Hey first time hunting with a shotgun
Always used crossbow
Now I have a 12g 3 1/2 "
What kind of shot is everybody using
I want to avoid lead
Thanks for looking and helping a noob out
Kris
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Hey first time hunting with a shotgun
Always used crossbow
Now I have a 12g 3 1/2 "
What kind of shot is everybody using
I want to avoid lead
Thanks for looking and helping a noob out
Kris
Most turkey shot is lead for the reason being your choke tube!!! Check that out first then decide what your options are. My choke is lead only. I use Winchester double x magnums 3" 12 gauge #5's...what a punch!!!
I have a baikal mp 153 if that helps
Just curious, why do you want to avoid lead? It's cheaper, easier to find, and every bit as deadly as any alternative in a properly patterned shotgun.
Just in case I get some in the meat??
Is that not bad if you get some shot in th meat ???
I'm new to this please help educate me it never hurts to learn from the old boys
I'm 30 and all my hunting buddies are the same age or around there so no body has much experience
Looking for more info that's all
Thanks
No one can tell you what shells to use. You need to find a choke/ammuntion combination that patterns well in YOUR gun. You may have to use a few different chokes and shell types to get a good pattern.
Potasz, first of all, welcome to the forums and nice to "meet" you! :)
Second, people have killed animals using lead shot for a few hundred years now. It doesn't poison the animal or the person who eats the meat. You remove the shots from the meat when you clean the game, and before cooking it.
Sometimes a shot is still in the meat and you 'discover' it while eating. As long as you don't get a damaged tooth, you are fine. I am sure many people have ingested lead shots without any ill effect. I might have eaten some myself - LOL.
I switched to steel shot for a few years for ALL my hunting but then I saw no point for continuing to do so, and have used lead on every turkey that I have harvested. Aim for the neck/head area at all times and use any shells that your gun likes spitting out accurately.
Hope to see a picture of your tagged spring turkey soon.
As said lead is fine you can easily remove any shot in the meat prior to cooking. Like 3" gives more pellets without the punch of the 31/2" you want to avoid flinching or pulling the shot.
I use Winchester supreme 3.5" #6 in my Beretta but recoil is lighter being a semi. Don,t worry about the lead, using cell phone is probably harder on your health . Big Tom,s like a lead lunch.
Thanks guys
What shot would you guys recommend when using a 20 gauge?
I would buy a high end Winchester load...probably number 6's...double x magnums. I think they have those for 20Ga.
But again, every gun is different, so buy a few boxes and see what works best for you.
I use slugs for turkey.. rifled...
SLUGS ??? you're kidding right ? Don't think they are legal just # 4's,5's or 6's so to answer the original question I use 3 inch # 5's thru an extra full choke but that is what works best with my boomstick !
remington 870 wingmaster 12 guage with pure goldchokes and3 inch winchester elites in a number for works well for me, patters well out to 50 yards...but that is out of my range anyways ...good luck
Thanks guys.
I got 2 turkeys this year with 2 3/4 inch #6 steel....they dropped on the spot.
Some people on these things can't take a joke..
On the serious side 3" #5s Winchester supreme high velocity puts em down out to 40 yards with a full choke everytime from a BPS.
If you want to shoot further use the 3.5 inch.. I have both but I've shot so many turkeys I'm to the point if I can't get the bird inside 40 yards I'd likely let it walk.. Just not that hard up for a turkey.
Ps my gun and set ups never missed and I've let at least 1/2 dozen other hunters take birds with that gun with no issue.
The other thing I don't think people realise is the value of a low power scope on a turkey gun especially if you want to shoot 40 yards +. Big big difference putting the crosshairs just below the head at 3 power at 50 yards than a bead of a shotgun which basically blocks the head neck of a beard.
I know someone else that uses steel out to 40 yards.. He has never lost a bird, and that guys shot more turkeys than 99% of the folks on this forum. If you call and are sitting in the right spot and aim correctly inside 30 yards this is irrelevant.
Benelli Super Nova Steady Grip - Hevi13 3" #6 (2oz)
The issue is that if you shoot steel shot through a turkey choke you risk damaging your barrel or your choke. Steel cannot compress as it goes through the choke like lead or other softer and heavier loads
Do yourself a favour, you only shoot 1 or 2 shells per year, buy the good stuff. I use both 3.5" hevi13 #6 and Winchester Supreme Elite 3.5" #6, both of these are far more deadly than lead. I have taken turkey out to 60yds stone dead, pattern your gun and I use a rangefinder as well. Hevi13 is the more expensive at $7.00/shell times 2 shells per season = $14.00 ammo cost per season pretty cheap.
Remington Premiere Hevi Shot #5 3" through an undertaker XT HD choke.
Unfortunately they stopped making the stuff, found a place that had some boxes in stock and bought them all, good for a few more birds :)