#1090922 - 12/18/08 12:18 PM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: captain hook]
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turkeyhunter
6 Point
Registered: 08/23/04
Posts: 829
Loc: collinwood tn
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The red dot type scopes are very easy to see turkeys in thick stuff because there is no magnifcation. As for quick shots a buddy of mine shot one on the fly. You can leave your head up or down. You can open both eyes which I like. I practice with mine, I have people throw cans and what not up and I shoot useing the scope. Once pattern is centered, red dot on target equals death. I even know guys that rabbit hunt with red dot type scopes. All I know is that it helped me. I also can see my reg sights under my scope in bad weather.
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it's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money.
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#1100866 - 12/25/08 02:28 PM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: turkeyhunter]
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Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 16990
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
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I'll prefice my comment by bringing in these quotes from another thread:. . . . I shoot at 25 yards which is where a turkey has to be before I lay him down. Tight patterns at 40 can be wayyyyy too tight for 25 and closer. What is more concerning is the 10 yard shot with a 50 yard pattern. I totally agree with you on that Captain, and have killed most of mine at 15 to 22 yards over the years, limiting my shots to no more than 35 yards. Most factory "Modified" and/or regular "Full" chokes are just right for these ranges. IMO, most turkey hunters would actually bag more turkeys if they were NOT using the tightest of tight "turkey" chokes --- mainly because these tight chokes are a handicap at close range, and may encourage many hunters to take longer shots at ranges more difficult to assess, rather than call up or wait on a surer thing, up close and personal. That said, a true expert and accomplished turkey hunter will sometimes benefit from a choke tighter than factory full, but the hunter needs to do his homework in knowning exactly where his pattern is centered and with which particular loads it works best. But I suspect most hunters are simply being duped out of their money when they think a tighter choke is the magic pill.
The Captain and I have some similar views on "turkey hunting", but we disagree on scopes. That's all right, he'll grow out of it. 
For many years I've used a side by side double as my "turkey gun". With it's factory full choke and 2 3/4" squirrel loads, I've killed as many as a dozen consecutive Toms with a single shot each, and very few others have needed a follow-up shot. But then I limited my shots to 35 yards or less, in part so that when I misjudged range, should the bird actually be at 40 yards, I still had him.
As I've gotten older, my eyes don't focus as well on both the gun barrel, sights, and distant targets. So in Spring 2008 I decided to try a scope on my turkey gun. Couldn't find a competent gunsmith willing to mount a scope on my side by side, so had to buy a new "turkey" gun.
IMO, the gun is not that relavent.
But the Nikon Monarch 1.75X scope is just what the doctor ordered!
I can see clearly now!
Field of view is exceptional and no problem on an up close bird.
I spent several days patterning different loads and sighting it in. Since it has a little tighter choke than my double gun, I would now go out to about 40 yards (or a ranged 45).
In my first turkey season with it (2007), I fired it 3 times and took home 3 mature Toms ---- all killed at under 30 yards.
For me, going to a quality scope was the best thing since sliced bread. I tried a red dot scope and didn't like it. But the low-power Nikon Monarch was just perfect.
And by the way, Captain, I'll probably use the "Modified" choke tube for most of my 2009 turkey hunts. With a precisely centered pattern, I might add. 
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#1101038 - 12/25/08 06:42 PM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: Wes Parrish]
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WTM
8 Point
Registered: 10/16/08
Posts: 1956
Loc: CAMDEN, TN
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dont use one, i put the white bead on his neck or his white head and i like to shoot them at 20 to 25 yards for reasons mentioned above.
Edited by WTM (12/25/08 06:43 PM)
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#1101093 - 12/25/08 07:25 PM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: WTM]
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KSbuck
4 Point
Registered: 09/22/06
Posts: 338
Loc: West TN
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I've seen some who put them on and hate them and some that put them on and can't believe they ever hunted without them. I love mine and wouldn't go back but you won't truly know how you feel about one until you try it. From my experiance I have never been handicapped by them. Mounted one on my gun 4 yrs. ago and have killed close to 40 birds with it on and have never been held back by it but most definitly have been helped by it in certain situations.
Edited by KSbuck (12/25/08 07:25 PM)
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#1101549 - 12/26/08 02:26 PM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: captain hook]
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DBLAARCHERY
Woodpile Boys Neighbor
14 Point
Registered: 11/16/08
Posts: 9058
Loc: Cannon County Outback
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Tru-Glo are fine, but in reality shooting turkeys isn't the challenge. You are firing 400 pellets at under 30 yards, it takes 1-3 to take one down. Don't over complicate the easiest aspect of turkey hunting.
Thats funny that is what I was thinking...I have shot the same 870 Express Mag for years with the factory site well when I knock my fiber optics off...I like to be able to throw my gun around...I do not want to have to worry about another scope being knocked around...All personal preference...I could see both sides tho...
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BEWARE OF THE KIDS, THEY EAT EVERYTHING I Shoot!
Make Your Own Luck-Hustle!
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#1105782 - 12/30/08 06:03 PM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: bonekelektr]
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buckdead
8 Point
Registered: 11/02/08
Posts: 2273
Loc: southern middle tn
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I just bought a TRU-GLO scope and mount from Midway i gave like $90 for it. Hope I dont pay for taking the cheap route. But the factory sights on my gun have me shootin high and to the right with a couple of diffrent chokes ive tried out. after mmissing two turkeys anything is better than what i got on it now.
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if your gonna be stupid you gotta be tough.
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#1121340 - 01/09/09 11:36 AM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: captain hook]
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showmehorns
16 Point
Registered: 10/23/02
Posts: 15803
Loc: usually in the woods
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Don't do it!!! It is fine if everything happens as it is supposed to when a bird comes in, but if they surprise you and you have to take a quick shot the cope will cost you every time. They fog up, get knocked off, and cut your view down considerably.
Keep in mind a turkeys head never stops moving, and trying to keep the cross hairs on him when he is popping in and out of trees is a real trick.
I urge you to reconsider.
Bull... 
One of the great things about a Red Dot, is that you can actually shoot with both eyes opened, acquiring your target even quicker.
In your defense, I guess a true, crosshair scope might put you at a disadvantage when trying to draw down on one.
_________________________
"Every man dies, but not every man lives."
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#1121474 - 01/09/09 12:51 PM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: showmehorns]
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jaybird62
4 Point
Registered: 10/23/06
Posts: 417
Loc: Brentwood, TN
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Since the average turkey hunter is 46 years old, and 90% of men over 40 need some type of vision correction, a scope is a great addition to a tight-shooting turkey gun. I've used more than a dozen different scopes over the years. The Pentax 1x-4x Lightseeker SG Plus is my favorite.
I'll bet that if you shot a round of trap with your 835 without a scope and then mounted a scope, either red dot or crosshair, that your scores would go up. 'nuff said.
I've killed turkeys with scopes in just about every situation, i.e., standing, running, flying, close range, long range and in thick cover.
All of the positive comments about mounting a scope on your turkey gun are pretty close to reality. You'll probably find it a benefit. With all that being said, my current favorite turkey gun is a Benelli M1 with rifle sights because I do a lot of walking and don't want the extra weight.
_________________________
Author of Tennessee Whitetails. Proceeds from every sale go to a good cause... keeping my boys supplied with bullets, powder and primers.
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#1133571 - 01/17/09 01:28 PM
Re: Thoughts on a scope
[Re: jaybird62]
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Wes Parrish
16 Point
Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 16990
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN
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Since the average turkey hunter is 46 years old, and 90% of men over 40 need some type of vision correction, a scope is a great addition to a tight-shooting turkey gun.
That was the main reason I went to a scope, but wish I had done it years earlier.
The Pentax 1x-4x Lightseeker SG Plus is my favorite.
I think SCN has a Pentax Lightseeker on his turkey gun and is extremely happy with it.
I strongly considered that very scope before choosing the Nikon Monarch 1.75 x 4.5. The Monarch has a 20mm objective, thus a little smaller profile than the Pentax, and I assume a little less weight. Despite the small 20mm objective, this Monarch scope is awesome even in low light (seldom even a concern in turkey hunting), and doesn't look like a grapefruit sitting on the reciever like the red-dot scopes.
IMO, the main thing regarding putting a real scope on a turkey gun is to go with a quality low-power scope that has at least 3 1/2 inches of eye relief, and as small an objective lens as possible.
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