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Turkey Noob Question on Shot

Nimrod777

Nimrod777

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I'm really not very experienced with turkey hunting, having flat given up while in East TN and not having much luck. But I'm fixin to give it another try now that I'm in Middle TN.

I'm using my late FIL's Winchester 1200 pump with an Undertaker ported choke. I have boxes of his old shells in Remington Express #4 Long Range (2 3/4"). Apparently he bought the gun while in the Air Force under peer pressure to bird hunt, though he never pulled a trigger while I knew him.

Think that will do me alright? I'm on my way to pattern the gun out to about 40 yards. I'm still a bowhunter at heart and am gonna be freaky about such a long range shot ;)
 
If it'll shoot a 3" I'd recommend hitting wally world and getting a box of them, but if not I'd say you'll be fine if you can get one in to ~30 yards. I wouldn't reach out to 40 if it were me, but all it takes is 1 lone little pellet to seal the deal :D
 
I agree with muddy...those'll work fine. Sometimes shooting while sitting down causes folks to aim a bit high so remember to keep your cheek tight to the stock. Aim for where the feathers meets the wattles and let'er rip!

Good luck!
 
That'll work. I'd maybe move to #5 shot in the future. Again just shoot a couple patterns at 30-40 yards so you have an idea of what the gun is doing. You'd be surprised sometimes as it can hit hi, low, or off to one side consistenly.

Good luck.
 
40 yards if you want, but I will most likely not shoot at a bird unless he's 20 yards. Pattern is absolutely lethal at 20 but I shot twice at 40 and only had a few kill zone pellets... probably my poor shooting but I will shoot what I feel comfortable with and that is 20 yards. I just got the feel for it at that range now.... gah I gotta go pack stuff for tomorrow the nerves are getting to me
 
Thanks for the input guys.

Patterned both #4 and some #6 Duck/Pheasant loads I had on hand from the 70s ($3.49 a box!), at both 30 and 40 yards.

On a turkey head target, the 6 seemed to hold up better at 40 yards than the 4. At 30 yards they both seemed adequate.

My gun only handles the shorter shells, and seems to shoot a trifle low at those distances. Perhaps I'll be able to test these theories out in real life tomorrow morning.

Good luck, hunt safe!
 
Boll Weevil said:
$3.49 a box vs. $3.49 a shell?!? If they pattern like that...can't go wrong man. :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've been rationing my Father-in-law's old 70s and 80s ammo for years! LOL
 
The first 2 birds I ever killed I was using some of Dads 2-3/4 pheasant loads number 4 shot.He probably bought it 30 years ago. Shooting it out of his Ithaca pump with a mod barrel. It put both of them down!
 

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