Been preaching this a long time (20 years plus) and I've been raked over the coals more than once. Even by Phil Bourjaily of F&S and one of his adherents!
Eh, I dont buy this. Turkey hunters have been chasing longer range for a LOT longer than 20+ years, a lot longer than the advent of tss shot. Go back in time and there was still custom loaded turkey ammo, the advent of 3.5” shells in the first place, 10ga shotguns, back-boring, chamber polishing, custom chokes, etc. If you think shopping for tss ammo is overly complicated, all that ^^ stuff has been happening the whole time and is magnitudes more complicated. If anything tss shot simply allowed more people access to that longer range, but the quest for longer range is not new or limited to ammo, its exactly what hunters have been asking for since turkey hunting was invented. The sentiment that turkey hunting “should” be a <40 yard game is simply an arbitrary preference that runs counter to what most hunters want, and ime its usually advanced by people with a high degree of skill and/or time on their hands. It is admirable, and I appreciate it much of the time. But its shouting at the wind. Its on you to set the example and make getting close appealing to people.
"... You can 100% efficient and effectively kill turkeys with plain Jane birdshot loads all day long. ..."
.218 bee was my go to turkey gun till they banned them here
In Oklahoma, rifles, handguns and rimfires are only legal for a week during the fall season.
Well, bless your heart!
Are you required to shoot nontox shotgun ammo in CA?
Yes. I’m sitting on a pile of it I’ve had for a few years.
Thats true if retained velocity and mass for penetration is the limiting factor, ie waterfowl hunting. But Im not sure turkeys are the same. Someone compare a good modern bismuth waterfowl shell to an equivalent lead turkey load and see how they compare. Being almost as dense as lead, but harder than lead, I think will result in a denser pattern than lead. Not as much as TSS, but Im betting its noticeable. I dont have any to try though or Id test it myself.
I'm constantly amazed at hunters who use (lead) #4's and #5's for turkeys.
"... But I'm not sure turkeys are the same. ..."
) at the grocery store!low brass #9 lead skeet loads work well at 35-40+ yards on turkeys? Pretty sure Ive got a few of those rolling around in my truck. I know you’re into waterfowl hunting and Ive gotten good advice from you on steel shot sizes for ducks and geese. If I recall you had an opinion on that topic. I get not wanting to overcomplicate it, but the OP was specifically looking for better performance than what he got from the regular lead loads available. Given the intent of the OP to maximize the range of what is legitimately a “sub-gauge” turkey gun (2 3/4” 12ga or a 16ga) PAST where patterns from regular lead loads fall apart, Im not sure I understand your suggestion?
No, Mac was my last dog. Knucklehead, but I loved him and he was a hoot. Id love to visit Alabama some day, but Ive never been.
Thats fine. I highly respect that. The issue I have with it is the OP was specifically looking for something different. Im trying to answer the question. You’re trying to tell us that what the OP is looking for should not be a goal because it doesnt match your preference.
No, I havent. That was your comparison, not mine. That difference is precisely what I was pointing out.
AT. WHAT. RANGE. I already told you I have no doubt it works at shorter ranges. But that wasnt the question. The question was whether it works at longer ranges. You are recommending it to someone who asked specifically about getting longer range efficacy, but have yet to say WHERE it works and are busy telling us we shouldnt be trying to shoot birds there in the first place. That was the foundation of the entire question. So at what range does your suggestion work, and where does it stop working? 30 yards? 40 yards? Further? The fact that you’re advocating for not shooting birds at longer ranges is exactly why this matters—I want to know where it works because longer range is exactly what the OP was windering about, and its exactly where small shot will (at some point) lose its effectiveness. So while I think its great that you have evidence of lead 8’s being effective, in this case it is highly relevant at what range you are able to show that.
Then why did you bother? TSS is throwing away dollar bills for no reason if you arent going to utilize its advantages.
Great. Again I highly respect this. The issue is its not the question. The question was how to get longer range than is possible with regular lead loads from 2 3/4” 12ga and 16ga shells, without resorting to TSS…which is now on the order of $20 per shell and may become unobtanium entirely......and "Yes!", before I spend another $30/bx ($6/shell) on TSS ammo, I'd simply use the money to buy a bird (NOT chicken!
I hunt for pleasure, not for food.
Success in the field is the icing on the cake of life.
No. Because its personal preference that does not require a justification. The question was “HOW”, not “SHOULD”. If lead 8’s work at longer ranges—waiting on you for this, all the info I can find including the “test” I linked to earlier says 6’s are minimum at that range—then perhaps your suggestion is a good option. Otherwise you’re answering a question that was never asked.
Yep and im pretty simple on that steel 2 generally black cloud or hevi steel what ever is cheaper and pattern master code black. Im not a big turkey hunter and they are dumb around here so its like ducks and geese feet down and in my face most times but it will still kill to 40 yards. I think only shooting one shotgun for everything helps as i know where its going to hit with out thinking about it having shot it so much.
