Thanks again for your replies guys. I picked up a box of Federal Heavyweight #7's yesterday for the H&R Topper. Shot the first shell at 25 yards to compare patterns. Looked pretty similar to me though will do a hole count to be sure.
The spring opener started at 6:12 this morning. By 6:45, the second shell planted a turkey at 15 yards. Haven't struck in about 8 years now and never that soon. 7" beard on public land...I'm a happy camper!
I would imagine at that distance it wouldn't make any difference which of the two loads I was shooting. I thought about leaving the Topper behind as suggested by a few but figured it was just a matter of getting the bird to walk in a few yards closer. Guess I got lucky this time!
