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Author Topic: rifle for turkeys  (Read 3216 times)

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Offline jamaldog87

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rifle for turkeys
« on: October 24, 2006, 07:20:49 AM »
I have been reading the something in the 22mag-243win is a good turkey guns. I have used a 454 with 45Long colt load for head shots on turkeys but i would like to know what you guys think would be better a 22mag like the savage 93G or a H&R Ultra Hunter in 223?
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Offline joshco84

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2006, 04:22:54 PM »
huh i didnt know it was legal to shoot turkeys with rifles anywhere.  if i were trying to take head shots on turkeys i think a 17 hmr or hm2 would be great, no recoil and drive tacks over and over and over plus a shotgun at 10 or 20 yard is more fun anyways, just my opinion though
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Offline Davemuzz

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2006, 06:08:53 AM »
This fall, in certian areas of PA, you can use rifle's on turkeys. So, my T\C Encore in .223 is exceptionally accurate. I plan on using a full metal jacket bullet (my reloads) and aiming at the base of the neck.

The FMJ doesn't expode on impact like a balistic tip bullet. They just make a hole in and a hole out. So, there is no significant meat damage.
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Offline manofthe45

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #3 on: October 29, 2006, 02:17:56 PM »
Like dave I to can hunt turkeys in the fall in certain areas of Pa.  Either choice will work fine out to around 75 yds with an accurate gun.  I have used a 22 hornet and a 22 Lr to harvest 7 birds in the fall. The best advice I can give is practice practice practice. not on the bench but from a sitting, kneeling and prone position.  remember your two best target areas are the size of a 25 cent piece.  the base of the neck is a better choice in my book with a rifle as the head is almost always in some motion    good luck
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Swampman

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2006, 08:42:30 AM »
It's legal in Florida as long as they are more than 100 yards from a feeder.  I think a .22 Hornet NEF Handirifle would be perfect.
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Offline jamaldog87

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2006, 10:00:30 AM »
i see. I was looking at the 22mag because they cost 150-200$ but a H&R in 223 or 22 Hornet could be used for yotes to.
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Swampman

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2006, 10:54:04 AM »
And they can be fitted with all kinds of other cool barrels!
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Offline ratgunner

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2006, 12:04:51 PM »
Just be sure to use hard bullets w/the hornet too.I didn't and it looked like a grenade went off inside it. :-[
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Offline Davemuzz

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2006, 01:50:02 PM »
Well, luck came my way today as I shot my fall turkey with the .223. Interesting in that a flock of about 20 "rolled" up a hill and surprised me as much as I suprised them. So, they started "puttin" and running. I gotta tell ya, it's really tuff to pick out which is bigger when your lookin at 20 or so birds runnin in a batch....kind of....but then in kind of different directions.

So, I did have the scope set at 4.5X, pulled up the gun, picked one out and pulled the trigger. The shot was about 30 yards. The .223 FMJ entered the left side right in front of the leg and exited just left of the craw. It actually nicked the craw just a bit, but somewhere in there it hit a main blood line as the bird ran only 15 feet and dropped.

The bullet performed as it should have and did no meat damage. Same size exit hole as the entrance hole. I was very happy with the outcome. But I'll be even happier this Sunday when the bird is roastin in the oven.

Dave.
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Offline manofthe45

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #9 on: November 03, 2006, 02:33:13 AM »
Congrats Dave.  What part of PA do you live in?
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Offline dougk

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2006, 12:35:11 AM »
I have a 12 ga over a .223 that I use.  I have taken a Tom at 55 yards with a Colonial Arms Turkey choke.  The bird dropped on the spot, flapped its winds for 3 seconds and that was it.  I patterned the shotgun and it consistantly puts shot in the head area up to 65 yards.   I am looking to use the .223 from 60 yards to 100 yards. 

Has anyone taken a turkey with a rifle at ranges less than 30 yards?  What bullet did you use and how damaged was the meat?

Thanks
Doug
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Offline Davemuzz

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #11 on: November 04, 2006, 07:09:10 AM »
Manofthe45....I live in SW PA. About 30 minutes east of Pittsburgh. I got the bird in WMU 2D where you can use a rifle. You can't use a rifle in 2B...that's a shotgun only area. (or bow).

Dougk...I would think with the .223, using the FMJ there would not be any difference from what I had experienced in meat damage hitting that bird at 30 yards. The damage is virtually nil, and actually I am way happier than I would be had I hit it with a load of heavy shot.

Dave
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Offline manofthe45

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #12 on: November 04, 2006, 08:39:40 AM »
We dont have a choice in the spring but in the fall I would rather lose a minimal amount of meat then have to keep spitting out shot.  My buddies laugh but I shoot over half my pheasants with a ruger 77/22.  Of couse I'm not breaking my teeth on shot either.

Dave I live about 30 minutes from reading in Berks.  I have to travel into shukkill county to use the rifle.  Got a jake this morning with the crossbow down the road at my wifes aunts house.
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Offline bubbadoyle

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #13 on: November 04, 2006, 11:12:21 AM »
I have shot several turkeys pheasants and grouse with a 17 hmr.  Shootiong the 17 grain v-max, I shoot them right square in the middle of the back if they are facing away.  Even with the pheasants and grouse the bullet does not make it throgh to the breast but it sure does faceplant a turkey.
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Offline Davemuzz

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #14 on: November 04, 2006, 02:07:14 PM »
MO45,

Congrats on the arrowing of the bird! I think shootin 'em with a gun is tough enough, but with a bow or X-bow...I gotta give you credit. That's not as easy as it sounds.

Dave
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Offline manofthe45

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #15 on: November 04, 2006, 04:05:06 PM »
I would love to take that kind of praise but to be honest her uncle called me last night and told me which tree they where in cause he knows I have been dieing to try my new turkey broadheads.  Was there at 4:10 thirty yards from the tree.  They came down about 7:40  to the right of me A couple of yelps and the jake sarted walking in.   18 yds aiming at the base of the neck almost decapitated it.  My only true gripe is that my wifes job sent her on a training trip to DC and she took the camera.  Oh well it did taste good for dinner tonight and with the wife gone the potatoes and carrots got to be cooked with the bird.  darn now I am hungry again.  All around a good day turkey, 2 pheasants, limit on squierrel, and a cute fuzzy bunny. ;)
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Offline Davemuzz

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #16 on: November 05, 2006, 03:25:09 AM »
Help is good.....but you still only got one shot with the X-bow...unless the bird is gonna stand there....and I havn't seen one do that yet!

Still...congrats!
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Offline ratgunner

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #17 on: November 05, 2006, 06:52:52 AM »
Quote from: manofthe45 on November 04, 2006, 08:39:40 AM
We dont have a choice in the spring but in the fall I would rather lose a minimal amount of meat then have to keep spitting out shot.  My buddies laugh but I shoot over half my pheasants with a ruger 77/22.  Of couse I'm not breaking my teeth on shot either.

Dave I live about 30 minutes from reading in Berks.  I have to travel into shukkill county to use the rifle.  Got a jake this morning with the crossbow down the road at my wifes aunts house.
manofthe45,you mean Schuylkill county right?LOLYou are hunting in my backyard.
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Offline manofthe45

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #18 on: November 05, 2006, 11:08:52 AM »
You got me I can't spell to well.  Where you at.  I live other side of 78 in shartlesville
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Offline jamaldog87

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #19 on: November 06, 2006, 07:22:19 AM »
i have killed a tom at about 20-50 yards( i did not know the range it happen so fast) with my 454 ruger with open sights. That day the scope i had on lost it zero so i gave up on them toms and looked for some hogs. well after try to call some pigs up i here a turkey comeing my way. I reloaded and put the load i had got made for them and got in back of a tree. I thoght he would stop and give me time to get ready but he did not and came walk by the tree. He must have been running from something because he walk right by my like i was not there. I took the best aim i could get and said " bird" so he would stop. he turn and looked at me for about 3 sec. and i took the shot to the head. when he was down i just got up and took my bird and waited for my ride to come back at the car. That the one and only turkey i ever killed and i am just happy that i got one with my best gun.
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Offline ratgunner

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #20 on: November 07, 2006, 12:22:48 PM »
Quote from: manofthe45 on November 05, 2006, 11:08:52 AM
You got me I can't spell to well.  Where you at.  I live other side of 78 in shartlesville
I'm in Pine Grove ,just over the mountain. ;D
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Offline DalesCarpentry

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #21 on: February 04, 2007, 05:49:32 AM »
Hi.You must live very close to me I live in Scottdale Pa which is about 50 miles sw of pittsburgh.
Quote from: Davemuzz on November 04, 2006, 07:09:10 AM
Manofthe45....I live in SW PA. About 30 minutes east of Pittsburgh. I got the bird in WMU 2D where you can use a rifle. You can't use a rifle in 2B...that's a shotgun only area. (or bow).

Dougk...I would think with the .223, using the FMJ there would not be any difference from what I had experienced in meat damage hitting that bird at 30 yards. The damage is virtually nil, and actually I am way happier than I would be had I hit it with a load of heavy shot.

Dave
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Offline Davemuzz

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #22 on: February 05, 2007, 03:36:23 AM »
Scottdale.....oh yeah, your only about 45 minutes away from me. I live in the Harrison City area. Big city you know. Two operating traffic lights.....well, now that we got the big 'ol "business strip center" I guess we now are up to 4 traffic lights. Progress, progress, progress.  ::)

I know a very nice lady who lives near you. Her and her husband own a Clydesdale horse. She tells me that thing weighs 1200 lbs (if memory serves me right). I'll bet it eats more than a house full of teenage boys.


Dave
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Offline NONYA

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #23 on: February 05, 2007, 04:26:39 AM »
shot one off the hood of my truck(turkey was on the hood) with a 22lr,1 head shot and one dead turkey,within 50 yards 22 lr is plenty.
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Offline poules'deau

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #24 on: February 18, 2007, 07:43:52 AM »
Where legal, I have used the 30-06 downloaded with 150 Hornady FMJ-BT to 2000 f/s, a 270 Win with a Sierra 90 grain HP at 1750 f/s.  Also, I've used a 222 Rem with the Sierra 50 grain Blitz SP and standard handload recipe and lastly the 22 LR using Win HP.  Distances were from 20 yards to 165 yards and all one shot kills.

Using FMJ bullets are fine but placement is critical.  Since it will punch right through, hitting the vitals or a major bone (neck, back, wing bone base) is a must in order to anchor the bird.  A turkey's head is a very small target and rarely stops moving so I use the neck /backbone junction as my aiming point or the area where the wing bone attaches to the body. 

Jim




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Offline single action

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #25 on: February 19, 2007, 07:29:15 PM »
Winchester 94 .357 mag & marlin .22 lr
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Offline sixgunluv

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #26 on: March 05, 2007, 05:37:57 PM »
Quote from: joshco84 on October 26, 2006, 04:22:54 PM
huh i didnt know it was legal to shoot turkeys with rifles anywhere.  if i were trying to take head shots on turkeys i think a 17 hmr or hm2 would be great, no recoil and drive tacks over and over and over plus a shotgun at 10 or 20 yard is more fun anyways, just my opinion though

  Here in West Virginia where rifle or shotgun is legal I have never used a shotgun.  882ssv Marlin .22 Mag. with Winchester Supreme 34grs.
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Offline prairiedog555

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #27 on: May 14, 2007, 01:23:46 PM »
other than a head shot, a .22 LR will not work, right?  I mean a 50 yd shot in the middle.  And would hollow pts or solids be better?
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Offline Drilling Man

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #28 on: May 14, 2007, 04:38:42 PM »
  Just get yourself a gun that just has it all, and use what ever bbl you need at the time...   8)



   That's what i did...   ;D



  DM
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Offline manofthe45

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Re: rifle for turkeys
« Reply #29 on: May 14, 2007, 05:02:30 PM »
God you have me drooling.  If it weren't for the $$$  I'd buy one tommorrow.
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