What shells do you all like?
what guage is it
3.5 inch, Hevi Shot #7
I personally like hevi #6s, but mag blends s federal turkey thugs #5 are both great as well. Good luck.
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Jellyhead .660 and 3.5" Nitro Heavyweight or straight 7's.
Gman
I've got the 870 SM, using Fed HW #7 in 3 1/2
My 870 with a Remington extra full choke patterns well with 3 inch #5 Hevi-13's.
I have some #5 turkey thugs now to try. Was thinking of some winchesters xx and some remington primere magnum. I have a remington extra full choke in now might look at the super full or jellyhead next.
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Rhino .660 and Nitro Ammunition
I shoot a hevi shot choke with 3 inch hevi shot #6s. It's a pretty devastating combo, especially if you find the posted topic on how to polish your barrel. Holy smokes does it make a difference!!!!
3.5" magblends with a Jellyhead .660 is what my gun likes. 23" barrel.
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Comp-n-choke .655 and win. long beard #6 3.5 best pattern out of my gun to date.
.650 sumtoy or rhino .660 with Hevi 13 6s.
20ga 870 .570 Tightwad,.570 Hastings,.575 Carlson,,565 Truglo GSX
do you guys shoot those tight chokes with scopes or open sights?
Nikon turkey pro BTR scope, Indian creek choke and I am shooting Hevi shot 3.5" # 7's
Leupold 1.5-4x20 scope, .660 jellyhead, 3 1/2 hevi 7s.
Williams fire sights
Burris fast fire here...
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870 sm with Kick's .665 choke. Winchester Supreme #5's and I shoot with a Nikon Turkey Pro scope.
870 20 gauge with a Mueller QuickShot, Remington Superfull choke and TSS #9 handloads. The sight helps with the aging eyes.
Burris Fast Fire III for me. :fud:
Never a scope like the bead. 870 12 gauge my favorite 3 combos are in this order Rhino .660 paired with 4-5-7 nitro 3.5 inch 2 1/4 ounce
Indian creek with nitro 2 7/16 ounce in 3.5 inch hevi shot
Comp-N-choke with 3.5 inch winch extended range, going to try some longbeards out of this soon.Any of these are deadly and let me shoot as far as I have any business shooting.
Open sights
Quote from: ads1 on February 21, 2014, 10:46:13 PM
3.5 inch, Hevi Shot #7
Same here.
Although I will be trying some New lead loads this year.
2 3/4 Winchester XX #6 turkey loads. Older Remington Super Full .660. Has accounted for many dead birds. Just throws amazing patterns with CP lead. I have a 24 inch deer rifle sight barrel threaded for chokes.
665 Jellyhead with Hevi 13 3 1/2" Mag Blends and a BSA red dot.
Puregold .670 choke
Hevi 13s......3 inch...number 6s in a 2 oz load
I currently shoot a scoped 12 ga. 3-1/2" 870. At the time using a ported Remington Ventilator choke in .655 constriction. The best results I've gotten are using Winchester Hi-velocity 3-1/2" in #4's.
My 870 SM 12 ga w/23" barrel is fond of Hevi 3.5" 2.25 oz #6 or #7 with a Jellyhead .665. However' I've backed off of the super tight patterns and am currently shooting Hevi 3.5" 2.25 oz #6 through a REM SF Hevi approved. That combo produces a really good hunting pattern!
Winchester Extended range # 5 shot.
3in. Hevi shot mag blends.
Just shot some of the new Winchester long beard XR shells today and they delivered as promised. Shot the 3-1/2" #4 at 45-50 yards through my pure gold choke and had all the pellets within a 20" diameter. ALL of the pellets. These things really hold together at long ranges. Will have to be dead friggin on at 10 steps or so when you get em in close, which is why I haven't decided if I'll drop my supreme no. 5's for these or not. If you're looking at taking long range shots at 40-60 yards, give the new long beard shells a try.
Quote from: SouthernStrut on February 23, 2014, 01:37:58 AM
Just shot some of the new Winchester long beard XR shells today and they delivered as promised. Shot the 3-1/2" #4 at 45-50 yards through my pure gold choke and had all the pellets within a 20" diameter. ALL of the pellets. These things really hold together at long ranges. Will have to be dead friggin on at 10 steps or so when you get em in close, which is why I haven't decided if I'll drop my supreme no. 5's for these or not. If you're looking at taking long range shots at 40-60 yards, give the new long beard shells a try.
Lead does not have the energy to kill at 50-60 yards consistently. If you are looking to kill at that range you need to be running HTL or TSS.
Anyone shooting PB at turkeys at 55 yards is going to be sorely disappointed and crippling a lot of birds.
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on February 23, 2014, 09:51:13 AM
Quote from: SouthernStrut on February 23, 2014, 01:37:58 AM
Just shot some of the new Winchester long beard XR shells today and they delivered as promised. Shot the 3-1/2" #4 at 45-50 yards through my pure gold choke and had all the pellets within a 20" diameter. ALL of the pellets. These things really hold together at long ranges. Will have to be dead friggin on at 10 steps or so when you get em in close, which is why I haven't decided if I'll drop my supreme no. 5's for these or not. If you're looking at taking long range shots at 40-60 yards, give the new long beard shells a try.
Lead does not have the energy to kill at 50-60 yards consistently. If you are looking to kill at that range you need to be running HTL or TSS.
Anyone shooting PB at turkeys at 55 yards is going to be sorely disappointed and crippling a lot of birds.
This is not a "traditional" lead load. It's not just powder, wading, and shot. There's another element, similar to homemade wax shotshell loads, that holds the shot together longer once the wading releases. The manufacturer claims 10% greater penetration over standard lead loads beyond 50 yds. That tells me they have done extensive testing and calculations to show what type of patterns these shells are capable of. In manufacturing you can't just release a new product and claim that it does more than it really does. Especially not an industry leader like Winchester. They aren't some joe blow making shells in his garage. I shot several loads yesterday and these patterned best of all of them. However, I don't plan on taking 50 yd shots. 20 is average for me because of the terrain I hunt and setups I choose, which is why I said I will probably just stick to my Winchester supremes. They have been killing turkeys at close ranges and out to 40 yds for years so there's no reason to change. Just giving my feedback on the performance of a new product, and the results were clear.
Quote from: SouthernStrut on February 23, 2014, 10:45:34 AM
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on February 23, 2014, 09:51:13 AM
Quote from: SouthernStrut on February 23, 2014, 01:37:58 AM
Just shot some of the new Winchester long beard XR shells today and they delivered as promised. Shot the 3-1/2" #4 at 45-50 yards through my pure gold choke and had all the pellets within a 20" diameter. ALL of the pellets. These things really hold together at long ranges. Will have to be dead friggin on at 10 steps or so when you get em in close, which is why I haven't decided if I'll drop my supreme no. 5's for these or not. If you're looking at taking long range shots at 40-60 yards, give the new long beard shells a try.
Lead does not have the energy to kill at 50-60 yards consistently. If you are looking to kill at that range you need to be running HTL or TSS.
Anyone shooting PB at turkeys at 55 yards is going to be sorely disappointed and crippling a lot of birds.
This is not a "traditional" lead load. It's not just powder, wading, and shot. There's another element, similar to homemade wax shotshell loads, that holds the shot together longer once the wading releases. The manufacturer claims 10% greater penetration over standard lead loads beyond 50 yds. That tells me they have done extensive testing and calculations to show what type of patterns these shells are capable of. In manufacturing you can't just release a new product and claim that it does more than it really does. Especially not an industry leader like Winchester. They aren't some joe blow making shells in his garage. I shot several loads yesterday and these patterned best of all of them. However, I don't plan on taking 50 yd shots. 20 is average for me because of the terrain I hunt and setups I choose, which is why I said I will probably just stick to my Winchester supremes. They have been killing turkeys at close ranges and out to 40 yds for years so there's no reason to change. Just giving my feedback on the performance of a new product, and the results were clear.
HS Strut also claimed the squealing hen was a turkey call. Hevi states you can have a killing load with mag blends to 70 yards, that is more believable than this claim of Winchester's. It does not matter how good they pattern if they do not hold energy. This is a lead load, not even copper plated. I have a feeling there will be a lot of missed birds at close ranges and a lot of crippled birds at longer than one should shoot ranges because of this shell and Winchester' s pathetic marketing of it. It will kill all day at 40, but it is sad that people believe this is a new kind of lead or something.
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Quote from: SouthernStrut on February 23, 2014, 10:45:34 AM
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on February 23, 2014, 09:51:13 AM
Quote from: SouthernStrut on February 23, 2014, 01:37:58 AM
Just shot some of the new Winchester long beard XR shells today and they delivered as promised. Shot the 3-1/2" #4 at 45-50 yards through my pure gold choke and had all the pellets within a 20" diameter. ALL of the pellets. These things really hold together at long ranges. Will have to be dead friggin on at 10 steps or so when you get em in close, which is why I haven't decided if I'll drop my supreme no. 5's for these or not. If you're looking at taking long range shots at 40-60 yards, give the new long beard shells a try.
Lead does not have the energy to kill at 50-60 yards consistently. If you are looking to kill at that range you need to be running HTL or TSS.
Anyone shooting PB at turkeys at 55 yards is going to be sorely disappointed and crippling a lot of birds.
This is not a "traditional" lead load. It's not just powder, wading, and shot. There's another element, similar to homemade wax shotshell loads, that holds the shot together longer once the wading releases. The manufacturer claims 10% greater penetration over standard lead loads beyond 50 yds. That tells me they have done extensive testing and calculations to show what type of patterns these shells are capable of. In manufacturing you can't just release a new product and claim that it does more than it really does. Especially not an industry leader like Winchester. They aren't some joe blow making shells in his garage. I shot several loads yesterday and these patterned best of all of them. However, I don't plan on taking 50 yd shots. 20 is average for me because of the terrain I hunt and setups I choose, which is why I said I will probably just stick to my Winchester supremes. They have been killing turkeys at close ranges and out to 40 yds for years so there's no reason to change. Just giving my feedback on the performance of a new product, and the results were clear.
It's still lead, man. Some of the components may have changed but the antimony has not and therefore the physics and subsequent KE resulting from it has not.
Hevi-13 claims that Mag Blend will kill turkeys at 75 yards and that it will put 297 pellets in a 10" circle at 40. Neither of those claims are true. False advertising is rampant in this industry to get guys just like you to buy product.
Ask anyone who truly knows the ballistics of lead and they will tell you the same thing. All these newbies who are susceptible to the false prophecies in the advertising and are jumping on the Longbeard bandwagon in search of a cheaper substitute for HTL. News flash: it doesn't exist.
Longbeard is a reliable, consistent and impressive 40-45 yard load..... Nothing more
That's right. It's a good reliable shell that is a great improvement from Winchester supremes or Double X. Whatever the case I know I put more pellets in a 10" circle at 45yds w/ long beard than with any other shell I shot, and they all are carrying the same amount of energy at that distance so I would say the more pellets the better. There were more pellets in the circle because of the resin holding the shot together once it releases from the wading. It's really simple when you think about it and makes perfect sense if you understand basic physics. And the resin actually is a real thing.....it's not some marketing b.s. like the squealing hen call. Cut the shell open if you want to and see. And regarding close shot misses.....if you have a close encounter and need to make a shot at 10 steps they are all gonna shoot the same because the wading will take the birds face off if your aim is true. The few times I've shot hevi shot I didn't even put a pellet on the paper at 30 yds because it shot low or high or somewhere not where I put the bead. I gave all that junk away. Either way I'd hate to know I might have to make a 70 yard shot on a turkey. I might have to rethink my strategy, setup, calling, and basic knowledge of turkey hunting if that were the case.
Quote from: SouthernStrut on February 23, 2014, 01:37:42 PM
That's right. It's a good reliable shell that is a great improvement from Winchester supremes or Double X. Whatever the case I know I put more pellets in a 10" circle at 45yds w/ long beard than with any other shell I shot, and they all are carrying the same amount of energy at that distance so I would say the more pellets the better. There were more pellets in the circle because of the resin holding the shot together once it releases from the wading. It's really simple when you think about it and makes perfect sense if you understand basic physics. And the resin actually is a real thing.....it's not some marketing b.s. like the squealing hen call. Cut the shell open if you want to and see. And regarding close shot misses.....if you have a close encounter and need to make a shot at 10 steps they are all gonna shoot the same because the wading will take the birds face off if your aim is true. The few times I've shot hevi shot I didn't even put a pellet on the paper at 30 yds because it shot low or high or somewhere not where I put the bead. I gave all that junk away. Either way I'd hate to know I might have to make a 70 yard shot on a turkey. I might have to rethink my strategy, setup, calling, and basic knowledge of turkey hunting if that were the case.
Even at 45 yards you will watch birds run away with lead 6s. You may get lucky here and there with 4s and 5s. I never said I shot 70 yards but that it was a claim by hevi shot, you must not have actually read my post. It is just as false as Winchester's claims, but if one is going to kill half way effective past 40 yards then it would be the heavier shot.
If you miss up close with the longbeards you better consider yourself a lottery winner for the wad to hit him let alone kill him.
Do what you want with taking longer than 40 yard shots but you will more than likely be highly disappointed. I hope every bird you shoot comes in, stands straight up and still at 40 yards for you.
I have seen the fcw hit birds and go in their skin but anyone with knowledge on turkey loads know that is a wad is a whole different beast.
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Quote from: davisd9 on February 23, 2014, 05:05:00 PM
Quote from: SouthernStrut on February 23, 2014, 01:37:42 PM
That's right. It's a good reliable shell that is a great improvement from Winchester supremes or Double X. Whatever the case I know I put more pellets in a 10" circle at 45yds w/ long beard than with any other shell I shot, and they all are carrying the same amount of energy at that distance so I would say the more pellets the better. There were more pellets in the circle because of the resin holding the shot together once it releases from the wading. It's really simple when you think about it and makes perfect sense if you understand basic physics. And the resin actually is a real thing.....it's not some marketing b.s. like the squealing hen call. Cut the shell open if you want to and see. And regarding close shot misses.....if you have a close encounter and need to make a shot at 10 steps they are all gonna shoot the same because the wading will take the birds face off if your aim is true. The few times I've shot hevi shot I didn't even put a pellet on the paper at 30 yds because it shot low or high or somewhere not where I put the bead. I gave all that junk away. Either way I'd hate to know I might have to make a 70 yard shot on a turkey. I might have to rethink my strategy, setup, calling, and basic knowledge of turkey hunting if that were the case.
Even at 45 yards you will watch birds run away with lead 6s. You may get lucky here and there with 4s and 5s. I never said I shot 70 yards but that it was a claim by hevi shot, you must not have actually read my post. It is just as false as Winchester's claims, but if one is going to kill half way effective past 40 yards then it would be the heavier shot.
If you miss up close with the longbeards you better consider yourself a lottery winner for the wad to hit him let alone kill him.
Do what you want with taking longer than 40 yard shots but you will more than likely be highly disappointed. I hope every bird you shoot comes in, stands straight up and still at 40 yards for you.
I have seen the fcw hit birds and go in their skin but anyone with knowledge on turkey loads know that is a wad is a whole different beast.
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Listen I know that not every hunt can be perfect and sometimes that bird is gonna hang up outta range. It happens to all of us. To have a load that can reach out and touch em at 50+ would be nice in that situation. I'm not sure if I was clear earlier, but I'm not usually presented with a shot on a longbeard beyond 30 yards due to the terrain I hunt, unless I'm hunting a field......in which case I'm going to try my darnedest to get myself setup to where I have a close range shot between 15 and 30 yds. I may have a long range shot opportunity for a second or two before he heads my way, but I'm gonna wait til he gets closer if I can of course. If he hangs up outta range, it's time to improvise and get creative to try and make something happen. To sum it up and leave it at that, I don't feel like I need a long range load because of where and how I hunt. The large majority of my birds have been killed at about 20 yds avg. I simply shot the new shell and gave my opinion on its pattern, which was clearly much more dense than both Winchester supremes and Federal of the same size and shot at 40 or so yds. Whatever you shoot, you practice enough with it and pattern it through your gun and choke and know it will kill a turkey in any type of situation you expect to encounter. I will be shooting either Winchester supremes or the new long beards this season, either one will give a turkey brain damage if I do my job right.
Agreed and good luck
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I am old school, and don't like change. I still use Federal Premium Mag. or Rem. Premier Mag. #5 copper shot or #6 with the #5 being my fav. in a 3" mag.
:OGturkeyhead: :OGturkeyhead:
Well lets see, my 3" gun shoots 3" win lead #6 of any flavor well...very well and I use a Ballistic Specialties .655. The Golden Eye of the Black Gun (that's what I call my super mag 870) spouts 3.5 Win HV#6 very well too, and for what it's worth I've got two of the same choke (one for each) but I've got a couple of boxes of Longbeard #6 I'm going to try.
3" Magblends, Jelly head, has been very deadly for me!
I've been shooting winchester shells for years,always had good luck with them. I'm up for trying something new, I can always go back.
In my 870 SM, I like Hevi 7's in either 3 or 3.5 inch
In my slightly modified 870 wingmaster, 3 inch Winchester HV #5's and 6's.
3 inch hevi 6's through an IC
Supermag, 23" .660 puregold Hevi13 #7 3.5"
870 yth 20ga undertaker choke, 3" #6 federal copper plated lead.