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what size shot #7763788 03/05/20 02:27 PM
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CCBIRDDOGMAN Offline OP
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Haven't spring turkey hunted in 15 years, but I'm going this spring. Need to order a box or two of shells. Looking at Winchester double x High velocity turkey loads, 12 Ga, 3.5 inch, 2 oz of shot. should I get 4's, 5's or 6?


Originally Posted by bill oxner
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7763806 03/05/20 02:42 PM
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mickeyhft Offline
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That sounds like a great load. There will be fans of any shot size there. I've always used and recommended 4's, I bet 5's would be great. No experience with 6's. 3" 2 oz 4's have always dropped them for me. Great luck to you on your hunt!


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Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7763816 03/05/20 02:49 PM
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Clark8907 Offline
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Find you some TSS 9s and use that. Much more shot in 2oz than standard lead. Not to mention, on ballistic gel tests, the #9 TSS at 40 yds, penetrated much better than #4 lead shot. They did a test at 88 yds with the 9s and they penetrated the gel 1.5in and the 4 shot did not even enter the gel. However, if you are wanting to stay with lead, I would recommend heavy shot mag blend or winchester longbeard xr 6s. When I toted a 12 ga I killed a many a bird with the longbeard 6s. Not proud of it by any means but there were several instances where I killed one bird and the other ran out there and stopped and the 6s stopped him at 50+ yds.

Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7763824 03/05/20 02:55 PM
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For the money it is hard to beat the performance of the Longbeard XR- get a box of 5s or 6s and make it happen!

If it is in your budget I've had great results with the Federal Heavyweight and now they are making TSS as well.

Happy Hunting!

Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7764630 03/06/20 02:09 PM
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Gamblinman Offline
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6's. Denser pattern.




" I don't hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt turkeys because I have to."
Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7765257 03/07/20 03:24 AM
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kmon11 Offline
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In lead I like 5s better than 6s for the reason is reliable breaking the neck 15 yards further and still found some loads delivered great patterns. If using heavy shot # 6 is my choice. from my SBE shooting 3.5 inch #6 heavy shot 60 yards it is deadly. in my Brertta OU 2 3/4 %s is deadly to 55 yards.


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Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7766679 03/09/20 02:06 PM
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Gulfgoose Offline
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If you can afford it, swing for a TSS load. I just patterned my for Federal Heavyweight TSS 7&9 blend and it is DEADLY. After shooting a bird last year with some TSS loads a buddy had I'm never going back to lead. For reference, a #9 TSS has the same power as #5 lead. At the end of the day, how many shots do you actually fire during a season?

Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7769298 03/12/20 04:17 AM
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howl Offline
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Sixes will kill as far as that will hold a pattern. Try fives also. Sometimes they hold better, making up for fewer pellets in the shell.

There aren't enough fours in those shells to hold a pattern as well as the other two.

Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7772792 03/15/20 02:20 PM
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MikeU Offline
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Good info. Thanks

Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7776474 03/18/20 06:21 PM
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CCBIRDDOGMAN Offline OP
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I picked up a couple boxes of the #5's. Thanks for all the info.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
Re: what size shot [Re: Clark8907] #7778677 03/20/20 02:11 PM
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huntingbig8 Offline
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Originally Posted by Clark8907
Find you some TSS 9s and use that. Much more shot in 2oz than standard lead. Not to mention, on ballistic gel tests, the #9 TSS at 40 yds, penetrated much better than #4 lead shot. They did a test at 88 yds with the 9s and they penetrated the gel 1.5in and the 4 shot did not even enter the gel. However, if you are wanting to stay with lead, I would recommend heavy shot mag blend or winchester longbeard xr 6s. When I toted a 12 ga I killed a many a bird with the longbeard 6s. Not proud of it by any means but there were several instances where I killed one bird and the other ran out there and stopped and the 6s stopped him at 50+ yds.

This ^ ,once you shoot tungsten all other turkey ammo is obsolete. Apex Ammo has been great for me, I shoot 3 inch 8's and dropped a bird at 64 last season, also saw several more inside of that go down, less recoil is a great benefit also.

Re: what size shot [Re: huntingbig8] #7778810 03/20/20 03:49 PM
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Clark8907 Offline
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Originally Posted by huntingbig8
Originally Posted by Clark8907
Find you some TSS 9s and use that. Much more shot in 2oz than standard lead. Not to mention, on ballistic gel tests, the #9 TSS at 40 yds, penetrated much better than #4 lead shot. They did a test at 88 yds with the 9s and they penetrated the gel 1.5in and the 4 shot did not even enter the gel. However, if you are wanting to stay with lead, I would recommend heavy shot mag blend or winchester longbeard xr 6s. When I toted a 12 ga I killed a many a bird with the longbeard 6s. Not proud of it by any means but there were several instances where I killed one bird and the other ran out there and stopped and the 6s stopped him at 50+ yds.

This ^ ,once you shoot tungsten all other turkey ammo is obsolete. Apex Ammo has been great for me, I shoot 3 inch 8's and dropped a bird at 64 last season, also saw several more inside of that go down, less recoil is a great benefit also.


Less recoil? Not the case from what I have observed. My 20ga kicks as bad as my a400 did with 3.5 mag blends. The 12ga I shot of a buddies, SBE3 kicks worse than my 887 with mag blends. It kicked so hard every time you pulled the trigger your cheek was bruised and the action was all the way open. All you had to do was rack the forearm foreward.

Re: what size shot [Re: Clark8907] #7778959 03/20/20 05:59 PM
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jadkins Offline
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Originally Posted by Clark8907
Originally Posted by huntingbig8
Originally Posted by Clark8907
Find you some TSS 9s and use that. Much more shot in 2oz than standard lead. Not to mention, on ballistic gel tests, the #9 TSS at 40 yds, penetrated much better than #4 lead shot. They did a test at 88 yds with the 9s and they penetrated the gel 1.5in and the 4 shot did not even enter the gel. However, if you are wanting to stay with lead, I would recommend heavy shot mag blend or winchester longbeard xr 6s. When I toted a 12 ga I killed a many a bird with the longbeard 6s. Not proud of it by any means but there were several instances where I killed one bird and the other ran out there and stopped and the 6s stopped him at 50+ yds.

This ^ ,once you shoot tungsten all other turkey ammo is obsolete. Apex Ammo has been great for me, I shoot 3 inch 8's and dropped a bird at 64 last season, also saw several more inside of that go down, less recoil is a great benefit also.


Less recoil? Not the case from what I have observed. My 20ga kicks as bad as my a400 did with 3.5 mag blends. The 12ga I shot of a buddies, SBE3 kicks worse than my 887 with mag blends. It kicked so hard every time you pulled the trigger your cheek was bruised and the action was all the way open. All you had to do was rack the forearm foreward.


For sure. They kick like hell.

Re: what size shot [Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN] #7785822 03/26/20 01:49 PM
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nacgoat08 Offline
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I prefer #5's. Save my #6's for crows and ditch chickens.

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