Browning WL 12ga. querry

[Mhykael]

So Im not only new here, but also new to the hunting with a shotgun. Ive got a chance to go on a turkey shoot out in Tennessee this spring, and the only shotgun I owned was a Benelli M4 18.5" 9 shot which isnt exactly legal for hunting (it is my home defense rifle). So now I am the proud owner of a Browning White Lightning O/U 28" 12 ga. (at least I didnt go and get a Farma on my first buy  ) which I figure I can use for just about everything from ducks to turkeys or even trap/skeet if I get the inclination to do so for fun.

All that being said, Ive been reading for the last 3 days about loads, and shot size, and shot compositions and chokes and quite frankly Im a little dizzy now with the plethora of information out there on the subject for all the different rifles and I was wondering if I might be able to find someone on here that might be able to give me a little shove in the right direction for my particular rifle on what ammunition to use for turkey and choke(s) to try. Im have a little bit of trepidation about these newer alloys and tight chokes, understandably I hope, since I dont want to blow a $2k shotgun out of sheer ignorance. I have 3 flush chokes that came with the gun, all 3 are Invector Plus. A full, a Modified, and an Improved Cylinder. I was looking at dropping a couple hundred on the Browning Diamond grade extended chokes.

Ok..let the schooling begin, and thanks to everyone and ANYONE that has something to add. Im a sponge ready and willing to soak up any knowledge you all have on the matter. And money isnt a huge obstacle in your recommendations.

[runngun]

Can you take the mag extension off the benelli?
Or try the full or modified with the browning with some federal heavyweight 5, 6, or 7s bet they will do just fine.
Good luck and God bless
Ray

[Mhykael]

The Benelli is my home defense gun. It doesnt have a mg extension on it, it has a full one-piece mag tube that is oversized. And its Lock-Tite'd in. Id have to take a heat gun to it to break the seal every time I wanted to take the tube off and put the original on. Besides, with a 18.5" barrel I dont think it can reach out and touch someone like the 28" barrel of my new browning.

I'll try your suggestion of a full and a modified with Federal heavyweights in a #5 to start. Thank you for a starting point

[Michigander]

#5 Federal HW is kinda over kill, unless you plan on hunting coyotes. You will run out of pattern long before you run out of energy. #7 would be your best bet.

My 2¢

[Mhykael]

Thanks, both suggestions will be taken to heart. The real question I have left is what size choke can I safely put these loads through? Federal HW#5 and Fed HW#7's? Even say some Heavy-13  #6 and #7's?

[runngun]

I have read where folks got good patterns with the federal heavyweights through factory full and modified. I have shot them through an older fixed full and they patterned great for me. They do not recomend that you shoot the heavyweights through a ported turkey choke, due to the stiffness of the flite control wad.
BTW Welcome to Old Gobbler and the world of turkey hunting. You will find lots of opinions and useful information on this site!!!

Good luck and God Bless
        Ray

BTW I have a Browning Maxxus 3 1/2 12 gauge that I shoot a Pure Gold (extended turkey choke) 670 and Hevi-13 7s and it patterns "off the chain" (redneck for AWESOME)

[Mhykael]

I was looking at the extended Gold chokes. You also use the turkey choke for the Heavy-13 #7's? And that kind of constriction doesnt mess things up?

[allaboutshooting]

I was looking at the extended Gold chokes. You also use the turkey choke for the Heavy-13 #7's? And that kind of constriction doesnt mess things up?

I have been following your thread and would like to suggest that you consider the Pure Gold "Tempest" chokes for your Browning WL shotgun. My readers who have been using them are having excellent results. I've also taken them to the range and my results mirror theirs.

With your gun you could choose either the .660 or the .670 and I would recommend that you consider the .660 for either the Heiv-13 shells (my recommendation) or the Heavyweight shells. The #6 or the #7 will all pattern better than the #5s which don't flow as well in most guns, especially in the Flitecontrol Wad shells. Those shells also contain fewer pellets than the the Hevi-13s due to the higher weight.

Lastly, I'd recommend that before you take that fine gun to the range for pattern testing, you "deep clean" the bore. It will help your patterns regardless of what shell or choke you use.

If you're not familiar with that process, you can read the article "Cleaning a Shotgun Barrel" by clicking on my banner below this post.

Whatever you choose, best of luck to you this year in the turkey woods.

Thanks,
Clark

[Mhykael]

Thanks for the advice Clark. I was starting to get that impression about #5's from all the reading im still doing on this site. There is a LOT of information to sift through and try and disseminate!

I went ahead and ordered the 670 pure gold turkey choke that was previously recommended. The 660 still scares me a little. I also ordered a few of Browning's Diamond Grade extended chokes in the Full, Improved Modified, Modified, IC and Skeet so that I can get a fairly decent idea of what each choke can do. I also have the flush factory chokes in a full, modified, and IC as well to play with. I just dont have ANY personal experience to pull from in regards to shot sizes, shot hardness, or chokes, and how all that translates in to effective ranges or patterns. I have a ton of work to do at the range I think.

And I read your article on "deep cleaning" the bore. I do that with pretty much all my rifles, I didnt think there was any other way to clean one I spent the better part of 2 hours cleaning all the factory goop and material off the rifle as soon as I got it home. I think its the best way to get intimate with your equipment from the very beginning. Its kind of like hand washing your car. Everyone should do it since you can get close and personal with it and get up close and see every detail or fault.

If you have any more information or recommendations for me, Im always willing to listen. Until then, I just have to wait for the chokes and ammo to get here, head to Office Depot for some 3' paper, and then off to pattern!

[allaboutshooting]

You're welcome. I'm sure you'll find that the .670 Pure Gold Turkey Choke will work well for you. It's a proven design with many supporters.

The Pure Gold Tempest line is relatively new and not as many shooters have tried it as the standard ported choke.  I was fortunate enough to have a number of those to offer at the NWTF Convention last month and have had a lot of feedback from folks who purchased them there. It's all been very positive, especially for the .660s in the Invector+ configuration, also a new model.

It sounds like you'll have a good variety of chokes from which to choose what's best for you and your gun in many different situations. It's really the only way to find out what works best in your gun.

I agree about the "up close and personal" nature of both hand washing a car and cleaning a new firearm. I do both of those and have learned a lot about my vehicles and guns by doing that.

Deep cleaning allows the chemicals in the solvent and the agitation of the brush to do their work. It also requires that we exercise some patience and that seems to be in short supply for many of us. It's all just a part of the process.

I wish you all the best and hope you'll enjoy every single part of this new adventure.

Thanks,
Clark

[Clay]

Just wanted to add that there is no reason to be concerned about the tighter choke tubes with the heavier than lead or lead shot for that matter.  Lots of guys here run .655 or tighter (I have a .645, a .655, and a 660 for my Benelli SBE II) with these loads with no concerns of damaging the gun.  Our main concern with the tighter choke is that once you get too tight the pattern starts opening up badly.  That's the reason for all the different sizes - folks want to find a gun/choke combo that is tight enough for good patterns, but if you go too tight the patterns get worse so it's a touch of trial and error in finding exactly what works best in your gun.

I'm guessing the concerns about hurting your gun stem from reading about the use of steel shot for waterfowl, which DOES have limitations on how tight you can choke it safely.

BTW. even with all of the info on this board, most folks pick a load, pick one choke tube, shoot it and decide that the pattern is good enough and then proceed to stack up dead birds with it.  As soon as you find something that works, feel free to stop right there and just hunt...

[Mhykael]

Thanks for the info Clay. I guess my misgivings stem from not knowing what manufacturers of ammo are making their shot out of. I understand that some of the loads are heavier than lead, but what I dont know is if they are harder or as hard as steel. Take tungsten for example, which is a LOT harder than steel. But what alloys they mix it with to soften it, or even if they do is the information Im missing.