Turkey Gun Patterning

[Hotspotter]

In the (unattainable?) quest to find the perfect load, choke, gun combination, it would be great to see what everyone is using, and what kind of patterns you're seeing. I'll be patterning my gun soon, and will post the results. Hopefully, as everyone gets ready for the spring season, they can post their results as well! Be specific, especially about the choke constriction and brand, as well as the load brand and payload. Hopefully, those of us with common enough guns can rely on the results of others to find the winning combination.

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Here goes:

Gun:

Browning Gold Hunter 3.5"

Choke:

Browning Turkey X-tra Full, ported, non-wad stripping, .685 constriction

Load:

Remington Hevi-shot 3.5" #6's, Regular Velocity, 1 7/8 ounces of shot

Pattern: To be determined later

40 yards

10" circle

Pellet count -

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Please list different loads used and patterns acheived.

Good luck!

Joel

[Saw557]

Here are my results:

Gun: Rem. 12 gauge 870

Choke: Rem. "Ventilator" .655" choke dia, ported non-wad stripping

Load: Win. Supreme 3" 1 3/4oz. # 5 shot lead

Pellet Count:

30 yds. 12" circle Total 234 pellets, "outline" of Turkey head target 52 pellets, "kill zone" 18 pellets

30 yds. 30" circle entire load except 6 pellets

40 yds. 12" circle Total 105 pellets, "outline" of Turkey head target 21 pellets, "kill zone" 9 pellets

40 yds. 30" circle entire load except 15 pellets

[BRULEDRIFTER]

Saw557, is that a Rem870 20ga or 12ga? im using a Rem 870 20ga. Any tips on chokes for this? thanks.

[Saw557]

oops it's a 12 gauge. I've tried a "undertaker" tube also but the "ventilator" is way better in my gun. Go to Remingtons home page they have some info on tubes. One thing to think about the ventilator is .010" tighter than a super full and they recomend to only use lead shot in it. FYI I also patterend a standard full choke at 30yds and it was terrible

Scott

[Borch]

Quote:

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Saw557, is that a Rem870 20ga or 12ga? im using a Rem 870 20ga. Any tips on chokes for this? thanks.

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My daughter has had excellent results in her Rem 870 20 guage with the Hastings .566 turkey choke. I know several others who have had excellent results with this same combo with a variety of loads.

Borch

[BRULEDRIFTER]

thanks borch, i'll try that one.

[Borch]

Bruledrifter,

I just realized I had a typo. The choke is .566 not .556 restriction.

[BRULEDRIFTER]

that's a big TYPO. thanks for clearing that up.

[Hotspotter]

Just patterned, and here's the result:

Gun:

Browning Gold Hunter 3.5"

Choke:

Browning Turkey X-tra Full, ported, non-wad stripping, .685 constriction

Load:

Remington Hevi-shot 3.5" #6's, Regular Velocity, 1 7/8 ounces of shot

Pattern:

40 yards

10" circle

Pellet count: 1st shot - 147 pellets, 2nd shot - 161 pellets

Should've taken more shots, but shoulder was sore enough from getting sights aligned with target load. Plus, the hevi-shot gets expensive. Especially when brothers, cousins, etc. use your gun!

I'm very happy with this pattern for a factory load/choke combination. From what I can tell from results of others with this gun/choke, this seems average or standard. It will definitely kill turkeys at this range, which i'm pleased with.

Post your patterns soon!

Joel

[Borch]

Well I went out and pounded my shoulder today. Here's the results patterning the stoeger 2000 and cnc xxxfull(.655). Each is an average of 2-3 shots at each distance. Hits listed are skull and spine hits. All ammo listed was 3" with lead shot.

Contitions: 72 degrees Wind 20-30 mph(Quartering)

Winchester #6 HV

20 yards---31 hits

40 yards---10 hits(10 inch cirle--103)

Federal #6 FC HV

20 yards---20 hits

40 yards---8 hits(10 inch circle hits 98)

Winchester #5 HV

20 yards---41 hits

40 yards---12 hits(10 inch circle hits 100)

Federal #5 FC HV

20 yards---45 hits

40 yards---17 hits(10 inch circle hits 158)

Federal #5 Premium 2 oz(Not FliteControl)

20 yards---32 hits

40 yards---13 hits(10 inch circle hits 172)

Remington 4x6

20 yards---27 hits

40 yards---12 hits(10 inch circle hits 139)

Looks like it's the Federal FliteControl HV in #5 shot for me. I was surprise as I felt the cnc wad stripping would make them less effective. Although I wouldn't have a problem with most of them out to 40 yards. The wind definitely affected the patterns. But it appeared they all shifted about the same. The numbers would have been higher for all loads in calmer condtions as the pattern centers shifted 2-3 inches to the left due to the wind.

Never the less now I'm ready for some turkey hunting!

[Hotspotter]

Borch:

Great patterns! That many hits, for any load is great....but esp. for #5 lead, is phenomenal. Less total pellets, and still more in the effective killing pattern. The comp n' choke must be the real deal. Too bad they don't make a choke for all the new hevi-load variations.

And ice your shoulder tough-guy; not sure i could handle all that punishment.....we're talking a min. of around 25-30 shots with some hurtin' loads! Good job!

Joel

[Borch]

Quote:

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Borch:

Great patterns! That many hits, for any load is great....but esp. for #5 lead, is phenomenal. Less total pellets, and still more in the effective killing pattern. The comp n' choke must be the real deal. Too bad they don't make a choke for all the new hevi-load variations.

And ice your shoulder tough-guy; not sure i could handle all that punishment.....we're talking a min. of around 25-30 shots with some hurtin' loads! Good job!

Joel

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The shoulder is doing ok today. There were several of us shooting so I'd shoot 2-3 shots and let someone else shoot. Then shoot again.

So far I really like the performance I'm getting out of the setup. I could try the Winchester xtended Range loads as they are approved for the Comp n Choke. Maybe next spring. I feel pretty good about what I have now.

Right now I'm waiting for the lightning to stop so I can do a bit of scouting. It's still early for me but I'm getting the itch.

[NELS-BELLS]

You aren't kiddin about the shoulder taking a pounding. I can see I need to get a recoil pad...and I was only shooting 2 3/4" loads.

Gun: Remington 870, 12ga. 2 3/4", 25" barrel.

Choke tubes: I took one shot with the regular full choke and the rest with an undertaker choke (.665)

Winchester Supreme Double X magnum, 1 5/8 oz., 5 shot copper plated lead

20 yds-------entire load in a 12" circle (undertaker choke)

30 yds-------44 bbs in the head outline (undertaker choke)

30 yds-------14 bbs in the head outline (full choke)

40 yds-------18 bbs in the head outline (undertaker choke)

Federal Premium 6 shot, 1 1/2 oz., copper plated lead

30 yds-------18 bbs in the head outline (undertaker choke) and no I didn't miss the target.

Federal Premium Magnum 6 shot, 1 5/8 oz., copper plated lead

30 yds-------36 bbs in the head outline (undertaker choke)

I was surprised at the difference between the Federal loads and I was impressed with the Winchester loads.

Nels