Turkey choke dilemma

[doc holiday13]

What about the guys shooting #9’s?

Probably 80 yards but you won't have much of a pattern at that distance. TSS #9 is basically the same as lead #3.5 (if that size existed)

 

[dtrkyman]

"For illustration, let's say I have a 1-5/8 oz 20 ga load that goes 1150 fps MV. What's the optimum pellet size?

With number 8s, I know I can get 220 in a 10" circle at 40 yds. Using the .7 rule, that means I can get 100 in a 10" circle out to a little over 60 yds. And the 8s give 1.25" penetration out to 92 yds. So, I have a gap between the pellet penetration and the pattern viability of about 30 yds.

With number 8-1/2s, I know I can get 270 in a 10" circle at 40 yds. Using the .7 rule, that means I can get 100 in a 10" circle out to almost 70 yds.And the 8-1/2s give 1.25" penetration out to 82 yds. So, I have a gap between the pellet penetration and the pattern viability of about 15 yds. We're getting closer to the optimal size for the 20 ga.

With number 9s, I can get 310 in a 10" at 40 yds, so the numbers are 70+ for the pattern viability, and 72 yds for the pellet penetration energy. Those match up almost perfectly, with no gap between the pattern viability and pellet penetration. So, that's why I choose #9s for the 20 ga, for turkeys.

You can do that same exercise with any pellet size, payload, and game, to figure out the optimal pellet size for what you're trying to do."

Directly from Hal Abbot, TSS pioneer. I got all my load data and shot from him when I started loading them 6 years ago. Stuff is amazing!

 

[camelcluch]

I’ll be using Trulock for my choke this year. They were one of the only options for a 20 ga CZ. No down grade though. Very nice chokes.