Winchester 1300 choke/ammo suggestions

[Tommythreetoes]

My brother in law will hunt turkeys for the first time next spring.  He has a winchester 1300 and I'd like to buy him a choke for it, but didn't know what was working well in them.  He'll probably upgrade into a designated turkey gun in the future if he becomes hooked, so I don't want to break the bank for it.  What ammo choke combos can you recommend for us?  I'd like to shy away for shooting hevi for now $$.  Plus, we don't want to spoil him right off the bat.

[Tommythreetoes]

Forgot to say...12 guage is what were working with here.

[SumToy]

Run something in the 650 rang with Winchester 6's.  Now go up to 665 rang with Federal FCW 6's.

[paboxcall]

Excellent advice Sumtoy just gave.

You can also spend some time searching the "turkey gun pattern" pictures here on Old Gobbler, lots of 1300s with different shell/choke combos that will also point you in the right direction.

http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/board,105.0.html

I shoot a Jellyhead .660 with Hevi 3" 2oz #7 loads through my 1300, you can also find a picture of that pattern in the above forum.

[Spring Creek Calls]

I shoot a 1300 with a 26" barrel and an Indian Creek 660. I also use hevi 3-2-7's. Dense even patterns.

[Songdog2012]

I have used a 1300 nwtf model for years, i use a hasteings .665 with federal flight control wads #5 shot and they are 3 inch shells. This combo has taken many turkeys for me at some pretty good ranges.

[Tommythreetoes]

Ended up buying a truglo gobble stopper choke for the 12 ga winchester 1300.  It's a .665.  It is a ported choke.  I was going to try the Federal FCW in 3" #6.  Any other choices for ammo out there that I should be looking at?  Once winter eases up, we will begin the test.  Recommendations?

[mikejd]

Now we are talking my speed. No matter what turkey gun I get or shoot I always go back to my 1300's. I have 3 of them and probably 20 different chokes. I have shot every combo through these guns.

My all around favorite choke for my 1300's is a Truglo Mark Banser design. That said I have gotten a Bit better pattern from an Indian creek. The reason I stay with my banser is because I hunt with only a front bead and the Banser is centered perfectly were the IC was a bit low. The IC numbers were 260 in the 10" with Hevi 13 #6. That gun was the 22" barrel model. That is my best number so far with an average about 250. I also have never polished my barrel but have done a deep clean.

I have also gotten some great numbers with the Magblends somewhere in the 230's. For exact numbers I can pull out some of my targets and check.

[sevetts]

Win 6s or 5s and an undertaker choke might surprise ya

[BOFF]

.660 choke #7 Hevi Shot


God Bless,
David B.

[tomstopper]

Ended up buying a truglo gobble stopper choke for the 12 ga winchester 1300.  It's a .665.  It is a ported choke.  I was going to try the Federal FCW in 3" #6.  Any other choices for ammo out there that I should be looking at?  Once winter eases up, we will begin the test.  Recommendations?

This is the same choke that I have in mine & I have been shooting 3" size 6, Winchester Supremes from mine for years. That combo has killed a ton of birds for me over the years....

[mikejd]

Ended up buying a truglo gobble stopper choke for the 12 ga winchester 1300.  It's a .665.  It is a ported choke.  I was going to try the Federal FCW in 3" #6.  Any other choices for ammo out there that I should be looking at?  Once winter eases up, we will begin the test.  Recommendations?

This is the same choke that I have in mine & I have been shooting 3" size 6, Winchester Supremes from mine for years. That combo has killed a ton of birds for me over the years....

Im with you tomstopper. Before the Hevi shot craze I killed more birds with winchester HV' s #4's and my 1300 22" barrel.
then all my hevi shot combined.

[eddie234]

Here are some of my pattern pictures.
http://s14.photobucket.com/user/eddie234/library/1300%20Pattern

[mightyjoeyoung]

Funny thing.  The guy asks for chokes/loads and says NO HEVI as he doesn't want to spend a ton of money on a gun that isn't his and more than 75% of the replies are "I shoot hevi, blah, blah, blah..."  To the OP, the choke you have should work well with the Federal FC wad loads, just like William said.  Another load you should be looking at is the New Winchester Longbeard lead loads.  They're putting up some rediculous patterns on every board I frequent and if you keep your shots ethical, like you should be, there isn't a turkey that wals that will survive a hit from either load inside of 40 yards. 

[mightyjoeyoung]

Win 6s or 5s and an undertaker choke might surprise ya

This.  I have a 26" bbl, 1300 Universal hunter (one of 3 1300's) and I screwed in a TG Undertaker XT choke (mine mic'd .673") and never looked back.  An inexpensive choke that flat out patterns in that gun with a number of lead and yes, HTL loads.  She'll put up deadly numbers with XX pb 5's and I can't wait to see how she shoots with the new Longbeards.