One of the fundamental mistakes new turkey hunters tend to make is to not pattern their gun/choke/shell combo. They go out hunting with no idea what their pattern looks like at a given yardage, and don't know what their set-up's effective range is.

Some shotguns shoot high, or low, or left or right -- and if you're trying to put the center of your pattern on a turkey's noggin, it's imperative to know what your pattern actually looks like out there.

And just because a box of shells says its a "turkey" load, doesn't mean it's a good one for you to use.

In fact, the biggest difference a hunter can make in his gun's performance, is to upgrade from a lead to a heavier-than-lead shell.

For example, in my primary turkey gun, a Mossberg 500, when I upgraded from copper plated lead #4s to Hevi-13 #6s, I increased the number of pellets on target (10" circle at 40 yds) from an average of 67, to an average of 190. And not only did I get 3 times the number of pellets on target, but each one of those pellets carried more knockdown power.

So, to maximize your gun's effectiveness, and reduce the number of crippled turkeys, upgrade your ammo to a heavier-than-lead turkey load. Sure, it will cost you about $10 extra per year to make the switch. But, hey, skip two McDonald's value meals over the course of the year, and you've paid for the upgrade!

Here's what my penetration test between copper plated lead #4s and Hevi-13 #6s looks like at 40 yds. You can also see what a huge difference there is in the pattern.

Federal Premium magnum 1-7/8 oz. copper plated #4s (high velocity)


Hevi-13 #6s, 2 oz. (1090 fps)

When I pattern my shotgun, I get me a 36" wide roll of cheap paper from somewhere, and cut me off pieces to get about a 36" square target. I then draw me a little red circle in the middle to get something to aim at. Measure off 40 yds, and set the paper target up on stakes with thumb tacks, or whatever works to hold the target up. Taping it on a large box works well also.

Then I shoot the shell at the target, find the center of the pattern (which usually is not exactly on) and draw a 10" circle around it. Then, count the holes in the circle. (I also count the holes in a 20" circle, since with my turkey hunting pattern, I want a 20" pattern with holes in it where a turkey could poke his head and neck throug).

Here's an example of a couple patterns.

Here's the Federal copper plated lead #4s at 40 yds. It's the same load shown in the post above. Notice there are lots of holes that would allow for a "miss" or more likely a crippled turkey. This pattern tells me that I should hold my shots to 35 yards or so with this shell.


Here's a picture of a great pattern shooting Nitros 4x5x7 hevishot loads. Notice that no turkey head could survive that pattern. This pattern tells me that 40 yds is no problem with this shell.

Great post guys! Lots of newbys that can use that info.

Hawglips, did your "zero" change between the two loads?? Looks like the copper shot to the right and the hevi was right on. Or was accuracy not your objective...thanks!

That was very helpful.Thanks.I will be going turkey huntingfor my first time and that helped me when i pattern my shots for practice.

great post. as newb with the turks, i really appreciate y'all sharing. i never would have thought to do this. makes perfect sense.

I picked up some Winchester Supreme Copper Plated Lead 4 shot and some Hevi 13 4 shot. Gonna see what my gun comes up with.

ive never hunted turkeys, now do i neeed to put scope mount or anything on my 870 or is just pointing the bead at it good enough after a lil practice?

no scope necessary

thats what i thought thanks! hopefully ill be getting recipes suggestions in about a month!

Here's a kick-azz 40 yd. pattern from handloads using super dense tungsten shot.

Don't expect something like this from you gun, but this is just an example of what a huge difference a quality turkey load makes.

man... and I've just been using left over duck and goose stuff like steel #2, #1, BB ect...most turkey I shoot at 20 yds or less but i did shoot one stuborn 1 at 63 paces.1 shot DRT.
And I'm not against vaporising their head with the 17 or 204.

At the price of specialty turkey loads I really don't want to burn them up shooting card board...

Sorry I know this goes against the reason behind your post, I guess I'm just saying you really don't HAVE to get all that technical to shoot a bird in the face at 20 to 30 yds..

Well maybe I'll take your advise.... I guess the reason I've always done it my way is "so far" it's worked out fine.

Anybody tried the Remington Nitro Turkey loads? They work great out of my mossy 835 with Jellyhead 690 choke.

I am going to do this Saturday. Thanks alot.

I've used Rem4x6 copper plated turkey loads basically my whole life. I shoot open sights on my 870, aim right at the base of the neck and rarely take shots over 40 yards. Never had any cripples or run offs. Most birds DRT. Two years ago I added a Rem super full choke. That helped me stretch out a little bit.

I like this little tutorial. I think I'll try it this weekend and see what my pattern looks like. I don't think I'll kill more birds knowing this info, but it couldn't hurt. You could have a gun that shoots a super tight pattern out to 80 yards, but if you can't call them in, you ain't gonna be killing anything.

I have a turkey target you can print but I cannot figure out how to add it to the post so drop me a line and I will send it to anyone who wants it. It has a nice 8inch circle around the head. Cannot remember where I found it online.

Friday before the opener I tried out the 3" Heavy Shot shells and Winchester 3" Copper Plated Lead turkey shells. With my 870 and Jelly head choke, the Winchesters left about 100 pellets in the kill zone on my turkey target and with the hevi shots I got about 20 pellets in the head after 2 shots.
Just thought I'd put my 2 cents in and say that what hawglips said is not always the case. It really depends on what your gun and choke like the best.

i bought my first box of turkey loads, #5 2oz loads made by remington, copper plated. nothing special, at 45 yrds, i didnt have any spots big enough to leave a head untouched. my goal is to get them at least 30 yrds in.... so i shouldnt have any problems, aall i know is turkey hunting was fun as heck and i cant wait to try it again, also im very upset that ive been missing out on it for the past 18 yrs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rem.870 magnum express w/ turglo strut choke,rem. nitro #6 knocks um down at 40yrds.

cbump, what hevi-shot shells did you shoot? What shot size? Waterfowl loads are not good turkey shells, do not pattern well, and are not recommended.

What lead size shot did you shoot?

(For example comparing #7-1/2 lead against #2 Hevi-shot for patterns is not going to get the information you were looking for...)

What distance did you shoot?

How big was your target's "kill zone?" How big was your paper? Were you able to catch at least 24" inches of the pattern to see what it's really doing out there? 36" is better.

There is no way to know what your pattern is really doing if the paper is not a large one -- large enough to catch the whole pattern. Point of aim and point of impact often vary from shell to shell, and not seeing the entire pattern prevents a hunter from knowing what the shell is doing in that regard as well.

Cbump, get you some a box of 3" Hevi-13, 2 oz. #6s, or Winchester Xtended Range HiDensity #6s, shoot them side by side on a large paper at 40 yds along with the copper plated lead loads, and next year, you will not take the lead out of the truck...