Turkey loads

[BLAHMAN]

I have a 20 guage. Any recomended loads for turkey? I 'd like to try in the spring to get a bird.

 

[Rebel]

Whatever patterns the best and has enough power. I would try 80 grs powder, over powder wad, cushion wad, paper shotcup, 1 1/4 oz of 4 or 5 shot, over shot wad. If that gives you a good pattern, it should work on turkey. Just keep your shots to the range you get the best pattern at.

 

[musketman]

Lyman recomends 2 1/2 drams (68 grains) to 3 drams (82 grains) of FFg, over powder card, 1/2 inch fiber wad, 1 1/8 of #5 shot, over powder card...

 

:m2c: my best turkey load is 1 1/8 oz of 'swan shot' (that is cast linotype .21 balls) approx 35-36 of them...and 75 grains of 3 Fg powder, 2 thick over powder wads, No cushion wad, No shot cup and an over shot wad.. it bucks !! :shocking: but it has always patterned great in both my old 20 gauges out to 40 yards.. sold 1 and gave the other to my son in law so I am getting a NEW 20 ga. this summer, I will try this 'old' load in it as well.. :thumbsup:

 

[roundball]

I have a 20 guage. Any recomended loads for turkey? I 'd like to try in the spring to get a bird.

FWIW, I got .62cal/.20ga GM Flint barrel last year to set it up for turkeys...it's a heavy 1" octagon barrel and I settled on the following for a dense pattern at 40yds:

70grns 3F or 80grns 2F
Three Oxyoke overpowder wads
Home made paper shot cup
1+5/8oz #6's
Over shot card

Puts 8 pellets in a coke can at 40yds...anything closer is more and more dense of course

 

[GrantLee63]

No first-hand experience myself, but I've done some research here and on the web, in anticipation of my TVM 20 Gauge Fowler that I should be receiving sometime this spring or early summer.

Check out these sites if you already have'nt done so:


http://www.caywoodguns.com/working_up_turkey_loads_for_opti.htm

http://members.aye.net/~bspen/SmoothboreLoads.html

Good Luck !

 

[BLAHMAN]

Thanks for the info guys! I'll get busy organizing myself to try the loads out. Let ya know how things work.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Musketman....That'a bout same combination I use also. I sure glad to see you're using FFF also. Maybe some more will wake up and start using it. You sure have LOT'S less fowling. Been doing that for many moons now. We also prime with FFF. No since in carrying 2 different powder horns.
Walk softly and carry a smoothbore :redthumb:

 

[RussB]

:m2c: my best turkey load is 1 1/8 oz of 'swan shot' (that is cast linotype .21 balls) approx 35-36 of them...and 75 grains of 3 Fg powder, 2 thick over powder wads, No cushion wad, No shot cup and an over shot wad.. it bucks !! :shocking: but it has always patterned great in both my old 20 gauges out to 40 yards.. sold 1 and gave the other to my son in law so I am getting a NEW 20 ga. this summer, I will try this 'old' load in it as well.. :thumbsup:

BW...I would certainly like to hear a bit more about that "Swan Shot" ya mentioned.
Is that similar to "BB" shot? Can't say I've ever heard the reference before, but it does sound interesting.

I got a .66cal (16ga) I would like to try that in. Where are you getting it? How much, etc, etc.
Ya got my interest fired up! I ain't mad at no Turkey....yet!
But, with the right load, Turkey sandwich suddenly sounds right yummy. :redthumb:

Thanks, Russ

 

[fatboy]

Thats some interesting info Grantlee thanks for sharing the web sites I was wondering about using the 3f in my 12 ga sxs may have to try a 70 gr load w/ 1-1/4oz of #6's

 

[Rebel]

Actual Swan shot is just dropped shot, that is melted lead that is pored through a sieve into a bucket of water from about 6-8 ft high. The shot is not perfectly round and throws kind of oblong shaped shot. You can also make your own round shot the same way by dropping it from about 20-30 ft hing, say off the peak of your two story house if you have one, into a big vat of water. This is how it was made way back when. Remember Musket Man. ::

 

[musketman]

This is how it was made way back when. Remember Musket Man. ::

Whom do you think developed the first shot towers? :winking:

 

well I aint gonna scramble up Crazy woman peak so I can drop shot into Sweetgrass creek.. I just use my old shot mold I believe its actually a T or TT size mould but it SAYS "Amer. Swan Shot" I cast em outta 60/40 mix of wheelweights/ Linotype... aint had a single turkey bird walk off from this load... :thumbsup:

 

[Jack Walker]

I use 80 gr of FFFg, a shot card followed by a wad, a mix of #4 and 6 shot and follow that with a shot card. I've also used natural material at my feet in place of the cards and wads. :results:

 

RUSS B.. my friend Jake says he uses LEAD size BB shot- - -NOT coppered steel "BB's" ...since he ran outta my shot, and it works just as good in his 20 Ga. as well as his 16 Ga. :thumbsup:
If your gonna use 'MY' load I recommend you hold to where the CENTER of your pattern is 'bout 3" off the end of the beak. This 'kills the bird' out to 40+ yards... :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Jake just brought ina mess of bunnies so I gotta go play camp cook..... Wish he'd a stopped at burger-king instead.. :crackup: :crackup:

 

[rayb]

I just use my old shot mold I believe its actually a T or TT size mould but it SAYS "Amer. Swan Shot" I cast em outta 60/40 mix of wheelweights/ Linotype... aint had a single turkey bird walk off from this load... :thumbsup:

do you make this alloy special for this mould?? Or are you just using an alloy already mixed up for other purposes as well? I'm guessing the result is a fairly hard ball.

rayb

 

[Jack Walker]

I have made drip shot a few times, has anyone else done this?

 

[weirdjack]

I dunno for sure...the only turkey I ever got was with my standard "woods load" in my .69 cal Charleville musket.
1 1/8 oz. number 5 shot over 80 grains 2F. Seemed to be very effective. At least we thought so while eating roast turkey that evening in camp.
WJ

 

rayb .. thats an old "Magnum" alloy from when I usedta shoot them things.. got a LOT of that old stuff layin around. it is HARD HARD HARD dont got a brinell tester but ya cant scratch it w/ your thumb nail.. it is HARD alloy, but it flies true .. only had 2 or 3 'fliers' in MANY years of useing it in both my guns and I have several friends who have used it as well and they are all SOLD on it!! :thumbsup:

 

[WV-Rocklock]

Bull
I made some shot years ago by pouring lead through a screen into water. Is this drip shot?