A few months back I got the idea in my head I might try and improve my pattern. I say I am fully commited because I spent $45 last night on the idea. I will elaborate.
I have a Rem 870 Express Magnum 20ga. I have been shooting the gun since my father gave it to me when I was 10.
A few years back I picked up a Rem X Full Turkey choke and Rem Nirto Turkey #5's. I checked it at 30 yards and things looked good to me. Pattern center and bulk were inline with my bead. I did not count the number or pellets. The turkey head was obviously dead. I called it good.
Currently, Pretty much all I have been able to find locally for turkey killin ammo is The Remington Nitro Turkey #5 and Hevi Mag Blend. I scooped up a Tru-Glo Gobbler Stopper choke and The Hevi Mag Blends last night. This afternoon I sneaked out for a little shootin. I shot all the possible (no hevi in the rem choke) combos at 20 and 40 yards. Pretty much identical. The Rem Turkey choke and tru glo chokes shot the rem nitro #5's the same. The Hevi Shot Mag Blends in the Tru-Glo choke has a center mass low and left.
So all this is going somewhere. I got thinking on my way home... I am confident in killing at bird at 40 yards with what I have now. I am certain that past that the odds of killing go down exponentially. I am not sure there is better for me with this gun and if there is at what cost and effort? It dawned on me that I should have been a little more precise and counted pellets in the 10" circle. Is there a resource I can read about patterning shot guns in particular for turkey hunting? Also on how shotguns work? I would like to do a little research to help me make some choices.
