Stoeger M3500 Black Turkey Special. Sumtoy .650 Long Beard XR #6 3.5 inch

[aaron.haverfield@gmail.co]

First post.

Posting to help others with this gun. Was little information when I was searching.

30 yrd, 58 degrees 57% humidity, 256+ in large circle
50 yrd, 58 degrees 57% humidity, 166+ in large circle

Large circle let less than 10 inch. Don't have exact size. 8.5 to 9 maybe.

[captin_hook]

 

[BRUKSHOT]

Yep...That will work!!!

[drum817]

Looking really good!

[aaron.haverfield@gmail.co]

Thanks guy, Though I was was hoping for a little better evenly spaced pattern out of my Sumtoy. Any recommendation for in improvement? Decrease shell size or shot size? Hate spending $20 just to shoot one shell out of a box.

[drum817]

Thanks guy, Though I was was hoping for a little better evenly spaced pattern out of my Sumtoy. Any recommendation for in improvement? Decrease shell size or shot size? Hate spending $20 just to shoot one shell out of a box.

That looks pretty good to me.... I'd go huntin' !!! 

[aaron.haverfield@gmail.co]

Thanks, but cant do anything till season gets here which is still a month away 

[Phire Phite]

It is hard to find info on this shotty.  I just got one too, just not the turkey special.  I had decent patterns, but nothing that good.  I was shooting 5's though because I can't find the 6's.  I'd say you're fine, that looks great.

[scdxt]

It is hard to find info on this shotty.  I just got one too, just not the turkey special.  I had decent patterns, but nothing that good.  I was shooting 5's though because I can't find the 6's.  I'd say you're fine, that looks great.

I posted a bunch of numbers on a benelli M1 in the pattern section. Should be very similar since both are same I.D. barrel and both take mobil choke. Shot mine with 3" #6 LB at 40 with numbers between 235-245, 50 yards had 177,60 yards 135, all in 10". May want to shoot some 3" loads through that gun as I have had excellent results with them in all benellis.

[aaron.haverfield@gmail.co]

Thanks scdxt,

That's just what I was wondering. I will give 3 inchers  a shot next time I go to pattern just before season comes in. Guessing you didn't try any different shot sizes?

Phire phite,

Fwhat choke are you run? I will tell you now that stocker that  came with mine turkey special wasn't even good enough for a paper weight.

[the Ward]

Looks like any bird you shoot at will be D-E-A-D!

[catclr]

It is hard to find info on this shotty.  I just got one too, just not the turkey special.  I had decent patterns, but nothing that good.  I was shooting 5's though because I can't find the 6's.  I'd say you're fine, that looks great.

I posted a bunch of numbers on a benelli M1 in the pattern section. Should be very similar since both are same I.D. barrel and both take mobil choke. Shot mine with 3" #6 LB at 40 with numbers between 235-245, 50 yards had 177,60 yards 135, all in 10". May want to shoot some 3" loads through that gun as I have had excellent results with them in all benellis.

I feel scdxt is correct in stating you might want to go with the 3" loads, for better results. I have been hunting these turkeys for 55 years, and their is no reason IMO you need to be shooting 3 1/2" shells out of any 12 ga. shotgun, the extra abuse to your shoulder is not worth it, and neither is the extra cost of shells. The other thing to consider is are you hunting open fields or woods.  If hunting fields these new longer range shells in the 3" will do just fine, in case you miss judge the distance, over the open field. If hunting in the woods, less costly shells will do just fine.

Something else to do is stop using the double beads on the rib, and put on some adjustable sights or mount a red dot scope. In all the excitement it's hard to remember how to line up those double beads. With sights or red dot just like using your rifle, plus when pattering your shotgun, you can adjust the sights or red dot to the center of your pattern, and then when hunting instead of remembering where your pattern was, high, low, left or right, you line up your sight or put the dot on the waddles,or at the feather line on the neck and shoot.

In my 55 years, I only have one time I shot a Gobbler over 40 yds. and that was in NY, in the woods along a creek bottom, and the Gobbler came out of the creek, behind me, and dropped him at 52 yds. using 3" Rem. Duplex 4x6. I split open his neck and head to see how many hits, and had 15 pellets in head and neck and he dropped and never moved. With that said I do not think shooting over 40 yds. should be a every hunt shot. If you find your shooting over 40 yds. at Gobblers, most of the time, you need to work on your calling and woodsmenship.

[Phire Phite]

I'm also using the Sumtoy choke. 


So much for the picture thing, hate it.  201 with the 3 1/2 magblends.

[scdxt]

Thanks scdxt,

That's just what I was wondering. I will give 3 inchers  a shot next time I go to pattern just before season comes in. Guessing you didn't try any different shot sizes?

Phire phite,

Fwhat choke are you run? I will tell you now that stocker that  came with mine turkey special wasn't even good enough for a paper weight.

I shot some LB 5's and they  went 190-210. forgot to post that one. Im really liking the hevi 7s in my gun which do 250s in the .650 carlsons and the hevi choke also. Its a great hunting pattern and i will most likely be shooting them this season but will keep some 6 LB in the vest. Good luck with your gun and if I can be of any help just shoot me a PM.

[aaron.haverfield@gmail.co]

Thanks guys,

For all the input. Forgot to mention I have a gobble stopper red dot on my gun as well. It's not bad, has a nice ring around the dot. Also, sound like I need to try some 3 inch #6 and #7. Just a little afraid of the know down at 40. Going to south dakota in April and not sure how far I might need to shoot. Would like to be confident out to 50 and deader than a door nail at 40. My brother will be carrying a 20 gauge patterned for 30 and under for back up.