New turkey hunter looking to get started.

[deerbasshunter3]

As I mentioned in my new member post, I just shot my first turkey on Sunday and I'm hooked. I used a friend's gun so I still need to get mine setup. I have a Remington 870 12 gauge Super Mag.

1. I took the bead off of the front and am probably going to replace it with a Tru Glo front sight. Any suggestions on which one or whether or not to use a rear sight with it. To me having a rear sight gives you one more thing to have to get in order in the "heat of the moment". The gun I took my first turkey with only had a front fiber sight and apparently worked just fine.

2. After reading for several days about chokes, I still don't have the slightest clue as to where to start. I have been given a few suggestions but not sure I need to drop big bucks getting started. Will the choke tubes that you can purchase at Cabelas, Bass pro, etc... work just as well as the more expensive brands you have to order from other websites?

3. Just like chokes, there seems to be a hundred different suggestions as to what shells to use. From what I gather, a #5 load seems to be about the best all around load given pellet count and size. I used a #4 Winchester Supreme to take my first turkey so , of course, I'm still torn on what to try.

4. What is the maximum range that I am looking to get out of a choke/shell combo? My friend that I hunted with the other day said his setup was good out to 50 or 55 yards. I'm not sure I need something that far but if they are anything like deer, getting them within a closer range might be tougher than I thought.

Sorry for the long post but I'm trying to get a good setup to get started with. Any and all advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Dtrkyman]

Welcome to the addiction!

I prefer just a simple 2 bead set up on my barrel, a really small rear one and a small fiber optic up front, keep in mind your gun may not shoot straight and you may need a rear adjustable sight!

You can search through all the patterning threads here in that forum for choke shell combos but all guns are a little different, personally I prefer the heavier than lead stuff but the Win. longbeards are sure impressive! For lead I would shoot 5s for hevi stuff 6 or 7.

You can call sumtoy and give them your info as far as what you want to shoot and your gun and they can suggest a choke for you...

40 yards is the maximum we talk about here, however with the right combo more is possible but patterns fall off quickly beyond 35 and really hit the wall past 50!

My friends supermag with a jellyhead and hevi13 6s was a good combo.

Really start reading the details in the gun and pattern threads here before you decide and keep in mind most choke load combos are very effective out to 40 but once in a while there will be a poor combo that just patterns poorly! 

[d.winsor]

For your gun I would recommend winchester longbeard #5 shot and a good .665 choke, you could probably pick one up for 20 to 30 dollars if you don't want to spend a lot.  I have been told by choke manufactures that the only difference between a ported and a non ported choke tube is that the ported tube will lesson recoil about 5%, there is no difference in pattern results between the two, in the same choke.  I don't shoot heavy so I couldn't give you a recommentation on that.
    One thing you might want to consider is putting on something like a Fastfire 3, The longbeards with the .665 choke will shoot really tight and the fastfire will be a great benifit, especially with close shots.  Good Luck

[FL-Boss]

Truglo gobbler dot is nice. Jelly head .665 ( you can spend hundreds on trying different chokes - but the Jelly heads works as good as any)  Hevi 13 #7 shot hands down whatever you.   Keep it under 40 yards. Your set.

[deerbasshunter3]

So basically the only real difference in chokes is the name on them?

Also, am I correct in saying that a .665 is going to shoot a tighter pattern than say a .670? The smaller the number the tighter the group? If so, wouldn't a smaller number give you more distance because the pellets aren't spread out as much coming out? I feel like there is a lot more that I need to be looking into before I just buy a choke, ammo and start shooting at the range. I am basically looking for a combo that will give me lethal spreads from 20 - about 45 yards out.

I'm also confused when it comes to using lead, steel, etc... Which is best or does it matter?

[ChiefBubba]

I used the Factory Full choke in my SuperMag for a couple years before switching to a Pure Gold 660. I'm shooting the Hevi 13 7's out my gun. That's a pretty good combo for me. I also just use the factory bead in my gun gun. Chief

[1iagobblergetter]

Welcome!!I've had great luck with a Primos Jelly head .660 and Hevi shot H-13 #7  3.5s with my 870 Super Mag. Mine came with an adjustable stock and turkey barrel with the adjustable sights already on it. If I were you I'd want some type of rear sight also. I'm sure someone will give you more insight on those.

[Gooserbat]

Okay I shoot the same gun and I'll tell you what's worked for me but your gun could be different.  I shoot a Ballistic Specialties .655 choke and any of these loads,  Win Longbeards #6, Hevi #6 or Fed Heavyweight #7.   My gun doesn't do well with #4 shot, like 30 ought pellets in the 10" @ 40 yards kinda not do well. I've tried different chokes and the ones that I liked the best where the Ballistics & Sumtoy.  For what ever reason I have had nothing but bad luck from the Jelly Head chokes but I know lots of folks like them.  As far as sights just fork over the $45 and get a set to either Tru Glo Mag Proseries Gobble Dots or Williams Firesights and be done with it.