Today, a guy at work tried to tell me that #6 would not kill a bird past 40 yards. I am new to this sport, but that doesn't seem right to me. Now, I know the further out you shoot, the less likely it is to kill a turkey, but I find it hard to believe that Win LB 3" #6 will not kill a turkey at 50 yards. Maybe I am wrong, but that just didn't sound right to me.
Ya better not talk about shots over 40 yards cause you're gonna get put in TIMEOUT !
Lordy Lordy we can't talk about over 40 here!!!
But just to let you know your 100 percent right,I won't say how I know.
Go back and tell him #7 Hevi's and #9 TSS will kill turkeys at 40 yards and see what his reaction is?
I gotta admit this no talk past 40 is for the birds man times change equipment gets better and better but as hunters we are still suppose to not shoot at 41 yds...? just don't understand this whole aspect if you don't want to talk about or shoot past 40 then why not move on and don't reply
Several years ago they would talk about an individual pellets ability (ke) to break bone or kill a bird at a given distance . A number 6 lead pellet ( not heavy or tss) at the normal fps would lose that ke around the 40 yard mark . I'm not for or against the theory but it may be what he is referring to .
I know for a fact (as I was watching) that a #6 lead pellet will penetrate a birds skull/vertabrae from 46 yards. Actually, there were multiple ones that did so. :funnyturkey: And these were even the slower Winny xx loads.
The reason we try and not talk of shooting past 40 around here is because we are trying to diffuse what a lot of ammo companies are doing by making ridiculous claims of long range performance. Equipment may be getting slightly better, but that's not to say that hunters are...
You can see that traffic has picked up a lot here on OG now that bird season is coming. You can tell by people's post that many of them are new to the sport of hunting. They read the packaging on shells, believe every line of it and then want to tell everybody they've got a 60 yd gun. Then go out and cripple birds. We are trying to help stop some of that.
But the number 1 reason we don't do it is because this is somebody else's website. He owns it and that's the way he wants it. He lets us be here so we try and respect that 1 wish.
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
Ive never had to shoot 40 yds but I'm sure my Winchester l/beards will perform quite well at 40 yds. I like my shots up close and personal where I can see him blink his eyelid. :OGturkeyhead:
since no one here shoots past 40 yds how do we know the shell companies are not right then...
do you really think guys are buying $7 a piece shells to shoot 30yards....
I am not saying that I intend to shoot a turkey past 40 yards, but I do not believe that once a #6 pellet reaches 40 yards, it immediately slows down and is no longer lethal. Now at 50 yards, maybe.
Take everything that I believe about this subject with a grain of salt because I am just now learning about all of this. Three months ago, I could not even tell you what #4, #5, or #6 even meant.
The guy that I was talking to at work said that I would probably be good at 40 with the #6, but past 40 maybe not.
Since we are on the subject, how would a #5 compare to a #6 in terms of lethality out to 50 or 60 yards?
Quote from: Dirt nap on March 03, 2015, 08:54:04 PM
since no one here shoots past 40 yds how do we know the shell companies are not right then...
do you really think guys are buying $7 a piece shells to shoot 30yards....
Must be because we have a lot of threads here lately that start out by saying, "I know this is a 60 yard pattern... Now I don't shoot that far, mind you...I just wanted to see what happens if I misjudge... I normally don't shoot til he's under 30 cause if I don't it's not sporting......"
So what are we trying to do here ?
Unleash the forum to start talking about 75 yard shots like Hevi claims the mag blends will do ? Start calling BS on the guys that claim your not a hunter if you aren't looking at eyelashes, or just worship at the altar of the newbie that has an 835 and some long beard #6 and he gonna' do whatever he wants because somehow Winchester just re-invented the wheel.....gimme' a break....
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on March 03, 2015, 09:07:21 PMThree months ago, I could not even tell you what #4, #5, or #6 even meant.
Since we are on the subject, how would a #5 compare to a #6 in terms of lethality out to 50 or 60 yards?
Again, this is exactly why we don't talk about past 40.....
I am NOT picking on you or singling you out, but dang man, you didn't know what #'s 4,5 or 6 meant 3 months ago and you're already discussing long range shooting on an Internet forum ?
You need to get an understanding of the wild turkey and how to hunt them under your belt before you start worrying about 50 yards.......just food for thought......
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
Quote from: BowBendr on March 03, 2015, 09:27:48 PM
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on March 03, 2015, 09:07:21 PMThree months ago, I could not even tell you what #4, #5, or #6 even meant.
Since we are on the subject, how would a #5 compare to a #6 in terms of lethality out to 50 or 60 yards?
Again, this is exactly why we don't talk about past 40.....
I am NOT picking on you or singling you out, but dang man, you didn't know what #'s 4,5 or 6 meant 3 months ago and you're already discussing long range shooting on an Internet forum ?
You need to get an understanding of the wild turkey and how to hunt them under your belt before you start worrying about 50 yards.......just food for thought......
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
To be honest, no. Until I decided to really get into turkey hunting this year, the only hunting I have done is for deer with a .270 and a bow. I have had a shotgun for several years, as well as being a firearms instructor, but I/we only have buckshot and slugs. I have been turkey hunting once (last year) and I used my friend's shotgun and the shells that he already put into the gun. I have never had any dealings with turkey load. I do not mean to sound stupid, but I just never really knew what it was.
As I said before, I have no intention of shooting a turkey past 40 yards, but I am just curious as to why somebody would think that #6 would not kill a turkey past 40 yards.
Quote from: Dirt nap on March 03, 2015, 08:54:04 PM
since no one here shoots past 40 yds how do we know the shell companies are not right then...
do you really think guys are buying $7 a piece shells to shoot 30yards....
Or 10 Ga Shotguns to shoot 30 Yds ! :TooFunny:
I don't like lead at all, at any range. Hevi-shot all the way. No time for lead...
I can tell you from 40 years of turkey hunting that no matter what gun/choke/shell you shoot your chances are greatly increased by letting the turkey get inside 40 yds. I have seen hunters with high-tech turkey guns since the early 90's trying to push the envelope with distance and all they have done is lose a larger percentage of turkey's. The best turkey hunters I know shoot inside 40 yds because when they pull the trigger they do everything they can to make it a high percentage shot. They don't take low percentage shots even if it means letting the turkey walk. Shooting at further distances just increases your chances of crippling the turkey. There are allot of factors that happen in the turkey woods that don't arise shooting off of a rest at a paper target. Hunter excitement, wind, low light conditions, trees, saplings, misjudged distance, shooting at a target that is subject to move and the list goes on and on. There are some turkey hunters still around that believe in keeping the art of turkey hunting alive. Scouting, position, set-up, concealment, calling, when to move or not to move are all part of the process that make folks better turkey hunters. Long range shooting has been an eye sore on turkey hunting in the last couple of decades.
Turkey's have decreased in most states due to over harvest and habitat changes. States that had some of the biggest populations are seeing significant declines. Despite all that we have an ever increasing population of turkey hunters that take long range shots at gobblers regardless of the negative consequences. Guess it all boils down to respect for the Wild Turkey and that is something that seems to have been lost for allot of the turkey hunters a run across.
The folks that own this website care about the future of turkey hunting and it's good to see someone make a stand to promote the sport in a positive way.
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on March 03, 2015, 09:35:05 PMAs I said before, I have no intention of shooting a turkey past 40 yards, but I am just curious as to why somebody would think that #6 would not kill a turkey past 40 yards.
I don't know why they'd think that, nor do I care. I don't want you to either.
You are admittedly new to turkey hunting and I want to see you start off on the right foot. Get you a good gun, choke and shell, then your biggest concern after that is to make sure your aiming point is in tune with where the shot impacts the target. If not, fix it.
After that, go find some turkeys. Learn where they travel and why they went there. Listen how turkeys call to each other and learn to do the same. Don't call at birds, talk to them in their language. Put your time in and the birds will come, then you can worry about killing them.
I avoid workplace hunting conversations at all cost. Most people will steer you way off course. I work with 3 of them myself....
Get a good pattern, know your gun, and hit what you aim at and you'll be golden.
Sorry for coming off as an arse.....
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
I like lead at any reasonable range at which shots should be taken on wild turkeys. Lead all the way. No need for Hevi-shot.
It aint so :blob10:
Quote from: BowBendr on March 03, 2015, 10:08:15 PM
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on March 03, 2015, 09:35:05 PMAs I said before, I have no intention of shooting a turkey past 40 yards, but I am just curious as to why somebody would think that #6 would not kill a turkey past 40 yards.
I don't know why they'd think that, nor do I care. I don't want you to either.
You are admittedly new to turkey hunting and I want to see you start off on the right foot. Get you a good gun, choke and shell, then your biggest concern after that is to make sure your aiming point is in tune with where the shot impacts the target. If not, fix it.
After that, go find some turkeys. Learn where they travel and why they went there. Listen how turkeys call to each other and learn to do the same. Don't call at birds, talk to them in their language. Put your time in and the birds will come, then you can worry about killing them.
I avoid workplace hunting conversations at all cost. Most people will steer you way off course. I work with 3 of them myself....
Get a good pattern, know your gun, and hit what you aim at and you'll be golden.
Sorry for coming off as an arse.....
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
No worries. I did not start this topic to create a debate. I have been doing a lot of research and, honestly, trying to find stuff online has been difficult, to say the least. Heck, I can't even find what constrictions of a choke tube fall under extra full, full, etc... So, with that being said, I have been getting most, if not all, of my information from OG. The good, and the bad, of that is that there are a lot of different opinions on a lot of different subjects, tips, methods, etc... on this forum.
I am enjoying this forum and hope to continue to learn from it.
I have absolutely no intention of taking a shot past 40 yards, but I guess I am just looking for somebody to reassure me that #6 will be adequate at 40.
To be honest, when I took a shot at 60 the other day at the range, I couldn't exactly see the clearest picture of the bird on the target. I could not imagine trying to stay on a bird's neck at that distance while he is moving, bobbing, etc... That is the same reason that I do not shoot a deer with my .270 further than 150. Just too many variables to go wrong.
Years ago....we had some folks( now thankfully gone) bragging about shells that could kill at 83,91 100, and I've seen 120 yards -- no b.s. here tried to get a lid on it unsuccessfully and they resisted and were shown the door
The end result is that what you do in the woods is your business , we politely ask that people just keep that stuff to them selves and on t he down low
A example would be the flurry of "I shot at a gobbler at 50 yards with xxxx shell and it got away " posts where the original poster was mad at the ammunition manufacturer
like I said what people do in their private time is their business but if it's promoting way out there shots keep it on the down low because of all the impressionable unknowing beginners - thanks in advance
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on March 03, 2015, 07:37:58 PM
Today, a guy at work tried to tell me that #6 would not kill a bird past 40 yards.
You need to tell him that his talents would be better appreciated at Idiot Mart. ;)
[/quote]
To be honest, when I took a shot at 60 the other day at the range, I couldn't exactly see the clearest picture of the bird on the target. I could not imagine trying to stay on a bird's neck at that distance while he is moving, bobbing, etc... That is the same reason that I do not shoot a deer with my .270 further than 150. Just too many variables to go wrong.
[/quote]
You and me both!! ;D I don't have to worry about lethality at those distances because of that very reason. I think the same exact thing when I see people shoot 60+ yard shots with their bows. More power to them, I just can't see that dang far when I'm trying to focus on a small object.
Some folks just are not worth debating. I know from experience it will. (what's it gonna do bounce of its skull at 41 yards?) However I don't think its a good idea to go to the woods with the expectations of taking 40 + yard shots. I also think that if that's your game you shouldn't play with #6 lead (even Win LB .) I believe there is a contingency of hunters who spend the time and coin to be prepared for such shots. You know who you are. The rest simply shouldn't. Your friend at work obviously hadn't and so let him alone and keep him happy in his bubble.
With finding an effective shell for turkey hunting, you must take into consideration two things. Maximum distance that a particular sized shot is able to carry 2-2.5 foot pounds of energy and the distance to achieve a minimum pattern density.
It has been physically determined that shot carrying 2-2.5 foot pounds of energy is required to break the bone in a turkeys vertebrae and/or skull. A #6 lead pellet traveling at a muzzle velocity of 1,300 feet per second in air that is calm, 70 degrees with 50% humidity is able to deliver 2-2.5 foot pounds of energy at a distance of approximately 40 yards. The FPE drops off dramatically beyond that distance for the #6 lead shot, so any shots beyond that distance should not be considered, regardless of pattern density. Given this, you will still need to pattern your gun/shell to determine if the pattern can deliver a minimum density of 100 evenly spaced pellets in a 10" diameter circle. If it does, then you have a 40 yard combination. If the numbers are less than 100 pellets, shoot a sheet of paper at 35 yards and see what your results are. Continue moving closer to the paper until you hit the 100 mark. This now is your maximum ethical distance to take a shot at a turkey with that shell/choke tube/shotgun combination.
Although you asked specifically about #6 shot, this also applies to larger shot. You still need to have that 100 count pattern to raise the odds that pellets will penetrate the vertebrae and/or the skull.
Cheers.
FullChoke
This is my 40 yard shot with Win LB 3" #6.
looks good now...get another target shoot at 50 and I think you will answer your own question
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on March 04, 2015, 03:07:19 PM
This is my 40 yard shot with Win LB 3" #6.
That pattern will get the job done everyday of the week and twice on Sunday.
:fud: :OGani: :z-dizzy: :icon_thumright:
Pattern density. When you can no longer put 100 pellets in a 10" circle with any shot size you enter the spray and pray range, the range where you are hoping that 1 magic bb hits the right spot. Go out and shoot your gun at multiple ranges. When you can no longer put 100 pellets evenly in a 10 circle you have reached your guns max range. As long as the pattern density is there I believe the #6s will do fine.
Quote from: Gobble! on March 04, 2015, 08:55:06 PM
Pattern density. When you can no longer put 100 pellets in a 10" circle with any shot size you enter the spray and pray range, the range where you are hoping that 1 magic bb hits the right spot. Go out and shoot your gun at multiple ranges. When you can no longer put 100 pellets evenly in a 10 circle you have reached your guns max range. As long as the pattern density is there I believe the #6s will do fine.
So now all the past foot pounds of energy statements done by ammo companies , ballistic experts and so on with the sizes and types of shot mean nothing?
So now if the beginning turkey hunter or anyone else reading can get the 100 pellets of whatever size and type of shot in the 10" circle on paper at 58-59 yards is good to go at that range?
The OP setup got 96 at 60 yards, so now lead 6's are good to that distance??
Sorry but i wouldn't trust it to put turkeys down consistantly :z-twocents:
Quote from: owlhoot on March 04, 2015, 11:19:30 PM
Quote from: Gobble! on March 04, 2015, 08:55:06 PM
Pattern density. When you can no longer put 100 pellets in a 10" circle with any shot size you enter the spray and pray range, the range where you are hoping that 1 magic bb hits the right spot. Go out and shoot your gun at multiple ranges. When you can no longer put 100 pellets evenly in a 10 circle you have reached your guns max range. As long as the pattern density is there I believe the #6s will do fine.
So now all the past foot pounds of energy statements done by ammo companies , ballistic experts and so on with the sizes and types of shot mean nothing?
So now if the beginning turkey hunter or anyone else reading can get the 100 pellets of whatever size and type of shot in the 10" circle on paper at 58-59 yards is good to go at that range?
The OP setup got 96 at 60 yards, so now lead 6's are good to that distance??
Sorry but i wouldn't trust it to put turkeys down consistantly :z-twocents:
You don't think that #6 will kill a turkey at 40 yards?
Yes 6 shot lead will kill at 40. Many have great success.
Now going further may get you into the wounding zone in regards to energy and penetration needed to consistently kill turkeys.
What i don't believe or agree with is the , as long as the pattern is there with 100 in the 10" and pattern will fail before penetration statement.
According to your patterns you have a 58 yard gun with 6's, I don't agree with that.
I also believe in having a gun that is good to at least 10 more yards of pattern and pellet energy than i will be shooting just in case i mis-judge the range or screw up the shot a bit.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on March 03, 2015, 10:15:15 PM
I like lead at any reasonable range at which shots should be taken on wild turkeys. Lead all the way. No need for Hevi-shot.
totally agree with Ihuntoldschool, I myself am an old school hunter, lead 4's and 5's have worked for years on a lot of turkeys for me,I've tried the HTL shells and still have some, but I have no problems with shooting lead.
Years and years ago there was some research done , I'm not familiar with the study criteria but the end result is that my crusty memory allows me to remember that the figure 2.6 foot pounds was the magic number not to go below with pellet energy , you will hear people reference the 40 yards and #6 much of the time , this is perhaps what has been mentioned several times in this post - let me be clear , I'm not saying that figure is a fact that's just what's widely published , I know ... I know somebody knows somebody that shot a turkey and paced it off at 53 yards etc. with lead #6 .... My response for you is this , try that 10 times in less than perfect conditions , come back and report to the world on your real world findings - in all my years of running this forum , I've never seen not once ..... A longest MISSED shot thread , I do however recall a fellow consistently making longest kill post ......
At 1200 fps muzzle velocity I think it was stated that a #6 (lead )kinda just gets to that number right at around 37 yards etc... Let's just call it 40 yards and be done with it , I think I recall the study sponsored by Winchester of all people but I could be wrong - mind you this is lead , hevi shot type pellets hit and penetrate harder , they also retain energy much better , also with the refinements in ammo and chokes they shoot a heck of a lot tighter
I don't make any claims to be the authority on shot shell performance , but I happen to be very experienced in calling them into shotgun range and reducing gobblers into permanent custody via my cooler in the back of my pick up truck , I've done so consistently for 31 years now , one day I'll get to old and crazy to do so ,but I'm hoping to put that off as long as possible -- and the worst feeling to endure in the turkey woods is crippling a gobbler and have him get away , as a group whole we want to encourage responsible behavior , I've also shot several thousand waterfowl and have seen some deplorable sky busting behavior out in the marsh , if you visit waterfowl forums and monitor them you will notice many of these waterfowl forums are absolutely covered with "know it alls" promoting incredibly long shot practices , I guess they must be teenagers I figure ....cause they know everything , I know this much a crippled pintail duck won't be flying back up 3000 miles to the Arctic circle to lay another clutch of eggs , that's a fact
We use shotguns that spray pellets , often times in a refined manner , weather conditions will greatly reduce your shotguns performance , not every morning is a sunny windless day , a slight breeze will shift your pattern at 40 yards a foot to the side depending on how it's blowing as a example it will also open it right up
Quote from: Old Gobbler on March 05, 2015, 09:21:50 PM
Years and years ago there was some research done , I'm not familiar with the study criteria but the end result is that my crusty memory allows me to remember that the figure 2.6 foot pounds was the magic number not to go below with pellet energy , you will hear people reference the 40 yards and #6 much of the time , this is perhaps what has been mentioned several times in this post - let me be clear , I'm not saying that figure is a fact that's just what's widely published , I know ... I know somebody knows somebody that shot a turkey and paced it off at 53 yards etc. with lead #6 .... My response for you is this , try that 10 times in less than perfect conditions , come back and report to the world on your real world findings - in all my years of running this forum , I've never seen not once ..... A longest MISSED shot thread , I do however recall a fellow consistently making longest kill post ......
At 1200 fps muzzle velocity I think it was stated that a #6 (lead )kinda just gets to that number right at around 37 yards etc... Let's just call it 40 yards and be done with it , I think I recall the study sponsored by Winchester of all people but I could be wrong - mind you this is lead , hevi shot type pellets hit and penetrate harder , they also retain energy much better , also with the refinements in ammo and chokes they shoot a heck of a lot tighter
I don't make any claims to be the authority on shot shell performance , but I happen to be very experienced in calling them into shotgun range and reducing gobblers into permanent custody via my cooler in the back of my pick up truck , I've done so consistently for 31 years now , one day I'll get to old and crazy to do so ,but I'm hoping to put that off as long as possible -- and the worst feeling to endure in the turkey woods is crippling a gobbler and have him get away , as a group whole we want to encourage responsible behavior , I've also shot several thousand waterfowl and have seen some deplorable sky busting behavior out in the marsh , if you visit waterfowl forums and monitor them you will notice many of these waterfowl forums are absolutely covered with "know it alls" promoting incredibly long shot practices , I guess they must be teenagers I figure ....cause they know everything , I know this much a crippled pintail duck won't be flying back up 3000 miles to the Arctic circle to lay another clutch of eggs , that's a fact
We use shotguns that spray pellets , often times in a refined manner , weather conditions will greatly reduce your shotguns performance , not every morning is a sunny windless day , a slight breeze will shift your pattern at 40 yards a foot to the side depending on how it's blowing as a example it will also open it right up
Very well said
Quote from: Old Gobbler on March 05, 2015, 09:21:50 PM
Years and years ago there was some research done , I'm not familiar with the study criteria but the end result is that my crusty memory allows me to remember that the figure 2.6 foot pounds was the magic number not to go below with pellet energy , you will hear people reference the 40 yards and #6 much of the time , this is perhaps what has been mentioned several times in this post - let me be clear , I'm not saying that figure is a fact that's just what's widely published , I know ... I know somebody knows somebody that shot a turkey and paced it off at 53 yards etc. with lead #6 .... My response for you is this , try that 10 times in less than perfect conditions , come back and report to the world on your real world findings - in all my years of running this forum , I've never seen not once ..... A longest MISSED shot thread , I do however recall a fellow consistently making longest kill post ......
At 1200 fps muzzle velocity I think it was stated that a #6 (lead )kinda just gets to that number right at around 37 yards etc... Let's just call it 40 yards and be done with it , I think I recall the study sponsored by Winchester of all people but I could be wrong - mind you this is lead , hevi shot type pellets hit and penetrate harder , they also retain energy much better , also with the refinements in ammo and chokes they shoot a heck of a lot tighter
I don't make any claims to be the authority on shot shell performance , but I happen to be very experienced in calling them into shotgun range and reducing gobblers into permanent custody via my cooler in the back of my pick up truck , I've done so consistently for 31 years now , one day I'll get to old and crazy to do so ,but I'm hoping to put that off as long as possible -- and the worst feeling to endure in the turkey woods is crippling a gobbler and have him get away , as a group whole we want to encourage responsible behavior , I've also shot several thousand waterfowl and have seen some deplorable sky busting behavior out in the marsh , if you visit waterfowl forums and monitor them you will notice many of these waterfowl forums are absolutely covered with "know it alls" promoting incredibly long shot practices , I guess they must be teenagers I figure ....cause they know everything , I know this much a crippled pintail duck won't be flying back up 3000 miles to the Arctic circle to lay another clutch of eggs , that's a fact
We use shotguns that spray pellets , often times in a refined manner , weather conditions will greatly reduce your shotguns performance , not every morning is a sunny windless day , a slight breeze will shift your pattern at 40 yards a foot to the side depending on how it's blowing as a example it will also open it right up
Yup, that's the truth.
Quote from: Old Gobbler on March 05, 2015, 09:21:50 PM
Years and years ago there was some research done , I'm not familiar with the study criteria but the end result is that my crusty memory allows me to remember that the figure 2.6 foot pounds was the magic number not to go below with pellet energy , you will hear people reference the 40 yards and #6 much of the time , this is perhaps what has been mentioned several times in this post - let me be clear , I'm not saying that figure is a fact that's just what's widely published , I know ... I know somebody knows somebody that shot a turkey and paced it off at 53 yards etc. with lead #6 .... My response for you is this , try that 10 times in less than perfect conditions , come back and report to the world on your real world findings - in all my years of running this forum , I've never seen not once ..... A longest MISSED shot thread , I do however recall a fellow consistently making longest kill post ......
At 1200 fps muzzle velocity I think it was stated that a #6 (lead )kinda just gets to that number right at around 37 yards etc... Let's just call it 40 yards and be done with it , I think I recall the study sponsored by Winchester of all people but I could be wrong - mind you this is lead , hevi shot type pellets hit and penetrate harder , they also retain energy much better , also with the refinements in ammo and chokes they shoot a heck of a lot tighter
I don't make any claims to be the authority on shot shell performance , but I happen to be very experienced in calling them into shotgun range and reducing gobblers into permanent custody via my cooler in the back of my pick up truck , I've done so consistently for 31 years now , one day I'll get to old and crazy to do so ,but I'm hoping to put that off as long as possible -- and the worst feeling to endure in the turkey woods is crippling a gobbler and have him get away , as a group whole we want to encourage responsible behavior , I've also shot several thousand waterfowl and have seen some deplorable sky busting behavior out in the marsh , if you visit waterfowl forums and monitor them you will notice many of these waterfowl forums are absolutely covered with "know it alls" promoting incredibly long shot practices , I guess they must be teenagers I figure ....cause they know everything , I know this much a crippled pintail duck won't be flying back up 3000 miles to the Arctic circle to lay another clutch of eggs , that's a fact
We use shotguns that spray pellets , often times in a refined manner , weather conditions will greatly reduce your shotguns performance , not every morning is a sunny windless day , a slight breeze will shift your pattern at 40 yards a foot to the side depending on how it's blowing as a example it will also open it right up
wise words spoken from an experienced turkey "hunter"
It seems like today that if you cant put up big numbers in the magical 10" at 40 yds,you havent got a "real" turkey gun. I may be in the minority here,(and yes i've been a numbers counter in the past),but i'm personally more interested in how my gun shoots at 10,20,and 30 yds.Why? Because after chasing the magic circle I had this weird realization that "Hey,99% of the turkeys i've killed have been 30 yds or less".Will I still shoot a gun at 40 to see what it does? Yep. If i've got nice even patterns at my hunting distances and my 40 pattern is sub-par so to speak,do I scrap the load because I cant kill a bird at 40 with it.Nope.I shoot lead 6's out of my 12 when I use it.Old style Remington Hevi 6's or Winchester lead 5's out of my 20,which I use most if not all the time.Have never had a problem killing a turkey graveyard dead with 6's.Don't base your hunting on how far you can shoot,but rather on how close you can get him.I know lots of lethal turkey killers here in my area who use 3" lead 6's in fixed full choke guns.They've killed truck loads of birds by working on hunting birds not sniping them.A little off topic but its my :z-twocents:
Quote from: jakesdad on March 06, 2015, 10:33:35 PM
It seems like today that if you cant put up big numbers in the magical 10" at 40 yds,you havent got a "real" turkey gun. I may be in the minority here,(and yes i've been a numbers counter in the past),but i'm personally more interested in how my gun shoots at 10,20,and 30 yds.Why? Because after chasing the magic circle I had this weird realization that "Hey,99% of the turkeys i've killed have been 30 yds or less".Will I still shoot a gun at 40 to see what it does? Yep. If i've got nice even patterns at my hunting distances and my 40 pattern is sub-par so to speak,do I scrap the load because I cant kill a bird at 40 with it.Nope.I shoot lead 6's out of my 12 when I use it.Old style Remington Hevi 6's or Winchester lead 5's out of my 20,which I use most if not all the time.Have never had a problem killing a turkey graveyard dead with 6's.Don't base your hunting on how far you can shoot,but rather on how close you can get him.I know lots of lethal turkey killers here in my area who use 3" lead 6's in fixed full choke guns.They've killed truck loads of birds by working on hunting birds not sniping them.A little off topic but its my :z-twocents:
This is the way I am also, I have a friend of mine that wants the tightest pattern he can get at 40.. He told me he wished he could put every pellet in whatever shell he shoots in the 10" at 40. My favorite pattern is when I put a 24" piece of paper up to shoot and I go check the pattern he says dang you cant miss.. That's what I like to see.
Quote from: jakesdad on March 06, 2015, 10:33:35 PM
It seems like today that if you cant put up big numbers in the magical 10" at 40 yds,you havent got a "real" turkey gun. I may be in the minority here,(and yes i've been a numbers counter in the past),but i'm personally more interested in how my gun shoots at 10,20,and 30 yds.Why? Because after chasing the magic circle I had this weird realization that "Hey,99% of the turkeys i've killed have been 30 yds or less".Will I still shoot a gun at 40 to see what it does? Yep. If i've got nice even patterns at my hunting distances and my 40 pattern is sub-par so to speak,do I scrap the load because I cant kill a bird at 40 with it.Nope.I shoot lead 6's out of my 12 when I use it.Old style Remington Hevi 6's or Winchester lead 5's out of my 20,which I use most if not all the time.Have never had a problem killing a turkey graveyard dead with 6's.Don't base your hunting on how far you can shoot,but rather on how close you can get him.I know lots of lethal turkey killers here in my area who use 3" lead 6's in fixed full choke guns.They've killed truck loads of birds by working on hunting birds not sniping them.A little off topic but its my :z-twocents:
That's interesting, I did the same thing last year. Although I have guns that will turn 280's-330's in a 10" @ 40, I went back to hunting with my 870 21" bbl/ kicks .655/ XX 3" 6's. Shoots 120's-140's in a 10" and 180's in a 12". I went back to it because I have killed more turkey's with this set up than anything and can't recall a miss. Just a better hunting set up. Killer to 40 and decreases chances of missing.
Quote from: vaturkey on March 03, 2015, 07:46:20 PM
Ya better not talk about shots over 40 yards cause you're gonna get put in TIMEOUT !
To everyone ----
nah..... I'm not like that , I'm more laid back than some would think
Some of my critics lay on the 40.5 yard jabs at me , trying to portray to others I'm a long shot nazi - nothing is further from the truth - the intention of the site policy set up specifically towards a very Small minority of folks that are dead set on PROMOTING extreme long shots , it's sad that people have to resort to promoting 83 yard shots at jakes to make a buck , but it's what they do - I say to them learn how to use a turkey call ----geesh......
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on March 03, 2015, 07:37:58 PM
Today, a guy at work tried to tell me that #6 would not kill a bird past 40 yards. I am new to this sport, but that doesn't seem right to me. Now, I know the further out you shoot, the less likely it is to kill a turkey, but I find it hard to believe that Win LB 3" #6 will not kill a turkey at 50 yards. Maybe I am wrong, but that just didn't sound right to me.
This sounds like a common misunderstanding. It's not a will kill / won't kill proposition. It's certainly
possible to kill a turkey with #6 shot past 40 yards. The problem is that at long range #6 shot starts to lose penetration, so it's also quite possible to wound one that would have been a clean kill at closer range, so much so that it's really better to avoid it rather than gamble that #6 will work.
Quote from: Dirt nap on March 03, 2015, 07:53:10 PM
I gotta admit this no talk past 40 is for the birds man times change equipment gets better and better but as hunters we are still suppose to not shoot at 41 yds...? just don't understand this whole aspect if you don't want to talk about or shoot past 40 then why not move on and don't reply
It's kinda like if archery talk said no talk of archery shots past 30 for compounds and crossbows because some recurves lack KE at that distance.
:z-twocents: here's mine since I've been eating :popcorn: and enjoying.. Lol
First of all we all need to know what our gun will do. I've messed up and generally misjudged and killed a turkey at 52 yards once on a woods road with magnum blends. I would never never never wish to do that again. Could've been a lucky shot or my set up could be capable of doing it every time. Either way that's not how turkey hunting is. We dont gut shoot deer on purpose and when we accidents do sometimes we recover them but a lot of times we don't. So why take marginal shots at turkeys on purpose.
I get caught up in the 10in circle at 40 craze myself but most of my shots are less than 20 yards and seldom even at 30 at most. That's where I like to pattern my guns. Just like deer hunting and sighting in that rifle we owe turkeys the same with our shotguns. So know your gun!! It might even be too tight at 20 to be ethical.
Another good point is a sheet of paper (target) could have 500 holes in the 10 at 100 yards if your gun could do it. It's a sheet of paper!! A live animal is not paper thin! So don't think that numbers always equal kills.
Something else for the new guy. I work with a guy who according to him has killed several over 70 yards. That might be true but in his own admission he shot one of them 3 times and chased another one down and caught him, and another he had to track down. He also claims a couple has dropped dead at that range. He shoots Hevi 5's. Ok has he killed 5,6,7 at long ranges? Yea he says so. But don't sound to me it's ethical clean kills. I'd bet money he's got a few more stories he ain't telling of misses or wounded birds. What's sad is him and his brother is 2 of the best callers in the area. Just don't respect the birds enough or lacks the patience to wait for a good close kill.
Experience in the woods will teach you that letting turkey's get inside 40yds will increase your chances of getting a high percentage shot and decrease your chances of crippling a turkey. Respect for the Wild Turkey.
Thanks for deleting that one post that popped up for a minute or two. I don't if he needs more time-out or what the problem is?
Again, I have no intention of taking a shot at a turkey past 40 yards. I was just curious to see what people thought about #6 shot.
I am seriously thinking of patterning my gun with #5 just in case I do misjudge a distance.
Quote from: deerbasshunter3 on March 08, 2015, 07:18:18 PM
Again, I have no intention of taking a shot at a turkey past 40 yards. I was just curious to see what people thought about #6 shot.
I am seriously thinking of patterning my gun with #5 just in case I do misjudge a distance.
it's cool , we're just doing the cabin fever thing
In my opinion 40 yards is the upper ceiling our outer reaches of what a lead#6 can do going 1200 muzzle velocity , I'm sure there is a slim margin of error "fudge factor , it's very easy to misjudge at 40 yards and find out you bopped one at 48 ,53 etc... but like mentioned and spoken well the lead#6 is no long range offering
Opinions are like elbows , everyone has one I think #6 lead will kill at 40 , but past( not very far) that a turkey hunter is pushing his luck
I'll give you some quick advice if you're open to it.
Quit reading the Internet and go find you some birds to kill. You are way over-thinking this thing and worrying way too much about mid-judging a birds range.
I've seen your patterns and you are ready to bust some beaks...even if you do mis-judge a wee bit.
Lots of guys drool over the patterns you've posted in this and various other threads.
Seriously brother, you are good to go. You are going to be pleasantly surprised when you get your chance to pop one.
Go get 'em !!!
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
I can remember the article that everyone is speaking of. I was 16 at the time and the new Black Winchesters had just came out at 1300 fps and won the NWTF shoot. They said to the best of my memory that #6 at 1200 or maybe it was 1145 lost their energy at 37 yds. #5's were closer to 45 and #4s were good 50+ but the pellet count wasn't near optimum.
I began using the black #4's and had great success. I went to Hevi 13 #6's and they amazed me shooting turkeys inside of 45 without flopping. I did however have one hunt with them that has made me a 40 yd guys. I bought into the claims of the 60+ and in frustration shot a gobbler at 64 steps. It is probably the worst memory I have chasing that gobbler across the field because I was ignorant to being ethical to the animal. I did get the bird but fro. That day on I have never shot over 45 and have even stood up and stepped off to where a gobbler was standing only to know he was actually in range.
So pattern your gun and know what it is capable of doing. I know a lot of people that use #6 shot for turkeys and they stretch the range. But after the well written article I read as a kid I am back to using #4 black Winchesters now the LB variety. You can throw a handful of sand in my face and scratch my eyes maybe but if you throw a handful of rocks in it that's gonna hurt so that reasoning and reading that article make me a #4 man plus I like to shoot the coyotes that come in as well and #4's have taken turkey off of several yotes menus for me.
Quote from: BowBendr on March 08, 2015, 11:00:13 PM
I'll give you some quick advice if you're open to it.
Quit reading the Internet and go find you some birds to kill. You are way over-thinking this thing and worrying way too much about mid-judging a birds range.
I've seen your patterns and you are ready to bust some beaks...even if you do mis-judge a wee bit.
Lots of guys drool over the patterns you've posted in this and various other threads.
Seriously brother, you are good to go. You are going to be pleasantly surprised when you get your chance to pop one.
Go get 'em !!!
Sent from Gobblers Knob, NC
Thank you.