Best all around load, close to far!

[silencer223]

Hevi 13 3/2/7's
Federal HW 3/ 1 5/8/ 7's
Winchester XX 3/2/6's

Ya threw me off with the numbers.. lol

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[Longshanks]

3/2/7's.  3 inch, 2 ounces, 7 shot. Sorry about that, just an easy way to know exactly what shell it is when talking about a particular brand.

[Bowguy]

There is no such load that ideal at 15 yards and also at 50.  If your looking for a 40 yard killer then it's going to be pretty tight at 15. If you have a nice open pattern at 15, it's gonna fall apart by 40.

This is correct, there's always a compromise.

[silencer223]

3/2/7's.  3 inch, 2 ounces, 7 shot. Sorry about that, just an easy way to know exactly what shell it is when talking about a particular brand.

Oh okay! Sorry about that.. thanks for clearing that up!

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[silencer223]

H13 #7 gets my vote

Idk, my minds been conditioned that 7's are too small for turkeys..

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I've killed them from 15yds to over 50yds with H13 #7's.  HTL #7's are the most lethal shot I've put through my turkey guns. 


A guy I hunt with made fun of me for shooting "skeet shot" through my turkey gun with the 7's.  After seeing me stone one at a shade over 50 (misjudged rushed shot) he ditched his #4 lead for some 7's.

How have those patterned at the closest range you patterned them at? I'm just curious

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[Longshanks]

There is no such load that ideal at 15 yards and also at 50.  If your looking for a 40 yard killer then it's going to be pretty tight at 15. If you have a nice open pattern at 15, it's gonna fall apart by 40.

This is correct, there's always a compromise.

I always work to get a good compromise at 20yds and 40yds. 15 and 50 would be a stretch. I have a gun/ Hevi 13 turning 330's in a 10 @ 40 that has a good 20yd pattern as well. Win LB shoots a softball size pattern at 15-20 out of my guns for 215-225 at 40yds.

[Gobble!]

H13 #7 gets my vote

Idk, my minds been conditioned that 7's are too small for turkeys..

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Time for reconditioning lol. I use #9s. High density shot has changed the game.

[turkeywhisperer935]

Not a thing wrong with htl 7's. People don't realize they perform the same as lead 5's. Some people will argue but how dead is dead. They pattern great too at all ethical ranges.

[decoykrvr]

     
       Hevi-13, 3",2oz, #7
       Hevi-13, 31/2", 21/4 oz. #7
I've done necropsies/x-rays on gobblers killed w/ these loads from 6 to 62 yards and the penetration on the head and neck was impressive.  I've personally discussed the marketing of the HTL loads w/ the staff at EnvironMetal, Inc., regarding their excessive long-range hype and the deleterious effects esp. w/ new or uninformed turkey hunters.  My discussions were apparently without success since they and other manufacturers continue their marketing of the long-range shotshell myth.

[stinkpickle]

H13 #7 gets my vote

Idk, my minds been conditioned that 7's are too small for turkeys..

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For years, I shot turkeys with #7 1/2 copperplated lead.  They died just fine.

[coonhunter]

If I was going with just one load it would be the Old Winchester #5 supreme.  I've seen a lot of birds killed from 10 to 40 with no problems what so ever.  I would say it was the best Lead shell before Longbeards

[BrowningGuy88]

If I was going with just one load it would be the Old Winchester #5 supreme.  I've seen a lot of birds killed from 10 to 40 with no problems what so ever.  I would say it was the best Lead shell before Longbeards

I've certainly killed a lot with them and seen a lot killed with them. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 150.

[Gentry]

If I was going with just one load it would be the Old Winchester #5 supreme.  I've seen a lot of birds killed from 10 to 40 with no problems what so ever.  I would say it was the best Lead shell before Longbeards

I've certainly killed a lot with them and seen a lot killed with them. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 150.

[chatterbox]

This season I have gone with the 20 ga and Federal Heviweight 3-1.5-7's.
At 30 yards, I have almost 200 in the 10" circle, at 40, I have 152.
I haven't shot it at 20, but my patterns are nice and even. I shoot my gun with an FFIII, because if it's a close shot, I have more confidence knowing where that dot is, my payload will be delivered.
My son has killed 3 mature toms at ranges roughly from 20-30 yards with a flush mount full choke, and all 3 birds dropped like they were hit with a sledgehammer.

[nosaj]

Silencer223, Did you settle on a load yet?

I found this site this year (and boy has it cost me money ) when I was looking for choke recommendations for a SBEII I pick up this winter.

I settled on H13 7's through a Hevi Choke Turkey

At 20 yards it throws an 18-20" Pattern and at 40 it puts 240 +/- in a 10" circle.  I am pretty happy with this performance and know that if I end up a little out of this range either way I should be alright. 

I am shooting 3-1/2" shells through a 28" barrel.

For the SBE II the Hevi Choke constriction is a .667 which is larger than a lot of the other extended range turkey chokes for this gun which seem to range .650-.660.  I have seen tighter patterns reported with this gun/load however they are usually with a tighter constriction which you would think would have a smaller pattern at 20.