Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
I shot some Winchester Long Beard shells in my gun yesterday and what a pattern,they sure beat the Hevi-Shot I'd been using.At 30 yards,if the target had been a real turkey,it would have decapitated him!
835 With Longbeard Shells!
- Thread starter Wrangler95
- Start date
I always wonder why people waste shells at 30yards...You can kill them with dove loads and a good choke at that distance.
Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
Well,since I was using a different brand and kind of shell I knew it wouldnt pattern the same as my Hevi-Shot shell and it didnt.I had to move my scope to the right,dead on.If I were you I believe I would pattern it at 30 yards if I were shooting a different shell ,it might save you a wounded turkey or miss!
Wrangler95":1sbqlvxo said:
That's what dove loads are for. They are much cheaper... Once it's dead on at 40yd then I can switch to the big boy shells...
Once I'm dead on at 40..... No worries if he closer....
turkeyhunter
Well-Known Member
I check my scope by using a dove load at 7 or 8 yds. The bulls eye looks like a slug hit it. Easier on my shoulder and wallet.
That's what I do. My shoulder appreciates it.Roost 1":mkmyvj8c said:
woodsman87
Well-Known Member
Roost 1":sqbac58d said:
I do this, sight it in with bird shot at close range. But my guns do shoot different with turkey shells, for the most part. I get them close with bird shot, then usually a shot or two of cheap, lead turkey shells, then maybe one expensive one at about 40 yards.
And the longbeards 6s pattern really tight on my guns. So tight that with 30 yards maybe too tight if I ain't careful.
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Wrangler95
Well-Known Member
The Longbeard shells shoot a tighter pattern than the Hevi-Shot I've been using,I am not gonna let a gobbler get any closer than 30 yards for fear of missing it.I have killed a few gobblers at less than 10 yards and I body shot them.The target I shot with the Longbeards was actually to tight of a pattern to suit me!
I would NEVER 100% trust light loads for POA=POI when using turkey loads to hunt with. I've seen that strategy fail several times with a few turkey guns/chokes. For a general idea of what the choke/gun is doing, it is okay, but I would not stop there and be convinced.Roost 1":3e4nw170 said:
One would be in BAAAAD shape if he/she hunted followed that advice with my current setup. I HAD to install adjustable sights (mainly for elevation) once I switched to Nitro H517 (2 7/16 oz of shot) and IC .665 choke. Light load bird shot shells (2 3/4" low brass 7.5s etc) shoot 6-7" lower than my Nitros out of same gun/choke combo. I ALWAYS shoot my hunting loads at 20, 40 and 50 to be sure POA=POI. IMO, $25 is money well spent compared to spending $50 worth of gas, hour walk in and a miss at 25 yards because one would not guarantee POI was true for exact shells he/she hunts with. My .02
So, since you always shoot at 20,40, and 50 with your hunting loads please tell me how much difference you have at 20 and 40. Is it enough that you MUST aim differently to kill a turkey? Now tell me about 50, what must you do differently. I think you may need to re-read my post AFTER you explain your results.....If my method don't work I can assure you something is bad wrong.
I'll wait for your response and if I need to explain more I can. Or these guys can keep on wasting high dollar shells to sight their guns in at 20yds.....I was just trying to be helpful and share a method that has proven to work for years out of several different guns and chokes..
I'll wait for your response and if I need to explain more I can. Or these guys can keep on wasting high dollar shells to sight their guns in at 20yds.....I was just trying to be helpful and share a method that has proven to work for years out of several different guns and chokes..
Correct. With my current loan/gun/choke combo, I aim a few inches lower at 20 to give myself some insurance in case I flinch or the head/neck area bobs. I aim at waddles/hair line at 30+, and about 2" lower when a bird is in my lap, say 10-20 yards. ANYONE shooting a tight turkey choke will benefit over time from doing the same.Roost 1":3tegz6xy said:
50 is no different than 10, 20, 30 and 40. If ONE truly wants to know what his combination is doing at those distances, it is in his or her best interest to TEST that exact hunting load at said distance. I don't practice at 20 and 30 yards with el cheapo arrows from Dollar General, why would I do the same with my turkey gun (which means 200 times more to me than a bow shot at a deer). Furthermore, if one shoots dense pellets (#4s) and a more open constriction choke, he/she may have to hold a hair over to compensate for fall and he/she may have poor pellet distribution at longer distances. One would NEVER know this by shooting a dove load, then ONE turkey load at 40 and calling it good. One may still kill turkeys doing this, but at the end of the day, one will NEVER 100% KNOW what his/her combination is doing unless it has been tested at ALL distances he/she will typically shoot a bird.Roost 1":3tegz6xy said:
It does not work 100% of the time, thus why I replied. It may work for you, but it is bad advice as a general rule of thumb for ALL turkey gun/choke/load combinations. IMO, you have been lucky to never encounter a POA/POI issue with this method ALONE. I would never wish a wounded or missed turkey on anyone because they didn't take the time to see what their combination was doing afield.Roost 1":3tegz6xy said:
I agree that shooting high dollar shells at paper should be kept to a minimum for sake of money, abuse (recoil) and the fact one could develop a flinch over time as 3.5"s stomp a$$ at the range. My .02Roost 1":3tegz6xy said:
I've seen several that do this, especially if testing out different shells and chokes from different manufacturers.woodsman87":1572g1uh said:
I think in this situation I'd be better off leaving this alone.... If you feel like you NEED to adjust your aim by Inches from 20-40 then by all means do so...... I do wonder if you ever have any beards left intact... Now past 40yds is another story. But the general rule is that you can sight your gun in dead on at 15yds with a dove load and then shoot the same load at 40yds and you should be CLOSE....fine tune if necessary using more dove loads. Then you switch to whatever shell you intend to hunt with and fine tune again until it's how you want it. If it makes you comfortable go back to 20,30, whatever and you should still be on the money... I assure you 1inch either way is not gonna result in a miss most people flinch that much when not using a lead sled or else in the heat of the moment.. However if you intend to shoot past 40 you need to know what your gun is doing with your hunting load... I honestly think you took my intent incorrectly..
Andy S.":1q68keoz said:
I agree with this 1000%... I'd never assume different chokes or shells to shoot the same without trying them first..
Setterman
Well-Known Member
My SBE II is 8" different with a dove load at 40 yards then with the XX Turkey loads I shoot. I roughed my FF 3 in with dove loads at 7 yards, then took the beating finalizing it with what I will be hunting with. It sucked something awful, but in the end if I don't miss it was well worth it. Nothing, and I mean nothing pisses me off more then missing a turkey. It will ruin me for days on end afterwards.
My point exactly, thanks for offering up your "first hand" experience.Setterman":33ykpld5 said:
I agree 110%.Setterman":33ykpld5 said:
I do agree this may be OCD to some, but to me, if I can squeeze another old bird out of a spring by doing a "little more", then I do it. It may not be the answer for everyone, but it works for me.Roost 1":26qiybrd said:
All, and I have a few.Roost 1":26qiybrd said:
I agree 100% with this method.Roost 1":26qiybrd said:
I wasn't looking to and apologize if I did.Roost 1":26qiybrd said:
Its all good....I think we are all ready to bust some heads....I guess we hi-jacked this thread to the max...... :tu:
turkeyhunter
Well-Known Member
I always have the intend to aim here or there prior to turkey coming in, but as soon as my green dot gets on head I pull the trigger! I have killed a bunch but they hype me up alot more than a 135 inch buck!
I sight in at 20 with cheap turkey loads. Then I shoot 30 yards and shoot my nitros and get it dead on holding on the waddles. I also have different aiming points for different yardages but my setup is super tight and I like it that way.
