anyone have a line on some 2 3/4 12 gauge turkey loads, seems to be pretty tough to find in stock anywhere. I just picked up a valmet with 2 3/4 chamber that id like to try out this year turkey hunting
Not sure you will find much in the way of dedicated turkey loads in 2 3/4". I think there are some TSS loads out there, but they are expensive. In lead, you will have the most luck finding high brass #6 and #4 shot. Due to the limited capacity of ther 2 3/4" shell, I'd likely go with #6 shot for pattern density. Plenty of turkeys have fallen to rounds like these.
Here are some Winchester 2 3/4" # "Turkey Loads." (I'd probably still opt for the #6 shot above based on shot size, density of shot pattern, and velocity. In #4, I'd go with thuese due to weight of shot in the shell.)
Local Walmart here has plenty of 4,5and 6 shot pheasant loads. I’ve killed a pile of turkeys with 2 3/4 1 1/4oz pheasant loads growing up. They’ll work fine at “normal” ranges.
Local Walmart here has plenty of 4,5and 6 shot pheasant loads. I’ve killed a pile of turkeys with 2 3/4 1 1/4oz pheasant loads growing up. They’ll work fine at “normal” ranges.
outside of "normal" ranges the valmet has a triple duece on the bottom if they hang up further out. i checked one of our walmarts this morning with nothing there
I like the way you think. I would way rather hunt them with a rifle or pistol than a shotgun but sadly I think our rifle season went extinct this year. We don’t have many turkeys left anymore anyway.
Not always hikerbum, specalized wads, buffered shot... sometimes there is a difference. Not always, but sometimes...
kunas, dug around in my shop and I have 10 rounds of Federal Premium 2-3/4" mag with 1-5/8oz of #4 available if you need it. Also have 7 rounds of Hevi-Shot 2-3/4" Duck with 1-1/4oz of #6. I think you can kill a turkey with duck loads, lol! PM me if you're at all interested...
It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!
Winchester used to make 2 3/4 inch turkey loads, because I've used them years ago, and they worked good. When my granddaughters started out turkey hunting, using 20 gauges, I used the 2 3/4 inch high brass #5 shot and they killed turkeys just fine. It does not take an expensive shell to kill a turkey.
Local Walmart here has plenty of 4,5and 6 shot pheasant loads. I’ve killed a pile of turkeys with 2 3/4 1 1/4oz pheasant loads growing up. They’ll work fine at “normal” ranges.
THIS !!!! Stop over thinking it. I have killed probably a hundred with "duck and pheasant" loads in 5 and 6 shot. I have killed a handful with 7 1/2 high brass in tight cover to great effect...
"High Brass" duck and pheasant loads are the "Remington Corelokts" and "Federal Blue Boxes" of the shot shell world...
Last edited by Sasha_and_Abby; 03/03/22.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where they went" Will Rogers
Local Walmart here has plenty of 4,5and 6 shot pheasant loads. I’ve killed a pile of turkeys with 2 3/4 1 1/4oz pheasant loads growing up. They’ll work fine at “normal” ranges.
THIS !!!! Stop over thinking it. I have killed probably a hundred with "duck and pheasant" loads in 5 and 6 shot. I have killed a handful with 7 1/2 high brass in tight cover to great effect...
"High Brass" duck and pheasant loads are the "Remington Corelokts" and "Federal Blue Boxes" of the shot shell world...
I'm sure when I first started spring turkey hunting with my old New Haven 600 (a Montgomery Ward's branded Mossberg 500) with a C-lect choke I was using #4 or #6 Federal hi brass 2 3/4". Didn't know any better at the time. Wish I still had that gun, then I might try and pull off a "retro" turkey hunt the way I did it when I was young.
I'm sure when I first started spring turkey hunting with my old New Haven 600 (a Montgomery Ward's branded Mossberg 500) with a C-lect choke I was using #4 or #6 Federal hi brass 2 3/4". Didn't know any better at the time. Wish I still had that gun, then I might try and pull off a "retro" turkey hunt the way I did it when I was young.
Same gun my dad hunted with only it was a Westernfield 550C. But came from Monkey Ward's. The poly-choke actually was more effective than one might think.
I like going retro every once in a while, too. Sometimes carry my grandpa's "Choke Bore" Iver Johnson single 12 that he bought new in 1929. Took a bruiser of a fall gobbler last year with a 1948 Model 21 Winchester 16 gauge............a purple, Federal high brass #6 game load.
What do you call a guy that claims he's been paid by the turkey hunting and choke tube industries for two decades won't tell who paid him and hides behind a bogus user name on the internet ?
I'm sure when I first started spring turkey hunting with my old New Haven 600 (a Montgomery Ward's branded Mossberg 500) with a C-lect choke I was using #4 or #6 Federal hi brass 2 3/4". Didn't know any better at the time. Wish I still had that gun, then I might try and pull off a "retro" turkey hunt the way I did it when I was young.
Same gun my dad hunted with only it was a Westernfield 550C. But came from Monkey Ward's. The poly-choke actually was more effective than one might think.
I like going retro every once in a while, too. Sometimes carry my grandpa's "Choke Bore" Iver Johnson single 12 that he bought new in 1929. Took a bruiser of a fall gobbler last year with a 1948 Model 21 Winchester 16 gauge............a purple, Federal high brass #6 game load.
I still have a WesternField 550 deluxe complete with basket weave impressed checkering, white line spacers, damascened bolt and etched game scenes that I hunt with regularly. The stock is a beautuiful, highly figured piece of feather crotch black walnut.
I'm sure when I first started spring turkey hunting with my old New Haven 600 (a Montgomery Ward's branded Mossberg 500) with a C-lect choke I was using #4 or #6 Federal hi brass 2 3/4". Didn't know any better at the time. Wish I still had that gun, then I might try and pull off a "retro" turkey hunt the way I did it when I was young.
Same gun my dad hunted with only it was a Westernfield 550C. But came from Monkey Ward's. The poly-choke actually was more effective than one might think.
I like going retro every once in a while, too. Sometimes carry my grandpa's "Choke Bore" Iver Johnson single 12 that he bought new in 1929. Took a bruiser of a fall gobbler last year with a 1948 Model 21 Winchester 16 gauge............a purple, Federal high brass #6 game load.
I still have a WesternField 550 deluxe complete with basket weave impressed checkering, white line spacers, damascened bolt and etched game scenes that I hunt with regularly. The stock is a beautuiful, highly figured piece of feather crotch black walnut.
That's a rare one. Would love to see pics of it !!
Mostly WesternField was the bargain basement, working man's gun. I mean........really. A generic Mossberg.
Dad's is the vertically slotted wood on the pump. Smooth pistol grip. And below plain Jane walnut. The bluing is about as high quality as the walnut. But it was always absolutely reliable for him. It's around 50 years old and has never been in need of any repair.
What do you call a guy that claims he's been paid by the turkey hunting and choke tube industries for two decades won't tell who paid him and hides behind a bogus user name on the internet ?
I'm sure when I first started spring turkey hunting with my old New Haven 600 (a Montgomery Ward's branded Mossberg 500) with a C-lect choke I was using #4 or #6 Federal hi brass 2 3/4". Didn't know any better at the time. Wish I still had that gun, then I might try and pull off a "retro" turkey hunt the way I did it when I was young.
Same gun my dad hunted with only it was a Westernfield 550C. But came from Monkey Ward's. The poly-choke actually was more effective than one might think.
I like going retro every once in a while, too. Sometimes carry my grandpa's "Choke Bore" Iver Johnson single 12 that he bought new in 1929. Took a bruiser of a fall gobbler last year with a 1948 Model 21 Winchester 16 gauge............a purple, Federal high brass #6 game load.
I still have a WesternField 550 deluxe complete with basket weave impressed checkering, white line spacers, damascened bolt and etched game scenes that I hunt with regularly. The stock is a beautuiful, highly figured piece of feather crotch black walnut.
That's a rare one. Would love to see pics of it !!
Mostly WesternField was the bargain basement, working man's gun. I mean........really. A generic Mossberg.
Dad's is the vertically slotted wood on the pump. Smooth pistol grip. And below plain Jane walnut. The bluing is about as high quality as the walnut. But it was always absolutely reliable for him. It's around 50 years old and has never been in need of any repair.
Mines also been completely reliable and never needed any repairs. It takes me back to my childhood when me and my brothers looked forward to the Wards and Sears catalogs coming in the mail every year. We'd pore over the pages of those catalogs for hours, particularly the gun/sporting goods section. I thought those 550 deluxes were beautiful when I was a kid but couldn't afford one. Years later when I found this one in like new condition at a gun show I snapped it up.
Kent 'fast lead' 2.75 #5's is an absolute hammer thru my old fixed-full Wingmaster.
As with any shotgun/choke/load combination, its all about finding what is going to throw a tight pattern consistently. You just have a little less room for error with the smaller-capacity charges.
What do you call a guy that claims he's been paid by the turkey hunting and choke tube industries for two decades won't tell who paid him and hides behind a bogus user name on the internet ?
I think they call that a phoney....
Come out the closet and answer the riddle yoderbOy
I'm sure when I first started spring turkey hunting with my old New Haven 600 (a Montgomery Ward's branded Mossberg 500) with a C-lect choke I was using #4 or #6 Federal hi brass 2 3/4". Didn't know any better at the time. Wish I still had that gun, then I might try and pull off a "retro" turkey hunt the way I did it when I was young.
Same gun my dad hunted with only it was a Westernfield 550C. But came from Monkey Ward's. The poly-choke actually was more effective than one might think.
I like going retro every once in a while, too. Sometimes carry my grandpa's "Choke Bore" Iver Johnson single 12 that he bought new in 1929. Took a bruiser of a fall gobbler last year with a 1948 Model 21 Winchester 16 gauge............a purple, Federal high brass #6 game load.
I still have a WesternField 550 deluxe complete with basket weave impressed checkering, white line spacers, damascened bolt and etched game scenes that I hunt with regularly. The stock is a beautuiful, highly figured piece of feather crotch black walnut.
That's a rare one. Would love to see pics of it !!
Mostly WesternField was the bargain basement, working man's gun. I mean........really. A generic Mossberg.
Dad's is the vertically slotted wood on the pump. Smooth pistol grip. And below plain Jane walnut. The bluing is about as high quality as the walnut. But it was always absolutely reliable for him. It's around 50 years old and has never been in need of any repair.
Mines also been completely reliable and never needed any repairs. It takes me back to my childhood when me and my brothers looked forward to the Wards and Sears catalogs coming in the mail every year. We'd pore over the pages of those catalogs for hours, particularly the gun/sporting goods section. I thought those 550 deluxes were beautiful when I was a kid but couldn't afford one. Years later when I found this one in like new condition at a gun show I snapped it up.
I always thought Dad's gun was uckin' fugly. When I turned 12 I bought a brand new Winchester 1200 with my trapline money. Made Dad's gun look like a tomato stake.
Then I started hunting turkeys and patterning guns and then turkey tubes started to appear like the old Hastings and Woodward............. So I took Dad's tomato stake one day and wound the flamethrower choke as righty-tighty as it would go and had a 40-yarder at 30" paper. Surprised the chit outta me !!!
Decades later............... I've been eyeing 550C WesternFields in 20 gauge just to have a lighter gun, but with that same old "throwback, retro" feel.
I intend to take my old WesternField 550 turkey hunting this spring. Probably take my Sears J.C. Higgins 16 gauge side by side too. I like the retro guns.
Kent 'fast lead' 2.75 #5's is an absolute hammer thru my old fixed-full Wingmaster.
As with any shotgun/choke/load combination, its all about finding what is going to throw a tight pattern consistently. You just have a little less room for error with the smaller-capacity charges.
I have a box of their 4s. The plant is in my county. Used to be the Activ plant. Still have some of their nickel-plated 5s, which are local favorites. Had some 3” ones advertised (no 3” gun) some years back and had a number of calls for them long after they were gone. Good stuff.
2 boxes Federal Flight Control (10 each) 12 ga. 2&3/4" #4s. 1315 fps.
$130 shipped UPS for all.
Pm me with a cell number and I'll text you a pick.
Why didn't you guys speak up and tell me I had this ammo over priced.....if Ron doesn't want it I'm going to list all 6 boxes for $70 shipped.
Its just sitting in my ammo cabinet.
I also found some 2&3/4" Winchester XR Rooster #4s with the Shot Lock Technology in a 25 rd plastic shotgun ammo box. Brownells shows them out of stock at $38 a box for 15 rds....I believe there was 22 or 23 rds in the box.
If Ron doesn't want it I'll probably list it for $45 shipped....I bought it to.shoot in a Winchester 97 I had that I don't have any more. As I recall they shot pretty good in it.
2 boxes Federal Flight Control (10 each) 12 ga. 2&3/4" #4s. 1315 fps.
$130 shipped UPS for all.
Pm me with a cell number and I'll text you a pick.
Why didn't you guys speak up and tell me I had this ammo over priced.....if Ron doesn't want it I'm going to list all 6 boxes for $70 shipped.
Its just sitting in my ammo cabinet.
I also found some 2&3/4" Winchester XR Rooster #4s with the Shot Lock Technology in a 25 rd plastic shotgun ammo box. Brownells shows them out of stock at $38 a box for 15 rds....I believe there was 22 or 23 rds in the box.
If Ron doesn't want it I'll probably list it for $45 shipped....I bought it to.shoot in a Winchester 97 I had that I don't have any more. As I recall they shot pretty good in it.
Kent 'fast lead' 2.75 #5's is an absolute hammer thru my old fixed-full Wingmaster.
As with any shotgun/choke/load combination, its all about finding what is going to throw a tight pattern consistently. You just have a little less room for error with the smaller-capacity charges.
I have a box of their 4s. The plant is in my county. Used to be the Activ plant. Still have some of their nickel-plated 5s, which are local favorites. Had some 3” ones advertised (no 3” gun) some years back and had a number of calls for them long after they were gone. Good stuff.
I killed my first bird with Activ 3" #4 shot 2 ounce loads. Still have a few left. Kicked like a mule.
I have a few of the old Activ shells. They didn't pattern as well as other comparable shells and never made it into my turkey vest. In the 2.75" shell the Winchester XX baby magnum was always my go to shell. I have an old Remington 870 that killed a lot of gobblers with those short red hulled Winchester shells. They are copper plated shot, have a buffer mix in the 1.5 ounces of shot and were hi tech back in the day.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
couple pics of the valmet 212, put a redfield 2x7 tv on it. Wicked accurate with old winchester 50 sp ammo. Had a few boxes for many years just waiting on something to shoot them in, will work up loads when the factory winchesters are done.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/kl0ojCj.jpg)
