Need non-lead ammo and choke recommendations for Mossberg 500

[natman]

California is going to require non-lead ammo for upland game, including turkeys after July, 2016. (Please no CA bashing responses, you'd be preaching to the choir).

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/nonlead-ammunition

I will be forced to stop using my beloved Winchester 2oz lead loads and use non-lead. I have a Mossberg 3" 12 ga. I was thinking maybe Hevi-shot Hevi-13 in #6 or 7, but am open to other suggestions.

I have the following turkey chokes: Mossberg internal Xtra-full, Mossberg external ported X-factor, and a Star Dot XF (.669). At what Hevi shot costs I'd like to avoid extensive choke testing. Any recommendations?

[dirt road ninja]

The two loads you mentioned should give you better results than what you are currently using. The only other non toxic turkey  shot that's readily available is the Federal Heavyweight.  I'd recommend 7's only with the Feds.

[allaboutshooting]

California is going to require non-lead ammo for upland game, including turkeys after July, 2016. (Please no CA bashing responses, you'd be preaching to the choir).

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/hunting/nonlead-ammunition

I will be forced to stop using my beloved Winchester 2oz lead loads and use non-lead. I have a Mossberg 3" 12 ga. I was thinking maybe Hevi-shot Hevi-13 in #6 or 7, but am open to other suggestions.

I have the following turkey chokes: Mossberg internal Xtra-full, Mossberg external ported X-factor, and a Star Dot XF (.669). At what Hevi shot costs I'd like to avoid extensive choke testing. Any recommendations?

You may want to take a look at this http://allaboutshooting.com/article_info.php?articles_id=759&osCsid=n98k7UtjF6ZFhEWqdpPJo1

You can see that the Mossberg X-Factor was one of the chokes that I used with the Invector choke and a Mossberg 930 which has the same bore diameter as your Mossberg 500. While there were chokes that did better, it did a good job and did not show any 2" or larger gaps in the patterns. I suspect that you'd see better numbers than in this evaluation. I purposely shot these chokes at pretty low temps, more like what many of us would encounter in spring or fall hunts.

I would recommend the Hevi-13 shells in #6 or #7 shot. They are consistent performers.

Thanks,
Clark

[dirt road ninja]

I didn't mention the EM Magblends. They are also a factory loaded non toxic load. Equal parts 5,6,&7 shot.

[allaboutshooting]

I didn't mention the EM Magblends. They are also a factory loaded non toxic load. Equal parts 5,6,&7 shot.

Those Magnum Blend shells are another good recommendation. I've had even better results with the "new" Magnum Blend shells with #4, #5 & #7 shot.

Thanks,
Clark

[longislandloco]

I think in the near future this will be more wide spread that just California.

[natman]

The two loads you mentioned should give you better results than what you are currently using. The only other non toxic turkey  shot that's readily available is the Federal Heavyweight.  I'd recommend 7's only with the Feds.

I should hope so, since the Hevi-shot loads cost 10 times what I paid for the Winchesters. However, the Winchesters have been absolutely deadly out to 40 yards, every shot I've ever taken at a turkey with them has been one shot DRT for 27 kills in a row. But that's all academic now because after next spring I won't be able to use them anymore. I do expect that HTL would be more effective at longer distances should the occasion arise.

How are the Fed 7s better than the Hevi-shot 7s?

[dirt road ninja]

 The Feds have a much higher density, but they are loaded with the dreaded Flight Control wad. Either you love it or hate it. 

[allaboutshooting]

One thing to bear in mind is that whenever some entity, the Feds or a particular state, like CA, has banned some type of shot, someone has come up with an alternative. Don't be too surprised if another alternative, maybe even one that's less expensive, turns up in the near future. We are an inventive people.

Thanks,
Clark

[dirt road ninja]

I think in the near future this will be more wide spread that just California.

I hope not, but fear you are correct.

[vt35mag]

Pure Gold .670 with Hevi 13 #7, wont disappoint.

[stinkpickle]

My backup gun is a 500 with a 20" barrel.  It currently has a Jellyhead .660 shooting Hevi 3/2/6s and 3/2/7s interchangeably.