Pattern to tight?

[Matt74]

In your opinion, what is to tight for a turkey shotgun pattern. With  the combination of today's modern shotguns,  chokes,  and shells the results and long range are pretty amazing. I'm shooting a tight constricted choke with Winchester LB and its patterns great at 40 yrds but it's starts getting pretty tight at close range. I'm worried about missing one of those close birds. Therefore, I'm considering going to a looser constriction choke. It seems like everyone's only concern is getting the tightest patterns possible. What are your thoughts?

[Swampchickin234]

When my pattern is like baseballs at 20 yards I'm out.  I want a volley ball at 20 yards.  That's why I shoot htl with a high pellet.  Then again, there's something to be said about the good old lead 6s.    The crossover is why I started tss.    I get the best of both worlds.   Very forgiving pattern at 20, still very very good at 40. 


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[MK M GOBL]

Exact reason I shoot with a scope, we have on every turkey gun. I scoped my gun better than 20 years ago and wouldn't think of not having a scope on it. We sight in "Dead-On" at 15 yards and done and I/We kill at that range! Plus when I have a New or Youth Hunter it's an easy transition.

So far this year I have been on 3 hunts and birds went down at 17 yards, 11 yards & 14 yards and all with a scoped gun.

MK M GOBL

[TrackeySauresRex]

I'm worried about missing one of those close birds. What are your thoughts?

This is why I'm not a fan of the LB shells. Most pattern @40 but prefer them at closer ranges. If it's lead, I like the Winchester HV..

[allaboutshooting]

In your opinion, what is to tight for a turkey shotgun pattern. With  the combination of today's modern shotguns,  chokes,  and shells the results and long range are pretty amazing. I'm shooting a tight constricted choke with Winchester LB and its patterns great at 40 yrds but it's starts getting pretty tight at close range. I'm worried about missing one of those close birds. Therefore, I'm considering going to a looser constriction choke. It seems like everyone's only concern is getting the tightest patterns possible. What are your thoughts?

You raise a good point. The WLB shells were designed for long range shooting and strange as it may sound, a more open choke normally does not produce a more open pattern with those shells. There are several options. One is to switch shells.

A Hevi-13 shell with #6 or #7 shot, a Federal 3rd Degree with multiple sizes of shot or a Triple Beard with multiple sizes of lead shot, all work well. A tighter choke may help to break-up the resin slug that surrounds the shot in the WLB shell and produce a somewhat more open pattern or as has been suggested, you can install some type of sight on your gun and continue to use the WLB shells.

I hope that helps some.

Thanks,
Clark

[Strutr]

It only stands to reason that the tighter your patterns are at 40 yards, the tighter they will be at close range.  No matter loads used, I am a proponent of some sort of enhanced sights on a turkey gun to allow precise shooting on those closer shots where your pattern is relatively small.  If you find that your hunting is mostly close in shooting and don't mind passing on those longer shots, the newer high performance turkey shells may not be what you need or want.   

[Longshanks]

This is yet another season where I hear about allot misses up close on turkeys. I ask them what kind of shell are they shooting and every time it's "Winchester Longbeards". Volley ball at 20yds and 220+ at 40yds with HTL has been the best set up I have found. Hear great things about TSS just never ventured off into that. Inside 40 would much rather shoot XX 3/2/6's. Those are some of the best loads Winchester ever made.

[Coop1082]

I reckon I was lucky enough with the LBs to have a pretty solid choke/gun combo. Browning BPS with a Pure Gold .670 and at 20, while tight, it's not overkill. At 40 I'm getting around 150-160 on average in a 10" with a very even pattern. For lead #5s I'm pleased. There is for sure still what's looks like a slug hole at the center of the pattern inside of 20,, but I still have a halo of pellets that stretches out to the 8"  range that I look for in case a hiccup happens at those closer distances . Only run Williams Slugger sights, no scope or dot, and the 2 birds I've killed this year were at 14 and 22 steps. All that being said my cousin shoots a Mossberg 835 with the Carlson's LB choke and #5s and that setup is what I would consider too tight. I've witnessed him put 196 #5 pellets in a 10" at 40 and on average its in the 180s all day long. 30 yards is practically his 20. At 20 there is hardly any opening to his pattern, and everything is inside of what I would say is a 3" circle. No room for error, but he also runs a dot on his and he put a bird down inside of 20 just the other day. I feel it's all relative. Everyone has an idea of what sound they want to hear with turkey calls, and the same goes with what kind of pattern they want to see on paper. One person might like a golfball at 20 so he can feel confident at 40 because he hunts field birds, and one guy might like a volleyball at 20 and never take a shot outside of 35 because he hunts thick timber.

[Matt74]

I have a reflex sight on my gun so that helps some but it still makes me a little nervous about those real close shots knowing I have little room for error. I patterned the gun again yesterday and didn't see a big difference by trying different chokes. At 20 yards its shooting about a softball size pattern with #5's. I think I can live with that. Now I got to fix my gun. The pusher assembly broke on my MB 935 after shooting all those 3 1/2's yesterday. Thanks

[tha bugman]

I want some halo....just in case he decides to do some bobbing and weaving....

[Ontario_caller]

I shoot a browning cynergy over under with a pure gold .670 in the bottom barrel shooting win LBs #5s its my 25 to 40 yard barrel . Averages 150+ in 10 at 40.
My short range barrel has a pure gold .720 screwed in and I shoot a 2-3/4 inch Winchester high brass # 6 in that barrel , gives a nice forgiving pattern and a sure killer inside 30 yards.
I run an aimpoint H1 with a 2 moa dot. Poa/poi is perfect on both barrels.
Problem solved.

[turkeykiller41]

I am shooting a 680 Carlsons flush choke tube with the LB #6s and have good patterns up close and also at 40 yds.

[SumToy]

with any turkey load if you have a good choke inside of 20 yards will be a hole or base ball pattern 95% of the time.  Aim small or miss big. 

[Matt74]

I shoot a browning cynergy over under with a pure gold .670 in the bottom barrel shooting win LBs #5s its my 25 to 40 yard barrel . Averages 150+ in 10 at 40.
My short range barrel has a pure gold .720 screwed in and I shoot a 2-3/4 inch Winchester high brass # 6 in that barrel , gives a nice forgiving pattern and a sure killer inside 30 yards.
I run an aimpoint H1 with a 2 moa dot. Poa/poi is perfect on both barrels.
Problem solved.

Nice! I like that option!

[Longshanks]

The best hunting pattern I found was Rem choke with a extra full .687. Pattern was 160's with Win LB 5's. Just couldn't depend on a consistent pattern. Not sure if the open choke was causing it or the shell.