Turkey Load for 870 Remington Express

[FishingwithJake]

This will be my first year Turkey hunting. I'm wondering if anyone shoots a 12ga. 870 Remington Express and what ammo manufacturer you've found to be the best. Of course I'll pattern a particular load through my own gun but since ammo is not returnable, I'd like to narrow it down as much as possible.

[Chapo]

I use Federal 3 1/2 inch, 6 shot with the undertaker choke and seem to have a good pattern out to 50 yards but that appears to be the maximum distance in my 870.

[Cooter]

I like 3" Rem Hevi shot size 5 with a full choke.

[Powerstroke]

Well like you've stated, there are individual differences between every gun barrel. The way they shoot in combo with a choke and certain loads will vary more than you know. The only way to narrow anything down is to shoot them.

The good news is that most "turkey" loads are sold in boxes of 5 or 10 shells rather than 25 like the game loads. This is nice cause you can do some shot patterning and only spend a couple bucks with a few shells.

The sizes most preferred are 4,5 and 6 shot. Each of these can pattern different and there is no good way to tell how they will shoot out of one gun or another. I ended up using a Federal Turkey load in 4's for my 20ga. Even though it gave fewer pellets to the target is was more consistant at placing pellets WHERE I AIMED as well and better at the pattern density. I ended up shooting 4 different loads (not that many out there for 20ga) and this is what I came up with. Also nobody makes a "turkey" choke for my gun so I bought a standard full choke tube for my gun and went with that.

[Borch]

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I ended up shooting 4 different loads (not that many out there for 20ga) and this is what I came up with. Also nobody makes a "turkey" choke for my gun so I bought a standard full choke tube for my gun and went with that.

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What you shooting powerstroke? There's more and more 20 ga turkey chokes out there. In fact there's a lot of guys and gals moving away from the 3.5" 12 gauges and switching to the 20 without significnat loss in effective range.

My daughter's 870 20 gauge youth outshoots several or the 12 gauge guns in our group with a tight wad choke and #6 rem hevishot. Unfortunately the rem hevishot is no longer available unless you find some old stock.

[monstermoose78]

Federal has came out with 7 shot in High Denisty and it sounds like it will be the stuff to knock them turkey over with. I dont know if they make it in a 20ga but you might want to check it out.

[FishingwithJake]

Thanks everyone. I'm really getting excited for my first year of Turkey hunting.

[Powerstroke]

I shoot a Stoeger Condor O/U 20ga. The biggest thing was finding a choke tube for the Stoeger brand and family (its benelli I think) that goes in the O/U. Its not the ideal turkey gun, but its the only shotgun I own. I'm looking for a 12ga this winter, but we'll have to see.

[Borch]

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I shoot a Stoeger Condor O/U 20ga. The biggest thing was finding a choke tube for the Stoeger brand and family (its benelli I think) that goes in the O/U. Its not the ideal turkey gun, but its the only shotgun I own. I'm looking for a 12ga this winter, but we'll have to see.

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Nothing wrong with that setup for whacking turkeys. I've contemplated that set up myself.

I'm 99.9% sure the Stoeger Condor 20 gauge works with the WIN/Moss/Brn thread pattern. I've shot the 12 gauge Condor several times as a buddy of mine uses one. Lots of choke options there. Comp n Choke, Primos Tite Wads, Primos Jelly Heads, Rhino, HS Undertaker, the list goes on and on.

The Stoeger pumps and auto loaders utilize the Benelli/Berretta thread pattern.

If you're looking for a choke for some of the less common brands do a search for "Choke Interchange". There are a couple pretty complete listing out there.

[Guppy]

Monstermoose78, if you are hunting im MN, they only allow 4,5 or 6 shot.

[Powerstroke]

Thanks for the heads up Borch. I'll have to check into those and see if I can't extend my effective range. That could make a huge difference in my patterning.