Do you or would you?

[DonBo]

4 shot or smaller is the law for turkeys. Most use 4's, 5's, or heavy shot 6's. Anything smaller won't have enough punch to get through heavy feathers or bone. Anything bigger and there's too many holes in the pattern, plus people think they can shoot farther with bigger shot resulting in wounded birds.

Many western states allow rifles. Too dangerous around here with so much of the turkey range close to civilization.

[Dave S]

Another reason behind the no rifle rule is you don't know if there's another hunter within range of a rifle.

A .22 caliber bullet at 100 yards would still kill a person whereas most shotguns will lose a significant amount of energy at that range. No shot bigger than #4 also, in a way plays into this reasoning. Less risk of severe injury or fatalities if you limit the size of shot.

For most hunters, it also makes them ensure the bird is well within range.

[Bothun]

Buy yourself a 835 Mossberg 3.5 inch and be done with it. You can be setup with the turkey edition read dot scope mounts sling and a case for under 500. And the gun is a down right killer!

I shoot 3.5 Winchester Supreme Elite extended range #5's. Its kills birds dead past 50 yards. I've done it a few times myself and have witnessed many others.

[Gordie]

Buy yourself a 835 Mossberg 3.5 inch and be done with it. You can be setup with the turkey edition read dot scope mounts sling and a case for under 500. And the gun is a down right killer!

I shoot 3.5 Winchester Supreme Elite extended range #5's. Its kills birds dead past 50 yards. I've done it a few times myself and have witnessed many others.

I acutally won this gun ultimag turkey gun in a drawing 8-9 years ago and didnt really care for it had problems with the gun right off the bat allthou I did bag a turkey with it, I was just not happy with the gun. I sold it to a buddy thats a mossberg nut and he hasnt used it yet.

[Shane Simpson]

4 shot or smaller is the law for turkeys. Most use 4's, 5's, or heavy shot 6's. Anything smaller won't have enough punch to get through heavy feathers or bone. Anything bigger and there's too many holes in the pattern, plus people think they can shoot farther with bigger shot resulting in wounded birds.

Many western states allow rifles. Too dangerous around here with so much of the turkey range close to civilization.

Why are you trying to punch through heavy feathers or bone? You suppose to aim for the neck!

[DonBo]

Originally Posted By: DonBo

4 shot or smaller is the law for turkeys. Most use 4's, 5's, or heavy shot 6's. Anything smaller won't have enough punch to get through heavy feathers or bone. Anything bigger and there's too many holes in the pattern, plus people think they can shoot farther with bigger shot resulting in wounded birds.

Many western states allow rifles. Too dangerous around here with so much of the turkey range close to civilization.

Why are you trying to punch through heavy feathers or bone? You suppose to aim for the neck!

Yes, you're right, but even with a super tight pattern and a perfect shot not every pellet will strike the tiny kill area of a turkeys head and neck. The more damage you cause, the better your chances of cleanly killing that bird.

[hunt4food]

I have been doing it for years. I have the same gun as you. I too have the xtra full turkey choke. I shoot #5 Federal premiums and have had great success! Yes. I do have a sling for mine too.

[Musky Buck]

I don't hunt turkeys personally I wish they'd stay away as I've had to repaint my black fence almost yearly now as they roost on it and do you know what on it down the sides of it, they aren't afraid of the dog anymore, but my ? is why is it 4 shot or smaller, why can't people use heavier loads ? Is there a niche the shotgun shell manufacturers want for sales or ? I'd want to use what I use on geese if I ever apply, do they think a hunter would wait for better range using 4's or something, just curious.

[mechanictim]

One of the reasons for the restriction on shot size is for safety. Most turkeys are shot at while on the ground. This is also where most people who may be mistaken for a turkey are. The smaller shot is less likely to kill someone than buckshot. At 40 yards or less it probably won't make a difference, but at longer range the smaller shot will penetrate less.

[DonBo]

You also want to hit the bird in the head/neck area for a quick clean kill. With heavier shot people may try less than perfect body shots at longer distances.

[mnhunter2]

I am a turkey hunting nut and pesonally I wouldn't use a 10 ga for the simple reason that they weigh a ton and I wouldn't want to carry one around all day, ballisticly you can get very close with a 3 1/2 12 ga.