Lets see Turkey Gun patterns

[Cant hit em]

Tested new things this morning. Kent Bismuth 20 gauge Turkey loads using a mid range Carlson waterfowl choke and a full Comp n chokes @ 30yds. We wont be shooting them at 30 but was checking range. Not sure I’ll use this Bismuth ill test a few more loads this week.

Comp n choke turkey is above

 

[Warmsy]

Wish I had taken pictures...I used the Kent bismuth 3" with a pattern master turkey choke, and my pattern opened up beyond confidence at 25-30 yards. With that pattern I decided to just use my recurve.

 

[Cant hit em]

Wish I had taken pictures...I used the Kent bismuth 3" with a pattern master turkey choke, and my pattern opened up beyond confidence at 25-30 yards. With that pattern I decided to just use my recurve.

Ya was not impressed with this , ill be using my bow , mainly testing for my daughter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[dtrkyman]

Bismuth makes no sense in a turkey load in my opinion. Cheap lead turkey loads will do better than that at 30. Need to stick to smaller shot sizes in 20ga to get enough pellets down range.

Also for kids I would stay away from long beards, great patterns but really tight up close!

 

[Cant hit em]

Bismuth makes no sense in a turkey load in my opinion. Cheap lead turkey loads will do better than that at 30. Need to stick to smaller shot sizes in 20ga to get enough pellets down range.

Also for kids I would stay away from long beards, great patterns but really tight up close!

I wish we could use cheap lead. Lead is banned in CA for hunting. The bismuth is a no go for sure found out today. Might have to stick with the TSS but ill see whats available tomorrow i was trying to be cheap Ill test a variety again this weekend at the same distance

 

[Jacack]

.410 Steven's 35yards tss

 

[willtim]

I've never seen anything pattern like a TSS load. Either 7's or 9's.

 

[dtrkyman]

Yeah I guess that is the reason for the bismuth! Magnum blends from Hevi shot are typically good to 35 maybe 40 and cheaper than TSS.

TSS is king for a reason though, most do not want to pay for it, once they shoot it they tend to forget about price! It is that good, and really tolerant of most chokes! I have been loading my own since 2016.

Just noticed you shot that bismuth with full chokes, that may improve drastically with a turkey choke, just a simple smooth choke, no wad catchers like and indian creek, it may shatter the Bismuth shot.

Carlsons .575 is good all around tube or a primos tight wad.

 

[Fatcamp]

New barrel and choke for us this year. Gun is a Winchester 120 12ga. Rifle sight smooth bore that's 20" with the choke. 6.8#

I had Scheels thread it this winter and due to wall thickness they did a Trulock choke. Ordered their Longbeard #5 choke and got it Friday. Fit was perfect. Very pleased.

Load is Longbeard 3", #5, 1 3/4oz. 135 pellets in a 10" circle at 37 yards. Pattern is off to the right but that could be me as I haven't been shooting. We have 16 rounds so we will figure it out and if adjustment is needed will do so. Shift that pattern and we would be close to 200.

The kid has an early tag and I have a late tag. We are a few years into this and last year I killed my first gobbler on public land late in the season. Reaaaallly want to get him a bird this year. Preferably early. He needs a win.

 

[MJB]

STT in #9 25yds mod sbe1

He almost lost his head

 

[GreenNDark Timber]

Here are patterns from my Franchi Affinity 20 gauge. Specs are at the top of the patterns

40 yds

20 yds to check POI

 

[Gmccarthy19]

Both shots from 35 yards with Carlsons 575 non ported choke

 

[mathews8pt]

Man, I know they are expensive vs traditional loads, but your only shooting a couple times a year at turkeys and i just dont think there is a better load for turkeys than a good TSS setup. In your case with no Lead option i thinks its a no brainer.

My 20ga M2 does ok with a 1 5/8oz handload of 9s. It retains dense enough patterns to kill a bird at 60 and its not too tight to shoot birds at 20.

 

[MJB]

View attachment 386007View attachment 386008
Both shots from 35 yards with Carlsons 575 non ported choke

Neither looks good, sometimes a Mod choke works better.
You want it to look like the OP's pattern.

And I second the TSS in #9 turkeys loose there heads

 

[Gmccarthy19]

Neither looks good, sometimes a Mod choke works better.
You want it to look like the OP's pattern.

And I second the TSS in #9 turkeys loose there headsView attachment 387918

The Double X is definitely a no go. Held up to the light the Hevi Shot one looks a lot better than it does in the photos but I’ll definitely be trying a different choke. Called the manufacturer and they .581 patterned best on their test which I think is close to what came with the gun as a full choke

 

[MJB]

Try the full & mod, sometimes in those hot loads the tighter choke they tend to bounce off of each other.

 

[SirChooCH]

Federal TSS 20ga Stevens Semi with Carlson TSS Choke at 25 yards

 

[SirChooCH]

Boss Shotshells TSS (Cheaper than Federal and Made in MI) 12 ga Remington 1187 also Carlsons TSS choke tube at 25 yards. Hit a bit lower but you get the point on BB spread.

 

[Cant hit em]

I picked up some TSS ill pattern it this weekend and post up. Daughters season starts 3-19

 

[CJF]

Remington 870 Youth 20 gauge
Indian creek .555
3” TSS Reloads - #9’s 1-5/8oz
60 yards