Still learning and have a few questions.

[deerbasshunter3]

What I have: Remington 870 Express SuperMag 28" barrel. Hevi Shot .662 choke tube.

First, what does the .662 mean? Does the lower the number (.662 vs. .665) mean a tighter pattern, or the opposite?

How will the 28" barrel affect anything vs. say a 26" barrel?

I am not looking to reach out to 70 yards to kill a turkey, but I hear nothing but good things about Winchester LongBeards. How is the wad control (I think the hevi choke has that?) going to affect the Long Beards?

Do you recommend a different size choke with the LongBeards?

Is the larger number of pellets in #6 vs. #5 going to mean that the #6 pellets are not as big, which means they will not have as much force behind them as the #5?

If you have any suggestions that you want to add to my setup, please feel free to do so. Thank you!

[Twowithone]

You,ll have to go out and shoot with big cardboard and target so we can see whats going on. You might have a good rig right now where you don't have to do anything to it. Take pics of your targets and post them on here and well help you out.

[K9Doc]

Yes. A .662 is a tighter constriction than
a .665. Tighter isn't always better.
Smaller shot handles constriction better than
Larger shot.
The .662 constriction in the Remington
Should work well with the #6 or #5 shot.
Maybe a little tight for good patterns with
#4's.
Typically 6's are easy to pattern well in comparison
To 4's.
4's will definitely have more down range
Energy and kill farther, but it has way less
Pellets.
When I was shooting Lead I shot #5's because
It gave me the best of both density and energy.

Only patterning your gun will tell you which
Is gonna work best for "your gun".

A 28" barrel may yield slightly better velocity,
But I believe most modern propellants
Will achieve maximum velocity sooner. (I.e. 24")

I would strongly suggest looking at deep cleaning
Your barrel as per Clark's Recommendations.
(allaboutshooting)

[deerbasshunter3]

So basically, #6 is going to give me more pellets than #4, however, out to 40 or 50 yards, they are both going to kill a turkey just the same?

[K9Doc]

Yes. That's correct. You will have many more
Pellets to work with in the 6's.
More penetration in 4's.
If ur gun will put 150+ #5's in 10"
At 40 yards, I would Roll with that Load!
I suspect the Longbeards will do it too.

[deerbasshunter3]

I guess I am just getting it in my head that the #6 will not be heavy enough to kill a turkey at 40 or 50 yards. I realize that seems ridiculous to think, but it is just how my brain works.

[Mike Honcho]

With your gun setup and Win Longbeards the #5 shot should put up a great pattern.  Longbeards pattern so much better than other lead loads in my experience, I moved down to 5's with them.  I would try to keep 40 yds as my maximum range....it's easy to misjudge distance and I usually understimate distance....what I think looks 50 yds is really 55-60.

[deerbasshunter3]

Other than more pellets, any reason to go with #6 over #5, or #5 over #6?

[Gobble!]

As long as you can put 100 pellets in a 10" circle at X yards you will be fine. Some doubt the energy of the #6s past 40 yards but as long as you can put 100 pellets in a 10 circle I would not worry. That is why I prefer the smaller shot.

[allaboutshooting]

You've been given excellent advice. The real secret of any gun/choke/shell combination is gaining confidence in it and your ability to shoot it. You gain that confidence from time spent at the range.

I would recommend that you "deep clean" the bore http://allaboutshooting.com/article_info.php?articles_id=282 and then just take your gun to the range and become comfortable with it by shooting at different ranges and seeing how well it does.

Thanks,
Clark

[Ihuntoldschool]

I agree with Gobble. Pattern density kills and #6  shot is more than plenty from an energy standpoint.

[deerbasshunter3]

Do you guys clean your shotgun after patterning or wait until after season is over?

[Gobble!]

Clean my barrel after every shot. Clean the entire gun after the season or after a very wet day.

[Cut N Run]

The Hevi shot is more expensive, but it has greater density than lead, which means greater penetration at longer ranges.  Hevi 7s have about the same density and downrange energy as lead 5s, while Hevi 6s have about the same density and energy as lead 4s.  Longbeards are somewhere in the middle, but they are still lead and won't retain energy like the heavier than lead shot does.

Shooting Hevi 7s means more shot and plenty of power compared to lead pellets of bigger size.  There's fewer pellets with Hevi 6s, but greater energy than lead 5s.  Measure the cost & performance versus how many times you expect to shoot during turkey season to see how expensive it is and if it suits your budget.

Call that gobbler up & shoot him inside 40 yards and it won't make any difference what turkey load you shoot.

Jim