My new Turkey shotgun?

[Bobhunts]

I have never set up for longer ranges for turkey before now, but this is what I have going on now! I have Browning BPS and ordered a mount with a Picatinny rail and a Leupold VX 1 scope to mount on top. I also ordered a " Hevi-Shot" extreme range choke. When I get all of this put together would I be better off using shot shells by the same brand as the choke when patterning my shots? I have some Kent Turkey shot shells so is there a difference in matching a choke to the shell? Just wondering if chokes are really matched to the shot shell. Gonna be back packing in with snow shoes on the pack to crest the drifts here in Colorado. Also it will be fun looking for elk and deer sheds. Any advice? I would assume a choke from a particular brand would have been tested with there own shot and I can assume that but in reality other brands might just do fine? Bob.

 

[HighKnob]

Hevi Shot is some of the best you can buy. I tried the Winchester Long Beards last season and they did a great job at about 1/3 lower cost. The really long range stuff you have to load your self and it's extremely expensive.

 

[Bobhunts]

Thanks I will look into that. I bought some turkey loads made by Kent. See how that patterns first.

 

[duckhunter175]

Bob-- Turkeys are one of my favorite things to chase. I think you have the right idea getting a scope mounted. The next thing I would do is settle on the load you want for long range performance. This might sound a little backwards but hear me out.

If you want to kill that 60+ yard gobbler you need energy and pellet density. Finding a load that will offer both is the key. I would take a hard look at the Federal Heavyweight #6s or #5s.

See how those pattern in the choke you have and then go from there. I've got some of my best patterns out of a $30 HS Strut Undertaker Choke.

I did try the long beard XR on the pattern board and would def recommend the 5s. I feel anything bigger than that you lose too much pattern density.

 

[turkeyfever]

Check out this ammo company web sight. I have a Benelli M2 and shoot a Rhino Choke tube with Nitro ammo. I have killed a couple of birds pushing 55 yards. They have done a lot of testing with different choke tubes.
Nitro Company Ammunition - Superior Shotgun Ammo - Nitro Company

 

[geo4061]

+1 for the Winchester Long Beard. Tested the #4 shot at 50 yards. It put 250 hits in a 10 " circle.

 

[duckhunter175]

Geo--- What load and choke are you using?? Is that 3.5" and 2.25oz shot?

250 pellets of #4 @ 50yds is crushing it. I'm tracking a total pellet count of 280 +/-

You are right at 90% pattern @ 50yds, that is a winner!!

 

[HighKnob]

+1 For the Nitro Ammo Company. I've shot a lot of their stuff.

 

[SALTINE WARRIOR]

You didn't mention what gauge.

 

[geo4061]

Remington Versa-Max 3.5" Winchester Long Beard #4 shot. I tried every choke I could find Remington, Carlson, And High Flyer in modified to extra full. What worked best was the full Remington choke(.660 inside diameter).

 

[geo4061]

Check out these threads Coyote Shotgun Ammo and Choke Test and EO Tech or Bead. There may be more info in these you might find interesting.

 

[geo4061]

Correction 112 hits in a 10 inch circle at 50 yards. Went back and looked at my test results.

 

[JRC308]

Use a Mossberg 935 with super-full ported accu choke. 3 in Long Beard shells. 6 birds came in to about 40 yrds. Shot 3 times and only 2 flew away. So 4 birds with 3 shots is alright. I'll keep this set up for Spring and see what happens.

 

[bowkill02]

Remington 870, Pure Gold choke, 3" hevi shot magnum blend. Awsome combo for me.