A Question about Turkey Loads

[Happy]

I am not a numbers chaser and never will be. I am also not interested in how far I can stretch the performance of my shotun. There is a positive side to those who do. They know exactly how their gun and ammo will perform. I buy top dollar ammo and on a stellar year I will shoot four shots. The cost is worth it. I like knowing I have a top performing round when I pull the trigger. Will lead do the job for me? Yep. Still like the extra security of hevi shot.

[chatterbox]

Interesting post......
I look at it this way. The birds may not change, the terrain may not change, but that doesn't mean that my weapon and shell choice has to stay the same.
I also know what you're saying. I haven't killed as many birds as most people have, and the ones I have killed have been well under 30 yards.
Technology, for the most part moves forward. I like that my 20 gauge can shoot a 3" shell as good as some 12 gauge guns, and I love the fact that when the dot of my Fast Fire settles on his neck 40 yards and in, as long as I do my job, my gun/ shell combination will do its job. I spend my time at the range, and it is comforting to me to know I don't have to rely on just 1-2 pellets in a Coke can at X yardage.
I don't dispel anyone's methods as long as the end result is the humane and quick dispatching of a spring gobbler.

[Farmboy27]

I can't really say why I use them.  I guess because I don't mind recoil and don't mind paying a bit more for hunting stuff.  I also use a 300 win mag for deer sometimes when a 243 would work just fine.  A lot of guys around here have souped up diesel trucks that they never tow anything with, 4x4s that never get off the pavement, sports cars that can go 150 mph that never get above 65.  Heck I pay for 150 channels on TV and only ever watch 5!  Why do people do these things, because we can! 

[owlhoot]

The reason for me is simple.  I enjoy it.  I'm shooting a 20 gauge that will kill a turkey at ranges well beyond the 40 yard limit of discussion here on OG.  I enjoyed the time I spend tinkering with the gun/loads.  I travel and hunt 3-5 States each season, I spend money on calls, boots, camo...and those who know me know I'm into performance and function over all ells.  I wear bdu fatigues because I get the toughest pant for $30.  Anyway I'm not skimping on a few $$$ per shell.  I know guys packing $1400 Benelli shotguns and they whine about $4 shells.  Go figure.

:z-dizzy:Often wondered that myself, about the Benelli's  guys i know. I just figured they were broke and my 400 dollar Remington left me 1000 for shells! 

[spaightlabs]

Cuz this is 'Murica and more is better, bigger is better and better is better!

In reality, we hunters are victims of excellent marketing and our primal urge to be a hunter/gatherer/provider for our family. 

Slick promotional information touting the benefits of hunting with imported Italian weapons made from highly figured Turkish walnut have been around since our great ancestor Grok emerged from the cave to begin hunting mastodons.  Lead spear head?  Sure, it's good, but a heavier than lead spear head - that's great!  And a 3.5 inch TSS spear head?  Hell yeah!

Part of it comes down to our desire to one-up the next guy.

Your bass boat goes 60 MPH?  I'm gonna get one that goes 65.
You Harley has 145 HP?  I'm going for 155.
Your wife gets a new set of 40D's?  My wife is getting 42DD's.

Is there anything wrong with shooting lead 5's?  Nope.  They'll get the job done all day, every day.

I've got about 12 boxes of Mag Blends left, then I'm switching back to lead.  Unless the marketing folks and the guys that hotrod their guns and loads tell me there is something better available.  Or unless my buddy tells me he got 350 in the circle - then I'm going for 351.

[turkey buster]

I'm not an old timer but I've killed them with an old browning and 2.75in shells and I've killed them with 3.5in shells. Currently I shoot an original bottomland 870 with 3in LB's. A dead turkey is always a dead turkey, but I do agree if your financially able and you want to shoot a $1500 gun and $7 shells then go for it, but don't knock a guy who shoots a $300 gun and $1.50 shell like me. Because at the end of the day we both killed one.

[owlhoot]

For my own decision on this subject , to shoot lead or hevi or heavyweight .
Turkey loads or regular magnums.


I thought. Would i consider shooting lead instead if the price was the same or real close?

No way. The performance is just to great a difference.

[Cut N Run]

Great food for thought thread.  I started hunting turkeys around the same time as you, shaman.  There was no such thing choke tubes at that time and whatever choke your gun came with from the factory was what you needed to work with. Camo of the day was army surplus.  I had a full choke Ithaca 37R that was chambered for 2&3/4 inch shells, (Winchester XX) but they worked on whatever I was hunting. I learned to work within my gun's limitations.  I've always been sort of a pattern freak, because I need to know where to draw the line. I also needed to find out what the gun was capable of, what ammo it liked, and didn't like (same old limitations thing again).   

My grandfather taught me to hunt with one shell at a time to conserve ammo and make sure I made the first shot count (he came through the depression where you never knew where your next shell might come from). That attitude kinda rubbed off on me and I picked up a Stevens single shot because I liked the short receiver and how fast it pointed.  Adding a sling & some camo paint made it my turkey gun.  Even though it had a fixed modified choke, it also had a 3 inch chamber.  It kicked like a mule (still does) but it also helped me bring home every turkey I ever dropped the hammer on with it. I liked the swarm of lead the "new" 3 inch shells threw.  The recoil and added shot were worth the punishment, besides, I was giving up some of the tighter pattern of my full choked Ithaca 37.

My best friend had also gotten into turkey hunting since he'd gotten married and we'd moved different directions.  We reconnected and fell right back into hunting together.  Being a doctor's son, he always had the finest guns he could afford.  Through him, I got a great deal on a Benelli SBE, chambered for 3".  I hunted with the same box of 3 inch #6 Federals until I ran low and couldn't find them in the local gun shop.  I switched to Winchester Supreme 3" 1&3/4 oz. of #6s (what my buddy shoots to this day) and killed loads of turkeys with them.

I started reading about the amazing performance of Hevi shot other guys were getting and decided to give it a try.  Considering how long it took me to burn through turkey loads, the switch wasn't all that expensive in the long run.  My patterns tightened up and the turkeys started dropping without much flopping. Win/win.  Even though longer range shots are possible with the Hevi shot, they haven't changed the way I hunt much. I don't attempt questionable shots and still make one shot kills inside of 35 yards. I have added a red dot sight, that I likely would have used back in the day when I first started, if they existed at the time. My old Benelli was sold to a handicapped friend who also took up turkey hunting and I got a SBE II.  I also hunt from a turkey lounger these days, because it is foolish to torture a wonky back.

I mainly evolved with the sport, likely because I found better gear. Ammo evolved along the way and I wanted to use the best I could to efficiently put gobbler's lights out.  Probably the same reason I don't drive a 1970's vehicle anymore either.  Things progressed and some of it got more efficient. 

Jim

[Gobspur]

Human nature to constantly improve/do something better.  First year I hunted turkey when I was a boy, I had a 30 year old single shot with a broken trigger. Had to pull and hold hammer back until ya was ready to fire!  Long ways from my fancy rig these days, but got the job done.  Also didn't know a lot back then.

[snapper1982]

I shoot an $8 shell because every bird deserves respect and as humane a death as i can give it. Inside the 40 most guns can be made to be effective but should something happen like misjudged yardage or the need for a long follow up shot i want my shell to have the pattern and energy to do the job.

I have chosen this route because i had a hard time with my first 2 turkeys. The first was rolled at 20 and required a follow up and the second was rolled at 25 and required 2 hours of searching and a follow up. Both were due to that old school get a few in the target and it is good mentality that is was learning from and reading about. I vowed after that second bird that i would always have the absolute best i can afford. To me every turkey is worth an $8 shell.

[spaightlabs]

I shoot an $8 shell because every bird deserves respect and as humane a death as i can give it. Inside the 40 most guns can be made to be effective but should something happen like misjudged yardage or the need for a long follow up shot i want my shell to have the pattern and energy to do the job.

I have chosen this route because i had a hard time with my first 2 turkeys. The first was rolled at 20 and required a follow up and the second was rolled at 25 and required 2 hours of searching and a follow up. Both were due to that old school get a few in the target and it is good mentality that is was learning from and reading about. I vowed after that second bird that i would always have the absolute best i can afford. To me every turkey is worth an $8 shell.

RESPECT!!