#4 or #6 shot..?

[PaulN/KS]

For turkeys that is.
I have some of both and get decent patterns with the 1 3/8oz of 6's at 25yds out of my 62 caliber flintlock smoothbore.
But now I am wondering if the 4's would give me better penetration ? (Provided I ever get a shot..)
I'm hoping some of you successful hunters can give me some advice. :hatsoff:

 

[longcruise]

This is very much a matter of opinion, and I do not shoot ml scatter guns. That said, a charge pattern of shot is what it is regardless of what propelled it.

Six shot has shown itself to be an adequate penetrator on turkeys so if the density is there it should do the job.

 

[larry wv]

Squirrels are easy to kill in top of a tree with number 6 shot. I think 5s would be better but have killed several hundred with 6 shot. I know that feathers will deflect 6 shot a bunch more than 4 shot. So you need a hit in the head or neck. If I was in your shoes I don't know for sure which I would use but PROBABLY number 6s for 25 yards.

Larry

 

[George]

All my turkeys have been killed with #6 shot. Penetration really isn't a problem, since all my shots are head and neck, usually pretty close, and I keep the velocity up with adequate powder charges.

Spence

 

[No Deer]

In my 20 ga. tradegun I use 75 gr. 3f powder and 1 1/4 oz. #5. This has been effective out to about 25 yards, cylinder bore. #5 is best on our large fox squirrels too.

 

[wattlebuster]

Im a fan of big shot. So that said if you go with #6s keep your shots really close as in 25 or less an you wont have any problem. #6s will put lots more holes in a paper pattern target than #4s BUT that longbeard aint paper.

 

[longcruise]

Head and neck is the key!

I have been present at the autopsy of a turkey that was hit in the body at about 25 yards with modern hi velocity #6 shot and it looked to me like if it had not been hit in the head a d neck with a quick follow up it would have lived a long life :haha:

That's why I'm an advocate of pattern density.

 

[PaulN/KS]

Looks like I'll have to spend some more time out back with pattern development.
I wonder if mixing equal amounts of 4's and 6's will give me the performance results of #5's..? :hmm:
:wink:

 

[hoochiepapa]

I would use 4's.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

The size that gives you the most dense pattern. I have used #6 but #5 seemed better for me. Dan.

 

[Dave Marsh]

I have experimented with 4's and 6's with good results from either one. One day I accidentally mixed the 4's and 6's so I gave it a try and that is now my new load. About half and half. But as in all types of hunting shot placement is key so go for the head and neck.

Dave

 

[PaulN/KS]

I was just joking about combining them but now I'll give that a shot as well.

 

[don hepler]

You took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to suggest mixing 4's and 6's. I have a new, unfired 20 ga. barrel, for my Renegade, and that was going to be one of my experimental loads. I need better weather, to go to the range. Cabin fever, is beginning to get to me.

 

[PaulN/KS]

I'd hoped to get out back today and take advantage of some warmer weather to try some loads but the warm was short lived. (High today 44)
And now back to our regularly scheduled winter weather... :shake: ("High" tomorrow 17)

 

[Flintlock58]

I have used mixes of #4 and #6 lead, and recently ITX and both pattern well out of my 62 Colerain turkey barrel and Ive killed two turkeys, neither was outside 25 yds. Try a duplex load . See what it does in your gun. Maybe Roundballs tuna can penetration test too.

 

[roundball]

"...I am wondering if the 4's would give me better penetration ?..."

That's always been my experience...not only do larger heavier pellets penetrate better, but they seem to bore straight ahead through the air a little further before starting to flare out/open up. I've taken turkey with 6's, then 5's, then 4's and don't bother with 6's anymore for the reason you asked about.
When I moved up to larger and larger size pellets, their stacking offset in the bore gets larger with larger air spaces between them, and fewer pellets tend to thin the pattern of course, so I bump up my shot charge when I use the large #4 pellets...a plus is the long shot string of heavier pellets makes for a fairly dense center.

My current .62cal Early Virginia has a Rice 38” D-weight barrel, jug choked ”˜full’ by Caywood.
A moderate powder charge of 70grns Goex 3F with 1&3/4oz of chilled lead #4’s is outstanding...this one dropped in his tracks at 43 paces.

Others mileage many vary.

 

[White Oak]

Strange as it may sound I have had excellent results with 7 1/2s. Only because our birds are normally taken extremely close. Head and neck shots only. 25 yds. and under.

 

[PaulN/KS]

Beautiful gun RB and that's a fine turkey and a HECK of a shot. :hatsoff: :thumbsup:

I've been using 1 3/8 shot over 60gr of 3F. Perhaps bumping up both, one variable at a time, will give me what I need. Fortunately I have a good supply of the shot. I even have some 7 1/2.
I appreciate the field result reports from you successful hunters. Thanks.

 

[Patocazador]

For black powder turkeys I won't use anything smaller than #5 shot. You don't know at what range your gobbler will show up. #4 or 5 shot will reach out farther and one or more of the pellets may just happen to find his head or neck.

Ideally you want lots of larger shot. However, that just isn't in the cards with black powder unless you can handle lots of recoil.

 

[robinsroost]

Let me jump on the duplex load band wagon. Had you of not came up with the idea yourself, even in jest, I would have suggested 1/2, #4's, and 1/2, #6's. I have had good luck with this load on turkeys and squirrels.........Robin :wink: