Shotgun question

[WiseOwl]

I am going turkey hunting this Saturday. I do not have a long barreled 12 gauge with a choke. I have a Mossberg 5OO with the 18.5 inch barrel. Can I shoot turkey shot out of this without damaging it and if not would 00buck be ok to use? I know bird shot is out of the question because of the spread.
Thanks
WiseOwl

[SeldomSeenSlim]

It's been a long time since I turkey hunted and that was before all of the new fancy turkey stuff came out. Back then I just used #4's left over from goose season. Which would be a good place to start. You'll just have to pattern the gun and find out what your range is. You won't lack for power. Your shot density will tell you what your range is and also show if you have any holes in your pattern. I'd go with #4's-#6's and see what happens.

One way to pattern, I'm sure there are many, is to get a big piece of paper. Wrapping paper works well. Cut a big chunk and tack it to a sheet of plywood. Draw a 3" circle in the middle and use that for your aim point. After the shot draw a 12" circle around the densest part of the pattern. It's usually best to do 2-3 of the same load just to check against each other. This will show you where your shot is hitting (up, down, left, right) and how dense your pattern is at that range. The more shot in the circle the better. I'd start at 30 yards, then move up to 20 yards and 15 yards. I'm guessing that 20 yards will be about the limit, but that's just a guess since I've never tried it with that kind of shotgun. The only way to know for sure is to put shot on paper and see.

No matter the result I wouldn't worry much. Most of the fun of turkey hunting is sitting in the woods watching the world go by. Have fun.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Check the regulations as some places do not allow buck on some game. your gonna need something heavy and dense patterning and keep it under 20yds or so. you really need to pattern it on that target i posted a while back

[WiseOwl]

Cool. I am going to check on the OO buck. Going and just sitting in the woods is fun you are right about that Slim, just seeing if the lil "contraptions" my buddy has to call the birds work. I know he went and bought him and his wife all of the new camo and masks and the whole nine. I am wearing my old Army/ Navy store jacket, my boonie and a pair of shades.

If I can use the OO buck, I know at 25yards I have a 12-15 inch spread. I wiiiiiish I could use my .22, I could de-eye them suckers

[Matt In Oklahoma]

IMO if you are gonna use buck, #4 buck is better for that purpose. You need to hit the brain/nerve stem area to shut them down quick and the 22 caliber denser pattern will give you a much better chance than 9-00

[rice paddy daddy]

IMO if you are gonna use buck, #4 buck is better for that purpose. You need to hit the brain/nerve stem area to shut them down quick and the 22 caliber denser pattern will give you a much better chance than 9-00

Turkeys are a lot tougher than many people think. Like Matt says you gotta hit them in the head. That's a very small target.
Around here most turkey hunters use 12 ga, 3" max load (1 3/4 oz or so) #4 or #5 birdshot. This gives a dense enough pattern to ensure several good hits, with pellets that have adequate energy.
Good luck!
The type turkey in my area is the Osceola. There are (I think) four different types.

[boltgun308]

Use hevi-shot and you should be fine. Hevi does not open up like lead and the patterns will be much denser. I would ho with a 3" shell due to more pellets with your situation, 4, 5, or 6 shot. A box of ten will be around $16. You should be good out to 40 yards or so with this combination.

[eeyore]

I would used #2 or #4, especially with a 18.5 inch barrel. Does it have rifling or is it smooth bore? I have shot buck shot in mine with rifling, but i have heard some say that it hurts it.

[WiseOwl]

Its a smooth bore. I am going to snatch up some #4 tomorrow. To be quite honest, I just want to go to get out of the house, into the woods and away from concrete, power lines and radio waves. I dont care if I see or hear any wildlife.
I gotta get to the hills shortly to backpack or I am going to go insane.

[WiseOwl]

Also, so getting 3in in the #4 is better than the 2 3/4?


And would I need buck or turkey shot?

[rice paddy daddy]

Also, so getting 3in in the #4 is better than the 2 3/4?


And would I need buck or turkey shot?

I would get birdshot, not buckshot, myself.
The 3" will have more pellets than the 2 3/4. More pellets is better. Loads specifically marked "turkey" usually have the most pellets, driven at a higher speed to carry farther. Recoil is much higher than a standard upland game load. When you touch off a 3" turkey load you will immediately know something just happened.:) But you will not really feel it in the excitement.:D
I don't know if you need #4 shot, #5 & #6 seem to be the biggest sellers around here.

[MartyRed]

My Mossy has a 20 inch turkey barrel?
But.....http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=3 Well that is what they say. It is more the choke. Turkey chokes are really tight. http://www.internetarmory.com/shotgu...un_hunting.htm
If that is what you got use it. Shoot it and see how it patterns. I saw good advice above.

http://www.choketube.com/