Ammo Q's

killzone1423 · #1 05-04-2005, 01:02 PM

What is the range for the Remington mag 3in turkey loads for a 12 gauge becasue i got a turkey at 66 yards and it took about 40 mins to kill the thing!!!!!What is the range for the Remington mag 3in turkey loads for a 12 gauge becasue i got a turkey at 66 yards and it took about 40 mins to kill the thing!!!!!

fabsroman · #2 05-04-2005, 01:33 PM

What exactly do you mean it took 40 mins to kill the thing?

The range of a turkey load depends on what type of density you can get out of the pattern. If you are very lucky and can throw a really tight pattern, I think lead turkey shot (i.e., 4's, 5's & 6's) should be able to carry enough energy to kill a turkey with multiple hits in the head at 66 yards.

TreeDoc · #3 05-04-2005, 01:40 PM

I think pattern density is your issue here. I shoot the Remington Premier Magnum loads which are 3" number 6 plated lead shot. I pattern them on a Turkey target at 40 yards max then again at 30 yards. They are awesome out to 40 yards with an Undertaker Turkey choke. Getting out to 66 yards with any Turkey load seems a little extreme to me. Even with the tightest tube I can't imagine your pattern density being tight enough to put a bird down lickity split.

Is that as close as you can get?

tjwatty · #4 05-04-2005, 02:10 PM

I agree, pattern density. I called one in for my partner last year and he got a little jumpy and shot at 53yards (laser checked), he shoots an after market X-full turkey choke and his bird dropped in its tracks, never even twitched. I have never shot one past 20 yards but I use Winchester 3" #5 turkey loads. No Remingtons for me, huh fabs.

killzone1423 · #5 05-04-2005, 04:16 PM

Well i was just wonderin becasue like when the tom came in it was a bit unsure and started to move out into the feild so i had to take it before it was to long out. But i must have just put about 2 or 3 BB's that went into the right spot. It was flapping and stuff and after we took pics an things a friend noticed it was still breathing and that was 40 min after i shot it and we finially got it killed there but yea i shoot a 12 gauge with the 3' barrel Hevi- shot and there # 6's and they work great for me and i haven't had to shoot the more than once. I used the same thing for my first turkey and Blasted it at about 10 yards. Nice 24 lb. er but yea i just wanted to know because i would have guess 66 yards is a bit much and pushing ur luck.

Thanks for the help.

TreeDoc · #6 05-04-2005, 05:43 PM

Ah ha, now you're talkin' HeviShot. That changes things a bit as Hevi can certainly reach out and touch something at distance and still have enough "kill energy" but again, the key is pattern density.

Look for yourself, if you haven't done so....DO SO. Go out and pattern your gun with the appropriate choke. Shoot it at 30 yards, 40 yards, and beyond if that floats your boat. You will quickly see whether or not you have the pattern you need to make the kill. Like I said, I took mine out to 40 yards and patterned with sufficient density in the kill zone to be confident of that shot. Beyond that things start to open up and that makes for a low percentage shot with my gun. Your results might vary...especially with HeviShot. Since I can shoot lead for turkeys I just stick with it. I'll use the Hevi for waterfowl though.

killzone1423 · #7 05-04-2005, 06:00 PM

Yea i thought so becasue i had it patterned in for 50 yards but when i found out it was like 66 67 yards i was like wow that may have be lucky becasue i didnt hit him very hard. well that helps a bit more, i will try to get some pics of it on later there at my grams right know

next time i will try going farther and test this ammo out to its peak ability! lol

fabsroman · #8 05-04-2005, 06:49 PM

Hevi-Shot patterns better than lead as is denser than lead. Using Hevi-Shot is like a Win, Win, Lose situation. You win on pattern density and killing power, but lose on price. Then again, if you were shooting lead you probably would have spent the rest of the day chasing a wounded turkey around the woods, or you would still be out hunting for a turkey. Sometimes, it pays to use the more expensive stuff. Plus, with turkey hunting the cost doesn't factor in quite as much because you aren't shooting hundreds of rounds in a season like waterfowling.

killzone1423 · #9 05-05-2005, 05:25 PM

Yea that helps a lot and now i can open my range for hunting a bit more thanks for the helps!!

thanks for the help!