Turkey with a Modified Choke?
- john1984
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Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke?
I've read that some lead alternatives naturally pattern tighter than pure lead shot. So maybe those alloys might be a option to consider. But I really am unqualified to properly answer. Good luck man.
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Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke?
One thing I would add is don't believe all the talk that you need to reach out and kill a bird at 50+ yards to be successful. Much like bowhunting you can use a little woodsmanship and get a bird within spitting distance.
Turkeys are very nervous but they are still pretty dumb as far as animals go. I bet your gun can at least take a turkey out to 30 yards or so with a good 3" load...that's plenty far if you know what you are doing. Don't set up on field edges, try to stay in a bit thicker cover, on their expected travel routes, and let the birds come to you. Sound kinda like Beast hunting?
Turkeys are very nervous but they are still pretty dumb as far as animals go. I bet your gun can at least take a turkey out to 30 yards or so with a good 3" load...that's plenty far if you know what you are doing. Don't set up on field edges, try to stay in a bit thicker cover, on their expected travel routes, and let the birds come to you. Sound kinda like Beast hunting?
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Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke?
If I can kill em with a flintlock...there's little excuse for a modern gun! Lol
Seriously...like was said, pattern the gun and you aughta be fine. A couple different boxes of shells and a day on the range...
Get some "builders paper"...brown heavy paper that is like 30-36" wide..I like it to see the entire pattern to see what's going on. I'd see what it looks like at 25yds.
Then figure out your max range. Some say 100 hits in a 10" circle is a good rule of thumb. That particular flintlock hovers around that number at 20yds. That gobbler was 20-25yds and was absolutely crushed. I keep my shots within 30yds with it.. preferably within 25yds.
Like the others said, you don't need a 40-50-60+yd turkey gun. My farthest kill is right around 30yds..and all the rest have been within 30...and that was when I carried an honest 50yd turkey gun. I didn't set it up to shoot far. I set it up because I wanted a nice dense pattern..
- Clink
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Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke?
mauser06 wrote:
If I can kill em with a flintlock...there's little excuse for a modern gun! Lol
Seriously...like was said, pattern the gun and you aughta be fine. A couple different boxes of shells and a day on the range...
Get some "builders paper"...brown heavy paper that is like 30-36" wide..I like it to see the entire pattern to see what's going on. I'd see what it looks like at 25yds.
Then figure out your max range. Some say 100 hits in a 10" circle is a good rule of thumb. That particular flintlock hovers around that number at 20yds. That gobbler was 20-25yds and was absolutely crushed. I keep my shots within 30yds with it.. preferably within 25yds.
Like the others said, you don't need a 40-50-60+yd turkey gun. My farthest kill is right around 30yds..and all the rest have been within 30...and that was when I carried an honest 50yd turkey gun. I didn't set it up to shoot far. I set it up because I wanted a nice dense pattern..
Tom with a flint, may have to add that to the list. Nice job! I don't have many fields around here anyways, it would be a rare situation when I would need to reach out and touch one. Thanks for the input
- Clink
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Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke?
JoeRE wrote:One thing I would add is don't believe all the talk that you need to reach out and kill a bird at 50+ yards to be successful. Much like bowhunting you can use a little woodsmanship and get a bird within spitting distance.
Turkeys are very nervous but they are still pretty dumb as far as animals go. I bet your gun can at least take a turkey out to 30 yards or so with a good 3" load...that's plenty far if you know what you are doing. Don't set up on field edges, try to stay in a bit thicker cover, on their expected travel routes, and let the birds come to you. Sound kinda like Beast hunting?
Beast turkey hunting! Thanks for your advice, opening day is Monday here and I'll be out Tuesday morn first light. Can't wait
- MDSikajunkie
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Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke?
Clink wrote:JoeRE wrote:One thing I would add is don't believe all the talk that you need to reach out and kill a bird at 50+ yards to be successful. Much like bowhunting you can use a little woodsmanship and get a bird within spitting distance.
Turkeys are very nervous but they are still pretty dumb as far as animals go. I bet your gun can at least take a turkey out to 30 yards or so with a good 3" load...that's plenty far if you know what you are doing. Don't set up on field edges, try to stay in a bit thicker cover, on their expected travel routes, and let the birds come to you. Sound kinda like Beast hunting?
Beast turkey hunting! Thanks for your advice, opening day is Monday here and I'll be out Tuesday morn first light. Can't wait
Used to kill a lot of turkeys in northern MI 8-10 years ago. Scouting is your friend. Just like beast deer hunting. Find the trees they sleep in and set up where the come down in the morning and it’s a much simpler game. Very fun hunting calling in a bird or a whole flock. They see better than deer so a good set up is important I used to sit where there was a tree behind to break silhouette but still had a small thorny brush in front I could see and shoot through.
Bedded hen decoy with a jake over her and toms come to fight.
You will be fine with any 12 gauge. Just shoot paper at different yardage’s and record pattern to find the sweet spot of the choke.
Good luck!
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Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke?
Clink, the gun I'm finishing up now will be an honest 35-40yd turkey gun..also a flintlock...I have a buddy that loads TSS in his and he could easily roll one at 50. I just don't trust heavier than lead stuff in the flintlock barrels. The steel is pretty soft stuff. A couple shots a year is probably OK..but it certainly scores the bore and who knows what else it's doing.
- Clink
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Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke?
mauser06 wrote:Clink, the gun I'm finishing up now will be an honest 35-40yd turkey gun..also a flintlock...I have a buddy that loads TSS in his and he could easily roll one at 50. I just don't trust heavier than lead stuff in the flintlock barrels. The steel is pretty soft stuff. A couple shots a year is probably OK..but it certainly scores the bore and who knows what else it's doing.
Will keep that in mind. Have to get one with the shotgun first though, cant get ahead of myself too quick. Headed out tomorrow
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