Longbeards at close range

[donjuan]

Now I know the goal of these shells is to hold a 40+ yard pattern, but in the apparently rare case you actually get a bird in close, are these shells going to hurt more than help? It would be great to find something that patterns loose enough at 20 and tight enough at 40.

[mightyjoeyoung]

Scroll...down.  There are 3-4 PAGES of threads covering the LB loads...

[drum817]

Now I know the goal of these shells is to hold a 40+ yard pattern, but in the apparently rare case you actually get a bird in close, are these shells going to hurt more than help? It would be great to find something that patterns loose enough at 20 and tight enough at 40.

I doesn't matter what load you shoot they are ALL tight at 20 and under unless you really open up your choke & if you do that your 40 yard pattern "might" not be all that good.  Here's a link to some 10,20 & 40 yard patterns.  My best advice is to practice at close range too & make sure your sights are dead on....oh yeah & don't flinch. 


http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,42216.0.html

[jakesdad]

My 20 yard pattern was pretty close to what your 10 yd looks like.I dont use add on sights because my bead is pretty much dead nuts,so I wouldnt have much room for error and would probably do one of two things:completely remove his head or completely miss.I'm not completely sold on the LBs for me as I shoot a lot more birds close than I do far.

On the other hand,if a guy uses a scope/aiming device and hunts a lot of wide open terrain,then these shells are just what the doctor ordered as they throw a pretty mean tight pattern to 40 +.

Like anything else decide whats best for you and your situation,not what the internet dictates you should use.

[drum817]

My 20 yard pattern was pretty close to what your 10 yd looks like.I dont use add on sights because my bead is pretty much dead nuts,so I wouldnt have much room for error and would probably do one of two things:completely remove his head or completely miss.I'm not completely sold on the LBs for me as I shoot a lot more birds close than I do far.

On the other hand,if a guy uses a scope/aiming device and hunts a lot of wide open terrain,then these shells are just what the doctor ordered as they throw a pretty mean tight pattern to 40 +.

Like anything else decide whats best for you and your situation,not what the internet dictates you should use.

Most of my birds are under 25 yards, but I do spend a "fair" amount of time practicing before the season (I've shot close to 40 turkey loads plus a few boxes of low brass in the past three weeks).  I just started using a Mil Spec ghost ring sight this year and it took me a bit to get the hang of it and now that I have it I REALLY like it!!!  I also take low brass and shoot dime sized dots at 10-15 yards too... I really think it helps with the close shots.

[ads1]

Here is an 18 yard shot with Longbeards. .660 choke

[drum817]

Yep...looks about like any turkey load at 18 yards. 

[BandedSpur]

If I were serious about keeping shots at 40 and in as many on this board claim to be, I would prefer Turkey Thugs or Winch Gray Box 6s for $1/shell vs LBs for $2/shell. Either of those shells will do 130/10 @ 40 with fuller 10-20 numbers and more forgiving patterns at all ranges 40 and in.

[drum817]

If I were serious about keeping shots at 40 and in as many on this board claim to be, I would prefer Turkey Thugs or Winch Gray Box 6s for $1/shell vs LBs for $2/shell. Either of those shells will do 130/10 @ 40 with fuller 10-20 numbers and more forgiving patterns at all ranges 40 and in.

I think $2.00 per shot is cheap!!!  I shot nitros for several years at $7.00 per shot then Hevi-13 at $5.00 per shot.....I'm personally ecstatic about a shell that I can afford to go out a practice with as I'm sure others are too!!!  I did shoot some thugs at 10-15 yards too...they were every bit as tight as the win LB at close range.

[BandedSpur]

If I were serious about keeping shots at 40 and in as many on this board claim to be, I would prefer Turkey Thugs or Winch Gray Box 6s for $1/shell vs LBs for $2/shell. Either of those shells will do 130/10 @ 40 with fuller 10-20 numbers and more forgiving patterns at all ranges 40 and in.

I think $2.00 per shot is cheap!!!  I shot nitros for several years at $7.00 per shot then Hevi-13 at $5.00 per shot.....I'm personally ecstatic about a shell that I can afford to go out a practice with as I'm sure others are too!!!  I did shoot some thugs at 10-15 yards too...they were every bit as tight as the win LB at close range.

I think $2/shell is cheap too since I shoot TSS. But the fact remains that I prefer the patterns from the Thugs and Gray Box Winches to the LBs inside 40 yds, and $1/shell is cheaper. Now if we are talking beyond 40, the LBs win hands down.

[drum817]

If I were serious about keeping shots at 40 and in as many on this board claim to be, I would prefer Turkey Thugs or Winch Gray Box 6s for $1/shell vs LBs for $2/shell. Either of those shells will do 130/10 @ 40 with fuller 10-20 numbers and more forgiving patterns at all ranges 40 and in.

I think $2.00 per shot is cheap!!!  I shot nitros for several years at $7.00 per shot then Hevi-13 at $5.00 per shot.....I'm personally ecstatic about a shell that I can afford to go out a practice with as I'm sure others are too!!!  I did shoot some thugs at 10-15 yards too...they were every bit as tight as the win LB at close range.

I think $2/shell is cheap too since I shoot TSS. But the fact remains that I prefer the patterns from the Thugs and Gray Box Winches to the LBs inside 40 yds, and $1/shell is cheaper. Now if we are talking beyond 40, the LBs win hands down.

To each his own.  I shot some thugs too this year (6's & 5's) and I liked em' a lot out to 35, but they fell apart at 40 for me.