|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,806
Campfire Outfitter
|
OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9,806 |
I have finally drawn my first spring turkey tag. I have a 28" 12 Guage 870, with an extended choke tube that I use for predators. I have no idea about what load to use, any suggestions would be awesome.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 674
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 674 |
Hevi shot turkey #5 are my favorit
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45,015
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45,015 |
shot a lot of em nitro ray stuff hevi shot many plain old lead loads many plain old copper and nickel plated loads
all will pattern good depending on what your set up likes
but..................................
for the money and the performance Winchester longbeard loads are the shyt!!!!!!
get a truglo strut stopper extreme choke (not the gobble stopper)for the 870 and buy 2 boxes of some #6 longbeard in 3 inch or 3.5 inch depending on your chamber length and a aftermarket open sight and go pattern it at 40 yds
probably set ya back 100 bucks total
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,721
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,721 |
Nitrocompany.com Call and talk to Ray. He will not steer you down the wrong path.
Steve
“Alive in JESUS!” NRA LIFE MEMBER
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45,015
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45,015 |
Nitrocompany.com Call and talk to Ray. He will not steer you down the wrong path.
Steve good luck with that................
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45,015
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45,015 |
501l in econ load was good till he switched from red federal hulls to brown fiochi hulls
the h517 is good in strait 7
if the op is gonna order from nitro ray he better get em now they go fast and he is slow filling orders at times also
better if he could find a local dealer if any in his area
sometimes they sell individual shells and you can experiment and then decide if the cost is worth the pattern and once you nail down which shell of nitro works then buy a box of 25
cause you take the chance of ray changing components or not having components for the shell you like for years on end and you have very few left
or just go buy some Winchester longbeard shells ......... and kill em just as dead
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,721
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,721 |
Nitrocompany.com Call and talk to Ray. He will not steer you down the wrong path.
Steve good luck with that................ Always did me right. Steve
“Alive in JESUS!” NRA LIFE MEMBER
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,721
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,721 |
I haven't shot the Winchester longbeard shells, but the reviews I've read say they are awesome.
Steve
“Alive in JESUS!” NRA LIFE MEMBER
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,320
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,320 |
I have finally drawn my first spring turkey tag. I have a 28" 12 Guage 870, with an extended choke tube that I use for predators. I have no idea about what load to use, any suggestions would be awesome. I shoot plain lead 3" #4 Federal Turkey Loads out of a Carlson Dead Coyote choke. I've been knockin' them flat with those loads since '96. The Dead Coyote choke goes very well with the Flight Control Wad of the Federal ammo.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,516
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,516 |
Use the predator choke you have, and buy some Winchester longbeard shells as previously stated. They shoot well out of just about anything, and won't break the bank. If you want to spend a little more buy some hevi 13 6s or 7s. 3" 2oz, or 3.5" 2.25 oz. The nitro Ray shells are over priced. They might pattern a little better than the hevi 13 shells, but not for as much more as they cost.
Oh, and believe it or not, deer bite. Fairly hard.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 833
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 833 |
Most everyone I shoots them with 3" or 3.5" number 5's. I have been using the Remington 3" 4x6 duplex for years. I have heard great things about Hevi shot 4x6 as well.
Good luck and shoot straight
Bob
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,516
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,516 |
Shooting hevi shot(or any heavier than lead load) in any size bigger than 5s is pointless for turkeys. The shot size is big enough that the pattern density drops off rather quickly. 6s and 7s carry plenty of energy to 40 yards or more, and have good pattern density.
Oh, and believe it or not, deer bite. Fairly hard.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,510
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,510 |
I haven't shot the Winchester longbeard shells, but the reviews I've read say they are awesome. And the reviews are 150% correct. There is NO MORE bang for your turkey shell buck than the Longbeard XR. Not even close..........
Wollen nicht krank dein feind. Planen es.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,410
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,410 |
I haven't had any problems with a. 2 3/4 she'll in number 4 shot. I'm good out to 45 yards.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,769
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,769 |
3" 5's are my favorite, but I have killed the with everything from 2's to 7 1/5 trap loads..
Molon Labe
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,866
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,866 |
In a lead load I have had better patterns with winchester supremes than any other shell in 4 different guns. I also shot hevishot, and that stuff is great.
Indian Creek makes a great choke tube. AND I agree with renegade on the strut stopper extreme especially for the money.
Eating fried chicken and watermelon since 1972.
You tell me how I ought to be, yet you don't even know your own sexuality,, the philosopher,,, you know so much about nothing at all. Chuck Schuldiner
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45,015
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 45,015 |
the strut stopper extreme is the only choke that is close to my rhino .670 in my 835 and I have shot a lot shell and choke combos over the years
slumlord shoots a ssx in .670 with the LB 2 0z #6 in his 835 and has a hellava pellet count in the 250 plus range in 10"at 40yds
Last edited by renegade50; 01/13/16.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 351
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 351 |
the strut stopper extreme is the only choke that is close to my rhino .670 in my 835 and I have shot a lot shell and choke combos over the years
slumlord shoots a ssx in .670 with the LB 2 0z #6 in his 835 and has a hellava pellet count in the 250 plus range in 10"at 40yds
Do you suck as bad at turkey hunting as you do deer hunting?
"I'll beg to differ, sir. We started a game we never got to finish. Play for blood, remember?" Doc Holliday
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,284
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,284 |
Been shooting the Hevi-Shot magnum blend in 12 gauge 3" since the were introduced - they have always worked very well for me. I do have about four boxes (5 each) left, so that's a lot of turkey hunting. HOWEVER, from what I have heard and read here and elsewhere, I intend to pattern the Winchester 12 ga 3" Longbeard load through my Pure Gold .670 tube and see how it patterns - the Hevi-Shot is getting very expensive around here.
One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others. Archibald Rutledge
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,675
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,675 |
I have had 5 different 12ga Turkey guns. Shot hundreds of rounds testing patterns. The guys Touting the Winchesters are right. I found some ammo that would shoot better patterns but the Winchesters would always get the job done. As has been suggested I'd encourage you to buy a box of 3" Win. Longbeards and begin with the choke tube you have. Almost every turkey hunter has a favorite choke tube for their gun and will frequently tell you it is the best. My experience is there usually is a tube that shoots better than the others but any of the above suggested tubes will usually give you patterns that will take turkeys out to 40yds. If I can't get them inside 40yds then I'm thinking that my calling needs improving. An 870 loaded with turkey loads will get your attention when you ask her to speak. I could never get used to the recoil from the 3 1/2 loads. 3" is all I have ever needed. In fact my old Ithaca 37 shooting 2 3/4 loads never let me down. I'd also suggest #6 shot. It usually gives me the best combination of distance and density of pattern. If your pattern is tight enough so that you can't fit a turkey head and neck in there without getting 4 - 6 pellets in it you are good to go. At least that's always worked for me. Have fun and make sure you know what your gun is doing and where it shoots. Pattern, pattern, pattern.
Best to you Jim
BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. ~ Ephesians 6:10
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
|
|
|
|
535 members (219DW, 204guy, 1936M71, 17CalFan, 160user, 1beaver_shooter, 48 invisible),
1,852
guests, and
1,058
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,191,182
Posts18,465,649
Members73,925
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|