Newbie turkey hunter questions

[Gutsdozer]

Hello all,

I've never posted here and am a total newbie at patterning and turkey hunting. Recently I bought a Truglo TG170X .665 choke tube. I also bought three different shells to test. I fired at a 10" plate at 40 yards out of a Remington 870 express 12ga. with a 28" barrel. I also shot at a birchwood shoot and see style turkey target. This will be my first year turkey hunting and my first time patterning and testing. I seem to be getting some pretty lousy patterns. Of course after reading through some of these posts I did make a few mistakes in documenting things. For example I literally shot just at a 10" cardboard cut out and really couldn't see my entire pattern.

First up was the 3" Winchester Super X copper plated lead #5 shot.
Plate: 44 pellets
Target: 4 in the kill zones (Spinal colum and head)

Second was the 3" Remington Nitro Turkey extra hard lead shot #5.
Plate: 51 pellets
Target: 6 in the kill zones (Spinal colum and head)

Last was Hevi-Shot Magnum blend  #5,6,7's.
Plate: 110 pellets
Target: 12 in the kill zones (Spinal colum and head)

There was a clear winner but it seems like they all should have been better. I've read that Magnum blend for example gets something like 250 pellets on a 10" plate at 40 yards. Is it the quality of choke tube or is this a common result with these particular loads?

Any help and advice is appreciated.

I should also add that I managed to pick up a couple other chokes. An HS Strut Undertaker .665(lead and plated lead only) and a new Primos Jelly Head Maximum .660. I also picked up some Long Beard#5 and Winchester double X #6(formerly supreme?)

[SCDieselDawg]

1. Clean the barrel real good!
2. Shoot at big pieces of paper. 36"x36"
3. Use a bore snake between shots to help keep the barrel clean.

[lowoctane]

1. Clean the barrel real good!
2. Shoot at big pieces of paper. 36"x36"
3. Use a bore snake between shots to help keep the barrel clean.

Yup! Don't forget to mark yer paper with an aiming point! (POA) 

[Gutsdozer]

Ok stupid question. If my POA is off should I just find the center of the pattern I shot and draw another circle to get a good look at the pattern (then adjust my sights of course)?

[lowoctane]

Nah. Using the last one ya shot, move yer rear sight in the direction you want the shot to go. Then shoot at a new target to see if yer on.

[Gooserbat]

Ok stupid question. If my POA is off should I just find the center of the pattern I shot and draw another circle to get a good look at the pattern (then adjust my sights of course)?

Yes.  When dealing with special chokes and loads sometimes you just have to sight in a shotgun the same as if it were a rifle. 

And a 2nd yes, that will tell you what the core of the pattern is doing. 

Oh yeah clean the barrel real good with a solvent, brush and patch it until you get clean/dry patches before you shoot. 

[the Ward]

Ok stupid question. If my POA is off should I just find the center of the pattern I shot and draw another circle to get a good look at the pattern (then adjust my sights of course)?

No such thing as a dumb question! If I am understanding what your saying, then yes, draw a 10" circle around the densest part of the pattern and then you can count the pellet holes and compare them then you can choose which shell/choke patterns the best for you. Once you decide which choke/load combo works best in your gun, then adjust your sights to the densest part of the pattern. If you look at the very top of this forum there is a sticky on how to sight in. A good way to do it is to use some cheap low brass loads with a target set at 20 yards. At that range the gun will put a hole in the paper and you can adjust the sight to the hole then once its on you can move the target back to 40 yards ( or whatever distance you shoot) then it will only need a minor adjustment and will save you from burning up expensive turkey loads. hope this helps. And.............     !!!!!

[the Ward]

Ok stupid question. If my POA is off should I just find the center of the pattern I shot and draw another circle to get a good look at the pattern (then adjust my sights of course)?

Yes.  When dealing with special chokes and loads sometimes you just have to sight in a shotgun the same as if it were a rifle. 

And a 2nd yes, that will tell you what the core of the pattern is doing. 

Oh yeah clean the barrel real good with a solvent, brush and patch it until you get clean/dry patches before you shoot. 

x2

[the Ward]

OOPS! The sticky I was referring to is at the top of the "Sights and Optics forum" The sticky at the top of this forum is "how to pattern your turkey gun" Check 'em both out, lot of good info for you, may help with your questions.