What size barrel is best for turkey hunting?
Shorter barrels have become the general norm for turkey guns because they are more maneuverable and lighter to carry. Choosing a turkey gun with a barrel length between 21 – 24 inches will suit you well.
What size shells do you use for turkey hunting?
Those giant, shoulder-punishing 3 ½–inch shells simply aren’t necessary. A standard 2 ¾-inch or 3-inch magnum tungsten load is more than enough for killing turkeys out past 50 yards. Additionally, the advantages of tungsten shells make 20-gauge shotguns indisputably effective turkey killers.
What cylinder is best for turkey hunting?
Full choke has tight constriction. The shot holds together even longer, making this choke good for squirrels, turkey, and other game shot at 40-yard and longer ranges. Turkey hunters sometimes use Extra Full or Turkey choke for even denser patterns at long range.
What is the best shot size for turkey hunting?
Shooters might use shot as small as #9 for very small birds like quail, or as large as #2 for large birds like geese and swans. For comparison, there are 585 #9 lead pellets in an ounce versus only 90 #2 pellets in an ounce. For turkey hunting, shot sizes 4, 5 and 6 will all work.
Is a 28 inch barrel too long for turkey hunting?
My turkey guns are used for wingshooting as well, so 26″ on repeaters and 28″ on stackbarrels, so they balance and swing like they are supposed to. But even on a dedicated turkey gun, I would not go shorter than 26″. Shorter barrels are definitely louder to the user than longer barrels.
Is a 24 inch barrel good for turkey hunting?
20″-24″ barrels: These short barrels are best left to turkey hunters, who are taking careful aim at standing-still birds. They are generally too short for wingshooting, as accuracy suffers.
Is improved cylinder good for turkey hunting?
An improved cylinder is most effective from 20 to 35 yards. The most commonly used choke tubes are these: Super-Full/Extra-Full: Sometimes called “gobbler getters,” these are ideally suited for the head shots necessary when turkey hunting. This choke has extra-tight constrictions and the densest patterns.
Is full choke enough for turkey?
Moving to a full choke will give you a . 695 choke diameter; you’ll get more energy and a tighter pattern, allowing lethal shots out to 35-40 yards. Moving to an extra-full choke pushes your limit even farther. A lot of birds are killed by hunters at 40-50 yards plus with specialty extra-full turkey chokes.
Do you need 3.5 for turkey?
For ammo the 3″ is way more prevalent. I have found that a really good choke has dramatically improved my grouping out to 70 yards. I can tell you that a 3.5″ turkey load is not something you want to shoot more than a couple times in a day because the recoil can be punishing.
Is a 26 barrel good for turkey hunting?
Where do you aim when shooting a turkey?
When hunting wild turkeys with a shotgun, greater success is achieved when hunters shoot at the head and neck area of the bird. The most effective firearm shot for a turkey is to the head and neck. The preferred shot angle for bowhunters is broadside, aiming for the heart or lungs.
Can you hunt turkey with improved cylinder choke?
Re: Turkey with a Modified Choke? You’ll be perfectly fine, just pattern your gun to know how far you should reasonably shoot. Just about any choke with a decent load will kill a turkey at 30 yards.
Do you need a choke tube for turkey hunting?
“Chokes are designed to make it an all-around shotgun so you can use it as a bird gun, a target gun, a turkey gun, and make it effectively shoot the shotshell load you have,” Carlson said. Choke tubes give you the versatility of tailoring a load for the purpose at hand, he said.
How far can you shoot a turkey with a full choke?
35-40 yards
Moving to a full choke will give you a . 695 choke diameter; you’ll get more energy and a tighter pattern, allowing lethal shots out to 35-40 yards. Moving to an extra-full choke pushes your limit even farther. A lot of birds are killed by hunters at 40-50 yards plus with specialty extra-full turkey chokes.
Should I use 12 gauge or 20 gauge for turkey hunting?
If you are more comfortable with the 20, use it. The turkeys can’t tell the difference. Edit-I thought you said you were 12. My bad. You should be able to handle the 12 gauge without problem, but as I said before, if you prefer the 20, use it.
What is the Best Lead shot size for turkey hunting?
But hunters often argue over the ideal lead shot size for turkeys. Some believe the weight and size of large #4 pellets provides more killing power, while others feel because there are more pellets in a load of smaller #6 that more of those pellets will end up in a turkey’s neck and head.
What is turkey hunting 101?
The NWTF’s Turkey Hunting 101 is considered the premier educational tool to learn everything you need to know about wild turkeys, their behavior and planning a successful hunt, and we’ve compiled all that information here.
How far can you shoot a Turkey with a shotgun?
Compared to what is available today, the ammunition they used had some considerable limitations. With lighter, underpowered loads of soft lead pellets shot out of a 12-gauge shotgun with a full choke, 30 yards was the maximum range for a lethal shot on a turkey. Modern turkey hunters have much better options.