What load for ill-equiped hunters?

[vpsalin]

Your friends show up to camp with nothing but their regular full-choke guns and an assortment of 2 3/4 shells  . Which of these standard loads would you expect to perform best?

2 3/4 HighBrass #4
2 3/4 HighBrass #5
2 3/4 HighBrass #6

Will a #4 which misses the neck but strikes the body be fatal on a OG?

[WV Ridge Reaper]

Id find a new friend to turkey hunt with.

[GobbleNut]

More important than the load is the maximum distance that hunter should shoot.  With those choices, I would say that he should not shoot more than thirty yards with any of them,...and of course, head and neck shots only.  A body shot with any of them would likely result in an escaped, wounded gobbler.  Having to make a choice on one of the three shot sizes, I would say use the 6's and keep the range under thirty yards. 

[Gooserbat]

More important than the load is the maximum distance that hunter should shoot.  With those choices, I would say that he should not shoot more than thirty yards with any of them,...and of course, head and neck shots only.  A body shot with any of them would likely result in an escaped, wounded gobbler.  Having to make a choice on one of the three shot sizes, I would say use the 6's and keep the range under thirty yards.

This

[paboxcall]

More important than the load is the maximum distance that hunter should shoot.  With those choices, I would say that he should not shoot more than thirty yards with any of them,...and of course, head and neck shots only.  A body shot with any of them would likely result in an escaped, wounded gobbler.  Having to make a choice on one of the three shot sizes, I would say use the 6's and keep the range under thirty yards.

Agree...shooting bead sight, assuming the PoA matches the PoI...Call them close rule of the day at that camp. 

[silvestris]

I killed a bunch of them with XX Magnums in the 70s with a setup like that.  The XXMagnums were nothing but high brass shells with buffer.  I did have the sense to do some rudimentary patterning to have an idea of what my killing range was.

[dirt road ninja]

Your friends show up to camp with nothing but their regular full-choke guns and an assortment of 2 3/4 shells  . Which of these standard loads would you expect to perform best?

2 3/4 HighBrass #4
2 3/4 HighBrass #5
2 3/4 HighBrass #6

Will a #4 which misses the neck but strikes the body be fatal on a OG?

I shot 3" lead 5's for years shooting my factory full or factory turkey choke. Patterning was done on a paper plate at 30 yards or so.  To answer your questions, I pick the 6's.

Yes, 4's will kill body shooting, but he best be inside of 10-15 yards and you better be able to run.

[born2hunt]

With out checking the pattern I would not be fully confident to 30 but its almost safe to say that just about any 12 gauge and a high brass 6  will suffice to 20 or a tad over. I think that all pellets in the body can help but it aint a sure thing with out a few in the neck and noggin. 

The bad thing, is that a ton of folks do this each year. Way to many people go to the woods with no idea about there pattern, and kill birds with the lucky pellet. I know a few guys who tote their Modified and Improved choked guns hunting  (witch is perfectly fine if thats all ya have) but they have no range limitations set. I can preach to them till blue in the face but they just cant get it. And once they come back bragging about the bird they "luckily" killed at 40 yards they sure don't see any reason for change then. Its just a matter of time till they feed the coyotes some fresh turkey. The good thing is that they cant call either so their encounters are rare 

[davisd9]

I would walk in and grab a shotgun to hand them to hunt with. Then instruct them this is their last hunt with me if then cannot become "better prepared".


Sent from the Strut Zone

[jblackburn]

I'd say get out the patterning board and show them their effective range.  With a full choke, I would guess that the 4s would be the ticket.

I have an old single shot Iver Johnson gun that was my great uncle's that I intend to kill a bird with.  It has a full choke and does pretty well at 30 yards with 2 3/4 number 4 federals with the flight control wad. Yes they are turkey loads, but until I found them I was planning on using Remington Express high brass 4s, they were fine at 30 yards, too.

[catdaddy]

Your friends show up to camp with nothing but their regular full-choke guns and an assortment of 2 3/4 shells  . Which of these standard loads would you expect to perform best?

2 3/4 HighBrass #4
2 3/4 HighBrass #5
2 3/4 HighBrass #6

Will a #4 which misses the neck but strikes the body be fatal on a OG?

I wouldn't get my knickers in a wad if they showed up with a full choke and high brass 2 3/4--there has been a ton of turkeys killed with this set up. In the early days, I killed a ton of turkeys with a 28 inch modified barrel using 3 inch #4s.   

[drum817]

1st thing I'd try to actually pattern the gun.  If that's not an option then I'd shoot the 2 3/4" 6's & hold the shot at 30 yards.

[jakesdad]

Your friends show up to camp with nothing but their regular full-choke guns and an assortment of 2 3/4 shells  . Which of these standard loads would you expect to perform best?

2 3/4 HighBrass #4
2 3/4 HighBrass #5
2 3/4 HighBrass #6

Will a #4 which misses the neck but strikes the body be fatal on a OG?

Can't be any worse than having a guy show up(on an out of state hunt nonetheless)in camp with a 12 gauge with a modified choke and a box of steel 4's he used duck hunting."Good enough to kill ducks with oughta bring down a turkey". He went home empty handed and I dont plan on sharing any camp again with him soon.

[owlhoot]

No matter what they use, pattern it. At least they brought an assortment to try.
Full chokes , that is good. High brass is good. 4, 5, 6 is good. Lots of us started and killed lots of turkeys before with modified or full choke guns and high brass or magnum 2 3/4"  shells which have more velocity than some of the longer shells loaded with heavier shot charges now.

At least no 7 1/2 dove and quail loads were to be used.

[perrytrails]

I've been there. All you can do is ask if they patterned the gun and know its limits. Maybe offer one of your proven guns for them to use.

Some people just don't take it as serious as the rest of us. Or maybe don't have the money to invest at that  time.

I have given my gun to several people in the past, then just set up and called for them. Probably the best thing you can do if you planned to hunt together, as in setting up on the same bird.

Or just send them up the ridge on the other side of the road, wish them luck. Bout all you can do...