Pattern help please!

[turkey]

I shot my 3" 12 guage today. Here are the results...With #4 shot I totally blew the head apart at 20 yards, Put 36 hits in the head & neck at 30 yards but only 3 hits in the head & neck at 40 yards. Why such a sudden drop? I then switched to # 6 shot. Similar results but with 8-12 in the head and neck at 40 yards. Any Advice?

[heavy4x4]

What choke were you using?

[tucker301]

Originally posted by turkey:
Any Advice? Don't shoot at turkeys over 30 yards.

[The_Gun_Guy]

Hah! good point

however if you must shoot past 30 yds use an extra full extended choke with winchester xtended range turkey shot(it's incredibly expensive but devestatingly good patterns)

[The_Gun_Guy]

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/shotdetail.aspx?symbol=STXS12L5&use=16

heres a link to it

[turkey]

After some advice and some reading up, I guess I was over choking the # 4s. I am using the Comp-n-choke xxx full. I switched to winchester supreme turkey loads..2oz # 5s. The results with the 5s were 34-36 good hits at 30 yards...17-22 good hits consistantly at 44 yards.
Tucker, I've killed a lot of turkeys and very few over 30 yards. I was just kind of confused as to why my gun was performing that way... more than being concerned that I might not be able to take a long range shot at a bird. I guess I have my answer. Thanks All.

[Llewellin]

You could try a splatter board and find out where your pellets are going at 40 yards.

[mudhen]

SBE II + Rhino .660 1.5" choke + Win Ext #6's + a tom at 49 yards (not my range but that was what I was offered) =

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/mudhen/2003_0101moore0016.jpg

mudhen - CA

[tucker301]

Originally posted by turkey:
Tucker, I've killed a lot of turkeys and very few over 30 yards. 10-4
I just personally believe that trying a tom over 30 yards is risky at best. I know people do it all the time, but I'd rather let him get away clean than to cripple him and lose him.
I've killed maybe 30 Spring gobblers in my time and I had my second miss (I'm sure a few hit him) last year at 40 yards. It won't happen again.

disclaimer: The above comments are my own personal beliefs based upon my own experiences. If you can kill gobblers at 150 yards with #9 shot, then go for it.

[The_Gun_Guy]

I come prepared; I bring a shotgun, and I bring an observer with me that carries an air rifle.

I have shot only one gobbler with that and it was at 100yds and it wasn't getting any closer so I shot him right in the neck, (but I was aiming for the head) ;)

And I wouldn't recomend anyone else trying it because I spent 1300 on an air rifle thinking that it would come in handy and after ten years just once :mad:

[turkey]

You are absolutely right Tucker. I'll bet that the majority of game that got away wounded (deer, turkey or whatever) were the result of taking an ill-advised shot.
Mudhen, I tried the win. ext. # 6 today. That really is an impressive load. I couldn't believe the pattern that I was getting...consistantly over 20 good head/neck hits at 40 yards. (Shooting 3" .) It was pretty expensive though.

[mudhen]

Yes, it is rather pricey, pricey but good!

If I shot it during duck season, I would end up spending $1500!

I have heard that the Win Extended is non-tox and will be available for waterfowling once given the final USFW approval.

mudhen - CA

[hard-core_waterfowler]

i get really good patterns out of a kicks choke with federal 3-1/2 tungsten plated shells

[The_Gun_Guy]

I have always questioned non-lead shot in full chokes. but does that leave a nasty mess in your barrel after you test fired those?

and If you don't mind what exactly were your results from that testing?

[hard-core_waterfowler]

no it is lead shot but it is just plated with tungsten it worked great. got 45 in head and neck at 40 yards.

[hard-core_waterfowler]

no mess left in the barrel at all

[The_Gun_Guy]

I'll have to try that tungsten plated shot if it really doesn't leave a mess.

[GIG]

Hey fella's . New to the forum here, but had to post up how Impressed I was patterning my new SBE 2. I was surprised to get well over 100 hits inside a ten in. circle at 30 yards!! With the factory lead only full.

[hard-core_waterfowler]

thats good

[Bowjack]

I am also shooting an SBEII. The Win Ext. #6 shells are they 3" or 31/2", or does it matter. What about #5 shot or does it matter?

How does it compare to Hevi-shot loads?

Sorry to bother with these annoying questions.

[hard-core_waterfowler]

it should tell on the box whether it is 3 or 3.5 and you have to use shells recommended for your gun it will tell on the barrel or side of the reciever.

[The_Gun_Guy]

The extended range loads use a denser substance than lead. But It isn't as good as hevi-shot, but I like them because they may not be as good as heavy-shot but they don't leave any crap in the barrel. I would recommend #5 as an all around turkey shot, thats your best bet or if you are really buff and can take the recoil get 3 1/2 in shells in #4 and you get just as many pellets as a 3" only they are a little bigger thus more smoked turkey for you.

The shot and shell size do make a huge impact on the recoil and the killing power. The begger the better and the smaller the # for shot the bigger the pellets are.

For specs refer to:
http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/shotshell.aspx

At That page you can search for ammunition types and size specs. and on the front page to the left of the table to which if you look to the right there is text an at ther very end of the paragraph there is a link to a shotshell table. < It should be easier than it sounds if I worded it right.

[Bowjack]

Mudhen are you shooting 31/2" or 3" shells out of your SBEII, and why #6's are they heavy enough, and what about 5's? I am just curious, obviously your set up kill, but I'm a fairly new addict to turkey humting.

One last question if you don't mind. Does this high density stuff scratch the barrel of your SBEII. I was using my nova for the heavy stuff since I was Afraid it might score the barrel.

[mudhen]

3.5", as they patterned better (more pellets!) - yes, the Ext #6's worked just fine, I got a much better pattern with Ext #6's (more pellets!) than I did with the Ext #5's.

But, I would use Ext #5's in a heartbeat if I ran out of Ext #6's. Actually, I usually load the Ext #5's as the second shot in my SBE II.

No scoring from Ext - they are well below HS on the scale.

Also note, according to Winchester CS just last week, Winchester Extended Range are not made from lead. They will likely be USFW approved before waterfowl season 2005-2006 as a non-toxic shot.

Now I had heard this before, but I'll wait for an official confirmation before I go out and buy any for dux....

mudhen - CA

[Bowjack]

Thanks mudhen I appreciate your field tested and proven advice.

Just one last annoying question as it is easy to be overwhelmed by the amount of information coming at you these days.

What about the new Federal high density loadings with the flite control system. Did you ever try them or is this brand pretty similar to the others.

I know this is parsing hairs as I killed a tom this month with a load of #5 HS. He was deader than dead and would have wound up the same at 30 yds with just about any turkey load at that range.

Again, I'm sorry to annoy you w/ this minutia, but you seem to have the experience backed up w/ proven results.

[mudhen]

The new Federal HD Flite Control patterned horribly in both my SBE & SBE II.

All Federal turk ammo has patterned poorly in every Benelli I have ever owned.

I prolly could have taken the time and considerable $$$ to figure out what choke tube when with Federal load, but you can only do so much.

From what I have heard, Fed Heavy needs to be tuned like HS. If your guns likes HS, it might like the Fed Heavy.

mudhen - CA

[Bowjack]

Mudhen,

Thank you for your your response and info.

Thanx

[boo]

Bowjack, give HEVI-13 a try by Environ-Metal .I used the factory mod choke and smoked a turkey at 65 yards with #6`s.I also use Briley choke tubes( Ex- Im Mod,and Lt.Mod) with excellent patterns with HEVI-13,Remington HV,Kent Tungsten Matrix.My choice for Turkey is HEVI-13 #6 or #4s and for waterfowl go with Kent Tungsten Matrix # 5s,#3s and 1s on Geese.Of all the shells that I have tryed these patterned the best at 40 and beyound and do a excellent job with the MOD Chokes.I`m shooting a Benelli SBE 11 (28") and had nothing but good results with this gun and these shells.Good hunting and hunt safe,Boo