How effective would a number 8 be on turkeys, 25 yards and in?
1.25" of penetration in BG to 27.5 yds @ 1100 fps, so yes I would say 25 yds.
That is getting marginal so not my bag to see how absolutely small I can use to get by. #6s in a slightly lower velocity shell would also do the trick at 25 yds. and in.
Personally I have never used anything smaller than #7.5 lead on turkeys.
Yeah I really do not intend to use them but figured I would check ballistics, I have an old single 20ga that is not marked and I assume it is 2 3/4 only so since I had some 1 oz. 8s I use for dove I figured I would ask. Last two birds I killed with a gun were under 20 yards, heck one was 5 yards so why not hunt with something that limits you, I typically bow hunt anyway!