turkey-shotgun questions

[valleycowboy]

#1-does a 12 guage need a plug?
#2-what size shot is best?
with the first question,for some reason i can't find it in the regs.i know you do need one for ducks but do you need one for turkeys?

[steepNdeep]

Yeah, most shotguns do need a plug because you can only have 2 shells in the mag according to regs. #4 shot seems to work best for me with an Extra-Full or Turkey choke to give tight patterns to 30+ yards. Last year I used cylinder bore and could only shoot ~ 20 yards. Good luck - it's a blast!!

[JoshLedoux]

all hunting requires "the plug" shot sizes best for turks are 4 or 6 shot preferably in a turkey load

[happygilmore]

I used #5 and follwed it with #2 using an x-tra full (tight wad) choke and TracknTrail was using #2's with a full choke. When we shot our birds at the same distance (40yds) his died and mine was mortal but not instant.

[valleycowboy]

thanx guys.helps out a bunch.

[Barracuda]

all hunting requires "the plug" shot sizes best for turks are 4 or 6 shot preferably in a turkey load

are you sure about this? slugs can exceed the two round mag limit

[mark]

Id reccomend #2's, and shoot for the head or dont bother!!!

[happygilmore]

are you sure about this? slugs can exceed the two round mag limit

Regs say two unless for coyotes using slugs. or for protection...

[ruger#1]

you do not have to use the plug if you are hunting big game.slugs only, page 17 regs 2006-2007

[300H&H]

When we were stopped this spring while turkey hunting, the second question the CO asked was "how many shells can your gun hold ?" I said 3 and Dad said you can stuff in 5. I thought...why would you say that dad ?
The CO said "HAND OVER YOUR GUN, I WILL CHECK IT !!!" Thanks Dad !!! Anyway as I said it only held 3. For birds...ONLY 3.

[308BAR]

When we were stopped this spring while turkey hunting, the second question the CO asked was "how many shells can your gun hold ?" I said 3 and Dad said you can stuff in 5. I thought...why would you say that dad ?
The CO said "HAND OVER YOUR GUN, I WILL CHECK IT !!!" Thanks Dad !!! Anyway as I said it only held 3. For birds...ONLY 3.

So was the CO ok with 3 in the magazine tube?






It is unlawful to hunt with a set gun, or to hunt wildlife with a
pump, repeating or auto-loading shotgun with a magazine capable
of holding more than two shells. Where the use of a shotgun
is allowed for hunting big game, an unplugged shotgun
holding more than 2 shells and firing single projectiles only
(slugs) may be used.





Sorry I'm confused, is it more capacity if you're hunting upland game birds ie. grouse, turkey, pheasant? Or is TWO the absolute limit of rounds in a mag-tube.

[Chuck]

I believe it's no more than 2 in the magazine - the 3rd one is in the barrel and ready to go, but if you've got nothing in the tube ready to go off, you cannot have 3 in the magazine.

[Rainwater]

I agree with Mark, my 12 year old shot one at 25 yards with a 20 guage #4 shot, it went down like a sack of you know what, he walked over to it and it kinda ruffled it's feathers and took off running, never seen my kid run that fast but he never got his bird. Head shots and big shot, YES!

[boxhitch]

#4 shot is adequate for penetration required, and has alot more pellets in the kill zone than #2, at the same range.
Patterning the gun/shot combo at the ranges expected for shooting, is very important. It is the only way of knowing what your shots are capable, before bruising a bird. A dense pattern is more important than deep penetration, for head shots.

[tracker]

yes you need a plug in your pumpshotgun.

I used #4 winchester turkey loads from wallmart 10 bucks for 10 shells:smile:

shot mine about 35 yards away in the head but needed a back up shot when I got closer.:-(