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Setterman (and any other accomplished turkey hunters)

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TheLBLman

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Already pretty much know what most of the more hard-core & accomplished turkey hunters (such as Andy, Roost1, etc.)
are chambering in their guns.

But just curious as to what Setterman (and others who care to share) mainly chambered last year, and plan this year? :)

My theory is we're being "marketed" (when it comes to turkey guns, turkey chokes, & turkey shells)
so much more than is really necessary,
that the "belief" it's all "needed" may be holding back many novices and youth from having confidence or even trying,
when they don't have or cannot justify purchasing such "specialized" weaponry.

Saying this in the context of so many accomplished turkey hunters continuing to kill most their birds under 35 yards
regardless of what they're shooting.

It may very well be that a novice turkey hunter might up his odds with a straight modified choke
on whatever shotgun he has?
 
Not Setterman but I'll say this... the Winchester Longbeards at $16 (3 1/2" @walmart) per box are by far the best lead loads available and are more than adequate. I will still use them when I take my 12ga to the woods.
You are correct in thinking we are being "marketed". Everybody wants the latest and greatest, the easy street to success.
FANNING will do more damage to our spot than anything else. Unfortunately now a days lots of guys can kill turkeys but most of the youngsters will never know how to "hunt" turkeys.
Strutting decoys, electronic decoys, and fanning needs to be outlawed.
 
im by no means the best but I usually fill my tags and help several others, my family uses magblends and longbeards, not that they are needed but that's what is readily available in our area and they just plain work. I have a 930 with a scope not because its needed but I just plain love it lol, ive killed many birds with a full choke and 23/4 5 shot heavy game loads, its not about how far I can kill a bird but how close I can kill one.
 
I don't buy into the new stuff. Yes it works, but dang it is expensive and seems unnecessary

For at least 20 years I've been shooting Winchester Double X (used to be supremes) 3.5" #5's. I have absolutely zero interest in taking a 60 yard shot at a bird, so I don't need the ultra long range stuff. My shots are 40 yards and in, there's a whole bunch of dead turkeys from those loads through my guns.

I use a Kicks Gobbling Thunder tube and have the entire time

Bottom line, if a bird closes inside that 40 yards and offers me a shot his arse is done. Why would I mess with that?
 
I've never bought into the new hype of anything, although I always like being able to make myself better, within reason. I used to just use whatever turkey shells I went to the store and picked up. My first two turkeys was with a 20 gauge single shot with a modified barrel with just high brass magnum loads, at about 20-25 yards. Probably wasn't more than three or four pellets in the head.
I then graduated to a Remington 1100 with a modified barrel ad used whatever 2-3/4 inch high brass magnums and/or turkey shells. Killed a lot of turkeys with that gun, but probably very few over 35-40 yards.

Then I used a Remington 11-87 special purpose with three inch shells and the Remington extra full choke, again with whatever shells I had. It wasn't until later that I started to try pattern things with it. The Remington duplex 4x6 were the first ones I remember patterning and actually beginning to use those shells. Used them until Remington began to make their hevi-shot in the green shells. At the time, I didn't know that they weren't even made of lead, all
I knew is that I was killing turkeys at 50 yards easy and when I patterned their would be 17-22 pellets in head and neck target at 45 yards.
Since these days I've used long beards, hevi-shot, mag blends, and that's about it. I have really no reason to use TSS or any other long range equipment.


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I'm no pro, but I'll comment.
I have shot the hevi 7s out of my 12 gauge ever since they first came out. Before the hevi 7s came out, I always shot Supremes.
About 3 or 4 years ago I set up my 20 gauge and have always shot heavyweight 7s out of it. I've been planning on switching to TSS the last few years, but I haven't yet.

I would agree that we are being "marketed". We never had a problem killing birds out to ~40 yards with cheap lead turkey loads. Our goal is still the same to get the birds within that ~40 yard mark, but we pay more money now for the same outcome.
 
I should add I've never totes my 20, I could see using one of the new era loads in that gun. However I can out down the 12
 
My interest in the 20ga craze is based purely on my high level of laziness. I can tote a lighter, smaller gun that doesn't dislocate my shoulder and rattle my brain when I shoot. I don't mind spending 10.00 a shot, cause I ain't dove hunting with TSS. Maybe I spend 50-100 a year on my favorite hobby and I have a 20ga that is as effective (maybe more) as a 12ga.

I'd rather dove hunt with a 20ga, I'd rather quail hunt with a 20ga. I'd rather rabbit hunt with a 20ga. I'd rather turkey hunt with a 20ga. 1 gun for all your shotgunning needs would be a cheaper option it seems, so maybe it's more cost effective for beginners.

Just today I convinced a buddy to use the 12ga he already owns, buy a good choke, and shoot LB's. It's all he needs for his occasional turkey hunting. It's those of us that are addicted to turkey hunting that are most affected by the marketing. I doubt most casual turkey hunters are going out to buy a new 20ga dedicated turkey gun just because TSS has gone commercial.


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whiskey":z1jfwdeg said:
My interest in the 20ga craze is based purely on my high level of laziness. I can tote a lighter, smaller gun that doesn't dislocate my shoulder and rattle my brain when I shoot. I don't mind spending 10.00 a shot, cause I ain't dove hunting with TSS. Maybe I spend 50-100 a year on my favorite hobby and I have a 20ga that is as effective (maybe more) as a 12ga.

I'd rather dove hunt with a 20ga, I'd rather quail hunt with a 20ga. I'd rather rabbit hunt with a 20ga. I'd rather turkey hunt with a 20ga. 1 gun for all your shotgunning needs would be a cheaper option it seems, so maybe it's more cost effective for beginners.

Just today I convinced a buddy to use the 12ga he already owns, buy a good choke, and shoot LB's. It's all he needs for his occasional turkey hunting. It's those of us that are addicted to turkey hunting that are most affected by the marketing. I doubt most casual turkey hunters are going out to buy a new 20ga dedicated turkey gun just because TSS has gone commercial.


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Agreed. I have a 28" barrel 20 gauge 870 that has killed an untold amount of rabbits and squirrels. I have had it since I was 14 which would be 23 years. I hunted rabbits and squirrels a year or two when I first got a 12 gauge to turkey hunt with but quickly got tired of packing it. I have never felt under gunned with the 20 when after rabbits and squirrels. For turkeys, I used 3.5" Winchester Supreme 6 shot for several years and killed birds with no problem while limiting my shots to 40 yards. I switched to 3.5" 6 shot longbeards the second year they came out. Although it shoots really good with the longbeards, I got tired of running and gunning the hills and hollows with a chunk of lead. Last year, I bought an 870 compact to dedicate to turkey hunting after see the results of my son's 20 gauge with heavyweight #7s. We will both shoot TSS this year which I fully expect will make my 12 obsolete. I now have a lightweight gun that doesn't kick like a mule. Even though it never bothered me, it put me in a weird position from the recoil a time or two after turning funny to shoot a bird that I'd rather not be put in now after having back surgery.
 
whiskey":2bcy2kec said:
My interest in the 20ga craze is based purely on my high level of laziness. I can tote a lighter, smaller gun that doesn't dislocate my shoulder and rattle my brain when I shoot. I don't mind spending 10.00 a shot, cause I ain't dove hunting with TSS. Maybe I spend 50-100 a year on my favorite hobby and I have a 20ga that is as effective (maybe more) as a 12ga.

I'd rather dove hunt with a 20ga, I'd rather quail hunt with a 20ga. I'd rather rabbit hunt with a 20ga. I'd rather turkey hunt with a 20ga. 1 gun for all your shotgunning needs would be a cheaper option it seems, so maybe it's more cost effective for beginners.

Just today I convinced a buddy to use the 12ga he already owns, buy a good choke, and shoot LB's. It's all he needs for his occasional turkey hunting. It's those of us that are addicted to turkey hunting that are most affected by the marketing. I doubt most casual turkey hunters are going out to buy a new 20ga dedicated turkey gun just because TSS has gone commercial.


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Click to expand...

I agree with this as well. I have franchi affinity in both 12 and 20 now days. Both light as a feather. I want to use the 20 gauge with htl or tss, but I'm not a shell reloader and by the time I want to use the 20 gauge finding federal heavyweights is just so hard to come by. Same will be with tss. I guess I'm just too cheap and lazy to try to find and buy them or order some. The 12 with 3" longbeard 6s work so well, and that 12 gauge is nearly as light as the 20.
I just never get around to using the 20, although I want to.


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I'm a relatively inexperienced turkey hunter. I'm shooting the TSS because it makes up for my inexperience in some cases when turkeys hang up. As I improve my calling and technique I will probably move to smaller gauge guns and even to archery equipment. But for now I need the firepower. I shoot the 3 inch, 12 gauge, TSS in 8.5's. I roll my own cause it's fun. It's not about marketing but effectiveness.
 
Before I switched to a 20, I used Winchester Supreme 3inch #5s with the factory modified choke in my SBE2. Like Setterman, I kept my shots within 40-45 yards.




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Its pretty easy to be forgotten around here, one of the reasons I don't post much anymore, but Ive killed a bird or 2 in the 34 years Ive been chasing these feathered rats. Ive been shooting Nitro ammo and a rhino choke for years now and love it. However with that said, my eyes aren't as sharp as they used to be and seeing rifle sights is getting tougher every year. Ive seriously contemplated going back to a more open choke and factory ammo. The only thing keeping me from it is that I hate getting shot in the breast.
 
3 in. mags in both Winchester and older Federal high brass in my 835 Ulti Mag and 870 Wingmaster. 5's and 6's through stock full choked barrels. I tote an old Model 42 Winchester 410 back home in Florida from time to time. Although we did load some tss last year for these guns, when they are gone, I will continue to shoot my older Federal 6's and 71/2's through it. If he's not within 40 yards with my 12's or 30 yards with my 410, he walks. I'm old school to the bone and can be "marketed" by no one ;)
 
cowhunter71":3ddcu75a said:
I'm old school to the bone and can be "marketed" by no one ;)
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Good to know, go ahead and ship that Buice to me and get back to that wing bone. No discussion needed, I'll just PM you my mailing address. :tu:
 
Of course it's marketing but why stop at ammunition. You don't need camo or calls either in reality. I have no issue with products that make the hunt tip the scales to my side to a point. I don't need a truck with leather seats and Bluetooth either but makes my ride from A to B more enjoyable. If they outlawed tss or other options I can go back to lead number 5 and still kill turkeys with no problem but I like to maximize my odds and I also like to carry a 20guage.

Obviously there is a line in each hunters mind where it starts to just get silly like remote controlled decoys and stuff like that and the gimmick stuff. As far as ammo goes I view it less as marketing and more as simple physics.
 
Andy S.":qw6sk13l said:
cowhunter71":qw6sk13l said:
I'm old school to the bone and can be "marketed" by no one ;)
Click to expand...
Good to know, go ahead and ship that Buice to me and get back to that wing bone. No discussion needed, I'll just PM you my mailing address. :tu:
Click to expand...
I'll tell you what, I've got two trumpets, the Buice and a $15 special off E-Bay from Conewago Calls. Then I have my wingbones that I build myself. To me, the $15 special sounds better than the Buice, and my wingbone sounds better than both. Of course, I've been running a wingbone since I was around 9 years old and just started with the trumpet yelpers this past year. :D I run these calls a few minutes everyday and still like my wingbones better. ;)
 
Good point and well spoken Ren! Totally agree! I am old school as they come but you give me some ammunition that makes my 20 gauge shoot better and tips the odds in my favor I will be glad to purchase it. I hunt public land 90 percent of the time. Those birds are tough and if one comes in my comfort zone I want the best chance possible for a clean ethical harvest.
 

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