Turkey Hunting

Turkey Hunting

Probably the two most often asked questions are:
 
 1- What choke tube do I need?
 2- What shell should I use?
 
 First and foremost you want a premium quality shell as it is next to impossible to get good long range patterns out of the cheap stuff. End of that discussion!

Tungsten Super Shot

TSS patterns like nothing else. It is the ultimate shot for turkey hunting, and anything else with wings for that matter. If you haven’t tried it, you should. There is an abundance of TSS shot shell manufacturers to choose from today, and all that I’ve tested have proven to be outstanding loads. All of these will give tight patterns right out of the box but in order to find what works best in your gun you will have to pattern and see.

It is available in all gauges and a wide assortment of throw weights and shot sizes, the most popular being #7 down to #10 shot. What you choose is matter of personal preference, all of it works very well.

Trulock’s Federal Heavyweight TSS™ Chokes

Federal was the first to mass produce TSS turkey loads that I’m aware of and Trulock Chokes developed a series of chokes specifically for the Federal Heavyweight TSS turkey loads.

Available in two different constrictions, in both 12g and 20g, Trulock’s Federal Heavyweight TSS turkey chokes are designed to give you the tightest patterns possible with TSS loads. They are shot size specific, #7 or #9, to help you dial in the tightest pattern possible. Our Federal TSS turkey chokes can be used with any TSS load, regardless of manufacturer, up to about a 2oz throw weight.

Depending on shot size, throw weight and whether you want a super-tight pattern or not, our Heavyweight TSS chokes may be a little tight for the loads you’re using. Its common nowadays to see TSS loads at 2 to 2 ½ ozs in 12ga. If this is what you’re using, or if you want a more open pattern, one of our Pinhoti Turkey™ or Precision Hunter turkey chokes may be a better option. 

Trulock® Federal Heavyweight TSS #9 Choke and Federal Heavyweight TSS #9 Shotshell 10 inch pattern at 40 yards

Pinhoti Turkey™ Chokes by Trulock

Pinhoti Project founder Dave Owens demands perfection from his equipment. This is why he has relied on Trulock chokes tubes since long before the Pinhoti Project episodes ever made their way to YouTube or MossyOak GO. When introduced to Scott and George Trulock, a collaboration was an easy decision. A new choke tube was born sporting the Pinhoti name and surpassing all the Pinhoti expectations. Available in two constrictions with the tightest being a little more open than our tightest Federal TSS choke. This gives the shooter the option to choose how much core density they prefer, with one choke giving a denser center core and the other providing a wider, more forgiving, wall of effectiveness. Both chokes deliver proven results with lead and TSS ammunition and are available in ported and non-ported models.

Based on our testing with our guns and chokes, here’s my choke recommendations for TSS loads in .410 thru 12ga. You will need to pattern your gun/shell/choke combination to see what works best for you. On average we see 50-60% of the total payload in a 10” circle at 40yds using TSS and the below choke recommendations.

These recommendations are designed to give you the tightest possible patterns. If you want a more open pattern, go with a more open choke.

12ga TSS loads up to 2oz, #7 and #8 shot

Trulock Federal Heavyweight TSS #7

Pinhoti .660 (Inv Plus .665, M835 .680)

#9 and smaller shot

Trulock Federal Heavyweight TSS #9

Pinhoti .650 (Inv Plus .655, M835 .670)

2ozs and heavier, all shot sizes

Pinhoti .660 (Inv Plus .665, M835 .680), 

Precision Hunter .660 or .665 exit diameter, Mossberg 835 .680 exit diameter.

16ga, all throw weights, #7 and #8 shot

Precision Hunter .610

#9 and smaller shot

Precision Hunter .600/.605

20ga TSS loads up to 1 ½ oz, #7 and #8 shot

Trulock Federal Heavyweight TSS #7

Pinhoti .585

Precision Hunter .570 or .575

#9 and smaller shot

Trulock Federal Heavyweight TSS #9

Pinhoti .560 (Inv Plus .565)

Precision Hunter .560

1 1/2oz and heavier, all shot sizes

Pinhoti .585

Precision Hunter .565 up to .585. 

28ga up to 1 ¼ - 1 ½ oz, all shot sizes

Trulock TSS Turkey .515

Over 1 1/2 oz, all shot sizes

Trulock TSS Turkey .520

.410, all loads

Trulock Federal Premium Heavyweight TSS Turkey .385

Lead Shot

As good as TSS is, lead shot has been killing turkeys for a long time and will continue to do so. If that’s what you prefer to use there are several good options available, but one stands out from the crowd

Winchester Longbeard XR™ 

Hands down the best lead turkey load I have ever used. If I’m using lead, these are the shells I’m using. We designed a series of choke tubes around the LongBeard shot shells -  Trulock’s Longbeard XR™ choke tubes.

Trulock has designed each Longbeard XR™ choke model to be specific to the shot size being used. George Trulock said, “If you shoot different shot sizes through the same choke you could see a big difference in the pattern for each size. That’s why we decided to make each choke model specific to the Longbeard XR™  #4, #5 and #6 shot, and to tell you the truth, the results were quite impressive.”

Providing you the tightest patterns and longest shot capability of any lead turkey load Winchester has ever offered, the Longbeard XR™ turkey load drops gobblers at distances out to 60 yards. Shot-Lok™ Technology protects the shot during in-bore acceleration, launching the round in a near-perfect circle for hard-hitting and extremely tight long-range patterns.

Combine the Longbeard XR™ turkey load with Trulock’s LongBeard XR choke tubes to maximize the shell’s performance. With this remarkable combo, you can expect twice the number of pellets in a 10" circle out to 60yds versus standard lead loads. 

On average we see 50-60% of the total payload in a 10” circle at 40yds with the appropriate choke and shot size. For every 10yds further than 40yds you will lose about 10% of the core pattern.

If you are using lead loads other than Winchester Longbeard XR™, the below exit diameters will generally work well.

Please note that a choke of a given exit diameter is usually going to give a different pattern when used in guns of different bore diameters.

Take a Beretta at .723 a Remington at .727 a Browning I.P. at .740 and using a .660 in all three guns normally gives three different patterns. Just because a .660 worked very well in your Remington does assume it will work great in your Browning.

Winchester Longbeard XR™ #6

12ga

.680 first choice for .774 bore guns- #5/6 lead, .690 #4 lead 

.670 first choice for .740 bore guns- #5/6 lead, .680 #4 lead

.665 first choice for .730 bore guns- #5/6 lead, .670 #4 lead

.660 first choice for .725 bore guns- #5/6 lead, .665 #4 lead

20ga

.585 first choice for .630 bore guns- #5/6 lead

.580 first choice for .625 bore guns- #5/6 lead 

.575 first choice for .620 bore guns- #5/6 lead

28ga and .410 – Don’t use lead. TSS is the answer.

Pick your shell, pick your choke tube and go pattern your gun. I strongly suggest using a padded rest and a very large target, 3 or 4 foot square. You will then be able to see the densest portion of the pattern even if your gun does not shoot to point of aim (some shotguns will not) I also suggest that you shoot some at 20/30/40 yards as the pattern size will change by a large degree at the different distances. The pattern can be so small it becomes easy to miss at close range.