| Posted: Tue Sep 8th, 2009 06:39 PM |
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J.Fish
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I'm going turkey hunting for the first time ever. I'm wanting recomendations for a good turkey load. I'm using a Winchester Model 37 16 guage full choke and also going to take a Mossberg 20 Guage. Really cant wait to use the 16, was my grandfathers for about 50 years, before he gave it to me.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
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Some call me a gun nut. I prefer the term "enthusiast".
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| Posted: Wed Sep 9th, 2009 02:49 AM |
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2nd Post |
.45 COLT
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Federal Wing-Shock Magnum load, 1 ¼ ounces, #4 plated lead shot. 1,260 FPS, #P165 looks like the Factory load I’d probably go with in 16 Gauge. There aren’t a lot of options in 16 if you’re using Factory shells. I don’t believe you need the 1,260 FPS, 1,200 or so would do just fine, but I like the 1 ¼ ounce load.
20 Gauge has more loads, I’d go with #5 or #4 shot.
My opinions.
DC
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| Posted: Wed Sep 9th, 2009 12:46 PM |
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3rd Post |
leadhead
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I've heard the hevi-shot loads are murder on turkeys.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 9th, 2009 01:38 PM |
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4th Post |
16gauge
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I would strongly suggest that you pattern your shotgun on a turkey pattern prior to going out......you might be greatly surprised at what you find.
I have worked up some buffered loads using nickle plated shot in the 16 gauge....I fired them through my Remington model 11 with polychoke, starting with the Xtra full setting. What I found was that with bigger shot and tight chokes, the patterns were blown! I acutally got tighter patterns using the improved modified choke setting.
There is no 'best' load....every gun reacts differently to different ammo, same as a rifle. I would suggest buying a few different boxes (maybe go in with some buddies to reduce cost, if possible) and pattern a 5 or 6 rounds at 35-40 yards and see what you get.
45 Colt's recommendation of the Federal 1 1/4 oz load is a good one, and I would also suggest that you try Fiocchi's golden pheasant loads (also plated shot). Generally speaking, corse (bigger) shot will open patterns and smaller (fine) shot will tight it, plating will tighten patterns, and speed will tend to open patterns (these are all generalities, however, and your results may vary )
I don't think it is an issue with the 16 gauge (because I don't beleive anyone is loading it in 16 gauge), but I would suggest staying away from hevishot for use in older, fixed full choked shotguns.
Good luck.........bring home a bird for thanksgiving.
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| Posted: Mon Sep 14th, 2009 02:20 AM |
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5th Post |
J.Fish
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| Photo: | [Download] | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | small bore rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | 30/30 Win and 303Brit |
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Thanks for the input folks. I wont have a problem finding anything for the 20 guage. The 16 on the other hand is. I found a box of #4 for it, but almost $30.00. I'll suck it up though. Next year, however, I'm thinking muzzleloader shotgun.
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Some call me a gun nut. I prefer the term "enthusiast".
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| Posted: Wed Sep 16th, 2009 12:52 AM |
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6th Post |
Novashooter
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I don't have any 20 or 16 gauge loads but I do know my favorite 12gauge load. It gets 29 pellets (average of 10 shots) in the head and neck zone at 30 yards and 14 pellets (10 shot average) in the head and neck at 50 yards. That is with my nova so I don't know how it will do in yours. It has about as much recoil as a 2 3/4" duck load.
Hull-federal 3" (card base)
primer-federal 209
powder- Its bluedot but I have to check on how much.
wad- Ballistic Products Turkey ranger with a 1/8" felt in bottom
shot- 1 3/4oz. lead (I prefer #5 chilled)
crimp-6 point
pressure-10500psi
velocity-1300fps
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