Are Low Brass #7 1/2 Game Loads Enough...?

[Full_Fan]

A long awaited milestone for me... I'm planning on taking my 9 year old daughter on her first turkey hunt here in a couple weeks.  I have a Remington 11-87 youth model 20 gauge ready to go.   I put a set of Truglo sights on it this weekend and took it out back and zeroed it.  She's never shot a shotgun before so I had her shoot it 5 times while sitting between my legs off shooting sticks.  I only used 2 3/4" low brass #7 1/2 rem game loads (lead).  She's only 90 pounds so that was enough recoil for her and I realized I don't want to go any higher.  I got a box of 2 3/4" high brass Win Super Pheasant #5's (lead) that I was going to have her shoot and hunt with but they have more kick and the rem game loads seemed like they were plenty for her... I don't want to start her off flinching.

I shot a few with different chokes to see the pattern it threw and am leaning on going with either the regular full or the modified choke.  The super full shot nice, but I want a little more forgiving pattern.

My question is what do you guys think about hunting with the 2 3/4" low brass #7 1/2 rem game loads?  There basically clay loads.  They have a nice pattern at 25 yards and with the modified choke and #7 1/2s really have some room for error. 

I don't plan on her shooting further than 20 or 25 yards.  This can kill a turkey just fine right?  I just want to keep it as simple as I can.
Thanks.

[ahfox16]

I'd prefer the same load in 6's, but 7.5" will do it.  I'd have a decoy out at 20 yards and make sure she doesn't take a shot longer then that and absolutely aim for the neck and not the body.  I know quite a few folks who have killed them during the fall when they got up in front of a flushing dog with 20 gauges and using 7.5 Grouse loads.

[Curtdawg88]

Honestly if you slipped a real turkey load in there for turkey hunting she would probably never know it because of all the adrenaline associated with shooting the turkey. You would need to pattern before the hunt though.


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[Bearcat1997]

Honestly if you slipped a real turkey load in there for turkey hunting she would probably never know it because of all the adrenaline associated with shooting the turkey. You would need to pattern before the hunt though.


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I second this

[BandedSpur]

A Remington gameload is not really like a clay load. The clay load (Winch AA, Rem STS, Fed GM, etc) will have much harder (high antimony) shot and will pattern much better than the game load, which is assembled with the cheapest possible components, particularly the shot. That is where they save money.

Lead 7.5s have the penetration ability to kill a turkey to 35 yds or as far as your pattern will hold up with that shell. I shot a high quality WW sporting clays shell from my 12 ga 1187 through an IC .665 choke. It did 160/10 at 30 yds with a very even pattern. You will be throwing a quarter ounce less shot but should still have a solid 25-30 yds gun. Pattern it yourself to increasing distance and see where the pattern falls to 100/10" with the choke you plan to use. That will be your max range.

Good luck to you and your daughter.

[tnanh]

I shot some Winchester super x 2 3-4 high brass 7 1/2 shot the other day in my nephews single shot 20 gauge. They call them upland & small game loads. Recoil was not very noticable at all and they were shot in an old k mart single shot with no recoil pad on it. Out to 30 yards they shot a very acceptable pattern with a Carlsons .575 choke. I would probably hunt them if I knew the shots would be 30 yards or less. Pm me your phone number and I will send you a photo of the box if you would like. I was concerned with the 1 ounce of shot at first but not now.

[Full_Fan]

Thanks for all the replies.  I ordered a box of super x low brass #6 game loads, super x low brass #7 1/2 game loads, and super x high brass #7 1/2 game loads.  I'll have her shoot the low brass on paper and then will substitute the high brass in the field as long as they pattern well.  I'll see if I can pattern the high brass with a modified and normal full choke.  I'm looking for a nice wide pattern at 20-25 yards, I'm not going for distance here.  I just don't think she's ready for a true turkey load yet and don't want to risk turning her off to the gun.  If I can't get one within 25 yards for her, I'm not doing my job.  Thanks for the replies!!

[Brwndg]

Honestly if you slipped a real turkey load in there for turkey hunting she would probably never know it because of all the adrenaline associated with shooting the turkey. You would need to pattern before the hunt though.


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I agree 1000%, but I would replace w a Federal HWT 2 3/4" #7 shot.  Very minimal kick (especially out of an 11-87 semi-auto).
Shell never notice the kick while drawing down on a Tom's wattles.

[Curtdawg88]

Honestly if you slipped a real turkey load in there for turkey hunting she would probably never know it because of all the adrenaline associated with shooting the turkey. You would need to pattern before the hunt though.


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I agree 1000%, but I would replace w a Federal HWT 2 3/4" #7 shot.  Very minimal kick (especially out of an 11-87 semi-auto).
Shell never notice the kick while drawi f down on a Tom's wattles.

I hunt with several guys who never let their kids shoot anything more than a .22lr on the range but they kill deer with 6.5 Creedmore or bigger. Their theory is don't make them trigger shy on the range and they never know when shooting a deer.


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[Full_Fan]

I'm going to hold off with switching out for a true turkey load this year but maybe will consider that in the future depending how she does this year.  Out of all the heavy shot manufacturers, who offers a 20ga 2 3/4" option?  I see someone posted about Federal HWT 2 3/4" but I couldn't find any for sale when I did a quick search...?  Thanks.

[firedup]

I set up a Mossberg youth 20 shooting 7 1/2 low brass field loads for a friend with some serious disabilities including severe neck disfunction. Read that as little to no recoil.  My tests, both for pattern and penetration indicated that at 25 yards it would certainly put a mature turkey down for the count. I might slip a bigger shell in there if the kid was older but at 9? Why take a chance and make her gunshy for years to come. Just another opinion. Everybodies got one.....

[surehuntsalot]

at 25 yds or less any game or field load 7-1/2 will kill a bird
they are not bullet proof

[Brwndg]

I'm going to hold off with switching out for a true turkey load this year but maybe will consider that in the future depending how she does this year.  Out of all the heavy shot manufacturers, who offers a 20ga 2 3/4" option?  I see someone posted about Federal HWT 2 3/4" but I couldn't find any for sale when I did a quick search...?  Thanks.

$14.99/box at Rogers
https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/federal-premium-mag-shok-heavyweight-turkey-shotshells-20ga-2-3-4-1-1-8oz-1100fps

[BandedSpur]

One more time and then I will shut up. If you want a good patterning, low recoil shell for a kid, get a box of high quality target loads loaded with 7&1/2s with either 7/8s or 1 oz of shot. Field loads use cheap shot that does not pattern as well. High brass field loads are no better. Don't believe it? Shoot them side by side and compare. Competitive target shooters shoot the best ammo available; turkey hunters should do no less.

[crow]

One more time and then I will shut up. If you want a good patterning, low recoil shell for a kid, get a box of high quality target loads loaded with 7&1/2s with either 7/8s or 1 oz of shot. Field loads use cheap shot that does not pattern as well. High brass field loads are no better. Don't believe it? Shoot them side by side and compare. Competitive target shooters shoot the best ammo available; turkey hunters should do no less.

^^ this is the best info on this thread, the harder alloy shot will pattern and also penetrate head/neck bones much better than the cheap soft lead shot.

And also Firedup's advice on don't try to sneak a turkey load in on a very young/small child just getting started, there is time for that later on after a season or 2.

I have shot the fed 2.75" HVWT 1 1/8oz. #7 loads out of a 5.5lb. super bantam and there is noticeably more recoil from them compared to the above mentioned magnum shot (not magnum load) target loads.