I'm in the process of building a turkey gun that I think would be a excellent short range Hog gun. I know some of you use buckshot. What choke do you prefer? Also what kind of range can I expect? What about Thermals? Thanks in advance!

I shoot a 12 gauge with 300 gr Hornady SST Sabots and Pulsar Apex XQ50 thermal I’m this video. Be advised most thermals aren’t going to withstand 12 gauge recoil.

SapperTitan, can you reflect on the distance of the shots in the video?

Shots are all different. Most are prob 50 yards or so but some are out to 100 yards

I use my 12 ga. Cheetah with Cylinder bore. It patterns #4 shot well enough at 40 yards that I use it for turkey. Using DDuplex slugs I've taken down lots of piggies, with the longest range being 78 lasered yards. As with all shotties, you're going to have to experiment (pattern) your particular gun to find the best choke/ammo combination. My Remington and Savage both demand a tight Turkey Choke to pattern correctly and tightly enough to work effectively. I can't afford thermals so I can't help you there, but I would imagine that the recoil of a 12 gauge using high brass will really test the toughness of any night vision or thermal scope!

Thanks for the video and info. That's exactly what I was hoping to see. I was concerned about the recoil on the thermals but now I know the Pulsar's can handle it. How many rounds have you fired with this setup? What type of choke are you running? Thanks again in advance!

That's a bad looking shotgun! I hope to find a drum for mine one day. As of right now they don't offer one. Still to new yet I guess

I have a rifled barrel no chokes. I’ve fired hundreds of rounds with no issues with the thermal. Recently upgraded to Pulsar Trail XP50 and have had no issues with it either

Sweet looking gun, will post a pic of my akdel later.

From the tree stand that I bow hunt from I use buckshot at 15-35 yards, just depends on where the hogs are around the feeder. I have never tried further. I have other chokes but have used the modified for almost everything.
My Bennelli SBE2 has an extension tube so I can get 8 rounds in it, although I have never got to use them all. Hogs are quick after the first shot, even with a suppressor they react instantly. We slowed a video to super slow-mo once and watched the reaction of hogs after the first shot with a suppressed 308. From BOOM including their reaction time and getting up to speed, they moved 15 feet in the first second. So a feeder area will be cleared of hogs in a matter of a few seconds, you have to be quick. I have only ever got off 2-4 rounds effectively, after that it is hoping for returning little ones and finishing shots.
Using a scope isn't necessary and probably not very effective after the first shot when hunting this way.

Large shot sometimes will pattern tighter through a more open choke.
I use 4 buck for coyotes and it patterns best with a full however if I go to 00 or 000 I switch to a modified.
I was told the larger shot is deformed in a tight choke and does't go straight.
Got to test to see what works best with your gun and ammo combination

M

Thanks again for the info guys! I've been playing around and found so far modified choke has been the best. I was planning on removing the scope when not turkey hunting. I have a problem with judging distance. The diamond rectical in the scope happens to be the size of a turkey head a 40 yrds. It works as a range finder for me.

Google Dixie Slugs Tri-Ball Buckshot

Just my .02,
LeonCarr