Diamond Archer 01 Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 This may be a weird question, but how many pellets does it take to kill a turkey. I am wondering this because I shot my gun at various yardages today. I took one shot at 40 yards and had like 7 or 8 pellets right in the neck and the head. Is that enough of them to kill a turkey or no? Any input will be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Someone is bound to say that it only takes one. True, but I know I'd like as many as possible. I think I'd see a long range shot (say 50 yards) that consistently placed 5 pellets or more in the kill zone as an ethical shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Archer 01 Posted April 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Thanks for the info. Like I said I shot 40 yards today and had like 7 or 8 pellets right in the kill zone. If there is a real nice bird at that distance then I may shoot it, but it is nice to be able to do it if you have to. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIwhitetailhunter Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 OK, I'll say it...only one pellet in the right place! I would say the more the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 How many is not really important since it really only takes one in the right spot. The more the better because you never know if one is going to hit the right spot at longer ranges. Best to have a number of them consistantly hitting the head and neck bone at the max range you set for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Archer 01 Posted April 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Thanks everybody for the input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goinghuntin Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 As many as possible I shot my gun yesterday Tyler and at 35 yards I'm getting 20 pellets consistently in the kill zone Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Archer 01 Posted April 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Wow, I am using a 20 gauge tho. I would assume that you are using a 12 gauge, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted April 19, 2010 Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 OK, I'll say it...only one pellet in the right place! I would say the more the better. I think that's what happened on my youth hunt this last weekend.... one #4 pellet to the head. Good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Archer 01 Posted April 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2010 Thanks guys. Just wondering the dog, did that person shoot the bird with a 12 gauge or a 20 gauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 OK, I'll say it...only one pellet in the right place! I would say the more the better. True..more the better I killed one at 70 yrds... yup ..1 pellet in the eye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Archer 01 Posted April 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 Wow, a 70 yard shot. That is impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 Wow, a 70 yard shot. That is impressive. No. That's disrespectful to the bird and irresponsible as a sportsman. Hopefully it was a severe case of yardage mis-estimation. One pellet is all it takes. It's true........but not what you wanna bet your tag on. I like a turkey gun to put a minimum of 20 pellets in the "vital zone" of a turkey target at 40 yards. Every gun I personally use will do better than double that. And some will do remarkably better than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 No. That's disrespectful to the bird and irresponsible as a sportsman. Hopefully it was a severe case of yardage mis-estimation. One pellet is all it takes. It's true........but not what you wanna bet your tag on. I like a turkey gun to put a minimum of 20 pellets in the "vital zone" of a turkey target at 40 yards. Every gun I personally use will do better than double that. And some will do remarkably better than that. Hey Strut: I some times gun hunt (after archery and muzzleloader) and I have a question. My 12 guage Charles Daley O/U with a full choke will put about 20 pellets at 30 yards in the kill zone. 2 3/4, #5's. NOTE: farthest bird I've ever killed was 25 yards. I like'm close. What type of gun, ammo and choke are you using to get 40 pellets in the kill zone at 40 yards. Just wondering. That sounds very impressive. Good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Archer 01 Posted April 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 No. That's disrespectful to the bird and irresponsible as a sportsman. Hopefully it was a severe case of yardage mis-estimation. One pellet is all it takes. It's true........but not what you wanna bet your tag on. I like a turkey gun to put a minimum of 20 pellets in the "vital zone" of a turkey target at 40 yards. Every gun I personally use will do better than double that. And some will do remarkably better than that. I understand. Thank you. I think I am going to keep my shots within like 30 yards where I get a lot of pellets in the kill zone. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goinghuntin Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 Wow, I am using a 20 gauge tho. I would assume that you are using a 12 gauge, right? Yeppers. Mossberg 500 12 gauge :gun1: Nathan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbeard Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 1, long as it hits him hard 'nuff and in the right spot. Seen it happen to the largest bird I've ever seen first hand. Was huntin' the bird, fellow in a cut behind the bird started firing off .22 rounds. Birds runnin' towards my setup, I'm ready.......all of a sudden a fellow on the adjoining club sets out of the creek, boomyall. Bird falls over. I go and check out this bird as I'd grown quite close to him over several hunts. He had 2 inch spurs, yes, 2 inch - I measured them, 12 inch beard. The fellow thought I was going to put a whooping on him as he shot him off his property. Problem was, it wasn't my property either but he was heading toward mine and by the time I could shoot he'd been legal. I stepped off his yardage and it was 70 yards. The fellow who'd given him permission to hunt called me to apolige, I said no worries. Said he only found one pellet in the bird, smack dab in the head. Man oh man, I'll never forget that bird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 What type of gun, ammo and choke are you using to get 40 pellets in the kill zone at 40 yards. Just wondering. That sounds very impressive. There's 4 of them. Browning BPS 10 ga. 3 1/2" Winchester Super X2 12 ga. 3 1/2" Winchester 1300 12 ga. 3" Remington 870 12 ga. 3" All of them have Comp-N-Choke XXX-Full tubes. The 1300 and 870 run right in the low 40's at 40 yards. The Super X2 averages in the 50 neighborhood and the BPS has come up just a couple shy of 60 hits at 45 yards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colorado bob Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 Strut----What does it do at 25 yards? Must punch a hole in the target about the size of a softball. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted April 22, 2010 Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 lots is better. I've shot a turkey stone dead with a 20ga heavy bird shot load, but it was at like 15 yards. With a 20ga I would stick to probably 30 yards. Number of pellets depends on the shot size, but if you're second guessing how effective your pellet count will be by looking at your target then chances are it's not enough or you'll have bigger appearing holes in your pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted April 22, 2010 Report Share Posted April 22, 2010 Strut----What does it do at 25 yards? Must punch a hole in the target about the size of a softball. CB Bob....... If I get a chance someday soon, I'll shoot a 25 yard pattern and post a pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted April 3, 2021 Report Share Posted April 3, 2021 On 4/19/2010 at 9:03 PM, Strut10 said: No. That's disrespectful to the bird and irresponsible as a sportsman. Hopefully it was a severe case of yardage mis-estimation. wow...I never came back to this thread till now...ya I thought he was 45 or so, he was up a very steep incline on field edge. Could not believe when I paced it off. killed him dead. Wow, ya'll went and got yer undies in a bunch over that?? Ive absolutely DUSTED a gobbler at 30 yards, took feathers off, looked like he exploded...and HE FLEW AWAY! set his wings and floated down the coulee a half mile...onto land we not have permission to hunt. I bet he never recovered. That was the only one I can say I never killed. Same gun, same choke, same ammo. Go figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted April 4, 2021 Report Share Posted April 4, 2021 On 4/3/2021 at 9:58 AM, Ravin R10 man said: Ive absolutely DUSTED a gobbler at 30 yards, took feathers off, looked like he exploded...and HE FLEW AWAY! Obviously hit him low with no pellets in the head or neck and turkeys are tough. You would have broken a tooth on a pellet when eating him. You have to love some of the old posts. On that paced off 70 yd shot, I doubt it was really that far. It is difficult to take a very long step/stride when going up or down a steep hill. Your original estimate of 45 yards was probably about right. In open terrain it is not always possible to get the birds within slingshot range. The longest shot I've ever taken on a gobbler was close to 50 yards and his head looked like it had been run through a shredder. Was using Remington magnum turkey loads, 3&1/2 inch pushing 2 oz of copper plated lead pellets. As the distance increases I aim higher to put the lower arc of the pattern in the head/neck zone. I hate trying to strain pellets with my teeth. I am fortunate in that I have never lost a turkey that I've shot at. I have switched to Federal Heavyweight TSS loads that places so many pellets in the kill zone at 50 yards I can't count them. They pack 814 tungsten #9 pellets in the 2&1/4 oz loads. o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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