Posted: 3/31/2008 7:32:58 AM EDT
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I'm possibly going on a turkey hunt, i guess you'd call it, sometime this April. We'll be using shotguns, and I was wondering what length of barrel I would use. I only have an 18.5 inch barrel at the moment, for my Remington 870. ETA: Also, what size shot would one be using? Out of curiosity. |
22-24" for turkey hunting would be my choice in a shotgun, but then I use my LMT M4 AR15 and the 77grn SMKs for my turkey gun..... mike eta - young gobbler taken last April in S.Texas was 142 yds away - waaay beyond scattergun range, but dropped w/ one well placed neck/gullet shot made off -hand... |
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You need to pattern your gun to find out what your max killing range is. There is no substitute for this. Period. End of story. If that range proves to be less than about 25-30 yards, you need to get a different barrel, one with removeable chokes. Choke performance is far more important than barrel length in a turkey gun. |
Pattern your gun BEFORE you spend money on a new barrel. Your's may be choked just fine for what you intend to do. |
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I have a win 1300 "team NWTF" with a 21.5" barrel, but it came with an EXTRA FULL CHOKE Pattern your gun, and get a new choke or barrel if need be. Get your "Turkey load" and shoot it at 20 -30 - 40 yds, your looking for a dense pattern. You want several hits on a turkey target. Invisiblesoul |
I'm surprised some states allow rifles for turkeys. Cool.  They only allow shotgun and bows here.
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yeah, i'd pattern your gun with whatever shot you plan on using. for size i'd stick with 4-6. i prefer 4. if the range isnt what you want, id get a different barrell with a full or extra full. some companies make chokes specifically for turkey. you just have to try them and see patterns best for your gun. federal and remington both make some really good turkey loads that ive had success with. most of them say something about turkey on the box. i like federal magshok, 3in, no. 4 shot id get a couple different ones and pattern them with your shotgun at different ranges. different shotguns will pattern differently depending on the type of shell you use. get a couple of turkey head targets or draw some on paper, you probably want about 5-10, at least, pellets in head/neck. good luck!!! |
+1 Try some of the new non-lead shotshells, like hevi-shot and whatnot. |
I understand what you're saying, and I wasn't ignoring your advice, though it may have come across that way. I already know that with my current barrel that I cannot pattern too well past 25 yards, which is why I started this thread. |
See arowneragain's post above your last one. You may be able to get tight enough patterns by using some of the new non-toxics, particularly Hevi-shot. That stuff patterns scary tight in many guns. While it goes for about $3 a shell, it may be cheaper in the long run than buying a new barrel. And if your current barrel does not like it, just save the left over shells for use in the new barrel. |
This is just the website I was looking for to explain some of the differences in barrels. Thanks |
Where might one get those kind of shells? I ask because, where I live, Wal-Mart is considered THE hunting supply store, which is pathetic. The nearest sporting good stores are ~50-60 miles away. |
You can order them from Cabela's, but the shipping costs will only add to your per-shell expense. With the price of gas you certainly aren't going to come out ahead driving over 100 miles round trip. Ouch. 
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Ah crap. Especially not driving a V8 SUV...bah. Although, it looks like Bass Pro carries those types of shells.... Now I just need a reason to drive down there, or convince some people to go with me so I can get them to pay for gas
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