Slugger Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 I ve been reading on the turkey hunting forum. and have heard some guys say that a gun might pattern well enough at a certain distance but not have enough down range energy to kill a bird and was just wondering if anyone knew how much is needed to kill a turkey if so how much is in a 3.5 in #5(thats what ive patterned my gun with.) out of a 24in bbl.??Ive only been turkey hunting for 3 yrs and dont have alot of experience. Im just trying to figure out my max effective range. thanks for any input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? I know for certain that when using the proper loads, they will have more than enough power to kill at 60 yards as long as the pattern is dense enough. I shot some geese with my turkey loads as I could not get close enough for steel shot. My turkey loads are custom loaded 3.5" mags with a triplex of 4x5x7 hevi shot. Even the number 7 Hevi Shot completely penetrated a goose at 50 yards. I would not hesitate to shoot a turkey at 70 yards as long as I had a dense enough pattern to guarantee a clean kill. With lead, its a little different. Since #7 hevi shot is about the same weight as #6 lead, the number of pellets in the given load will be similar. But, since the #7 is smaller, it looses its velocity less than #6 shot. Its smaller but heavier so it is affected less by air resistance and will maintain more of its velocity and energy. This is why Hevi Shot is much deadlier than lead. Plus the fact that it patterns so sweet. Now if it were just affordable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugger Posted February 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? thanks alot aj you always come through. I shot my turkey gun at 50 yrds the other day and had 19 in the head and neck so i m good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slugger Posted February 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? HMMMM... now i just wonder what everyones beef is with the 40 yrd standard i keep hearing about. If a gun patterns good at 50 or 60 or even 70 yrds as you mention whats the deal! Oh well i guess ill put some time into patterning my gun at some longer distances to see what my max range really is not that i wont try to get a bird close just incase its the onley shot im offered. Thanks again AJ your always very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAbowhunter4life Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? A lot of the guys taking the longer shots are also using the $180 Nitro/Rhino combo that still puts 40 BB's in the head at 70 yards. While longer shots can be taken with factory ammo since alot of the Hevi Shot or High Velocity ammo carries plenty of downrange energy, the Nitro/Rhino is the single biggest reason for turkeys being killed at insane distances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 13, 2005 Report Share Posted February 13, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? [ QUOTE ] ...the Nitro/Rhino is the single biggest reason for turkeys being killed at insane distances. [/ QUOTE ] That's what my setup is. 11-87 Super Mag Rhino .660" 2" extended choke Nitro Company H51013 #4x5x7 3.5" loads Larger shot size will be heavier and have more energy downrange, but the drawback is the pattern is not as dense. You have to find the right combination of pattern density and downrange energy to make efficient long range kills. I still prefer to call the bird in as close as possible. A 20 yard shot is better than a 50 yard shot, but if hte bird hangs up and refuses to come in, I still have the option of killing it if I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAbowhunter4life Posted February 18, 2005 Report Share Posted February 18, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? I was debating whether or not to spurge and go for the combo. However, I bowhunt for turkey 99% of the time so I don't think it'd be worth it for me. The combo I shoot out of my 835 right now is plenty lethal out to 50 yards, so that's fine for this archer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slaw Posted February 22, 2005 Report Share Posted February 22, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? I know for a fact my 835 can fold em up at 50yrds.(2 times so far) not sur about 60 though..some would call a 50yrd shot irresponsable but know your gun and its limitatations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DaHunter Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? Yup me and strut, i believe had a good debate on this allmost everyone was against the 50 and 60 yard shot. So all i can say is dont let me sit by you and the turkey is at 50 yards,lol. I know i can fold the with my gun, just pattern it well and do a penitration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAbowhunter4life Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? Yup, at 50 yards it will still put 15 BB's in the kill zone and the BB's penetrate a full pop can at that distance, so they will have no problem piercing skin and breaking a neck. I have taken one gobbler at 44 and one at 41, neither twitched after the shot. An added bonus I have is that the majority of my killing BB's are centered in the brain area. Like you said, I know my gun and I know it's pattern, so I will shoot 50. Heck, if you have a gun that patterns with 40 BB's in the head at 100 yards and you take that shot, more power to ya lol. As long as u know your weapon and can shoot, it's all goooood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? I still try to call them in as close as possible. I don't take a long range shot if the bird is cooperating. Its those times they hang up and won't budge. If you don't believe the talk about Nitro Company's stuff look at these patterns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? WOW....i was taken back by the price at first but those patterns are pretty sweet. I have a question AJ, do the shot sizes spread out pretty well in the pattern?? It looks like the larger size shot concentraited on top of the pattern. Also he lists all the true's and false's of hevishot, do you agree with what he says?? how much FP of energy is 7 shot getting down range?? Do the smaller pellets draft the larger pellets?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? [ QUOTE ] I have a question AJ, do the shot sizes spread out pretty well in the pattern?? It looks like the larger size shot concentraited on top of the pattern. [/ QUOTE ] I see what you mean. On one of the patterns, the larger shot is higher. Other patterns show a fairly equal dispersion. My patterns looked fairly even. [ QUOTE ] Also he lists all the true's and false's of hevishot, do you agree with what he says?? [/ QUOTE ] Yes I do. My findings have been the same. If you search, I have been mentioning the same things for the past couple years here in Realtree.com. [ QUOTE ] how much FP of energy is 7 shot getting down range?? Do the smaller pellets draft the larger pellets?? [/ QUOTE ] That, I don't know exactly. I have not set up a chronograph downrange to see what the speed is doing. This is whats needed to figure out energy. I do know that they are still out penetraing the same size lead pellet. We took a dead goose and hung it at 50 yards. The HS loads were blowing through the goose or stopping on the far side (full penetration). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? [ QUOTE ] We took a dead goose and hung it at 50 yards. The HS loads were blowing through the goose or stopping on the far side (full penetration). Oh man, I didn't pay my P.E.T.A. dues this month too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted February 24, 2005 Report Share Posted February 24, 2005 Re: turkey loads down range energy?? Thanks AJ, this whole turkey thing is kinda new to me, so any info is great, plus im thinking about starting to re-load hevishot. One more question, on combo loads like the Nitro 4x5x7 are those loads done by hand ex. is there any certain order the pellets should drop, do they do ratio's of pellets, and lastly are they using any kind of buffer?? and last but not least...i appreciate you taking the time to help AJ, like i said when it comes to shotgunning i normaly can find my way around, but the whole turkey/density/range thing has me working overtime. Seems like there endless variations of chokes and loads to try out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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