Heavier third shell?

[CT Spur Collector]

I always have two shells in my Benelli.  Never had to use the second one. I never load my gun until I get set down at the base of a tree....ready for action.  The gun is much lighter to carry unloaded. Never shoot at a running, walking or flying bird, (just my opinion) no need to walk with it loaded.  Harder to hit than standing looking for me!!!

Never understood the "no load until setting up" mentality.

Let me know the next time you sneak up on one. You won't here in PA.

I've never shot a gobbler that I suddenly walked up on.  Honestly, I think a turkey deserves to be killed in a more dignified manner than just a momentary, incidental, opportunistic harvest.

But, I have struck birds cutting and running, I do tend to get within 75 yards of roosted birds, I do tend to move in as tight as humanly possible to birds gobbling on the ground before I call to them and I have also been know to crawl a bird or put the sneak on one that's in a field with hens. None of that is conducive to having an unloaded gun.

Guns don't accidentally discharge themselves unless mishandled. The one I carry every day for a living still has yet to get a mind of its own and have a "desk pop."

I'm well aware that firearms do not typically discharge on their own. Maybe my point was missed or I didn't explain myself properly. When I leave my truck at "dark thirty" I do not load up until I get to where I'd prefer to set-up. OK, yes, when loaded if in fact I need to move and or get in close, I do not unload, than reload. Don't do it. I trust my years and years of safe hunting practices and my firearm factory built safety.  As far as crawling and or sneaking, it's illegal to stalk a turkey in PA, (which has been hashed many times on this forum, not doing it now), so I don't do that. I also carry a Kimber 1911, loaded with one in the chamber, (for many years), it has never "desk popped" either.

So either you missed my point OR I didn't explain myself very well. Sorry.

[Marc]

I only load up 2 shells. We aren't shooting waterfowl. I see no merit to 3.

I see no merit in not putting in that third shell, and I see no advantage to not putting in a 3rd shell?

I look at three shells in the gun, the same way I would in carrying a gun...  I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

I certainly would not feel handicapped using an O/U for turkey hunting, but if the gun fits 3 shells, I am stuffing all 3 shells in...  tough to imagine ever needing that 3rd shell; but then again, a lot of crap has happened that I did not imagine happening previous to the event...  Gun malfunctions, shell malfunctions... etc...

As far as a heavier load for the 3rd shot...  I might put in a 3.5" shell as opposed to a 3" (if I had a 3.5" gun) but I would probably stick with #6 Hevi-Shot for all three shells.

[hunter-b]

Two shells of the same kind in my gun.

[Fullfan]

In 35+ years of turkey killing I have never shot at a gobbler 3 times. I can count on one hand the times I have shot twice. And all have resulted in a dead bird or two.

[surehuntsalot]

In the woods that I hunt,it is always a good chance to run up on some coyotes at any time,when that happens the more than 2 shells go into action.

[owlhoot]

Use to do it years ago in the 70"s - early 80's, with 2 3/4"  6 shot for the first shot ( patterned best) and 3" # 2 shot for the next 2 as a backup. The thought was for a backup you needed a hard hitting bone busting load because the tom was now on the move , maybe wounded, flying out of there? The precise, rifle like shot at the head was gone= you blew it! Now bust wings , bones and at ever increasing distances, he is wounded so finish it.  I think it is a sound principle 
Killed a lot of turkeys with 3 1/2" Grand Slam # 4 shot years later , 120's to 140's in the 10 at 40 will do it clean every time. If you got the pattern density why not?
Don't see the 3rd shot in the gun hurting anything, why not have it there? Just in case.
This year shot the Fed. HW #7 3" in the 12 pump , Backup up with the Longbeard #4's, felt right doing so. . Not needed as usual for most .
When carrying the Win 37 20 gauge this year with Fed 7 HW , make it count

[turkey john]

I've hunted turkeys for over 50 yrs and have never needed a 3rd shot. I do carry three shells in my gun as that is the law in most States. I load my gun when I leave the trk and head to a listening spot. I don't know where I will sit until I hear a gobble or two and head in that direction. .... I always have the same shot/shells loaded in my gun. Back in the day of 23/4 shells some guys would load a 71/2 as the last shell as you would be shooting at a flying bird. I shoot 4's or 5's depending on what the gun likes best at 30yds. Vast majority of my 150+ birds have been taken at 30yds or less. Probably have had that many walk by at 50yds over the yrs. I don't shoot unless it's a killing shot and even then you can miss or need a backup shot. ....Learn how to judge distances and pattern your gun from a sitting position on the ground...Also learn where to sit/setup when turkey hunting. Where you sit is a big part of hunting.

[mikejd]

If you are at shell number 3 at a target closer then 40yds your time would probably be better spent at the range.

[zelmo1]

I do it out of habit from waterfowling. Never needed it. It would probably be a wasted shot anyways.

[wvmntnhick]

There's no plug law in WV so I miss as many as the gun will hold. In fact (I can already hear some of you shuttering) I just grab whatever is in my vest and their them in. They all pattern about the same for me. It's a mix of 3.5" hevi #6 or #5 with a smattering of 3" #6 (either the old remington or more recent bronze colored hevi rounds) and however they hit the chamber/tube is how they feed from the gun. Never cared much as they are all about the same out to about 35-40 yards. But then I've not been a faithful shotgun hunter over the years either. Hunted for about 20 years with nothing but assorted rifles and have still managed to shoot most of my birds at 40 or less.