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WPNY79

By WPNY79,
in General Hunting

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WPNY79 Newbie

WPNY79

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

First and introduction: I am in the US Army, currently stationed at the US Military Academy at West Point and I have recently decided to learn the art of hunting. My motivations are likely similar to many of yours. I would prefer to feed my family something other than the mystery meat from the commissary/grocery store. I would also like to raise my boys (number 3 is due any minute now) to understand where our food comes from and the impact our lives have on the world in which we live. Plus, I just kind of like guns. Nothing wrong with that, right?

So, being brand new to this venture, I'm looking for a little help from those of you who know this area best. I've inherited my grandpa's 1979 Remington 870 Wingmaster (2.75", modified choke) 12 ga, which will be my main gun until further notice. That said, I'm not certain as to what kinds of ammunition are best suited to different kinds of game. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. X for deer, Y for turkey, Z for rabbit, etc.

Also, if anyone in my general vicinity would be willing to take on an eager student and teach me, that would be awesome! I'll be taking the Hunters Ed course in October, which I'm super stoked about, but that won't teach me how to actually bring something home, you know? Thanks!

WPNY

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moog5050 Mentor

moog5050

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Even though I am fairly new here, let me be the first to welcome you. Lots of good information here. Don't know anything about the 870, but assume you want some type of sabot slug for the deer and nos. 5-7 shot for turkey. Never hunted rabbit, but I would guess the turkey shot would work or an airgun. Good luck, have fun and be safe. Also, thank you for your service.

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Elmo Rookie

Elmo

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As an active military personal you can hunt West Point during big game season. Just need to check in every morning and check out when you're done.

As far as size shots, you should also worry about the choke. For slugs, you should probably go with no choke at all. Turkey, you need to go with a full choke. For rabbits, modified is fine.

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moog5050 Mentor

moog5050

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As an active military personal you can hunt West Point during big game season. Just need to check in every morning and check out when you're done.

As far as size shots, you should also worry about the choke. For slugs, you should probably go with no choke at all. Turkey, you need to go with a full choke. For rabbits, modified is fine.

I am no expert, but I thought with steel shot, it groups tighter and a modified choke is fine. You may be right.

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Elmo Rookie

Elmo

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I am no expert, but I thought with steel shot, it groups tighter and a modified choke is fine. You may be right.

Could be true...I'm not expect either. From what I recall, turkey is ideally taken with a headshot so some companies even make a super-full choke a.k.a. turkey choke.

Edited by Elmo
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Dinsdale Community Regular

Dinsdale

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So, being brand new to this venture, I'm looking for a little help from those of you who know this area best. I've inherited my grandpa's 1979 Remington 870 Wingmaster (2.75", modified choke) 12 ga, which will be my main gun until further notice. That said, I'm not certain as to what kinds of ammunition are best suited to different kinds of game. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. X for deer, Y for turkey, Z for rabbit, etc.

WPNY

I shoot an 870 with a Improved (IC) and several slugs do as good as needed for under 100 yd shots.....but are better for under 75........Brenneke slugs are very good. Sometimes you have to experiment a little; smoothbore slug guns often have their own sweet spot for load and choke.

Another option is a rifled choke; you can use both conicals and sabots in these. Your smoothbore will not do well with sabots.

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jim335 Newbie

jim335

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To get you started I would get the Remington Rifled Slugs, inexpensive, and everyone carries them. You need to practice to see how they shoot out your gun. But your 870 with modified chock you should be fine. This is the same set-up I started with when I was sixteen. (I'm 59)

Again for starters, Remington Express Shotshells, I like size 5 shot, use it for both turkey and rabbits. The heavy shot passes right through a rabbit, smaller shot sometimes stays stuck in the meat, and #5's is heavy enough for head shots on turkey.

This gets you started. Good luck!!

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Kot2B Newbie

Kot2B

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Welcome WPNY! When you take your hunter safety course be sure to use the knowledge at hand from the instructors. I hunted with mine for the first couple rabbit seasons (he has beagles and I don't). #5 shot is good for rabbits it penetrates through the stubborn brush they like to hide in. Good luck!

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