Dead Turkey Papers

Post Reply
User avatar
bradford2
Silver Participant
Silver Participant
Posts: 677
Joined: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:00 pm
Location: Ottawa

Dead Turkey Papers

Post by bradford2 »

Getting ready for turkey season. It's a great time of year!

Decided to try a red dot on the ole shotgun this year. Finally got to the range to give it a go and get things sorted out.

Image

Initial impressions - I hate the red dot haha. No magnification, was hard to see the target center at 40 in the sunny blue skies... I'm hoping it will be better in actual hunting conditions. It will have to do for this year.

Got things sighted in with some target loads at 10 yards or so. Initially using a Kicks .655 for the first time. It gets rave reviews, so I wanted to try it out.
Stepped to 15 yards free hand with the first turky load, a cruddy kent shell with 1 3/4 oz of shot. Looked good.

Image

I say cruddy because these shells have never patterned well for me, at now at 25 yards you can see the difference.

Image

Loaded in an old faithful, winchester supreme 2oz of #6. Killed the majority of turkeys with this load. You can see why.

Image

Also on the list for today was the new Winchester Long Beard ammo. 3" 1 3/4oz of #6. Tight. Very Tight. Still at 25 yards.

Image

I made some adjustments and backed things up to 40 yards.

I had brought some other chokes to try. First up was a TruGlo .665 with the long beard shell. At 40 yards, it's a dead turkey, but nothing impressive.

Image

Next, still at 40 is the Remington Super Full at .665. Also likely a dead Bird, but not a shot I'd want to take.

Image

Stuck the kicks back in the gun and loaded in a hevy 13 shell. These are what I used on my 2 birds each of the last two years. At 40, a dead bird no problem (in fact got one closer to 50 last year). This target had maybe 10 killing pellets plus or minus.

Image

And lastly, the shell that's getting all the hype that it looks like it rightly deserves. The 3" long beard through the kicks at 40 yards. 20+shot in the brain alone. My pattern is still a bit high for this shell. It's amazing how much difference the center is compared to everything else. I'll likely just aim a bit lower if I can't get shooting again before opener.

Image

I didn't get a chance to shoot it any further as there were a few other guys shooting. I don't doubt it would be good out to 50, and if I range a bird at 45 or 47 I'm pulling the trigger without hesitation lol.

As for the birds themselves, I've put on over 1000 km scouting already and things are looking better daily. Today I seen a strutter 10 yards in front of my killing tree. That's probably going to be too close from I see haha!

Good luck to all those getting out this year!
User avatar
Markus
Diamond Participant
Diamond Participant
Posts: 7362
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2003 8:05 am
Location: Nova Scotia/St Catharines

Re: Dead Turkey Papers

Post by Markus »

Great test to have done Brad. I'll admit, I'm guilty for not patterning my shotguns enough. I've been meaning too and this post has motivated me to get it done this year.

Good luck this spring!
User avatar
ShawnD
Gold Participant
Gold Participant
Posts: 1446
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 10:05 am
Location: Gatineau (Hull) Qc Canada

Re: Dead Turkey Papers

Post by ShawnD »

Impressive report, I enjoyed reading this thanks!!
President of the Ottawa Valley South Bassmasters
http://www.ottawabassmasters.com/
User avatar
Super
Bronze Participant
Bronze Participant
Posts: 233
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:36 am
Location: Ottawa

Re: Dead Turkey Papers

Post by Super »

Excellent report.
I too do not try enough different makes of shells
David
User avatar
Raydar
Participant
Participant
Posts: 81
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2010 9:33 am
Location: Renfrew

Re: Dead Turkey Papers

Post by Raydar »

Great post. Won't be long now.
Gobble, gobble.
Keep your line in the water and there will always be a smile on your face.
Post Reply