My friend told me once about what he thought was the best turkey shell. I remember looking at them and they were VERY expensive. I now want them and can’t remember what kind they were. (friend had a stroke and can’t talk) or I’d ask him. He always got a bird. Any thoughts ?
Every gun patterns differently, so what works best in his gun, might not be best in your gun.
Pretty much any turkey load out there is a good load with a xtra full turkey choke. As long as you are in it for the game, and calling them in close, any load will drop them dead. If you like to shoot them at 60 yards, you will want tungsten or Hevi-shot shot.
Take some time with a few brands of shells and shoot them. Pick the load that puts the most shot in the head at the range you expect to shoot.
For me, the excitement of turkey hunting is calling and working a bird in till its 10 yards from me. Sure, I can walk down my fence line and drop a bird at 60 yards any day I want (100’s of birds near me), but that is absolutely no fun for me. I’ve actually quit using a gun for turkey, and now strictly use my bow. The excitement of “the game” between me and the bird is back, and sometimes he wins, and that’s more than okay!
Every gun patterns differently, so what works best in his gun, might not be best in your gun.
Pretty much any turkey load out there is a good load with a xtra full turkey choke. As long as you are in it for the game, and calling them in close, any load will drop them dead. If you like to shoot them at 60 yards, you will want tungsten or Hevi-shot shot.
Take some time with a few brands of shells and shoot them. Pick the load that puts the most shot in the head at the range you expect to shoot.
For me, the excitement of turkey hunting is calling and working a bird in till its 10 yards from me. Sure, I can walk down my fence line and drop a bird at 60 yards any day I want (100’s of birds near me), but that is absolutely no fun for me. I’ve actually quit using a gun for turkey, and now strictly use my bow. The excitement of “the game” between me and the bird is back, and sometimes he wins, and that’s more than okay!
Well said!
What he said. Iv had good luck with the new Winchester long beards out of my nova.
I also jusy bought the new LongBeard XR rounds. I also ordered the Long Beard choke made by Carlsons. I should get it Thursday.
DT
The best pattern/load combinations I have witnessed have all been variations with Trulock Choke Tubes.
What is even more impressive, is George Trulock’s Satisfaction Guarranty
“All Trulock Chokes carry a lifetime warranty. If our choke fails for any reason, return it to us and it will be replaced at no charge. Trulock Tool and/or Whigham Enterprises, Inc. does not warrant these products as to suitability, fitness for use, or for any particular purpose. Replacement of the choke tube is the total extent of our warranty, with the exception that if for any reason you are not satisfied with our product within 60 days from the date of purchase it can be returned to us for exchange or refund of the purchase price. A copy of the sales invoice must be included with the return. Nothing else is implied or should be construed from this warranty or any literature.
The management and employees at Trulock’s try to make the best choke tubes at a reasonable price. If you find anything about our products that displeases you, please let us know.
George Trulock, President”
I thought that was quite impressive as many times you don’t know how a tube/load will pattern until you shoot it.
Some how we turned this into a choke tube discussion when the OP was just looking for the shell brand his buddy used.
Hevi 13 White? The original White’s were way better by most reports than the current selection from Hevi Shot. If they were a white they are pretty impossible to find and the price tag if you do would show it. Hevi Shot still manufactures their shells but they may vary from your buddies results.
Nitro? Not to be confused with Remington’s Nitro, but the actual Nitro Company Ammunition. World class blended loads, with a higher price tag.
Federal Heavyweights? We have a 20ga that loves the 7s in these. Not cheep by any means but a little more affordable than the Nitro’s.
TSS ( tungsten super shot) isn’t available except for handloads so I doubt it was this. If it was he would be the only one that could share his recipe with you and you’d have to load it yourself. Unfortunately it doesn’t sound like that’s an option.
If none of those ring a bell page through the turkey sections on some of the online retailers and maybe that may help.
CW
I have always had great luck with the Winchester in the black box, but can’t remember the actual name of them. We always called it black death. 3.5″ #5 shot out of the Nova with a Carlson choke tube was the best pattern for me, BUT you do need to pattern your load because they are all different. My boys both have Nova’s with Carlson choke tubes and both of their guns pattern best with #4 shot. Older brother with same set up patterns best with #5 shot. Test pattern them before you hit the woods.
Super x I shot those before the longbeards. They shot well as well.
I have an older remington 870 that shoots federal 5″s the best but like was said every gun/choke combo will shoot differently Best to try a few out and see what you gun likes best. That wont be any fun with the new Mossburg I have that shoots 3.5’s I imagine it kicks pretty good.
I think it was the Hevi 13 White. I’m almost positive. Thanks for helping.
Winchester supreme 3.5 #4’s out of my shotgun. Next best shell was 3 inch #5 . Need to get out and shoot witha few people each bring a box of shells different loads and then try and figure out which patterns the best for you. Love the black death (winchester supremes)
Chris sums it up pretty well. In my patterning, over the past 10 years, I’ve moved from copper-plated lead, to hevi-shot, to Hevi13, to Winchester XR’s, to Hevishot Magnum blend. Along the way I’ve used a multitude of choke tubes, but in my Browning Gold 3.5, anything around 0.675 constriction has worked quite well. I can put 175 – 195 pellets in a 10″ circle at 40 yards with the mag blend. Any other comparison is rather futile IMO. Max pellets downrange kills turkeys, and any descriptive of a choke, load, or pattern without the data to support it doesn’t sway me as much these days.
I’m likely going to be bumping up to Nitro Ammo in a Rhino Choke this year. Stay tuned to see how it works!
Joel
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