School me on shotsize

[mommicked]

I see alot of posts about 7 shot for Turkeys and patterns at 40+ yrds. Are these used just to pattern the gun? I've never shot more than 6's and was'nt impressed w penetration on plywood at 40 yrds w it. I know it doesn't take alot to kill them if you hit the head or neckbones, but I've always shot 4's or 5's thinking the size and weight of the shot would make it more deadly at longer range even if the pellet count is less than the smaller shot shells. I hav'nt messed w the modern choke tubes and wonder how it might be hard to hit a close bird w a very tight pattern w these improved choke designs w/o a scope or dot site. The few Turkeys I've shot I've coaxed to 20/30 yrds and shot w sight beads only, but I've never wounded one or shot at one at 40+ yrds. I also like to eat them and would hate to pepper the bird/breast w all those small pellets I'd have to deal with to eat them. Please enlighten me on this.

[SCDieselDawg]

Have you tried any if the HTL loads. Some love them some don't.  I myself am split 60/40 with the majority leaning to HTL

Since they are heavier than lead the pellets in these loads can be smaller and still function as well or better than lead 4s-5s.

Basically the smaller, heavier pellets launched at comparative speeds will maintain momentum, and penetrate deeper due to smaller surface areas. Also the increased pattern density of these smaller pellets will allow more shot to impact the turkeys head and neck.

Tighter patterns can and will make it easier to miss up close. But that's why you should pattern your gun and know how it's shooting. Most who do prefer tight patterns also use the aid of upgraded sights. Either fiber optic, red dot, or scope.

[Sand Man]

It all has to do with the density of the shot.  Comparing the same size shot in lead to HTL to TSS is comparing apples to oranges.  TSS #9 shot has show to out penetrate #4 lead when shot at the same velocity.

[howl]

A larger size shot that penetrates the same as a smaller one is going to cause more damage. The question is about how much damage is enough. A single #6 does enough damage if it hits the right spot. I have seen that done farther than I would ever shoot at a turkey. Is a heavy #7 equivalent if it penetrates further?

[Tom Foolery]

I have seen first hand how Hevi 7's handle misjudged yardage and then penetration they give.  People make mistakes on yardage, I sure have, and I brought a couple of birds home that I probably would have lost had I not been shooting hevishot.  Nothing against the 6's other than my gun did not give that great of a pattern with them, but it's 7's for me.

[Sand Man]

I have seen first hand how Hevi 7's handle misjudged yardage and then penetration they give.  People make mistakes on yardage, I sure have, and I brought a couple of birds home that I probably would have lost had I not been shooting hevishot.  Nothing against the 6's other than my gun did not give that great of a pattern with them, but it's 7's for me.

Ditto.  I severly misjudged a turkey in Western OK 3 years ago.  I was shooting 2oz of TSS #9's thru my SBE.  I broke both leg bones and a wing bone.  I had my dad and his friend who both have old school thoughts on the shot you use to turkey hunt with me when I shot the turkey.  They now both hunt with 20's and TSS #9's.

[archdriver]

I  dont  think  you  need  any  schooling.  Your approach to  shooting a turkey  with  5's  or  6's
is perfect.  Since  you consistently call a  bird  to  within 20-30 yrds, nothing  will  perform better
than your  current  setup.  At  those  distances ,  you have  as  dense  a  pattern as you  would  ever  need.  I also agree that super  tight  chokes are not  ideal.  What a  hunter  gains in  outside ranges,  I  think they  sacrifice twice  as  much on closer  shots.    To  each his  own.  i  know  a lot of  hunters who  have great  confidence in shooting a small pattern at 20  yrds .

Personally, I want my sweet spot to  be  between  20- 35 yrds.  After  all,  the  most  joy in  turkey  hunting is calling  them in close.   I  hunted them  with  a  recurve bow  for  three yrs solid and
everytime a turkey would  approach  past the 35 yrd  mark , I would  say  to  myself....' BANG ! Ok  I got you ,  now  lets  have  some  fun.'

Never connected  with  my  bow (took  4 shots --- all  arrows  sailed  1" over  his  back)  and I learned to understand that the  simplicity of shotgun hunting is more  enjoyable. 
No  decoys, or blinds, or stools to  move around,  just  pure  mobility.

I learned  alot  during those three  yrs trying to get  those  birds within bow  range.

[ILIKEHEVI-13]

Here's what Hevi-13 #7's will do to a turkey at 40yds. 





Class dismissed!   

[mommicked]

Here's what Hevi-13 #7's will do to a turkey at 40yds. 





Class dismissed!   

I'd rather be able to take pics of mine w/o so much carnage, and I think I'll keep shooting the cheaper 4 and 5's opposed to the heavyshot I've seen costing 4 or 5+ times more. I most always hunt woods and not fields or edges so my shot's may stay shorter and i enjoy having them come close or letting them walk. I've always been kinda frugal, old fashioned, and like to keep it simple. Thanks for all the replies guys, I have been schooled 

[alclark2]

You've got the right idea on your yardage and shot size combination. The rule on this forum is 100+ in the ten @ 40 (or the distance under 40 that you plan to hunt at). The Hevi shot gives dense paterns and retains energy with the smaller shot. I'm a lead fan myself. I can't get myself to spend the money on the HTL. I'm not in denial about it performance however. I'm thinking about building a 20 gauge for HTL but after it's setup I should just require a practice shot each spring to check the POI/POA and ammo to hunt with. Everyone has their own opion and you know what opinions are like...

[learn2hide]

I always shot lead 5 or 4x6 duplex lead...but I must admit after shooting Winchester XTended Range and Hevi Shot I will never go back.  I am also frugal, but I wait until I can buy the Hevi 13 on sale and with their annual rebate.  I recently bought two boxes marked down to 22.99 per box of 5, then got a 10.00 rebate per box...so I got a good deal respectively.  As previous posters said if you have a gun/choke you're happy with and killing them at ranges you like then rock on...once I started patterning the Hevi vs Lead I just couldn't keep shooting it in good conscience.   I look at it this way, if that big bird hangs up at 40 yards or I misguess the yardage, I have a good backup plan that likely doesnt' end with me chasing a wounded bird.  Inside 30/35 yards, I don't think it matters at all if you hit where you want to, just about any load/choke combo will do it.  Good luck!!!