Turkey's I'm ready

[Robby]

A guy gave me a couple turkey targets and I gotta say, they are much more fun than my scribbled out version. Anyway, I finished out my new turkey gun, 24ga. X 48" barrel, this morning and couldn't wait to give it a go, so I didn't!!!! I loaded a patched round ball to verify that my sight calculations were good to go and as you can see, they are. It never ceases to amaze me how close I get them with a little figuring and gut instinct. I went full "Skychief load and even wrote it down just to make sure I didn't dislexiate something, HAH! This is 25 yards and I will experiment further as the weather gets better, but I am so impressed with this load the only thing I will be experimenting with is powder amount and range to target! This pattern is damn near perfect, and I want to thank Skychief for the work he must have gone through to come up with such a low that on first blush is, to me, is counterintuitive to establishing a pattern. So thank you Skychief!!!! God bless.

Robby

 

[azmntman]

Same results in my spainish 20ga dbl!

 

[hanshi]

I'd kill for a pattern that good. Ah..well, yeah, I do guess that's the whole point.

 

[Zutt-man]

That bird will be taking a dirt nap. Is the barrel jug choked?

 

[appalichian hunter]

Now all ya gotta do is get Mr. Tom to cooperate. Best start working on your sexy hey big boy here I am talk.

 

[Britsmoothy]

That has potential to 35 yards! Brilliant.

 

[Robby]

That bird will be taking a dirt nap. Is the barrel jug choked?

No, and it is not going to be jugged either. No need!
Robby

 

[TarponStalker]

A guy gave me a couple turkey targets and I gotta say, they are much more fun than my scribbled out version. Anyway, I finished out my new turkey gun, 24ga. X 48" barrel, this morning and couldn't wait to give it a go, so I didn't!!!! I loaded a patched round ball to verify that my sight calculations were good to go and as you can see, they are. It never ceases to amaze me how close I get them with a little figuring and gut instinct. I went full "Skychief load and even wrote it down just to make sure I didn't dislexiate something, HAH! This is 25 yards and I will experiment further as the weather gets better, but I am so impressed with this load the only thing I will be experimenting with is powder amount and range to target! This pattern is damn near perfect, and I want to thank Skychief for the work he must have gone through to come up with such a low that on first blush is, to me, is counterintuitive to establishing a pattern. So thank you Skychief!!!! God bless.
View attachment 125587
Robby

Very nice Robby. What size and amount of shot and powder did you use?

 

[Loja man]

That’s a great pattern!

 

[ezekiel]

Very nice pattern hope you can try it on the real thing ! good hunting.

 

[Skychief]

Happy hunting Robby and thanks for the kind words!!

By the looks of it, you'll be warming the grease up before season's end.

Wonderful!

Best regards, Skychief.

 

[Skychief]

Your posts renews an interest of mine. I'd like to buy a 45 or so caliber with a smooth bore someday. I believe it would give the squirrels and rabbits a hard time and pull double duty in the whitetail woods.......

Someday...

 

[Skychief]

Failed to mention......God bless you too!

 

[2 shots]

is the large hole atop the turkeys head from the wad? if not how far on average does that heavy wad travel ? thanks and good hunting. mike

 

[Robby]

The big hole just north of the head is from the patched .570 round ball I shot to verify that my sights would put the shot exactly where they tell me to aim.
Tarpon, the load was 80gr. ff, 1-1/2 oz. #4 and #6 shot mixed, configured in the barrel exactly as Skychief described. I have been using this shot for decades because a guy gave me a two liter bottle of it and I still have at least a half bottle left. I've never taken a turkey with a modern gun and never lost one either, so I have confidence in the duplex mix.
I'm still pumped, HAH!!!!!
Robby

 

[Dutch7]

Nice pattern, I was able to take a bird two springs ago with a 28ga smoothie that had a way worse pattern than this one, should do well.
I will be shooting the skychief load this spring and will start as soon as (fill in the blank)...
looking forward to seeing pics of a Tom under that gun Robby

 

[Brokennock]

The big hole just north of the head is from the patched .570 round ball I shot to verify that my sights would put the shot exactly where they tell me to aim.
Tarpon, the load was 80gr. ff, 1-1/2 oz. #4 and #6 shot mixed, configured in the barrel exactly as Skychief described. I have been using this shot for decades because a guy gave me a two liter bottle of it and I still have at least a half bottle left. I've never taken a turkey with a modern gun and never lost one either, so I have confidence in the duplex mix.
I'm still pumped, HAH!!!!!
Robby

Excellent work Robby.
Can you please, maybe, start another topic and explain your process of sight regulation during the build?

to verify that my sight calculations were good to go and as you can see, they are. It never ceases to amaze me how close I get them with a little figuring and gut instinct

Also, what make barrel and profile? Seems too few folks are making their smoothbores with barrels longer than 46" and seems most are 44"

I can't wait for you turkey hunting posts.

 

[dhaverstick]

That is a fine pattern for sure! I am curious about your choice of barrel size. What made you choose a 24 gauge for turkeys? Pros? Cons?

Thanks,

Darren

 

[Oshaukuta Outdoors Group]

I own a never-fired CVA Trapper in 12 gauge....have had since the early to kid 90s ...also have a CVA side by side never fired...Plan is to shot a bird this soring with both...the idea of firing a solid projectile at 25 yards is intriguing...I just must figure out the projectile's diameter. is the 80 gr. of ffg with an ounce and a half of 4s and 6s suitable for my two front stuffers mentioned herein?

 

[Grenadier1758]

@Oshaukuta Outdoors Group, is your CVA Trapper a cylinder bore? Is your CVA side by side cylinder bored? Is the sxs a 12 gauge?

If you are shooting 12 gauge, then your planned load is fine. You will need some overshot cards to use about 3 for over the powder and one for over the shot.

Do a pattern test to verify if the pattern is suitable for your hunting requirements.