texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,416
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics537,006
Posts9,719,380
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Too small for turkey? #8491593 12/31/21 07:10 PM
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 933
S
Sauerkraut Offline OP
Tracker
OP Offline
Tracker
S
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 933
I'm nowhere near an establishment that sells ammo and have the opportunity to hunt some turkey in the morning. I have a box of 12ga 2 3/4" 7 1/2 shot 1 1/8oz shells in the pickup. I do have a super full choke that I can throw on. Too small or will that work if I get close enough?


"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." - Ecclesiastes 9:10
Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8491667 12/31/21 08:48 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,301
B
Blank Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
B
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,301
Never too small, but pick your shots and distance carefully. Proper pattern control is a key to shooting where you're looking. A friend just completed his sixth Grand Slam of the year with a 410!!!!

[Linked Image]

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8491929 01/01/22 12:57 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 11,910
N
ntxtrapper Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
N
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 11,910
Too small for turkey hunting seems to be the trendy thing these days. I expect to see a thread on here some day about shooting them with rat shot in a 22.

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8492461 01/01/22 04:44 PM
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 933
S
Sauerkraut Offline OP
Tracker
OP Offline
Tracker
S
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 933
Well, either it was my inexperience, an unfamiliar gun/choke, the shells, or a combo of all three, but I shot at two birds and two birds flew away. bang


"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." - Ecclesiastes 9:10
Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8492678 01/01/22 09:03 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 11,910
N
ntxtrapper Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
N
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 11,910
Originally Posted by Sauerkraut
Well, either it was my inexperience, an unfamiliar gun/choke, the shells, or a combo of all three, but I shot at two birds and two birds flew away. bang


All these were killed with 12 gauge Federal Premium 3” number 4’s. None ever took a step after being hit. You can use your own experience to decide on what’s appropriate for turkey. I use what I’ve been using since the first ever spring season in Texas in 1977.

[Linked Image]

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: ntxtrapper] #8492735 01/01/22 10:08 PM
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 933
S
Sauerkraut Offline OP
Tracker
OP Offline
Tracker
S
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 933
Originally Posted by ntxtrapper
Originally Posted by Sauerkraut
Well, either it was my inexperience, an unfamiliar gun/choke, the shells, or a combo of all three, but I shot at two birds and two birds flew away. bang


All these were killed with 12 gauge Federal Premium 3” number 4’s. None ever took a step after being hit. You can use your own experience to decide on what’s appropriate for turkey. I use what I’ve been using since the first ever spring season in Texas in 1977.

[Linked Image]


I have a few boxes at home. I'm kicking myself for not being better prepared.


"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." - Ecclesiastes 9:10
Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8492826 01/02/22 12:17 AM
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 102
B
Bbq74 Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
B
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 102
Originally Posted by Blank
Never too small, but pick your shots and distance carefully. Proper pattern control is a key to shooting where you're looking. A friend just completed his sixth Grand Slam of the year with a 410!!!!

[Linked Image]

Cool illustrations
Originally Posted by Sauerkraut
Originally Posted by ntxtrapper
Originally Posted by Sauerkraut
Well, either it was my inexperience, an unfamiliar gun/choke, the shells, or a combo of all three, but I shot at two birds and two birds flew away. bang


All these were killed with 12 gauge Federal Premium 3” number 4’s. None ever took a step after being hit. You can use your own experience to decide on what’s appropriate for turkey. I use what I’ve been using since the first ever spring season in Texas in 1977.

[Linked Image]


I have a few boxes at home. I'm kicking myself for not being better prepared.

Results! Nice!

Good info here thanks for sharing

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8493187 01/02/22 02:59 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
B
Biscuit Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
B
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Wow that’s a lot of beards !

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Biscuit] #8493570 01/03/22 12:51 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 11,910
N
ntxtrapper Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
N
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 11,910
Originally Posted by Biscuit
Wow that’s a lot of beards !


Controlling nest destroying predators such as raccoons, possums and rat snakes pays off. I run 50-60 traps this time of year and my turkey population has grown dramatically. The rat snakes I just kill on sight, but I will figure out a trap for them eventually.

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: ntxtrapper] #8493605 01/03/22 01:32 AM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
M
maximum Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
M
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,919
Originally Posted by ntxtrapper
Originally Posted by Biscuit
Wow that’s a lot of beards !


Controlling nest destroying predators such as raccoons, possums and rat snakes pays off. I run 50-60 traps this time of year and my turkey population has grown dramatically.. . .


Many sincere Thanks!

I've been trying to do more to help.
Every hunter in the state needs to try to work on reducing varmints, especially those
with feeders that get raked over by the coons. I would have thought after this last
year's corn prices that more people would be trapping coons, but I haven't seen any
increase of people participating. I'll be trying to work on more coyote trapping hopefully

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8547674 03/04/22 05:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 484
H
howl Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
H
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 484
Originally Posted by Sauerkraut
Well, either it was my inexperience, an unfamiliar gun/choke, the shells, or a combo of all three, but I shot at two birds and two birds flew away. bang


Federal used to sell a turkey load with 7.5s. It was 2oz of hard shot, though, and buffered to help hold the pattern. The general rule is ten pellets in the neck bones or 100 pellets in a 10" circle. I would expect high antimony 7.5s to work to thirty yards. Soft shot not so much.

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8548389 03/05/22 02:44 PM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331
D
Dave Scott Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
D
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,331
Turkeys can take a lot of punishment, some time back I was using 6's and this gobbler was at 45 yards. Really too far for 6's but all of sudden he sticks up his neck and I figure I'd been spotted so I shot, the shot hit low, in the chest- I could see the feathers hit and the tom sort of shuttered and then took off running. That was with 6's. Full load right in the chest. So, 7 1/2? way too small. Now I use either 4's or 5's. Also 40 yards or less..

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8549274 03/06/22 04:08 PM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11 Online Shocked
junior
Online Shocked
junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
Don't shoot turkey in the chest or body with a shotgun, the best target is the neck and head.

This is for lead shot distances are for enough energy a single shot carries to break a turkey neck:
7 1/2 can work and I know hunters that kill turkeys reliably with them but keep shots inside 30 yards
6 work well to 40 yards but do not stretch further
5 will reliably break a turkey neck at 50+ yards
4 will kill even further than 5s but you have fewer shot in a load.

You want a pattern tight enough to get multiple hits on the neck/head with any of them. Those yardages are what I have seen work reliably and is also from I think an NWTF thing i read years ago before the days of heavy shot and TSS which change the game a lot.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8549510 03/06/22 10:04 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,304
S
Stump_jumper Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
S
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,304
Went to fill feeders this weekend. We were talking about moving a feeder and blind. I kept telling this guy the blind was too close. He said "I don't shoot a bazooka like you do". I carry my son's gun that shoots 3-1/2" magnums. I would use 4 or 6 shot in the longest shell your gun holds.


2017 Tundra 5.7 CM 4x4
2006 Champion 2200 Bay Boat
Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8551408 03/08/22 09:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,052
glocker17 Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,052
5s are where its at , good mix of energy and pattern density. I sold many cases of 2oz 7.5s back in the late 90s but it is really a 30 yard gun with shot that small.

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8551831 03/09/22 12:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 443
K
Kevin Heath Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
K
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 443
Originally Posted by Sauerkraut
I'm nowhere near an establishment that sells ammo and have the opportunity to hunt some turkey in the morning. I have a box of 12ga 2 3/4" 7 1/2 shot 1 1/8oz shells in the pickup. I do have a super full choke that I can throw on. Too small or will that work if I get close enough?

where in North Texas are ya? I have some 12 ga 3 inch nitro turkey loads I will let you have. I do most of my turkey hunting with a 20 these days (or a .222 if the opportunity arises!)

ETA OOOPs I just saw the OP was from December

Last edited by Kevin Heath; 03/09/22 12:18 PM.

Some days you're the pigeon, other days you are the statue!
Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8832929 04/13/23 02:06 AM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 484
H
howl Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
H
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 484
Somebody shoulda told all those turkeys I killed with sixes they weren't supposed to die.

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: glocker17] #8833170 04/13/23 02:22 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,544
T
thedoveshooter Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
T
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,544
Originally Posted by glocker17
5s are where its at , good mix of energy and pattern density. I sold many cases of 2oz 7.5s back in the late 90s but it is really a 30 yard gun with shot that small.


When I use up the last of my Remington 4x6 Duplex loads, I'll be going back to 5s. I wish Remington still made them. I bought 3 boxes years ago and am on the last.

Last edited by thedoveshooter; 04/13/23 02:22 PM.
Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8833195 04/13/23 02:47 PM
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,451
D
Dalroo Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
D
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,451
I've shot turkeys with a variety of methods...22mag, 17, bow, crossbow, and shotgun. I am always amazed at how tough they are and need a bit of umph to get a DRT shot. Neck with 4 or 5s is best bet. Would be nervous with 6+ ... not saying it won't work, but needs to be closer in for sure. I got a tom on Sunday that was a hoss...#4 at 30yrds and neck broke, and it flopped for a minute or so before expiring.


Dalroo
Deep in the Heart of Texas
How about that Brandon!
Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8833275 04/13/23 04:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 342
C
Clark8907 Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
C
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 342
I have killed a ton of them with a 20ga and handload TSS 9s. Have yet to have one take a step. Shot them from 7yds to 63yds as well. TSS was a game changer in the turkey world.

Re: Too small for turkey? [Re: Sauerkraut] #8834411 04/15/23 06:08 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,477
H
hawk Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
H
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,477
I've had best luck with 3" #4's.

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3