Montana Turkey Hunting with Rifle

[Montana Craig]

I'm going deer and elk hunting this year and some of the areas have turkeys. In the fall Montana allows for the use of rifles.

Before reading the article below I was good with a head shot but after reading a lung shot near the spine seems like a good choice if it's further than what I am comfortable for a head shot.

Article: https://omegaoutdoors.blog/turkey-hunting-with-a-rifle/

My question is has anyone shot a turkey with a 270 win or similar in the lung area? If so how much meat damage occurred.

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[MTPipeliner]

I’ve shot numerous turkeys with a rifle, a 7mm rem mag, and have seen several more with 270, 30-06, even shot one with. 54 cal muzzleloader. The meat damage is usually surprisingly minimal. If you hit a breast directly then it can obviously be fairly bad but if your far enough back to be lungs/backbone then the breast usually doesn’t have any damage at all.

the first time I saw a friend shoot one with a rifle I thought it would be nearly cut in half so I understand your hesitancy.

 

[Billy Goat]

300 wby mag. Not bad. Not enough on a turkey to cause the heavier bullets to open up yet. I imagine a 22 Cal ballistic tip would be a completely different story. I have shot a bunch with a muzzleloader as well, similar story, just try to not shoot directly through the breasts.

 

[Montana Craig]

Awesome thanks guys, if the opportunity presents itself I'll give it a shot!

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[Glendon Mullins]

I have shot one with a 22-250, wasnt bad, like billy goat said, they arent enough to make rapid expansion, bullet blows right through, like others mentioned just dont mess up da breast!

 

[LongWayAround]

A buddy of mine shot a bunch with a .22-250, none that I saw looked bad.

 

[FLAK]

I shot one with an '06, Thanksgiving morning. Couldnt help myself, after all it was Thanksgiving.
Shot it at the junction of the drumstick/body. No damage to the breast or the drumsticks. DRT.

 

[tallbuchholz]

I've shot a bunch with a .270 and a bunch more with a .22 mag. Depends on the bullet and where you hit. I've seen some birds basically explode with a really light bullet from the .270. We like to shoot them as high as possible with deer rifles. Low ruins breasts and thighs. Also avoid head-on shots if you can. Broadside lets you control the bullet path better.