Finally, A Turkey load

[Rebel]

Well, i finally have a consistant load to use in the fowler for turkeys. I messed around and messed around with different wad combos, powder charges, and shot size, and this is what seems to work in this gun. 70 grs of Goex 3f powder. Then start 2 thin overshot cards just below the muzzle and ad a little lube on top. Then another thin overshot wad and seat it on the powder. Then start another thin overshot wad about 1 1/2" below the muzzle and start a paper shot cup on top of it. (The cup is made from index card rolled 1 1/2 turns around the mandrell i use to form them and then glued on the edge. It is long enough when crimped on the one end to hold 7/8 oz of #5 lead shot and left unslit.) I then ad 1 1/8 oz of shot and an over shot card. I tried slits of different lengths and cups that held the whole 1 1/8 oz of shot, as well as cream of wheat for filler, but this is what worked best for me. I have not gotten any slug effects with this setup, just consistant patterns with 12-17 shot in the head neck area at 23 yds, which is 3 yds further than i have got with any other load. So Swampy, you might want to try some unslit shot cups in that new .12 ga fowler and see if they work as well for you.

 

[shmrck1]

Rebel,
Sounds like your ready to harvest a
gobbler. Good luck!
snake-eyes :hatsoff:

 

[jim m]

Lots of luck Rebel, we'll be over for some fried turkey in a few weeks :thumbsup:

 

[Rebel]

Well come on over but it most likely won't be fried. We do roast them though. :grin:

 

[snagg]

Rebel:
Sounds like you put a lot of thought and trial and error into your load up. i'm sure it will be productive for you. Good luck. :thumbsup: When does your season start??

snagg

 

[AgesofDays]

could you [meaning anyone] use a roundball to kill a turkey?

 

[dlemaster]

Here in Ohio we must use shot, round ball is prohibited.

Regards, Dave

 

[Rebel]

Thanks, i does take some time to figure out. Season starts April 15.

 

[Rebel]

I could, i put 2 rd balls through the head of a turkey target yesterday just to see if i could, but it isn't legal. We have to use shot.

 

[nchawkeye]

The first turkey I ever killed was with a round ball...And yes, it was legal...I lived in VA then (1979)and used a .45 flinter charged with 50 grains fff if I remember correctly, called him in with a wingbone call that I had made...Frankly I would still prefer to use a round ball, but its not legal in NC, where I now live...

 

[sidelock]

I'v got several beards that says they work OK on turkeys. One at 125 yd with my T/C .50. :v :v

 

[KyFlintlock]

Good luck Rebel, I hope you get to try a nice gobbler at 22 yards....cause we know he is dead as last wednesday at 23. :thumbsup:

Wess

 

[Rebel]

Thanks Wess, actually i am hoping to get one into 15-18 yds if i can. Will see how it goes.

 

[KyFlintlock]

I'll be headin' out the door this eve to take my son out for a Youth turkey day tomorrow. Not sure what the cold weather will do to the birds, but I think they should be ok....unless they get close. :haha:

wess

 

[Rebel]

Good luck. Weather here has been real nice. It will probably get cold and start raining again just about turkey season.

 

[rabjr]

:hmm: ok, next trip I'll try that shot cup.

 

[Hoyt]

Well, i finally have a consistant load to use in the fowler for turkeys. I messed around and messed around with different wad combos, powder charges, and shot size, and this is what seems to work in this gun. 70 grs of Goex 3f powder. Then start 2 thin overshot cards just below the muzzle and ad a little lube on top. Then another thin overshot wad and seat it on the powder. Then start another thin overshot wad about 1 1/2" below the muzzle and start a paper shot cup on top of it. (The cup is made from index card rolled 1 1/2 turns around the mandrell i use to form them and then glued on the edge. It is long enough when crimped on the one end to hold 7/8 oz of #5 lead shot and left unslit.) I then ad 1 1/8 oz of shot and an over shot card. I tried slits of different lengths and cups that held the whole 1 1/8 oz of shot, as well as cream of wheat for filler, but this is what worked best for me. I have not gotten any slug effects with this setup, just consistant patterns with 12-17 shot in the head neck area at 23 yds, which is 3 yds further than i have got with any other load. So Swampy, you might want to try some unslit shot cups in that new .12 ga fowler and see if they work as well for you.

Sounds like you got it working and hope you get a big old gobbler.

 

[Rebel]

Thanks Hoyt. You have any luck yet?

 

[Hoyt]

Rebel..no luck since I killed that Jake I posted about. I missed a good gobbler at about 12 to 15 steps last wk..my paper shot cup didn't open. Narry a feather. These public land birds I'm hunting are call shy now and everything has to be just right to get a crack at one. They are still gobblin good, but just want to see the goods before they commit.
If you can catch one that's been sit'n up on a limb all night think'n about the pretty hens in his neck of the woods..he might come run'n first thing in the morn'n..but more than likely he's going to fly down and go the other way if he don't see a hen to fly down to.

 

[Rebel]

I am hoping that the flock i have been watching on public lands will be undisturbed by anyone but me. I plan to be out and set up opening morning in all my 1750's finery. There are a few nice toms and some jakes in the bunch with a lot of hens. I just hope i can pull at least a jake away from the hens. Good luck to you the rest of the season. You might give the unslit paper index card cups a try and use more shot than the cup will hold. I have been finding the cups all exploded and so far NO slugs. Using the cup for 7/8 oz and then 1 1/8 oz of shot. Worth a try.