Broke in the 20 gauge turkey gun

[fw707]

I killed this bird on March 25th in Florida.
19 lbs, 10 1/4 inch beard, and no spurs. :hmm:
I also killed another one the day before, but this is the best picture.

 

[Rebel]

Way to go. Congrats. Nice bird.

 

[fw707]

Thanks Rebel.
Here's a picture of the bird I killed on the 24th:

 

[RickD]

Very good...I was wondering what load did you use

 

[Britsmoothy]

Congratulations, I bet them birds taste good with a bit of black sprinkled on them :winking:

 

[MikeC]

Would appreciate some specs on the gun. Looks really nice, love the length.

Mike

 

[Raynor]

How far were your shots?
Congrats, :thumbsup:

 

[xxgrampa]

wat to go fw,

did you get that gun on this site??

..ttfn..grampa..

 

[fw707]

Thanks everybody for the kind words. :winking:
Most of the questions asked can be answered in this thread I posted shortly after I got the gun from Tip Curtis:
[url] http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/204684/[/url]

Raynor, the first bird was shot at 40 yards, and the second was shot at 37 yards. The 40 yard bird tried to make a getaway just before I put my foot on his head and my buddy had to put him down for good. The 37 yard bird stayed down.
I had intended to keep my shots inside 30 yards, but I misjudged the yardage pretty bad on both birds. It's good to know I've got a little margin for error.

RickD,
I was shooting 70 grains of 3F Goex with a thick card wad and 1 1/4 ounces of #6 shot topped off by a thin overshot card. I "autopsied" the second bird's head and found several pellets, but there weren't any bones broken. I'm gonna try 80 grains before I go hunting again.

 

[The Baron]

Congratulations! That's awesome. Two Toms in as many days... with a flinter. Sweet! :hatsoff:

 

[wtilenw]

Great job! Makes my blood pump, waiting for my hunt. Nice birds.
Idaho PRB

 

[roundball]

fw707, great work, congratulations !!
:hatsoff:

 

[MCinIL]

Congrats. Our season starts the 21st for me. Looks like a couple dandys.

MC.

 

[ssettle]

Thats outstanding. I"m building a 20 gage now won't be ready this spring. 40 yards is a long shot...good job!..Ssettle

 

[fw707]

Yep, 40 yards is longer than I intended to shoot. :redface:
I upped the powder to 75 grains today and I'm still getting a good dense pattern at 30 yards. Maybe that'll add a little more energy to the pellets.

 

[paulvallandigham]

For those long shots, you would be better off using #5 shot, rather than #6. The pellet energy of #6 is right at the edge of effectiveness, which your two birds have show. Inside 40 yards, they work. At 40 yards and beyond, its iffy. #5 will work out to 45 yards at least, and perhaps out to 50 yds.

I think you will find that 80 grains of powder will open your pattern. Stick with the 70 grain load you are using. Use #5 to kill birds that far in the future.

As to range estimates, if you are shooting on familiar ground, take a string and stake and measure off 40 yds in a variety of directions and either mark a tree with a blaze, or plant a stake you can see from where you sit. That way you will know your yardage, and not have to do that by guess and by golly stuff we have all done before. :hmm: :youcrazy: :rotf:

Congratulations on two fine birds. Good hunting.