the great debate...Pattern tightness

[REN]

there are tons of opinions out there about how many pellets should be in a 10" circle at 30yds and what a pattern should look like.

IMO it almost seems like a lot of people (including myself) keep getting caught up in the numbers game vs field tested. Dont get me wrong 290+ pellets at 30-40yds is awesome but what is that same pattern doing at 10-20 yds? I cant speak for others but what is the most common shot distance you take...if its 25yds and under how is a super tight pattern at that distance going to help you vs a nice balanced pattern at that distance? I posted in the scope thread about a buddy of mine that had the tightest pattern i had ever seen from a shot gun. It was crazy what that thing shot at 40yds! problem being he ended up missing 3 birds with me that year that were under 20yds from us because the pattern was so tight it was like aiming a rifle at it. He actually ended up selling the choke to get one that would be more even at 20-30 yds.

to be clear i am not knocking on anyone that chooses to shoot whatever combination they see fit for their confidence and hunting ways. I guess my question is do people realize that at some point the tightness of a pattern can get to be too tight? I went and shot my gun a bit more yesterday and when i got home was not SUPER excited about it...only had about 100 pellets in a 10" circle at 38yds...well then after i thought about it for a while i realized that in 10 years i have not shot at a bird that far and not had any issues killing them up to this point with my set up...why would i need to really alter what is already working.

I saw a similar debate on Oldgobbler and it just got me thinking is all.

 

[bvoss]

So true. I changed to a Jelly Head .690 choke tube in my mossberg instead of a recent choke that had a .660 constriction for this very reason. I want the pattern to be dense enough to take him out at 40 yards, but open enough to still kill him easily up close.

 

[Andy S.]

I agree 100%. Turkey hunters need to choose the choke that produces the most uniform and dense pattern at the distance that they most commonly shoot. You can have a choke that is too tight just as easy as you can have one not tight enough. I know their is no "one answer" as far as distance goes because every set up in the turkey woods is different. As for my buddies that brag about "X number of pellets in a 10" circle at 50 yards", I advise them to shoot that same combination at 10, 20, 30 and 40 so they will KNOW what it is doing at all distances they may encounter in the turkey woods. Patterns at 10-20 yards look like a baseball/softball with some load/choke combinations. With patterns that tight that close, there is very little room for error, many times resulting in a clean miss on a turkey that is in bow range.

 

[Big J]

My Undertaker choke finds the turkey head and destroys it. I ain't changing.

 

[knightrider]

thats why i have rifle sights on my shotgun

 

[PickettSFHunter]

To many folks worry about killing a turkey at 50-60 yards and not enough about just getting them to 20-30 yards. Whats next, a consistent 100 yard turkey gun? lol

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . . to be clear i am not knocking on anyone that chooses to shoot whatever combination they see fit for their confidence and hunting ways.

Good post.

IMO, more turkeys would be killed if more hunters were using a "modified" choke and shooting straight #7 hevi shot.

Your set-up and experience has much to do with your average shot distance. For me, it's usually about 22 yards. And I've killed relatively few turkeys over 30 yards.

Can't tell you how many times I've heard of a turkey hunter clean missing an easy up-close shot with his very long-range turkey choke.

 

[TNTomtaker01]

Close missed shots are caused from the cheek coming off the gun. You stay on the gun like your supposed to and you dont miss at what ever range you are comfortable with. IMO i think there is no wrong or right answer to the question you asked more so what makes the individual person confident. Personally i have one of those 60 yard guns and i dont use it at that range although i am confident to that mark. I would much rather have them and 10 yards and watch the head dissapear. And as far as the guys that miss up close goes, think about it like this you shoot a deer at 100 or even 200 yards with a rifle with a bullet the size of a pencil, but you cant hit a turkey with a softball or even a baseball at 10 yards? I would recomend keeping ones cheek on the gun and spending some time shooting that weapon just like you would your deer rifle.

 

[knightrider]

practice,practice, you need to practice your turkey gun as much as you would any other gun. i find that many folks shoot it once say thats good enough and thats it

 

[vanleerbuckbuster]

my last turkey gun had a super tight choke in it. my buddy got it made for me in a machine shop. it was like shooting a bullet. it was nothing at all to kill a turkey over 50 yds, but i did miss a tom once that couldnt have been 20 yds away. i got him on the follow up shot though

 

[square]

does anyone shoot a patternmaster choke? It's and open choke that operates on the principle of stripping the shot cup and holding it back so that it doesn't disturb the pattern. I haven't shot # 7 shot in it but with 5's and 6's the pattern is uniform at 20yds to 45 yds.

 

[muddyboots]

To many folks worry about killing a turkey at 50-60 yards and not enough about just getting them to 20-30 yards. Whats next, a consistent 100 yard turkey gun? lol

Wish i had a 100 yard gun. LOL

 

[Winchester]

To many folks worry about killing a turkey at 50-60 yards and not enough about just getting them to 20-30 yards. Whats next, a consistent 100 yard turkey gun? lol

Wish i had a 100 yard gun. LOL

LOL me too!! And for those close in shots, there is a very easy solution for those missing!! Simply pull the bead on down and aim for the bottom of the neck. I promise you at 15 to 20 yards with a good load you will almost cut a turkey in half where his neck mets the body. Gives you much more room for error on really close shots!
That being said, I will agree that hunters should be more concerned with learning how to get the birds close Vs how far they can kill one! I like about 25-30 yards myself, rarely let one I plan to kill get inside of 20 yards!

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . hunters should be more concerned with learning how to get the birds close Vs how far they can kill one! I like about 25-30 yards myself, rarely let one I plan to kill get inside of 20 yards!

Agree likewise.
When I have a bird coming in, usually prefer to take him somewhere between 20 to 25 yards. Often enjoy putting off the shot as long as possible so long as he doesn't get closer than about 18 yards or farther than 30.

Much of the most exciting moments of my turkey hunting has been when a turkey is strutting about 20 yards away, after having come in gobbling and strutting from a considerable distance. Much of this excitement is missed with longer range shooting, where it seems more a shooting sport than a hunting sport.

One of the most exciting moments and the oldest Tom I ever took --- he slipping in behind me. Heard him drumming only a few yards behind and couldn't move. At first, thought was hearing distant bombing at Ft. Campbell, as the ground seemed to be vibrating. He passed by my side only a few feet away, drumming, spitting, strutting and "popping" his wings. Let him get by and nailed him with an 11-yard head clipping. I was too visible and couldn't move, otherwise would have watched him longer, but when he stepped in front of the direction my gun was pointing, basically just pulled the trigger.

Good thing I was using a long-range turkey gun with 2 3/4" shells!

 

[Winchester]

I hear ya Wes, a great deal of the draw of Turkey hunting is the show they put on while coming in! I too will watch them as long as im comfortable he's not spooked. The first sin of trouble once he's in range and I kill him, but watch as long as possible when the situation allows it! There is nothing like one Spitting and Drumming at close range, simply awesome!

 

[TheLBLman]

There is nothing like one Spitting and Drumming at close range, simply awesome!

For those who haven't yet experienced this, this can raise the hair on the back of your neck if one slips in behind you and starts drumming.

One of the "sensations" I've felt from a drumming Tom is similar to a scene in the movie "Jurassic Park". Remember when the glass of water started vibrating with each step of an unseen gigantic beast approaching? You will "feel" that vibration with a drumming turkey. It may also "sound" like distant mortar fire or ground-rocking explosions. Very eery if you don't know what it is.

 

[muddyboots]

There is nothing like one Spitting and Drumming at close range, simply awesome!

For those who haven't yet experienced this, this can raise the hair on the back of your neck if one slips in behind you and starts drumming.

One of the "sensations" I've felt from a drumming Tom is similar to a scene in the movie "Jurassic Park". Remember when the glass of water started vibrating with each step of an unseen gigantic beast approaching? You will "feel" that vibration with a drumming turkey. It may also "sound" like distant mortar fire or ground-rocking explosions. Very eery if you don't know what it is.

Many years ago I wnt on an afternoon hunt and got out of my truck and there was a hum in the air. It sounded like millions of bees. I had no idea what it was and headed on to where i was going which was a hay field the turks had been frequenting. the closer i got the sound got louder. As i snuck to the edge i figured out the sound. there were 8 longbeards scattered across this field all drumming. It was incredible. It was amazingly loud.

 

[REN]

There is nothing like one Spitting and Drumming at close range, simply awesome!

could not agree more....it is a sound and rush like no other. IMO it even rivals that of "buck fever"

I have never heard a more awesome sound up close in the woods.

 

[Bow Hunter]

No sound in the world like it, it will really get the blood pumping for sure.

 

[TheLBLman]

....it is a sound and rush like no other. . . . . . I have never heard a more awesome sound up close in the woods.

Try quickly moving in on a gobbling bird, plopping yourself down against a big white oak, then hearing a rattlesnake rattling right beside you as you set flat-butted against "his" tree.