't have to have the most expensive. You can read the threads on here to get some ideas of the good ones along with the loads.
Now that people know what you have they will post on their experience.Lots of information here you just need to get it.
Good luck.
Thanks Owlhoot.
Yeah, I probably should have done some more study on the ammo before buying and trying. Still it's fun just to shoot! Have some MAG blends and LB in #6's coming, they may do a bit better. I still may end up with one of those Sumtoy's before it's all over anyway.
Quote from: Daveb on February 27, 2018, 08:04:14 PM
Quote from: owlhoot on February 27, 2018, 07:55:03 PM
Quote from: Daveb on February 27, 2018, 07:38:31 PM
Quote from: owlhoot on February 27, 2018, 07:35:59 PM
What gun , choke and loads are you using Dave?
Benelli SBE3, Criochoke full. Tested those crappy Hornady's and some Win LB 3" #4 and 3.5" #5's. LB worked pretty well.
Ok that sheds some light.
Hornady turkey loads, post with mostly nothing but bad for years here . A friend bought some and we patterned them.All I could do was laugh.
Next 4 shot isn't going to have a real high 10"count due to not a lot of pellets to start with . That said we had numerous guns with Federal grand slam loads that did 125-140 .
Now the best thing you can do do is get a extended real turkey choke. You don't have to have the most expensive. You can read the threads on here to get some ideas of the good ones along with the loads.
Now that people know what you have they will post on their experience.Lots of information here you just need to get it.
Good luck.
Thanks Owlhoot.
Yeah, I probably should have done some more study on the ammo before buying and trying. Still it's fun just to shoot! Have some MAG blends and LB in #6's coming, they may do a bit better. I still may end up with one of those Sumtoy's before it's all over anyway.
Yep shooting is always fun. The choke will probably be your best choice for any of the loads you have.
Well except for the hornady,lol
250 in the 10 and 250 in the 20 out of 1-5/8 ounces of #9 tss. As close to that as possible.
Quote from: Daveb on February 27, 2018, 07:21:22 PM
Thanks all the replies fella's
I am in the low 100's with what I tested yesterday. (110-125). Gonna try a few more loads to see if I can get it in up into the mid to high 100's. If not. I'll probably break down and get a different choke. Maybe should have done that to start, all this ammo is expensive!
Have you polished the barrel that's where I'd start
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Quote from: TauntoHawk on February 27, 2018, 09:37:10 PM
Quote from: Daveb on February 27, 2018, 07:21:22 PM
Thanks all the replies fella's
I am in the low 100's with what I tested yesterday. (110-125). Gonna try a few more loads to see if I can get it in up into the mid to high 100's. If not. I'll probably break down and get a different choke. Maybe should have done that to start, all this ammo is expensive!
Have you polished the barrel that's where I'd start
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Benelli have crome barrels.
Quote from: Gooserbat on February 27, 2018, 10:03:48 PM
Quote from: TauntoHawk on February 27, 2018, 09:37:10 PM
Quote from: Daveb on February 27, 2018, 07:21:22 PM
Thanks all the replies fella's
I am in the low 100's with what I tested yesterday. (110-125). Gonna try a few more loads to see if I can get it in up into the mid to high 100's. If not. I'll probably break down and get a different choke. Maybe should have done that to start, all this ammo is expensive!
Have you polished the barrel that's where I'd start
Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
Benelli have crome barrels.
Didn't remember what he was shooting. You're right, I guess new choke or new load if you're not happy.
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Are you all saying that 100 pellets in a 10" circle for the range you are shooting, or 100 pellets at 40 yards as a general rule?
Not sure where I see the advantage of having 150-200 pellets in a 10" circle, as that is an awfully tight pattern (with a far greater risk of missing a close shot)?
Maybe I am too hung up on wing shooting, where I am looking for an optimum pattern in which the target cannot escape through the pattern without a lethal hit at the ranges I am shooting...
It was my understanding that lead #6's do not carry enough energy to break through the spinal column much past 40 yards (the brain casing yes, the spine no)... Hevi-shot a bit further, and obviously larger shot sizes and TSS further as well...
I have analyzed and over-analyzed many a pattern in the past... Currently, I put in a standard full choke, and Hevi-shot #6's and call it good enough. I put it on paper, and it throws a pattern plenty tight enough to kill a bird at 45 yards (if I can put the pattern on the bird). It still took the top of a birds head off at 20 yards (which tells me I had a near miss).
Quote from: Marc on February 28, 2018, 01:16:16 AM
Are you all saying that 100 pellets in a 10" circle for the range you are shooting, or 100 pellets at 40 yards as a general rule?
I want at least 100 on the bird. That doesn't necessarily mean 40 yards. That's just the common bench mark for load testing.
Quote from: Daveb on February 26, 2018, 09:02:40 PM
What shot count do you consider acceptable at 40 yards in a 10" circle for turkey patterning?
don't get sucked in by the number of pellets over 100. I see many on here stating they want 200-500...that is just insane and honestly is probably ruining your closer shots. Remember, there is a certain amount of pellets in your pattern. Lets pretend you are shooting a shell that has 300 pellets in it. If your pellet count at 40 yards is in the 200+ pellet range, then likely your pattern at 20 yards is the size or a grapefruit or smaller which gives you very little room for error! The general rule of thumb is you lose 30% pellet density for every ten yards once the shot begins to open up past 10in circle. If you are getting 100-130 pellets in a 10in circle at 40, then your closer shots are probably a decent sized pattern. Now, if you are shooting super small shot like HEVI weight 7s or TSS 9s...you will no doubt have many more pellets in your load (500-700). For these type loads, 250 pellets in 10in circle at 40 is optimal and your closer in shots will still be fine. Just my two cents.
Quote from: Bigeclipse on February 28, 2018, 02:21:11 PM
Quote from: Daveb on February 26, 2018, 09:02:40 PM
What shot count do you consider acceptable at 40 yards in a 10" circle for turkey patterning?
don't get sucked in by the number of pellets over 100. I see many on here stating they want 200-500...that is just insane and honestly is probably ruining your closer shots. Remember, there is a certain amount of pellets in your pattern. Lets pretend you are shooting a shell that has 300 pellets in it. If your pellet count at 40 yards is in the 200+ pellet range, then likely your pattern at 20 yards is the size or a grapefruit or smaller which gives you very little room for error! The general rule of thumb is you lose 30% pellet density for every ten yards once the shot begins to open up past 10in circle. If you are getting 100-130 pellets in a 10in circle at 40, then your closer shots are probably a decent sized pattern. Now, if you are shooting super small shot like HEVI weight 7s or TSS 9s...you will no doubt have many more pellets in your load (500-700). For these type loads, 250 pellets in 10in circle at 40 is optimal and your closer in shots will still be fine. Just my two cents.
X2
I would at least like to see 150 at that range in a 10 inch circle.
Browse through the benelli pattern section and look at some choke/load combos and go from there to decide what you're after
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Quote from: Bigeclipse on February 28, 2018, 02:21:11 PM
Quote from: Daveb on February 26, 2018, 09:02:40 PM
What shot count do you consider acceptable at 40 yards in a 10" circle for turkey patterning?
don't get sucked in by the number of pellets over 100. I see many on here stating they want 200-500...that is just insane and honestly is probably ruining your closer shots. Remember, there is a certain amount of pellets in your pattern. Lets pretend you are shooting a shell that has 300 pellets in it. If your pellet count at 40 yards is in the 200+ pellet range, then likely your pattern at 20 yards is the size or a grapefruit or smaller which gives you very little room for error! The general rule of thumb is you lose 30% pellet density for every ten yards once the shot begins to open up past 10in circle. If you are getting 100-130 pellets in a 10in circle at 40, then your closer shots are probably a decent sized pattern. Now, if you are shooting super small shot like HEVI weight 7s or TSS 9s...you will no doubt have many more pellets in your load (500-700). For these type loads, 250 pellets in 10in circle at 40 is optimal and your closer in shots will still be fine. Just my two cents.
This is on the money. Here's another issue I have w tss. Many places they're illegal because of size as well
the so called magic# has been 100 in 10 for a long time, but I don't get into the big # game
I have been shooting old school lead loads for years that has always gotten the job done if I did mine.
Tried some 3" LB #5 and 6's yesterday. Really liking the evenness to the pattern of the 5's and upped my pellet count to 142 at 40 yards, standard full choke. The 6's had a higher count at 158 but not as even distribution and not 100% sold on using #6 lead at 40 yards.
Also tried the Mag Blends, 5,6,7... A few less pellets and pattern not as evenly distributed as the 3" LB #5's. 125 ish was the count if I remember correctly.
I would post pics but can't load Jpegs and don't know how to convert them to something else.
Probably gonna stick with the #5 LB and the standard choke for this season and see how it goes.