What am I doing wrong

[luckyjack123]

I cannot get over 8-10 pellets in a turkey head target at 40 yards what am I doing wrong?I have about every shell ever made and 3 different choke tubes. I've got 3 different guns and none of them shoot better than the other,

[Izzyjoe]

8-10 pellets should do the trick! But seriously there's a few little trick of trade, I've learned that if the barrel is clean, and oil free most times shoots better. And temperature outside has a lot to do with it as well, very cold temps affect patterns. And some barrels like to be dirty, and other want to be squeaky clean. Each shotgun has its own personality, a few years back when I first started turkey hunting, and patterning different guns, I was disappointed to say the least. I had a few combos that I thought would be stone cold killers at 40yd, turns out they were marginal at best at 30yds. But I kept at it, and with the help of fellow shotgunners on here I figured out what works for me. If you don't mind me asking what kind of loads, and chokes you been trying?

[BandedSpur]

Shells, shells, and shells. Grab you a box of TSS 9s and any old choke tube, factory full or a bit tighter and you will not believe the patterns your gun will shoot.

[dirt road ninja]

1. Make sure your pattern is going where you are aiming, if you are only shooting at an 8.5x11 turkey target, the majority of your pattern is mostly elsewhere. Shoot at a 3'x3' piece of paper to see what ya got. If you have done that already, please list the shells/choke you've tried. Some are notorious for poor performance.

[luckyjack123]

I patterened gun on48" X 65" cardboard . I been shooting a FRACNCHI and a Primo tube in this gun .Have peep sights installed ( Williams ) because gun shot low . Pattern is dead on just always weak .

[luckyjack123]

Have shot federals flight control 5 and 6 shot . Federal HWT 7 and Hevi SHot 567 blend . Remington Nitro Mags , Winchester Longbeards , ACTIV ( had some left over) and maybe others at this point not sure.

[fallhnt]

I cannot get over 8-10 pellets in a turkey head target at 40 yards what am I doing wrong?I have about every shell ever made and 3 different choke tubes. I've got 3 different guns and none of them shoot better than the other,

What shot size?

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[Gobspur]

Well 8-10 pellets might be okay if your talking just the head alone!  Draw a 10 inch circle on that cardboard centered around your pattern, post a picture of it and all your gun/ammo specifics. Count number of hits in the circle. You might be okay assuming you got an even pattern.

[Old Gobbler]

Before you go and spend a fortune on more shells and chokes do this...

Test in good conditions with no wind, rain or freezing Temps .....this time of year I see all kinds of posts about poor patterns , its still winter like outside ..that bad weather is havoc on turkey patterns , wait for better weather

Clean your bore and choke ....use a solvent. ..clean that barrel with patches till its dry dry dry ...no oil , clean the bore out after each shot ,.....then use the pricey ammo for the 40 yard shot

If you can get 100 on a pie plate at 40 your good as gold

[luckyjack123]

Changed choke from .665 to a .655 and shot the federal heavyweight 7's today , 53 pellets in a turkey head target at 40 yards 

[BottomLand54]

try a long beard 6 shot out of that

[Gobble!]

Changed choke from .665 to a .655 and shot the federal heavyweight 7's today , 53 pellets in a turkey head target at 40 yards 

I was going to say, sounds like you need to try better tube as you have tried quality shells. Assume you were using a Primos Tight Wad? What are you using now?

[davisd9]

What are you shooting at? Big paper or just a small turkey target?

[Cane Cutter]

Shells, shells, and shells. Grab you a box of TSS 9s and any old choke tube, factory full or a bit tighter and you will not believe the patterns your gun will shoot.

Ok so I have an Indian creek .665 in my Remington you think I still could go factory full? 


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[davisd9]

Shells, shells, and shells. Grab you a box of TSS 9s and any old choke tube, factory full or a bit tighter and you will not believe the patterns your gun will shoot.

Ok so I have an Indian creek .665 in my Remington you think I still could go factory full? 


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I would see what the .665 would do.  The full should give a good pattern as well.