bluetick78
WKR
I did a bunch of testing with different loads over the weekend. A gun shop in my area had Federal Grand Slam, Winchester Super X, and Remington nitro turkey in 2.75" on the shelf, all #5 shot. The Nitro Turkey shot the best, which I found odd. It's the cheapest shell by far, isn't copper plated, and may not even be buffered. It managed 11 pellets in a turkey splatter target kill zone at 40 yds. The Super x had 4, the Grand slam got 0.
For fun, I tried a 1 1/8 oz load of #5 Kent Fastlead. It put 19 pellets in the kill zone. No copper plating, probably no buffer, no fancy wad with Mylar....not even a picture of a turkey on the box. Go figure. I tried it twice to make sure it wasn't a freak shot, 2nd time was 18. Pretty consistent. I guess that's what will get used for turkeys. The special "turkey" shells can be used for pheasants or jackrabbits.
The Grand Slams did pattern really well out of a 3" 870 with a Carlson's XR choke. 32 in the kill zone at 40. When my youngest decides to make the switch from 20 to 12 ga he'll have those waiting. If TSS 20 ga shells keep climbing in price, he'll be switching sooner than anticipated!
For fun, I tried a 1 1/8 oz load of #5 Kent Fastlead. It put 19 pellets in the kill zone. No copper plating, probably no buffer, no fancy wad with Mylar....not even a picture of a turkey on the box. Go figure. I tried it twice to make sure it wasn't a freak shot, 2nd time was 18. Pretty consistent. I guess that's what will get used for turkeys. The special "turkey" shells can be used for pheasants or jackrabbits.
The Grand Slams did pattern really well out of a 3" 870 with a Carlson's XR choke. 32 in the kill zone at 40. When my youngest decides to make the switch from 20 to 12 ga he'll have those waiting. If TSS 20 ga shells keep climbing in price, he'll be switching sooner than anticipated!
