Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

GomerPyle & I were chit-chatting just now in the office, about a good 1-2 shell combination when loading up your turkey gun. 

In previous years, I'd been loading up with all blended custom shells (similar to MagBlends).  This year, I've decided to go with a blended 1st shot & a Winchester Longbeard XR as my back-up shell.  The thought being that the blended shot has a good up-close pattern, while the Longbeard XR would work well if a follow-up (ie longer) shot is needed.

Just curious how others are loading up their guns this year.

First second and third are the same shell.  Don't put any more in.  It will kill from close to far, so I don't see any need for anything different.  Make the first count and don't need the second.

Quote from: Skeeterbait on March 26, 2014, 04:18:42 PM
First second and third are the same shell.  Don't put any more in.  It will kill from close to far, so I don't see any need for anything different.  Make the first count and don't need the second.

Agreed

well yeah, Ideally you make the first one count....but things don't always go that way...heck, I got tons of hits on a thread recently I'd started about people who've killed birds with their follow-up shots....so, if you're going to load a 2nd (or 3rd) shell, might as well make the most of it

First shot is a 150 grain broad head, second is a 125 and third is a 100.   I figure the lighter heads will travel farther.  After the third shot I figure he's out of my effective killing range so I just go look for my three arrows.

I've always loaded 3 3" #5's and left it at that.  What you are talking about is thought provoking though because this year I will have a Sumtoy choke rather than a factory full choke.  I'm thinking about loading the first shell as a blend and then follow that up with Winchester XR's #5's pretty much like you.

I'll use a htl in the pipe and a couple of Win HV for the hail marrys. 

I use three of the same shells usually unless I'm running low and if I am I put my "best" shell in the chamber and whatever I found rattling around in the pockets of my truck doors 2nd and 3rd.

Throwing lead at a running Turkey is only going to make him run faster and be more weary. I load two shells in case I encounter two birds.

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I pick the shell I have confidence in and go hunt.  If it gets more complicated I cannot understand it. 

Well, I shoot #6 lead for the first shot and agree, make it count, but I back it up with 4s. Thinking being if for whatever reason the first is not immediately lethal I want something that will break legs, wings and penetrate the body. If the gobbler gets on his feet or tries to take wing I want to immobilize and probably will be shooting "for turkey" not a stationary head.

I can also slip out the 6s and have 4s for Coyote at the ready.

I use Heavy 13 #6 shot in 3inch, and follow with a 3.5 inch Heavy 13 #6.. one time I needed a follow up shot, and that was because I let the bird get too close and flat missed the first shot, but the second one laid him out..a 3inch would have done the job, but peace of mind I guess.

If I miss, I skip on trying to get off a second shot. Instead I'll toss one of these  :icon_thumright:


I see what you're getting at with this but for me, I'm a firm believer in the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) system. For me....havingor trying to keep track of two kinds of loads in my vest doesn't seem to be following that system :TooFunny:

Same shell for all 3.

Mine and son's guns both shoot the Remington Hevi shot 3" #6 in very nice patterns.  Stocked up years ago, but the stock is dwindling (I did not run out and buy any when I knew it was going off the market-yes, I lack foresight).  So now, I load that shell first and just back up the next 2 with the same in the 1 1/2 ounce loads, which still has a nice pattern, but not as pretty.  Have less than 10 left and at our current pace, it will not be long until they are gone and I gotta start patterning a new load.

Quote from: Gobble! on March 26, 2014, 09:06:14 PM
Same shell for all 3.

Me too!

I use the same load for all three.

Quote from: Gooserbat on March 26, 2014, 05:57:09 PM
I'll use a htl in the pipe and a couple of Win HV for the hail marrys. 

Gooserbat, does it "work"?  Have you ever had to use the "hail mary's" on a follow-up shot?  I guess really that's what I'm wanting to know; is it "worth it" to even worry/fool w/this kind of combo, or just load up the biggest/baddest loads all the way around?

I load the same shell for all 3 shots as well.  I think the earlier posts seem backwards to me.  If I was limited on HTL shells and had confidence on the longbeards, I would load the cheaper lead load first when I think the bird would be calm/close for a shot and then have the HTL shells as a follow up.  They are better down range and carry more energy than the lead loads so having them as a follow up would make more sense to me.

CurrentlynI use a Magblend up front followed by some #5 lead. I would not use Longbeard as a second shot it shoots too tight in my gun as follow up.

Also if I am hunting woods and know shots will be 30 yards give or take I will just use #5 or 6 lead. No need for overkill for up close and personal.

When I had plenty of my preferred shell, all 3 were the same. My problem is that I don't have all 3 and I just consider the 2 extra shells to be backups anyways.

I've thought about it, but like MKMGOBL said, I have enough stuff to keep track of, don't need more shells!

I shoot Hevi13 #7 and follow up with two Hevi13 #4 in my 12 gauge.

All the same. If for some reason I would need to shoot twice at the same bird, my second shell is equally efficient as the first. Those being nitro #m517f #4x5x6x7 mega weights or #h517t #4x5x7 hevi shot. They both shoot great for me and I have one or the other each spring. Got a tip for y'all tho. Don't shoot 3 times to kill a coyote worth 0$ with nitros. Yep..I did.

always have 5 shells in all of my guns  ( 835 will hold 6)
first rd. is my main load,sometimes backed up by #4's or #2's depending on what area I am hunting at.
some hogs,lots of coyotes and bobcats.

I load all 3 the same. If I miss, it is usually inside 12yds and my follow up shot is out to about 30 - 40, so with me, the second shot is in my optimum pattern. Although now I use a pump and a follow up shot I don't get because I am so used to an Auto that I never remember to rack another shell after shooting.

Quote from: bamagtrdude on March 27, 2014, 11:33:26 AM

Quote from: Gooserbat on March 26, 2014, 05:57:09 PM
I'll use a htl in the pipe and a couple of Win HV for the hail marrys. 

Gooserbat, does it "work"?  Have you ever had to use the "hail mary's" on a follow-up shot?  I guess really that's what I'm wanting to know; is it "worth it" to even worry/fool w/this kind of combo, or just load up the biggest/baddest loads all the way around?

Nah it's usually, Bang, Flop, Carry to the Truck. or Bang, Run Turkey Run!

Quote from: Gooserbat on April 03, 2014, 02:24:05 PM
Nah it's usually, Bang, Flop, Carry to the Truck. or Bang, Run Turkey Run!

Ha - 10-4!  :)

ok then I started when i got the pump gun with 2 3/4 6's from Remington in the pipe backed up with 3" 2's for wing bone busting, this was in late 70-early 80's.
If using 12 gauge now i might use my best Fed Hw 7's or Magblend 3" head shot load with a 3" or 3 1/2" backup with 4's.
Haven't used a 3rd in the guns for years now in pump or auto.
cannot shoot coyotes in the spring turkey season in MO. anymore , bummer.
Too many guys useing rifles for strutting toms in the fields , saying they are out coyote hunting. >:(

Load my gun up with all the same and throw a few more in my pocket.

Why do you guys keep your plug in for turkeys. If I'm going to carry extra ammo why not put as much as possible in the gun.

Or do some states limit to 3 for turkeys too?

No plug, just don't load any more than 3.  Gun gets front heavy fully loaded with turkey shells. Especially if your caught holding the gun up for several minutes waiting on a bird to work into range.  Also I am not a fan of fully loading a magazine as it causes premature weakening of the mag spring.  Takes a lot of spring pressure to push out heavy turkey shells. Don't want a weakened spring from sitting in a fully compressed position.

Oregon does limit shotgun capacity to three shells and shot size may not exceed #2.

Quote from: Skeeterbait on April 05, 2014, 10:16:45 PM
No plug, just don't load any more than 3.  Gun gets front heavy fully loaded with turkey shells. Especially if your caught holding the gun up for several minutes waiting on a bird to work into range.

+1 on this; weight, *plus* follow-up shots on a turkey, unless he's 10 yards on the first shot, are "hope & a prayer" shots.  But, mostly for me, is weight.  I put 2 shells in my gun every time.

sometimes I believe I over think things I have a few different brands of shells and will use what ever hits my fancy at the time. I tend to lean on the lighter  side for my 1187 because I get a better pattern with 1 3/4 6s. For the Mossberg I use 2oz. 3 1/2 inch shells. For the 870 I use 2oz. 6s. I have some heavy weights I've been carrying the last few year but haven't had any shots at birds. The last few years have been very strange where I hunt very little Gobbler sightings. Jake's yes but longbeards not so much.  ???