Lead shooters?

[Griswold]

How many choose lead sixes over fives or fours? Do you have any concerns or had any trouble with "killing power" of sixes? Thank you for any and all input

 

[Jbird22]

When I shot lead, #6 was what I preferred. I had no issues killing them with the old Federal 3"-2 oz-#6 (my favorite lead shell of all time) or the Winchester Supreme 3-1/2"-2 oz-#6. If I were to shoot lead again, it would be Winchester LB XR 3"-1.75 oz-#6.

 

[REN]

How many choose lead sixes over fives or fours? Do you have any concerns or had any trouble with "killing power" of sixes? Thank you for any and all input

6s have plenty of power out to 40-45yds, more pellets downrange then the others and a little easier to pattern or group IMO. If I ever switch back to lead it will be 6s

 

[Remi]

If I shoot lead I prefer 6's.

 

[megalomaniac]

you get 100 more pellets from a typical 12g lead #6 load than #5s. From ballistic gel penetration tests I reasearched, #6's become marginally effective at/ beyond around 50 yards. Since I don't shoot turkeys that far, I have zero reservations about using #6s over the 5's for increased pattern density.

 

[Coltens]

I shoot 6s and haven't had any issues. At least in previous seasons as I haven't gotten an opportunity yet this year. Been a tough year

 

[CATCHDAWG]

I have used #6 and they work just fine. However, I much prefer 3" #4's. My gun patterns them VERY well and I like having less pellets for less damage.
This is the results of a Winchester Supreme 3" #4 at 30 yards. Zero pellets in the meat.

 

[MickThompson]

What everybody else said. 6s are plenty at traditional turkey hunting range and fill out the pattern.

 

[deerfever]

Always used 6 shot lead out of a 12 and 20, I never had any trouble killing turkeys and it patterns great.

 

[Boll Weevil]

I do. Copper plated lead 6s out to 30-35yd.

 

[Iglow]

I remember reading in an old book of old timers using 12 ga 1 1/4oz 7 1/2 shot as a standard. I personally saw a gobbler shot with 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2 size from a 16 ga LC Smith double at 30 yds and he went down in a flapping heap. There are so many pellets in a 7 1/2 load it overwhelms that noggin.

 

[tnanh]

Lead sixes have killed several for me.

 

[TheLBLman]

I remember reading in an old book of old timers using 12 ga 1 1/4oz 7 1/2 shot as a standard. I personally saw a gobbler shot with 1 1/8 oz 7 1/2 size from a 16 ga LC Smith double at 30 yds and he went down in a flapping heap.

I think that was written about me.
I killed several, back in the day, with a 16 ga, using the same shells I used for quail hunting.

I killed longbeards with a Browning Sweet 16, an LC Smith 16 ga Double, and a Steven's 16 ga Double. Also killed a few with an old Ithaca 12 ga Double.

I didn't have a "specialized" turkey gun, if fact, for much of my early days, just had a single shotgun, used for everything, including deer. Sometime in the 90's, I got my 1st dedicated turkey gun, and it was a custom side-by-side super-light 12ga, factory bored extra-full and full (no choke tubes). No recoil pad, and it kicked hard, but I never noticed recoil when shooting a turkey.

 

[TheLBLman]

you get 100 more pellets from a typical 12g lead #6 load than #5s. From ballistic gel penetration tests I reasearched, #6's become marginally effective at/ beyond around 50 yards. Since I don't shoot turkeys that far, I have zero reservations about using #6s over the 5's for increased pattern density.

As usual, what you say makes lots of logical sense.

However, once I got my first dedicated "turkey" gun, I experimented with #5 vs. #6's on actual turkeys. My range limit was approximately 40 yds regardless.

Always felt the #5's "thumped" them better (as SCN would say). Kinda like the difference of a turkey being hit with a ball bat vs. a fly swatter. I always go for a head shot, or simply don't shoot. But when a follow-up shot is needed, especially on a moving bird, I do believe a #5 is better at breaking a leg or wing bone.

 

[TN Larry]

I used 6 shot when I shot my 12 ga. I started with Winchester Supreme and then went to Longbeards.

 

[Andy S.]

I'll be the exception. From the mid to late 90s until I switched over to Nitro Rays hevi-shot shells, and later Mag-Blends, I always shot 3.5" 2 ounce Winchester High Velocity #4s (black shell with gold text) through a Kicks Gobbling Thunder .670, and just a bead. Rem 870 SP 23" bbl. It was bad medicine. To the point, that gun/shell/choke combination was very hard to put down. I still have that setup and 2-3 boxes of shells (10 count) in my safe incase I ever need to relive those days. Great memories.

 

[kevin mays]

Whatever patterns best is what I'd shoot

 

[TheLBLman]

From the mid to late 90s until I switched over to Nitro Rays hevi-shot shells, and later Mag-Blends, I always shot 3.5" 2 ounce Winchester High Velocity #4s . . . . .

After lead, I also went to the "hevier than lead" loads.
Killed a few with #6 & #7 "Hevis".

Then found my dream load, the 3" Federal #7 Heavyweights with a 1 7/8 oz payload.
Very mild recoil compared to those 2 1/4 oz "Hevis", and yet more deadly on a turkey.

But for the last many years, went to a 20 ga dedicated turkey gun, light as a feather, and more deadly with 1 1/2 or 1 5/8 oz #9 TSS than anything I ever had with 12 ga lead loads.

 

[OldFart]

Before I got some TSSs, I shot #6 lead out of my Benelli pump, Actually, I've never let loose one of those TSS shells at a turkey. But I have a limited turkey hunting history, only maybe 10 turkeys harvested counting both TN and CO. Yet I've never lost a turkey using #6 lead. I try to get them in close. Never even shot at a turkey over 30 yards, usually much closer. I am considering using my Browning A5 with 3 in chamber rather than the pump. When I orig patterned my A5 it was shooting over a foot to the right at 20 yds, I learned this the hard way. Don't ask! Had it worked on and is better but still not right on.

 

[Woodsman10]

Lead 6s are perfect at normal ranges.

 

[TheLBLman]

When I orig patterned my A5 it was shooting over a foot to the right at 20 yds . . . .

Very few shotguns will have their standard shotgun aiming bead perfectly align with a pattern's center at 40 yds.

I had a 20 ga Winchester 101 O/U that's factory shotgun bead aim was about 10" high at 40 yds.

This problem is cured with either optical (my choice) or rifle-type sights on your turkey shotguns.

Also note different shells/loads will pattern differently as well.

 

[OldFart]

The A5 problem was solved by letting gunsmithing school bend barrel. Still a bit off but much better.

 

[BamaHudson]

I shoot 20ga Longbeard XR 3in #6s with a Carlson's Longbeard choke and it does a beautiful job.

 

[ROVERBOY]

I've shot Longbeards for a long time. Before that I shot the silver box Winchester #4 and #6 loads. I've killed birds with #4, #5, and #6 loads. I actually prefer #5 loads. Nothing wrong with #6 though.

 

[Winchester]

#6's for me as well. I actually back my TSS load in the chamber with a pair of Longbeard XR #6's as I refuse to spend $20 a shot on backup shots!
We have actually killed quite a few Turkeys with Lead #6's and they perform great for us.