shane37110
Well-Known Member
What advantage do the #5 shot Turkey loads have over a high brass #5 shot regular load? Other than price, whats the difference. Noob question I know but Turkey hunting is still new to me.
School me on Turkey loads
- Thread starter shane37110
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TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Necessarily, not much.
For many years, I used the same shells for turkeys that I used for squirrels, in both cases, just calling them #6's or #5's.
But some "turkey" loads are designed to hold tighter patterns. And the heavier-than-lead (HTL) turkey loads will extend shotgun range a few yards over lead loads.
Regardless of what shells you're shooting in what gun or what choke, all you need is adequate pattern density for the range, and adequate energy per pellet to penetrate the target.
So long as you're shooting at a range where several pellets would hit a turkey's head/neck, your concern is adequate pellet energy. Smaller shot (such as #7 1/2 lead) generally don't have enough energy beyond about 35 yards, while #6's may be good a little past 40, and #5's past 45 (generally speaking). Going to HTL can provide a few more yards.
Generally speaking, specialized turkey loads should be designed to provide denser and more uniform patterns. By contrast, "pheasant" loads may put a premium on high velocity (which usually causes less uniform patterns). "Dove" loads may be putting the premium on "cheap", maybe using less costly components and less quality control.
Some "turkey" shells, such as the Federal Flight Control, have a special wad that tends to hold the shot together better, especially when used in factory full or more open chokes.
For many years, I used the same shells for turkeys that I used for squirrels, in both cases, just calling them #6's or #5's.
But some "turkey" loads are designed to hold tighter patterns. And the heavier-than-lead (HTL) turkey loads will extend shotgun range a few yards over lead loads.
Regardless of what shells you're shooting in what gun or what choke, all you need is adequate pattern density for the range, and adequate energy per pellet to penetrate the target.
So long as you're shooting at a range where several pellets would hit a turkey's head/neck, your concern is adequate pellet energy. Smaller shot (such as #7 1/2 lead) generally don't have enough energy beyond about 35 yards, while #6's may be good a little past 40, and #5's past 45 (generally speaking). Going to HTL can provide a few more yards.
Generally speaking, specialized turkey loads should be designed to provide denser and more uniform patterns. By contrast, "pheasant" loads may put a premium on high velocity (which usually causes less uniform patterns). "Dove" loads may be putting the premium on "cheap", maybe using less costly components and less quality control.
Some "turkey" shells, such as the Federal Flight Control, have a special wad that tends to hold the shot together better, especially when used in factory full or more open chokes.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Think of a turkey's head/neck area as being similar in both size and toughness to a squirrel's kill zone. Any shell, range, choke with a high probability of killing a squirrel will also be about same for a turkey.shane37110 said:
Shot sizes #5 & #6 are what most hunters prefer in lead; #6 & #7 what most prefer in HTL.
darn2ten
Well-Known Member
Most good turkey loads also use a buffer, whereas a lot of the high brass loads don't. Buffer works as just that, a buffer. It keeps pellets from banging into each other as bad as the shot travels down the barrel and is suppose to keep the pellets more uniform and consistent.
