Got a super mag with a 21in barrel. Shoot it with a .665 indian creek. What non-tss load would you guys recommend?
Longbeard #6 but I don't really recommend anything but tss.
HS #6s or #7s to start with and let the gun show you which one is better on the range of these two options.
In my 26 inch super mag I have been shooting 3 inch longboards 5 shot 1 3/4 oz with carlsons longboard choke with great results. I constantly get in the 150's in 10 at 40 yards
The 870 with a IC .665 shoots several loads really well. If you want a load that won't break the bank then grab the Longbeards in 5 or 6's. Hevi 6 and 7's are a step up from the LB's. And TSS 9's would be the best but the most expensive.
Mine does well with longbeard 5s with rem super full and 665 jellyhead
If I was going away from TSS I would look at the Kent TK7s or the Longbeard 5s. I would not trust Hevi to produce a consistent shell. I was a huge fan of the Hevi 3.5" 6s but when they were charging me a lot more for dramatically lower patterns I started handloading. Either the Kent, if you want a HTL option, or Longbeard 5s should do just fine.
JMO, but the two best, and common, non-TSS loads on the market are the previously mentioned Winchester Long Beard and Hevi-13`s in 5 or 6 shot. I`ve patterned and used both in my 870 Super Mag with a .660 Jellyhead and they do an excellent job in patterning and dirt napping turkeys out to 40 yards.
thanks guys. I tried a 3in longbeard #6 through it last year and it shot nearly a foot high. Looks like ill be looking at some hevi shot
Quote from: lmbunch69 on January 02, 2020, 09:55:47 PM
thanks guys. I tried a 3in longbeard #6 through it last year and it shot nearly a foot high. Looks like ill be looking at some hevi shot
Or, put a red dot on it and shoot whatever you want.
Quote from: lmbunch69 on January 02, 2020, 09:55:47 PM
thanks guys. I tried a 3in longbeard #6 through it last year and it shot nearly a foot high. Looks like ill be looking at some hevi shot
That's a point of impact issue. Sights are your friend. I've got Tru Glo mag Gobble Dots on all my dedicated turkey guns.
As stated, you have a point of impact issue. Aftermarket sights, scope or red dot will fix this. My 835 shot about 6 inches right and low but after a red dot I can shoot whatever I want.
They usually do well with a 3.5 inch Winchester Supreme 2 ounce High Velocity load of #5 shot.
Point of Impact, could be the gun, could also be the shell, I have seen Longbeards shoot way different point of impact compared to all other lead loads even with same choke in same gun. Federal Turkey Thugs would probably shoot well if you can find some.
With that gun and choke, any 3.5 inch lead load of 5 or 6 shot will kill well out to 40 yards if POI = POA.
Shoot hevi-13 number 6 3inch and start the deep fryer
I hunted last spring with the 3.5in double x #5 and poi/poa was perfect with my bead. Only issue was the numbers at 40 was like 70 in the 10. Could it be a bad lot number or just a fluke?
Quote from: kytrkyhntr on January 03, 2020, 11:41:30 AM
Shoot hevi-13 number 6 3inch and start the deep fryer. I pretty much agree except I like the 3 1/2 better.
Mine likes Hevi 13 Mag Blends.
My 870 sm through a .665 puts up the same numbers with LB 3 1/2 #5s as it does with 3 1/2 hevi #6s. Honestly the pattern is to tight for close shots. If I'm hunting in hardwoods where shots are close I'll use the regular HV 4s.
If it was me I would keep rolling with the Winchester Double X #5 in 3.5 inch if that worked for you last year, especially knowing that POA and POI were on point with your bead sight. If it's not broke, I wouldn't worry about trying to fix it. That shell is a good killing shell anyway; it hits hard in my experience and seems to crumple birds up. I don't get too caught up in the #'s game like most people do, I'm trying to kill Spring Gobblers not win a still shoot competition. There is a big difference between hunting shots and still target shooting. If that 70 was pretty even at 40 yards, I would definitely hunt and kill birds with that. I don't put much into bad batch or bad lot numbers, most of that is hype. You could try another box but I would bet money they will shoot like the box you already have. Knowing that, it's definitely the shells not the gun being off. I saw the same thing with Longbeards frequently. In my gun they would pull about 7 or 8 inches to the right while every other lead shell was dead on with the bead. I prefer hunting with a bead sight for turkeys. Rifle sights are better for rifles, shotguns I want just a bead.
One other thing, if I was going to try Longbeards in your gun again, I would definitely go with a 3.5 inch shell of either #5 or #6. Sometimes 3 inch shells shoot to different POI than 3.5 inch shells.
I killed my first bird, a jake, right around 40 yards last year with the double x. Any of you tried the Remington premiers? I've got a box of 3.5 #4s
Quote from: lmbunch69 on January 04, 2020, 05:16:39 PM
I killed my first bird, a jake, right around 40 yards last year with the double x. Any of you tried the Remington premiers? I've got a box of 3.5 #4s
I've never had any luck with Remington turkey loads but I'm sure some guns like them. Give them a try
Mag blends mine loves them.
Check out www.nitrocompany.com and spend some time reading about patterning, then look up you model gun and what choke brand/ and size for what size shot.... Every shotgun can be different, however I've found the recommendations to be on the money. They also give you a pellet count of their shells in 10" circle @ 40 yards.
That website is a custom shell company. They have TSS, Heavy Shot and Nickel. Expensive but well worth it to me.
Yes I've killed turkeys since the 80's With Winchester and Federal shells at 35 yards.... Would only have 5 pellets in the kill zone.... Todays shells @ 40 yards have hundreds of pellets..
Finding the right killing combo for your gun is part of the fun..
Good luck.