Shotgun/hunting guys, teach me about chokes.
 

I'm hoping to go turkey hunting for the first time in late spring. When I bought my 870, I bought it with a rifled barrel for deer hunting. This past week I also picked up a 23" turkey barrel. It's got Tru-Glow sites on it and a "Super Full" choke good for heavy or lead shot.

From what I'm understanding, I should probably pick up a handful of different loads and see what kind of pattern I'm getting from 30-40 yards, right? And also from what I've read, I should try to get a pattern where most of the shot is in about a 15-20" circle with no big gaps in the circle?

Any recommendations for loads to start trying first? Should I pick up another choke or two as well to also try, or do you think I should just narrow it down to what loads work well with the choke that came with my barrel?

I'm probably not much help, all the Turkey hunting I've done was with a rifle, not a shot gun. So no suggestions on loads other than maybe bigger is better. Turkeys are fuckin' tough birds and I hate picking bird shot out of meat. Remington and most manufactures make loads specifically for turkey. Get a box of each and see how they pattern for you.

You already have the tightest choke available so any other choke is going to give you a bigger pattern. You should be good with what you have.

Here's a little more info on chokes:

Choosing The Right Choke For Your Shotgun

Here's some Remington Turkey loads:

Turkey Loads - Shotgun Turkey Loads -Remington Shotgun Turkey Loads

Pffft, shotguns are for wimps! I hunt turkey with a knife!

(i'm kidding for those slow among us)

Thanks, that's good info. :cool:

I was going to just use a mean glare, the shotgun was for backup. :D

Briley makes really good turkey chokes......Briley Manufacturing, shotgun choke manufacturer and gunsmithing as far as ammo goes, it's really what shoots best out of your gun. pick a few and try em out. I prefer Remington Nitro's, but that's me.

Thanks guys. I'm probably going to see how the choke that came with my barrel patterns, then go from there. I made a trip up to BassProShop yesterday afternoon to see what they had as far as turkey loads go. A buddy recommended a duplex shot with a mix of #4 and #6, but I couldn't find that there(found duplex loads, just not that mix).


Here is what I got to try:

HEVISHOT - 3" - #4 shot - 2oz - 2 boxs (5ea)
Remington Nitro Turkey - 3" - #4 shot - 1 7/8oz - 1 box (10ea)
Winchester Supreme Elite Hi-Density Turkey Load - 3" - #4 shot - 1 3/4oz - 1 box (10ea)
Winchester Supreme Elite Hi-Density Turkey Load - 3" - #5 shot - 1 3/4oz - 1 box (10ea)



I also brought Stanley, my Bullmastiff, with me. One of my wife's coworkers said that BassProShops are dog friendly, and sure enough they are. It was hilarious to see people's reactions because I don't think most people realize you can bring a dog in there, or expect to see one. I kept having people walk by looking shocked and whispering to whoever they were with, then have them circle around and ask to pet him. :lol: He of course loved the attention, but the biggest thing to him was watching the big fish through the glass in the fish tank they have. He's seen small fish on the edge of a pond before looking down into the water, but of course they take off as soon as he steps foot in the pond. He was very intrigued that these fish were much bigger, and didn't swim away when he put his nose to the glass. I'm pretty sure he was trying to figure out a way to get at them. :D

Just get a Saiga or USAS or something and make up for choke quality with shot quantity. Use magnetic shot and ask the hospital to borrow the MRI machine before you eat it.