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/c...TXS12L5&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) =



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