Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting how many pellets in the head?

When I started turkey hunting and checked into patterning... I was told you wanted at least 8 pellets in the pattern target head & neck for a lethal kill.

Does that still apply?
Any other rules to look at?

I always thought the general rule of thumb was 100 hits within a 10" circle

That's what I remember. The turkey target had the kill zone shaded. The hits there that counted, they need to hit the brain or neck bones. Bob

i looked and my pattern target does have vitals and neck bones in it that I can count pellets. The profile is based on a turkey neck xray.

Yep, that's the target I use. My 870 shooting 2 3/4" Baby Mags" 1 1/2 oz of #4 will put 7 to 9 into that shaded area--neck bones & brain @40 yards. It's what I've being using for 25 years---never had a problem. I've killed at 40 yards. With that said I try to get them into 25 yards.

I also aim at the "waddles"--where the skin meets the feathers. that way your top 1/2 of the pattern hits the head. The bottom 1/2 hits the neck

side question... would dropping back to a 20 inch barrel loose too much velocity?

Theres a 20 inch 870 sps camo turkey/predator integrated pistol grip shotgun with optic mount on clearance at a gun shop for $500 that's tempting me. It would be for the day I want to use optics.

This was the original standard, and then the blended loads, x-ray pattern targets were developed, and the shift has been to pattern to the 8-10 pellets in the neck/head.

I know local hunters, and both methods are still used. I generally go with the second on blended loads.

Nope. I hunt with a 21" barrel youth 870. It's a hammer with TSS loads.

To be fair, a .410 is a hammer with TSS loads!

I once killed a bird and only found one pellet that hit the head. Dressed it out, and figured I'd find a bunch in the body, but there were none. I always thought I must have hit just right. I have used a number of different shells, in 4, 5, and 6 shot. I used 12 guage in 3 1/2, 3, and 2 3/4 inch, as well as 20 guage 3 inch. In the 12's I always liked Winchester Supremes in all of them, with number 5 shot being my favorite. I mostly shot a 20 now, and have been shooting Federal 5's, mostly because I have a bunch of them. I prefer heavier shot because it penetrates better, and I think 4 or 5 of them will take down most turkeys.

I once killed a bird and only found one pellet that hit the head. Dressed it out, and figured I'd find a bunch in the body, but there were none. I always thought I must have hit just right. I have used a number of different shells, in 4, 5, and 6 shot. I used 12 guage in 3 1/2, 3, and 2 3/4 inch, as well as 20 guage 3 inch. In the 12's I always liked Winchester Supremes in all of them, with number 5 shot being my favorite. I mostly shot a 20 now, and have been shooting Federal 5's, mostly because I have a bunch of them. I prefer heavier shot because it penetrates better, and I think 4 or 5 of them will take down most turkeys.

Who makes these TSS loads?

Do they come in non-lead?

I hunt WPA's and cant have lead shot...

TSS= Tungsten Super Shot

Hold on to your wallet but the stuff is awesome. A bud of mine shoots it in his 20 gauge. Patterns super dense.

My days of hunting turkey with a 12 gauge are over.

side question: what drives that?

Shoulder injuries?
other surgeries?
Age?

Some of the older guys on our work trap shooting team are shooting lighter loads and switching to lighter loads and autoloaders because their bodies ache after league.

I've seen what the 20gauge can do with the heavyweight #7's and what some pards with the TSS, which is my next go.

No injuries, of course age always factors on everything, but a 20 gauge is all one needs with the right ammo.

There is no reason to lug around a shotgun that weighs a few more pounds and beats the sheit out of you. Recoil really isn't a big issue, since you seldom shoot.

So in short, you aren't gaining anything with the 12 gauge.

3" 20 gauge, with the right load and choke cover a whole lot of bases, as well as home plate.

Last spring, Federal Heavyweight #7's, Remington 20 gauge Youth 870 (with new buttstock).

Bird was shot at 56 yards and dropped at the shot. I don't like to shoot that far and it's the furthest I've ever killed a bird. I wouldn't have taken that shot with my 12 gauge and the lead loads I used for 25 years.

nice footprints in the frost...

It was dew, but yeah. See the wad at the bottom right of the pic