question for turkey hunting?

[boo711]

Looking for a little help here. My son wants to go turkey hunting with me this year. I have never really been, just a couple of times to get out in the woods so just curious what shot size most people use? I figure now that I have a hunting partner who will be able to hunt in a few years I should get into this. It always looks interesting when I watch it on TV. And the way people on here talk about it makes it seem real exciting I will be hunting with a browning a-5 12 gaugewith a full choke. Any help would be appreciated.

[NYBuckHunter27]

wouldn't go any lower than 5 shot. but just personal preference.

[growalot]

Read the "I dropped my bead" post Pygmy has some good tips

[boo711]

Thanks Grow I will have to check that out. I was thinking a 6. I have a whole box of shells at home,drawing a blank on the shot size. Think it is 7 1/2. Would that work do you think?

[Early]

7 1/2 will work, but I'd go with 6's. Anything from 4's to 7 1/2's will kill a turkey, but given my druthers, I'd go with 6's. (That's plain old lead 6's; no need for designer ammo!)

[boo711]

Thanks Early!

[Pygmy]

Boo...  Most Brownings tend to be rather tightly choked for thier choke designation..

 

I am talking about standard barrels, not choke tube equipped barrels, and since you said your A5 is full choke, I assume it is a full choke, non tubed barrel..

 

The pattern board tells the REAL  story, and I would highly recommend  doing some patterning at 30-40 yards with some different shot loads to find your best pattern, I.E. one that gives a minimum of 6 or more pellet hits on a turkey's head/spine .

 

All that said, if your gun is 2 3/4", I would recommend trying  buffered, copper plated  magnum loads  ( 1 3/8 to 1 5/8 oz)  of  #6, # 5 or #4 shot..  I'd try the # 6 loads first..Chances are you won't have to go any farther..

 

Good shells to try are Winchester XX mags, Federal  Premiums, or Remington Nitro mags, but there are other good loads by Kent, Fiocchi, and others.

 

All of them feature plated, buffered shot loads.

 

Good luck and keep us posted...<<smile>>...