Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Small Game Rifles for Turkeys

Does anyone use a rifle for turkey hunting? It seems to me that if you got a 22 Mag, and you used solids you would have a good load for body shots on the turkeys. The rifle would weigh less than a shotgun, it would have longer range, less recoil, it'd be harder to miss at the same ranges as a shotgun. (that's assuming that the shotgun is shooting for the head, and the rifle for the body)
Any help is great, Thanks

probly depends on the state. here in oregon they wont let you use anything but a bow or shotgun. and I desperatly want to get one with my flintlock

Check your state laws, in NC it's shotgun or bow, just like Oregon I see.

I'm in Washington (state) I'll have to look up the laws

Here in OK its shotgun only. I had a lease in Texas for a while and those guys used Hornet, 17's, and 222's. That 17 Rem was a beast . They shoot em right above the legs and they just tip over. DRT.

Does anyone know why the laws say you have to use a shotgun?

My heavy-barreled Sako .222 would be DEADLY for head-shots on turkeys, but here in Ohio, rifles are illegal for turkey hunting. But, in the same woods, I can and do use my .22 rimfire Ruger 10/22 and COULD use my Sako .222 LEGALLY on squirrel.

Go figger...!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

.22RF's work but your shot better be on the money. If you're not planning to head shoot with a 22 Mag, DON'T use solids. Turkeys can take a lot of abuse before they fold up, and likely you'll never find one shot with a solid. They can fly/run for over 300 yards from that load, and I've seen 'em do it. My preferred shot is in one "armpit" and out the other, or between the shoulders from 6 o'clock.

I always thought the object of shooting a turkey was to have something left for the table. From what I've seen, high velocity CF's are the worst thing in the world, regardless of where you hit 'em, and that would include one a friend shot with a 30-06 at 326 yards. I'm thinking...25-20 with cast bullets....

Before the laws were changed around 25 years ago, I shot a few with a .22 Magnum (standard WW hollow point) and one with a cast bullet .30-06 load. The 50 grain Gold Dot in .22 Magnum seems like it may be a good load in a rifle.

I think VA and PA still allow it in some counties. I imagine it's allowed in the Southwestern states, I know it's legal in Texas.

My grandfather told me that the turkey shoots they had consisted of waiting with a rifle for a turkey to stick his head up out of a cage, three shots for a nickle.

264Win. Turkeys here in TN. can be harvested with shotgun and bow only. I remember when the only place in WA. to hunt Turkey was to go to Klickitat Co. now the darn things are everywhere.

I e-mailed the Virginia Department of Natural Resources this morning, asking if it was legal to use a rifle for turkeys and what, if any, restrictions existed. The response that I got was that it is legal to use a rifle for turkeys in both spring and fall seasons. There are no caliber restrictions; however, there are local regulations in some counties that restrict some rifles during ALL seasons. One must check the state hunting pamplet for particulars.

I use a rifle/shotgun combination for turkeys; a 12ga. over .222 Rem. I have shot a few turkeys with the rifle but most succumb to the shotgun. Ironically, the last one that I shot with the rifle was well within shotgun range. I just had a dead-still hold on the side of the head and said "what the hell..." On another occasion, I had a turkey that had hung-up just out of (I thought) shotgun range. I drew down on the head, pulled what I thought was the rifle trigger, and was most suprised when the shotgun went off. Got that one as well...

...proving once again that if you have a choice between being good and being lucky, pick lucky every time.

Combo

It is legal in WV to turkey hunt with a rifle and alot of fall turkey hunters use them. I've heard several WV turkey hunters using 22WMR on turks and my uncle likes a 222 Remington.

What is the consesus of using the .17HMR on Turkey? I am thinking of using this w/ the new 20 grn Hornady XTP's......Any comments or suggestions?? Thanks.KM

I have shot four or five turkey's with a 22 mag with mixed results. Head shots with any rifle are a lot harder than you would think, due to them constentley moving and bobbing. I used to try and take them where the wing meets the body, but have had 2 instances where the 22 mag broke the wing and didn't penetrate the vitals. I ended up chasing them down through the brush to finish the job, believe me they can cover some ground. The best place that I have found to shoot them with a 22 mag is through the back with a plain old hollow point. It drops them on the spot and the breast plate is thick enough to stop the bullet and not damage any meat.

I think that the 17 wouldn't have enough pennitration for a turkey. If the 22 Magnum will do it, why use the 17 HMR? Why not use a 22 Hornet for better preformance?

264, while I don't usually hunt fall turkeys, I do hunt them in the spring season. I always use a 22 mag. During the spring here in Tx. the birds are mating. If a hen is in sight of a gobbler, he will " show his stuff ". That means he gets very still. Head shots are a lot easier when they are not bobbing around. If a head shot is not available I shoot where the wing meets the body. Never lost one yet.

I did shoot one with a 243 during deer seaon a few years back. It made to much of a mess for me. I was using Hornady 100 gr. factory ammo.

Best To Ya.. BP...

boilerpig1, I wish we could use rifles on Turkeys in either Spring/Fall seasons. In the spring it would sure take care of the hen'd up longbeards, that'll strut around and won't get away from their hens and into range.

The state would have to change their weapon rules since Turkeys are considered big game and you have to use at least a 24 cal. on all big game.

1960, my father killed many a turkey with a Rem. 721 / 30-06 and 150 gr. core-locks. His scope was a 4x Weaver with a post and crosshair. He shot them where the neck joined the body. A hit was deadly. A miss was something we didn't talk about. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> I sure cleaned a lot of those birds of his.

BP...

My last Texas turkey was taken with a .218 Bee Contender, and 45 gr. Hornet bullet, at around 80 yards. Once hit, the big bird just sank to the ground, dead. Not a feather ruffled. He was so perfect that I had him mounted.