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 Waterfowl loads for turkey?
#952209
10/09/09 02:44 AM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 649
Luv2Hunt
OP
Tracker
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OP
Tracker
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 649 |
Serious question here. Can I use magnum waterfowl loads for turkey. Please, I'm serious. I got to looking at the turkey loads and saw that they were 1) 3 inch shells, 2) #4 or #5 shot and 3) Lots of shot.
Then it hit me...a buddy of mine gave me boxes and boxes of waterfowl steel shot.
Serious opinions only please.
Be kind with your words, thankful to your Creator and generous with the meat from your hunt.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: Luv2Hunt]
#952492
10/09/09 04:43 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,693
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,693 |
Sure why not. Lead Turkey loads tend to be a slower fps due to not shooting at a flying bird. They are just taylored for a tight pattern. Steel shot tends to pattern tighter than lead, higher speed and get blown with a full choke, so you may want to do some pattern testing to determine what choke is best for your load. The only other issue is that the Steel will lose it's downrange energy faster than lead. But again, Turkey is generally a close range affair. Just pattern test to get the best choke combination for a tight pattern for the loads you already have and keep your range under 30 yards, it will kill turkeys IMO. Here is a Turkey pattern target you can print off to use. http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/birds/turkey/images/turk10.gif
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#952681
10/09/09 12:44 PM
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 649
Luv2Hunt
OP
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 649 |
Thank you very much for your ideas and the turkey pattern. I was wondering about the steel losing its downrange power. I'm going to have to ponder this. I'm going to test fire some loads against the turkey pattern you gave me to see what happens. I may get some genuine turkey loads to test against as well.
Thank you very much.
Be kind with your words, thankful to your Creator and generous with the meat from your hunt.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: Luv2Hunt]
#963032
10/14/09 06:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,698
Hoytman
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,698 |
I wouldnt use it steel does lose alot of velocity and doesnt have the knock down power lead does but also it only takes 1 bb to kill em. JMO.
(Sig Pic to be no more than 125 pixels tall)
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: Luv2Hunt]
#963085
10/14/09 07:12 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,262
RICK O'SHAY
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,262 |
That's all I use for turkey, 2, bb, bbb, t, whatever in 3in and they work just fine for me.
DISCLAIMER
ATTENTION: Your decision should NEVER be based SOLELY upon my advice, recomendation, or opinion.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: RICK O'SHAY]
#974664
10/20/09 02:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 75
hawglips
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 75 |
If you shoot them very close in, dove loads, pellet guns, duck loads or anything else will kill them if you shoot them in the right spots.
But ammo manufacturers do not use steel shot used in turkey loads. And there are several very important reasons why. I would recommend against using them.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: hawglips]
#975448
10/20/09 09:06 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 19,161
Mr. Clean
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 19,161 |
Yep...they will work just fine....concentrate on your choke patterns or use a Turkey choke and BLAMO! Grilled Cutlets. When you clean the bird get out all the shot though if you can. I butterfly the breasts off the carcass and cut off the legs and thigh together. I then smoke the Legs and thighs and i chicken fry the Breast after cutting into filets and pounding out a bit.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: Mr. Clean]
#1044176
11/18/09 01:28 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 20
RngrMac
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 20 |
Do any of you turkey hunters shoot a Benelli SBE II and if so do you use a recoil reducer ??
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: RngrMac]
#1044894
11/18/09 06:20 AM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,601
deewayne2003
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,601 |
I know some of those 3.5" Heavy shot TTT make great yote loads, I would get them in 5-6 shot and have at it.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#1047794
11/19/09 01:38 PM
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Frustrated Hunter
Unregistered
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Frustrated Hunter
Unregistered
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Sure why not. Lead Turkey loads tend to be a slower fps due to not shooting at a flying bird. They are just taylored for a tight pattern. Steel shot tends to pattern tighter than lead, higher speed and get blown with a full choke, so you may want to do some pattern testing to determine what choke is best for your load. The only other issue is that the Steel will lose it's downrange energy faster than lead. But again, Turkey is generally a close range affair. Just pattern test to get the best choke combination for a tight pattern for the loads you already have and keep your range under 30 yards, it will kill turkeys IMO. Here is a Turkey pattern target you can print off to use. http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/birds/turkey/images/turk10.gif Under 30 yards? are you serious? with today's modern choke tubes and the new game specific turkey loads from ammunition manufacturers most 3" chambered shot guns with for example a Briley Super Full Turkey choke, can reach out and kill a turkey at 50+ yards! I have in fact killed 3 birds in the last 2 years that hung up on me at 45yds, 49yds & 52yds. I took those shots ONLY because I spent hours at the gun range coming up with the best choke tube/ammo combination I could find for my shotgun......
Last edited by Frustrated Hunter; 11/19/09 01:40 PM.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: ]
#1047871
11/19/09 02:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,191
Texas Cazador
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,191 |
I have shot 5 or 6 Turkeys with my Goose loads and it kilt them real good.
ITS BETTER TO DIE ON YOUR FEET THEN LIVE ON YOUR KNEES...!!!
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: Texas Cazador]
#1047930
11/19/09 02:51 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 75
hawglips
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 75 |
Most folks wouldn't play football with baskeball shoes. You can, but your performance will suffer. There is a reason they are called "goose" and "duck" loads instead of "turkey" loads. with today's modern choke tubes and the new game specific turkey loads from ammunition manufacturers most 3" chambered shot guns with for example a Briley Super Full Turkey choke, can reach out and kill a turkey at 50+ yards! I have in fact killed 3 birds in the last 2 years that hung up on me at 45yds, 49yds & 52yds. I took those shots ONLY because I spent hours at the gun range coming up with the best choke tube/ammo combination I could find for my shotgun...... There is no substitute for doing your homework on turkey loads. This is one of those exercises that separates the turkey hunters from the turkey shooters.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: hawglips]
#1066811
11/28/09 12:52 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,177
sallysue
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,177 |
I would shoot lead whenever I can .Lead will penatrate a whole lot more than steel
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: ]
#1066829
11/28/09 01:46 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,693
Sniper John
gumshoe
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gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,693 |
Frustrated,
The answer was in context of using "steel shot". I agree with you if we were talking about lead and hevi. I have taken turkeys at even farther distances than you have by using hevi shot loads and an extra full choke in my 10 GA. I pattern well with the turkey head target on the patterning board as far as 80 yards with some loads. But if he is wanted to use his leftover steel shot, he will have to stay within the limitations of the ammo due to the lighter pellets possibly not having the downrange energy to kill at the longer ranges just as sallysue was pointing out.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: Sniper John]
#1075102
12/02/09 02:56 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 26
point452
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 26 |
I've killed geese weighing about 15 lbs with #4 steel duck loads, so I don't see why a 12-20 lb turkey wouldn't be humanely dispatched with a load that patterned at a reasonable range, less than 30 yards seems about right.
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Re: Waterfowl loads for turkey?
[Re: point452]
#1082247
12/04/09 06:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,087
Jasb
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 18,087 |
I put the smack down on a flying hen with black cloud opening day. I still chuckle thinking about it.
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