re: Turkey Hunting with Modified choke?

That KS for the replies. Most of what I have read said 30 yds is probably max range for modified choke. I'll buy some shells and see if I can't pattern it what's the rule of thumb for pellets in the killzone? I was also told #5 shot is ideal. Any other suggestions

A couple things to consider. Lead, when being shot out of a gun compresses and bounces around off each other. Thus, they can get flattened and not shoot as straight. You can see this very easily by shooting a regular old lead #6, and then shoot a steel #6. The steel will have a much tighter pattern. That being said, steel is extremely light in comparison to other loads, so isn't a good option. Being as you are using a modified choke, I would definitely opt for one of the heavi-shot loads (there are a few different brands). Also, I would suggest you find one of the blended loads that contain 5, 6, and 7 shot. A #7 heavi performs like a #5 lead as far as penetration, but since it is smaller, there are more of them. It will help you to get more pellets in the kill zone. The ammo isn't cheap at all (can be around $40 for a box of 5), but trust me on this....once you get out there, manage to get a turkey gobbling, get set up and have them come in, the worst feeling you will have is seeing a bird fold up, then jump up and run off. That extra money is very well spent.

As far as how many pellets, opinions and methods vary a bit. I would suggest you do it a couple of ways. Get a turkey target. You can buy them at any academy. You would want a minimum of 12 pellets in the head and neck area. The other way is to draw a 5" circle and do the same. The more the better. 12 is minimum, 15 is ideal, and 20 is sure fire.

Before you go start shooting $8 shells to pattern your gun, stand back about 20 yards with regular steel shot (it will fly truer than lead and mimic heavi-shite more) and take very good aim at the center of a 2' square target. Find out where your gun shoots. Many shotguns can shoot high or low with a couple shooting left or right. This will help tremendously in determining whether you need to be aiming just below the head, at the top of the head, or lower on the neck. Save yourself some grief.

Just remember....your ability to reach out and get them will be limited. All of ours are. Do not be in such a hurry to shoot that you hope to "luck up" and get a pellet in the dome by shooting at a bird that is out of range. Trust your patterns and distances you decide upon. They are very tough critters. If you don't have the shot, get back after him the next day. Crippling a bird is gut wrenching. For me it would be more so than crippling a deer.

And one last piece of advice...go with someone who has killed a few birds. You can certainly luck up and call in a bird your first hunt. But it's more likely you will get in a calling match with a gobbler who thinks you want him more than he wants you.

Being a turkey hunter has nothing to do with understanding how a shotgun works. The choke is literally zero factor if you find a load that it likes. If OP finds something that holds a pattern out to 40, which is very possible, there's no reason to not trust it to kill a turkey at 40.

Limit yourself to 30-35 yard shots and go to a smaller shot like #6 or even #7 if using hevi-shot or the like. This will increase the density of the pattern quite a bit.

My last 15-20 birds have been killed with a 20 gauge. I know plenty of hunters using 28's. It's all about getting the right load/choke combo. Many years ago I used a 12 gauge side by side. One choked Mod and the other Full. I'd use the Mod for close range and the Full for longer shots. It was a thing of beauty.

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I can't find a shell that will give me a few pellets in the head at 40 yards consistently?

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Here's your problem. A modified choke would probably give a few pellets in the kill zone. Maybe even 10-15 or more. But an xfull would put a couple hundred in the kill zone. Some guys that hand load on another forum are getting 300-400 pellets in the zone. 9" circle at 40yrds



Yes, it is possible to kill with a modified at that distance, as it technically only takes 1 pellet to kill a bird. But we know that isn't very likely

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Just so that I understand what you're saying here....you're saying that a pattern the size of a pie plate is too small to hit what you are aiming towards (I won't say aiming at, because obviously a 9" kill zone is too small for ya)?

Not at all, just trying to save the guy a couple hundred bucks worth of high dollar shells and chokes at Academy.... when one lead #4 pellet out of many will kill in that 9" zone.

[quote]You mean, unless someone can manage to fit that head into the 9" kill radius they have. That's a pretty tall order, but I reckon there are a couple folks who can basically shoot a rifle inside a pie plate at 30 yards with a red dot scope....cause in essence, that is exactly what they are doing.

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Excuse me Mr. Rhetorical, i guess they can take their rifles and pie plates with them to try and hit something the size of a claw hammer that almost never stops moving through the trees while trying to pick you out.

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always aim at the spot the feathers stop on the tom's neck rather than the turkey's head

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+1

It also makes you see his head above the bead. Many a turkey have flown away with just a few feathers missing due to the hunter covering the turkey's head with a bead and squeezing just as the turkey put his head down.