Bird Shot Questions

[Capt. Fred]

Hi Guys, I've got a bird shot question. I'm looking for some #5 or 6 lead shot and I'm wondering if anyone knows of a source where I can get it in less than a 25 lb bag? This is for turkey hunting. Is that an appropriate size for the velocities we are talking about with a 20 ga. flintlock? I've always used 5's for turkey with my 3 inch mags in my modern shotgun.

I may do some duck hunting down the road so I was considering some of the nice shot but YIKES :shocked2: that stuff is expensive.

Any other thoughts?

 

[JayDee Flohr]

Cabelas has nickle plated in 11 pound quantities.

 

[Capt. Fred]

Ahhh I hadn't dug deep enough at Cabelas. I searched "bird shot" and nothing came up. Just searched "shot" and there it is!

What size are you folks using for turkey in a 20 ga?

 

[Jason Lewis]

midway USA has a good selection too, i haven't shot a turkey with BP yet, but i imagine with a cylinder bored gun 1 1/4 OZ of 6's should do just fine.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Ballistics Products also sells shot in smaller bags. You can find a Link to their site on the Index page, up under " Member Resources". I think either #6 or #5 shot will do the job on turkeys depending on the distance you want to shoot, and whether your gun is choked. I shoot #5 shot, in my 12 ga. which is cylinder bored. I have killed Pheasants stone cold dead at a paced off 33 yards from the muzzle. A 2 3/4 dram load of FFg powder behind 1 1/4oz of #5 does a good job out of most 12 ga. guns, choked or not.

If you are shooting a 20 ga., Reduce the load to 2 1/4 drams of FFg powder, and 1 1/8 oz of shot.

 

[Capt. Fred]

This is a choked barrel. It's a 38 inch Colerain turkey choke barrel. From what folks who own one have said it throws a real tight pattern.

Paul, do you have a conversion from weights to volume in grains? I sold my scale when I sold my centerfire reloding stuff. I guess what I'm wondering is this: if I were to use my volume powder measure, how many grains of #5 shot equals 1 OZ?

 

[paulvallandigham]

I have a chart posted on this forum by " Breechplug", back in 2006( Post#255138). According to his information, 1 oz by volume would be equal to 68 grains by weight. He does not differentiate shot sizes, however.

Here's his chart, repeated:

Oz shot/ Dr. Powder/ Grains wt.
3/4--------2-------------55
7/8--------2 1/4---------62
1----------2 1/2---------68
1 1/8------2 3/4---------75
1 1/4------3-------------82
1 3/8------3 1/4---------89
1 1/2------3 1/2---------96
1 5/8------3 3/4---------102
1 3/4------4-------------109
1 7/8------4 1/4---------116
2----------4 1/2---------123
2 1/8------4 3/4---------130
2 1/4------5-------------137

A dram of powder weighs 27.35 grains, which is why 2 drams of powder is 55 grains, but 4 drams is only 109 Grains. You can round these numbers up or down a grain and the gun won't know the difference, however. :shocked2: :youcrazy: :blah: :rotf: :idunno: :surrender: :thumbsup:

 

[dbutch]

Do not shoot any Non-toxic other than nice shot out that barrel-----there is no way to get a plastic shot cup in the bore that will seal in the Colerain TC bore..that will protect the barrel it's either lead or Nice shot...Nice shot will work would recommend #5 it patterns great--I use 2 lubed OxYoke wool wads and 1 over shot card...turkeys beware!

 

[Bosteldr]

If you want to try out different size shot, talk to your hunting buddies and get a few shot shells or just buy a box of shotgun shells. Cut them open and use the the shot. Cheaper than buy 5 lbs and not liking it.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Don't listen to him, I will dispose of any shot you don't like for free :thumbsup:

Brits :haha:

 

[ohio ramrod]

For turkeys and goose I prefer #4's. I know you aren't suppoed to use lead sot for geese but then you aren't supposed to shoot them any time of the years when they mess up your pond either. :idunno:

 

[dbutch]

:nono: somethings are best left unspoken!

 

[longfowler]

I just cut open regular 12 gauge shells & scavenge the shot. that way you can even get the plastic buffer, too! I've killed turkeys with 4's, 5's & 6's, it just depends on what the gun likes, so when you find what patterns best, buy a bag of it!

 

[Capt. Fred]

Thanks for the chart Paul. I think I'll dig through my old boxes of shotgun shells and cut out a bunch of shot to experiment with.

Makeumsmoke, I'm starting to reconsider just grabbing some of the nice shot. I used to compete in skeet shooting and would go through cases of shells like nothing. But with this flintlock routine, once I get a load worked out I probably won't shoot it more than ten or twenty times a YEAR!

A couple of turkey hunts and a couple of duck hunts ain't going to add up to much total shot down the barrel at all. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

 

[Joel/Calgary]

Do not shoot any Non-toxic other than nice shot out that barrel... it's either lead or Nice shot...

Don't forget that bismuth shot is also safe without bore protection, and is back in production.

Regards,
Joel

 

[ohio ramrod]

Thanks for the chart Paul. I think I'll dig through my old boxes of shotgun shells and cut out a bunch of shot to experiment with.

Makeumsmoke, I'm starting to reconsider just grabbing some of the nice shot. I used to compete in skeet shooting and would go through cases of shells like nothing. But with this flintlock routine, once I get a load worked out I probably won't shoot it more than ten or twenty times a YEAR!

A couple of turkey hunts and a couple of duck hunts ain't going to add up to much total shot down the barrel at all. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

Why don't you try shooting trap and skeet with you ML ? I shoot far more trap with mine than actual hunting. It will make you more comfortable with your gun come turkey time. And you will get that "fix" for your addiction every time you breathe that black powder smoke!

 

[Rat Trapper]

Since you are going to be using a small guage shotgun, I'd recommend you stay with small shot sizes. I would try some # 7 1/2 size shot or #6 and nothing larger. With the smaller shot you get more pellets. #7 1/2 will work just fine as long as you keep your shooting to within 30 yards.
#6 is good to 40 yards. The problem with shot size #4's, is there are not enough pellets to insure a clean kill at the longer ranges and the smaller pellets will work just great up close. In modern shotgun size #5's are pretty good, but I normally stay with #6's again for a more dense pattern and I normally shoot all my birds at around 30 yards or less. To get a guage slam you have to take a bird with all 6 shotgun gauges (10,12,16,20,28 & 410). I took my 410 bird at about 15 yards and he went right down and stayed there with shot size 7 1/2's.

 

[dbutch]

Ballistic Products Nickelplated lead shot#5-11 pound bag 38.50 2 day delivery. They have more for less than Cabela's

 

[Flintlock58]

I use #5 nickel plated for turkeys and like it. I get it from Ballistic Products as well.

 

[dbutch]

flintlock58..shot this pattern on Monday 30 yards with T/C New Englander 1.375 oz. of #5 Nickel plated lead.(from Ballistic Products) target is 8.5" X 11" 13 hits to the head and spine.(dead bird) My Coleran Turkey choke barrels shoot just as good! 14" pattern at 30 yards-use the top tang screw for a rear sight.Since this pattern was shot I reduced the size of the front bead by half.