New turkey Hunter please help!!

[Model 1300]

This is my second year turkey hunting and I have a couple questions.
1.) I have a Winchester model 1300 12 gauge N.W.T.F turkey special. I have 3 chokes a extra full, modified, and a full. The extra full is ported and I have heard that you cannot shoot certain loads through a ported choke.

2.) what is a good 3 inch load that won't brake the bank? And what is a good load for shots 45 yards and under? I was looking at Federal mag-shok with the flight control wad, or the winchester long beard XR.

[Gobble!]

1) Extra Full
2) Winchester Long Beards if you want lead.

[Swampchickin234]

Winchester lobgbeard 3" 6's, winchester black box , federal   Turkey thugs,  etc for an economical price load.  .   I would suggest trying multiple loads and know what you're gun will do to 40 yards. What kind of choke is you're ported one?  If necessary, you can get a very decent new choke for around 30 bucks, if yours doesn't work out ok. And I would be Leary of shooting flight control wads in a ported choke. There's been much discussion on it.  Surely someone can help ya there, but I have never shot flight control wad in any 12 gauge, so I can't speak on it    Good luck and blessings.   


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[allaboutshooting]

This is my second year turkey hunting and I have a couple questions.
1.) I have a Winchester model 1300 12 gauge N.W.T.F turkey special. I have 3 chokes a extra full, modified, and a full. The extra full is ported and I have heard that you cannot shoot certain loads through a ported choke.

2.) what is a good 3 inch load that won't brake the bank? And what is a good load for shots 45 yards and under? I was looking at Federal mag-shok with the flight control wad, or the winchester long beard XR.

First of all, welcome to OG and to the great sport of turkey hunting. I'm sure we all remember our first years of hunting. The major difference today, beside the fact that there are more turkeys, is that that there is so much equipment out there it can become very confusing.

That being said, we killed turkeys years ago with some pretty basic equipment and you can do that today as well.

First of all, I'd deep clean that barrel. Then I'd recommend that you try what you have, the X-Full choke and some Winchester Long Beard shells with 1.75 oz of #6 shot. A box will run you about $20.00 or so for 10 shells. That will allow you to pattern some and still have shells for the season.

You'll need to take your gun to the range and shoot some "big paper" at least 3' x 3' (anything that size or larger will work, cardboard a large box, etc.), put a mark in the center, assume a turkey hunting position and shoot at it at 40 yards. You may discover that it does not shoot to point of aim or if you're fortunate, that it does.

I'd recommend that you repeat that procedure at 30 and 20 yards, just so you know how your gun works at those ranges as well.

Your investment at this point is some time and for a box of shells. If all works well, you're ready for the season. If you're point of aim is off just a bit, you can allow for it using "Kentucky Windage", if it's off too much you may want to consider some open sights.

A little time at the range will tell you a lot.

Please let us know how it goes for you.

Thanks,
Clark

[Tail Feathers]

 
What they said.  Try the Longbeard 6's.
Plus, find a video called "So You Want To Be A Turkey Hunter".  It will help get you off to a good start.
It's a LOT of fun.  Come around here often and you'll pick up some tips along the way.

[Spring Creek Calls]

A 10 pack of Long Beards in #6 shot and your x-full choke may be all the testing needed. Point of impact would be my only concern. I have a similar 1300 and will be doing POI testing with the LB's this spring.  Plan to shoot a low brass #6 at 20 yards then the LB to see if POI changes,  repeat at 30 yards, then 40 yard 10" pattern with LB. Good luck, great gun you got there!

[Model 1300]

Thankyou all so much. The ported choke came with the gun. So it is a Winchester I guess. I will try the LB's. How's the recoil on them? And the barrel on my gun is 18.5 inches I was reading on here that short barrels like that aren't the best?

[Tail Feathers]

Lots of folks get real good patterns with the shorter barrels.  Try the Longbeards in it with the XX FUll choke and see what you get at 40 yards.  I bet it will be a turkey killer for you.

[gwa]

Lots of folks get real good patterns with the shorter barrels.  Try the Longbeards in it with the XX FUll choke and see what you get at 40 yards.  I bet it will be a turkey killer for you.

Ditto and they kick like any other 12 of similar shell make up...

Good luck

[rempumpman]

First and foremost, welcome to Turkey Hunting; it is a sickness that there is NO known cure for....lol! you will get the best answers to your questions right here on this forum as there are MANY hunters here who are "well seasoned" and whose knowledge is priceless; NEVER be afraid to ask ANY question concerning ANYTHING with Turkey hunting as there is no dumb questions; we want to help you in any fashion possible and trust me, here is where you want to be to gain knowledge.

You have an excellent gun for turkey hunting and with a little time at the gun range, you have a gun that will make many good memories; you MUST shoot different loads through your gun to see which shell performs at it's very best; now this may not settle to well with others on here, but remember you DO NOT have to buy the most expensive shells in order to have the best; there are many good shells that will kill a Turkey at 40 yards and under that is very easy on the wallet; I buy nothing but Winchester ammo for everything I shoot and have had no problem in filling up my freezer; but please know that Winchester may NOT be the best for your gun; it could be Remington, Kent, Hornady, Federal, or a whole slew of others; you have got to see what is best and the only way to do that is to spend time at the range; also please listen to Clark and learn the art of deep cleaning your barrel; a very simple process but one that will help in a tremendous way;

Hope you nothing but the best and may your Turkey Hunts always be filled with success.

[Model 1300]

Once again Thankyou all. I will pick up a box of Long beard XR's. I also have a box of Remmington Premire magnums that I can try.  One last question. What is deep cleaning and how do you do it?

[Model 1300]

This is the choke and gun

[Tail Feathers]

Looks like a rhino choke?  A high end choke if it is.  Try the lovebirds with it.

[paboxcall]

 

Clark is spot on with his suggestions, you got some good help here.

I have the same gun, and that looks just like the Winchester choke tube that comes with it.  Using a calibrated micrometer, I mic'd the exit at 0.666"

You should have two chokes with that gun, the one you pictured that is ported, and a second one that is rifled for slugs.

That ported choke is plenty tight enough to get a really good pattern with the shells recommended on this thread.   

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[CT Spur Collector]

This is my second year turkey hunting and I have a couple questions.
1.) I have a Winchester model 1300 12 gauge N.W.T.F turkey special. I have 3 chokes a extra full, modified, and a full. The extra full is ported and I have heard that you cannot shoot certain loads through a ported choke.

2.) what is a good 3 inch load that won't brake the bank? And what is a good load for shots 45 yards and under? I was looking at Federal mag-shok with the flight control wad, or the winchester long beard XR.

First of all, welcome to OG and to the great sport of turkey hunting. I'm sure we all remember our first years of hunting. The major difference today, beside the fact that there are more turkeys, is that that there is so much equipment out there it can become very confusing.

That being said, we killed turkeys years ago with some pretty basic equipment and you can do that today as well.

First of all, I'd deep clean that barrel. Then I'd recommend that you try what you have, the X-Full choke and some Winchester Long Beard shells with 1.75 oz of #6 shot. A box will run you about $20.00 or so for 10 shells. That will allow you to pattern some and still have shells for the season.

You'll need to take your gun to the range and shoot some "big paper" at least 3' x 3' (anything that size or larger will work, cardboard a large box, etc.), put a mark in the center, assume a turkey hunting position and shoot at it at 40 yards. You may discover that it does not shoot to point of aim or if you're fortunate, that it does.

I'd recommend that you repeat that procedure at 30 and 20 yards, just so you know how your gun works at those ranges as well.

Your investment at this point is some time and for a box of shells. If all works well, you're ready for the season. If you're point of aim is off just a bit, you can allow for it using "Kentucky Windage", if it's off too much you may want to consider some open sights.

A little time at the range will tell you a lot.

Please let us know how it goes for you.

Thanks,
Clark

I like this sentence from Clark, it could start a new topic but one I'm sure has been discussed.

What did you take your first hen or tom with?  I had a Rem "wingmaster" pump. 30" bbl. and the bbl was "full" .  It was only chambered for 2.750 shells, I used "mini" or Nitro mag shells. Shot him at 22 yrds.  First tom I ever killed!  Remember it well!  Thanks Clark for bringing that memory back!