Don't be that guy........April 25th will come fast

Don't be that guy that leaves everything to the last minute! April 25th will be here in no time. There is lots to do before the season so make sure you are ready to go.

- Re-confirm permission on all your farms
- Scout it and fix up your natural blinds and clear shooting lanes.
- Put out some cameras to see what the birds are doing (cell cameras are a bonus)
- Devise a plan to get to your spot especially if you are sitting in the middle of a wood lot.
- PATTERN your shotgun! I cringe when I hear people say it was on last season and I have not touched it since then.
- Tune your calls, and replace any that you lost or damaged the previous season - I am hard on mouth calls and strikers.
- Pack your vest and know where everything is in it.
- Practice your calling! Remember you want to sound like a turkey not a hunter trying to sound like a turkey.

I'll try to re-post my Patterning post from last year.

After hearing all the hype about this new turkey load I thought I would give it a try just to see how it performed in my set-up. Up until now I have tried several different turkey loads with varying results. Before I get into the results let me explain how I test each shell.

I first make sure my gun is zero'd in - I get up close & personal and use target loads to make sure I am punching out the bull of the target like a clean paper punch and then I back up to 20yds and throw a known performing turkey load at paper so make sure the pattern is evenly surrounding the center of the target - that verifies I am zero'd in on the target. My targets are standard 11x17 pieces of paper with a 10" circle around a bull (used only for centering the scope). I do this every year to make sure my scope has not been bumped or knocked out of alignment.

For my evaluation I shoot the same 3 shells at different distances (20, 30 & 40yds). What I am looking for is a consistent (and dense) pattern around the center of the target - you do not want holes or an inconsistent pattern. I only count the hits on the 40yd target because the 20 is usually a big jagged hole and the 30 is still too dense to count. The reason I count is because I want to make sure the pattern keeps its integrity out past 30yds and does not open or fall apart as the shot velocity diminishes - and it allows me to compare one shell to another. So my set up for these shell tests was a Benelli Super Nova Steady Grip with an Indian Creek Choke - like many beautiful ladies good ole Nelli has had some 'work' done to her - cones were lengthened, and I took some weight off the trigger and took some creep out of the trigger so she snaps nicely at just under 3lbs. I also use my Benelli AL391 26" bbl as a turkey gun every now and again and it uses the same choke as my Benelli Indian Creek 0.665

https://i.imgur.com/Y8dbPqE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/th06nvh.jpg

My present turkey load for my gun set-up is the infamous HEVI 13 (3" 2oz #6) - the reason why I say infamous is because the shells are $8/shell (USD) and are like hens teeth to fine up here in Canada, but there is a reason why they are $8 shell........these things are deadly!! I have seen lots of #4's and #5's and that illegal blend that BPS always markets this time of the year #5, #6, & #7.5, but the 2oz #6 seems to be rare, but for good reason. I am down to my last 7 shells and that was part of the reason why I am looking for options.

HEVI 13
I have tried a couple of different HEVI 13 shells and the 3" 2oz #6 patterned the best. I tied the 3" 1-3/4 oz #6 but the results were terrible! I was getting better patterns out of standard Winchester HV's but when I tried the 2oz load the results were amazing!! They have a very consistent pattern and since these are denser than lead they will be harder hitting then a standard copper plated lead shot. I have killed many turkeys with these shells and have taken some shots north of 50yds and they drop the birds in their tracks. Here are two targets I shot at 40yds with HEVI 13.......one had 162 hits and a very consistent pattern and one had 154 hits and you can see that I pulled the shot a bit........but is would still be one dead bird regardless.

https://i.imgur.com/pb7rLcI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HlUlz9t.jpg


Winchester Long Beard XR
As I mentioned earlier I have been hearing nothing but good things about the new(er) Winchester Long Beard so I decided to give it a whirl. I did no research on what shell to try so I went with my standard offering of a 3" #6 (1-3/4 oz). First thing I noticed was the way the hull was crimped - it looked like a solid piece of plastic with perforations where it would have been crimped. Probably waterproof but the overall quality of the shell looked very good. My 20yd shot was a ragged hole (which even a target load can do) but my 30yd shot showed lots of promise as the pattern was very dense and consistent around the center of the target. I went back to 40yds and threw a shell into Nelli and steadied for my shot and slowly squeezed the trigger and BOOOM. I racked the action sending the spent shell to my right and then I set the gun down and got up and walked towards the target. As I get closer the pattern comes into view and my exact words were WTF!! The pattern was amazing..........seriously it was really good! Anything in that 10" circle was simply dead. I set up another target and went back 40yds and loaded another shell and shot again - I wanted to make sure this was not a fluke. As I walked towards the target the second time I could see that identical peppering around that 10" circle. I was not overly impressed with Winchester loads before this but this time they nailed it - these XR's perform way better (at lease from a pattern point of view - I cannot talk about the downrange energy) than their Xtanded Range shell that I tried a couple of years back.

I tried the Winchester HV 3-1/2" #6 with decent results and the Winchester Xtended Range 3" #6 with very poor results. So I am glad to see they redeemed themselves with the XR!

https://i.imgur.com/PBoyHyL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/5vQgLz3.jpg


Now.....what to do on the 25th........what shell to bring with me?? I think I will stick with my present set-up because I think there is something to be said about the higher downrange energy of the heavier than lead shot over standard copper plated lead. Now with only 7 shells left I feel comfortable that I now have a replacement that performs equally as well and costs a fraction of the cost.

Cheers,

John

Damm I'm that guy !!!!!!!!
Other than reaffirming permission and packing the vest can scratch everything else off the list.
No scope to muck about, no cameras to worry about, still got plenty of rem 3" #5's left known my equipment so good too go.
Was good enough to win last years contest should be good for this year too.
Now to just purchase my tag around the 24th of April

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 410001661

After hearing all the hype about this new turkey load I thought I would give it a try just to see how it performed in my set-up. Up until now I have tried several different turkey loads with varying results. Before I get into the results let me explain how I test each shell.

I first make sure my gun is zero'd in - I get up close & personal and use target loads to make sure I am punching out the bull of the target like a clean paper punch and then I back up to 20yds and throw a known performing turkey load at paper so make sure the pattern is evenly surrounding the center of the target - that verifies I am zero'd in on the target. My targets are standard 11x17 pieces of paper with a 10" circle around a bull (used only for centering the scope). I do this every year to make sure my scope has not been bumped or knocked out of alignment.

For my evaluation I shoot the same 3 shells at different distances (20, 30 & 40yds). What I am looking for is a consistent (and dense) pattern around the center of the target - you do not want holes or an inconsistent pattern. I only count the hits on the 40yd target because the 20 is usually a big jagged hole and the 30 is still too dense to count. The reason I count is because I want to make sure the pattern keeps its integrity out past 30yds and does not open or fall apart as the shot velocity diminishes - and it allows me to compare one shell to another. So my set up for these shell tests was a Benelli Super Nova Steady Grip with an Indian Creek Choke - like many beautiful ladies good ole Nelli has had some 'work' done to her - cones were lengthened, and I took some weight off the trigger and took some creep out of the trigger so she snaps nicely at just under 3lbs. I also use my Benelli AL391 26" bbl as a turkey gun every now and again and it uses the same choke as my Benelli Indian Creek 0.665

https://i.imgur.com/Y8dbPqE.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/th06nvh.jpg

My present turkey load for my gun set-up is the infamous HEVI 13 (3" 2oz #6) - the reason why I say infamous is because the shells are $8/shell (USD) and are like hens teeth to fine up here in Canada, but there is a reason why they are $8 shell........these things are deadly!! I have seen lots of #4's and #5's and that illegal blend that BPS always markets this time of the year #5, #6, & #7.5, but the 2oz #6 seems to be rare, but for good reason. I am down to my last 7 shells and that was part of the reason why I am looking for options.

HEVI 13
I have tried a couple of different HEVI 13 shells and the 3" 2oz #6 patterned the best. I tied the 3" 1-3/4 oz #6 but the results were terrible! I was getting better patterns out of standard Winchester HV's but when I tried the 2oz load the results were amazing!! They have a very consistent pattern and since these are denser than lead they will be harder hitting then a standard copper plated lead shot. I have killed many turkeys with these shells and have taken some shots north of 50yds and they drop the birds in their tracks. Here are two targets I shot at 40yds with HEVI 13.......one had 162 hits and a very consistent pattern and one had 154 hits and you can see that I pulled the shot a bit........but is would still be one dead bird regardless.

https://i.imgur.com/pb7rLcI.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HlUlz9t.jpg


Winchester Long Beard XR
As I mentioned earlier I have been hearing nothing but good things about the new(er) Winchester Long Beard so I decided to give it a whirl. I did no research on what shell to try so I went with my standard offering of a 3" #6 (1-3/4 oz). First thing I noticed was the way the hull was crimped - it looked like a solid piece of plastic with perforations where it would have been crimped. Probably waterproof but the overall quality of the shell looked very good. My 20yd shot was a ragged hole (which even a target load can do) but my 30yd shot showed lots of promise as the pattern was very dense and consistent around the center of the target. I went back to 40yds and threw a shell into Nelli and steadied for my shot and slowly squeezed the trigger and BOOOM. I racked the action sending the spent shell to my right and then I set the gun down and got up and walked towards the target. As I get closer the pattern comes into view and my exact words were WTF!! The pattern was amazing..........seriously it was really good! Anything in that 10" circle was simply dead. I set up another target and went back 40yds and loaded another shell and shot again - I wanted to make sure this was not a fluke. As I walked towards the target the second time I could see that identical peppering around that 10" circle. I was not overly impressed with Winchester loads before this but this time they nailed it - these XR's perform way better (at lease from a pattern point of view - I cannot talk about the downrange energy) than their Xtanded Range shell that I tried a couple of years back.

I tried the Winchester HV 3-1/2" #6 with decent results and the Winchester Xtended Range 3" #6 with very poor results. So I am glad to see they redeemed themselves with the XR!

https://i.imgur.com/PBoyHyL.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/5vQgLz3.jpg


Now.....what to do on the 25th........what shell to bring with me?? I think I will stick with my present set-up because I think there is something to be said about the higher downrange energy of the heavier than lead shot over standard copper plated lead. Now with only 7 shells left I feel comfortable that I now have a replacement that performs equally as well and costs a fraction of the cost.

Cheers,

John

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Try matching the Longbeard XR loads with a Carlson Longbeard XR choke. The pattern out at 50 yds is amazing...

Good thread...guys are busy and many forget to get their chit togehter before the last minute. :)

I'm waiting for the snow to clear the range and then I'll head out and get set up for both the 16 ga and ML (12ga).

I plan on getting the cameras out this weekend, I have a new flock in the front corner of the property that I'll need to pattern. The ones out back in the bush were there in the fall so I'm anticipated they'll still be there....but put a camera out and confirm.

Took the back roads the other day and lots of Tom's strutting in the fields already...not shortage of Turkeys in these parts.

The 20 has put up some impressive numbers out of the Mossberg 500 youth gun, a Carson unported .565 and a Styrka S5 1.75-5. Shooting 20 gauge Longbeard XR 3” #6s and this is at 40 yards. 133 in a 10”. All that said, with such a low velocity (1000fps) I wouldn’t shoot past 40 yards (maybe 45) due to lacking energy.

If only Ontario would get on board with these TSS #9s! Even with patterns like these, I’ll never carry a 12 gauge again.

https://i.postimg.cc/RN4QNnqM/61-E36...B508305667.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 410001661

- Pack your vest and know where everything is in it.

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Revisiting the vest that has remained untouched since last May is almost always a bit of an interesting adventure filled with mystery and discovery :D:D:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ninepointer

Revisiting the vest that has remained untouched since last May is almost always a bit of an interesting adventure filled with mystery and discovery :D:D:D

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Restock the cough drops and Mosquito Repellent :)

will the bird behavior stay the same for the next month or so ?

my second year hunting turkey, have alot to learn. and I hunt mostly public crown.

I have a couple of spots with a good mix of trees and open area, and hicking early morning in the area, I always see a bird or two. but would this change in the coming months ?

hope the more experienced members here can share some tips for public land scouting and strategies as well.

goin to the farm tomorrow to look around and get some cameras up. :)