Author Topic: Would you use a rifle for turkey hunting (Read 11340 times)

2Guns · « **on:** June 10, 2008, 04:11:17 PM »

I am pretty new to turkey hunting so I am looking for opnions from more experienced turkey hunters. The majority of what I have read and seen has turkey hunters using a shotgun. In my state, Virginia, it is legal to use a rifle to hunt turkeys. It would seem that a accurate and portable .223 would be just about perfect. It provides accurate shots well past the range of a shotgun and has plenty of power to make a clean kill without tearing up meat.

What are your thoughts

torpedoman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2008, 05:55:46 PM »

Used a 22 for them in va bit of a challange but very satisfying when you get it right.

sidekick · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2008, 01:46:41 AM »

I'd say if your only interest is killing a turkey, then sure if it's legal. If your interest is in 'hunting' a turkey then no, it's a shotgun or bow for me. I'm glad rifles are not legal for turkey in SC.

flintlock · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2008, 03:31:07 AM »

As it is legal in Virginia there is nothing wrong with it at all...It's like guys wanting to argue about hunting with compounds, crossbows, flintlocks, inlines or other weapons...As long as you obey the game laws in your state, go for it...I did notice when I lived in Virginia that most of the turkeys killed with rifles were killed during the fall deer season and a turkey just happened by...

You do need to be safe and be aware of what is beyond the target, sitting up in a deer stand and shooting down is usually a safe situation...

I killed my first gobbler in Virginia using a rifle, during the spring season, I killed him by calling in with a wingbone call that I had made and shot him at 30 yards with a .45 caliber flintlock longrifle, one of the most memorable hunts that I have ever had...This was in 1979...I sure wish I could do the same down here in North Carolina...

With a .223 you need to hold at the base of the neck to keep from tearing up too much meat, some say the .22 Hornet is about perfect for this type hunting...

TribReady · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2008, 04:14:49 AM »

I agree, if it's legal, go ahead.
I'd definitely use a rifle here in WI if legal.
Yeah, it's fun to get them into shotgun range-or bow range, and probably a bit more rewarding, but to each his own-as long as legal

davem270win · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2008, 04:56:21 AM »

It should also depend on your hunting situation. If you're hunting thicker cover where your longest shot is gonna be 50 yards anyway, and you may need to hurry the shot, you're probably better off with a shotgun. If your working wide open fields where shots could go 100 yards or more, then a rifle makes more sense. Lower velocities than the 223 would damage less meat.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2008, 05:55:22 AM »

no reason not to !

horseman308 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 12, 2009, 12:00:54 PM »

Heck, yeah. Head shots with my flintlock or something like a .22 Hornet would be awesome.

Mohawk · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2009, 08:36:01 PM »

Pretty common to take turkey with a rifle during the fall season in Texas. Many turkeys are shot incidental to deer hunts. The .243 works very well. Center punch broadside through both wings.

bigbore442001 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 18, 2009, 05:34:26 AM »

If I were legally allowed to, yes. In fact, I'd use one of my Contender handguns such as the 16" 22 Hornet.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #10 on:** January 18, 2009, 06:30:49 AM »

I would go turkey hunting for the first time ever if rifles were legal in Wisconsin.

Cheese

dukkillr · « **Reply #11 on:** January 18, 2009, 06:43:00 AM »

I would not hunt turkeys with a rifle. To me the fun in turkey hunting is closing the distance. Shooting them with a rifle would be like shooting ducks on the water with a rifle, it eliminates the reason I hunt. I also would have some safety concerns about turkey hunting in an area with other rifle hunters.

squirrellluck · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2009, 03:28:58 PM »

Shoot yes! Every turkey hunter I know has gone to bigger and bigger mag shells and even to the 10 ga. Tighter and tighter chokes just to get more distance out of their guns so... why not? I'd love to hunt them with a small cal. rifle. Maybe a 22 mag.

Swampman · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2009, 03:44:53 PM »

I've taken one with my pistol.

mechanic · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2009, 03:46:58 PM »

If they were legal in Ga. I would use one. Better than picking shot, and with a well placed shot less damage. Muzzle loaders are legal here, but I only have 50 and 54 cal. If I had a nice 32 I'd use it.

I would think anything 22 cal or smaller would work well, perhaps a good use for a 17HMR.

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2009, 05:06:11 AM »

If they were legal in New York I would use a rifle. If the hunters who prefer to call them in close were to use a rifle, then they would also have to be a good marksman, not relying on a shot pattern but on a well placed bullet. The down side is the long range of a rifle.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 26, 2009, 08:44:36 AM »

I live in Virginia and have hunted Turkeys with all kinds of weapons, including my current favorite, a Ruger Single Six w/ 9.5" barrel chambered in .32 H&R w/ 2X Leupold Scope(It real easy for an old man to carry). To me it's whatever you find challenging or enjoyable. What to use turkey hunting is at best the #2 issue amongest us hunters here in VA. #1 right now is hunting(anything) w/ dogs. This IS, as is the rifle issue amongest turkey hunters, an issue strictly between us hunters. Well, in the dog issue the local landowners get involved some, but the fire is really fed by nobody but hunters. And who sits by frothing at the mouth?....The Anti's that's who...they love it!!! If we divide ourselves up in little groups and show any sign of weakness(like arguing amongest ourselves) they will pick us off one by one in rapid fashion.
I didn't mean to insinuate that ya'll were arguing, because you weren't, but I've seen seen this exact same discussion get into one in a hurry and it wasn't always pretty. Now, somebody please help me down off this stump before I fall and hurt myself.
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2009, 04:30:56 AM »

WALT , I also live in VA. and you said a mouth full ! and true !

Cheesehead · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2009, 05:10:13 AM »

I would hunt the turkeys with my Remington 700 carbine in 222 Magnum. I am unsure of the best bullet choice, soft point or fmj?

Cheese

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:18:03 AM »

either will work but expanding works best ( yes i have used both ), once i hit one in the egg maker ( BUTT AREA ) and it was a bang flop as they say here. been doing it ever since with a rifle ( except flying birds ) as it leaves the eating meat in good shape for the table . Still shoot the neck body area with a shotgun . BTW that first egg maker shot was with a 50 cal. side lock at 70 yards and no that was not exactly where i was aming but it worked out well and has several times since . A wing on a turkey is like armor , if you hit it with enough to go thru. it makes a mess of the bird ( YEP i did it not much to eat ). Alot say they shoot for the head ( my son shot one that way with a .204 and it worked well ), say small moving target .
If on a deer stand and a turkey comes by and is legal i use a rifle if thats what i have . If i go to HUNT turkeys my first choice is a shotgun , unless its afternoon and its a field hunt for turkey and ground-hog .

gstewart44 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:22:30 AM »

I take my 50 cal Muzzleloader along with my 12 ga single shot when I set up a turkey blind. I missed my first bird at 50 yds with the smokepole....he was all puffed up and I clipped feathers. My buddy in an adjacent blind downed him with a 12 ga as the turkey bolted towards him. Hope I get another good shot at one this year.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #21 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:25:09 AM »

Here in PA, shotguns are required in the spring, shotgun or rifle in the fall. Fall turkey are not nearly as susceptible to calling as in the spring time. That, coupled with a large number of farm fields where I live, offering the possibility of a fairly long shot, make a rifle a good choice in the fall.

I have used a variety of rifles and revolvers in the fall, but most often it is just a .22 lr. The key to a quick kill, and minimal meat damage is to try to make the shot broadside, at the base of the wing. Stay away from any shot that hits the breast, especially with a high velocity rifle round using a varmint bullet.

Larry

Bigeasy · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:29:47 AM »

Here in PA, shotguns are required in the spring, shotgun or rifle in the fall. Fall turkey are not nearly as susceptible to calling as in the spring time. That, coupled with a large number of farm fields where I live, offering the possibility of a fairly long shot, make a rifle a good choice in the fall.

I have used a variety of rifles and revolvers in the fall, but most often it is just a .22 lr. The key to a quick kill, and minimal meat damage is to try to make the shot broadside, at the base of the wing. Stay away from any shot that hits the breast, especially with a high velocity rifle round using a varmint bullet.

Larry

ohiosam · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2009, 03:38:36 AM »

Not legal in Ohio, but I would if it was legal. I'd use my .32 cal muzzleloader or a .22lr.

Skunk · « **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2009, 03:58:37 AM »

I'd use a rifle on turkey if it were legal to do so in Wisconsin. I'd use a .223.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #25 on:** January 28, 2009, 04:37:02 AM »

any rifle works but shot placement is critical if you want to eat it .

Cheesehead · « **Reply #26 on:** January 28, 2009, 05:29:20 AM »

Skunk,

What bullet would you use in the 223?

Cheese

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #27 on:** January 28, 2009, 06:54:08 AM »

most likely a Nosler 50 gr. ballistic tip as that is what i load most of the time for ground hogs . If i were going only for turkey maybe a spitzer with exposed lead tip .

Skunk · « **Reply #28 on:** January 28, 2009, 07:39:32 AM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on January 28, 2009, 05:29:20 AM

Skunk, what bullet would you use in the 223?

Cheese,

My .223 is pretty new to me (just got it around Christmas) so all I've shot through it have been a few boxes of the Hornady 55 gr. V Max that I bought from a local dealer. I'm not sure, but I'd bet they would work great on turkey; they sure work great on targets. Being it's a 1 in 9 twist, I'm wanting to try some bullets in the high 60s or low 70s grain, but that will come when I get all the reloading stuff together for .223. I want to try some of the Nosler Ballistic Tips like Shootall mentioned, except I'd probably go with the 60 grain, and also the 64 gr. Match Varmints from Berger. Also want to try some Sierra 69 gr. HPBTs and Berger 70 Gr. Match Target VLDs or the 73 Grain Match Target Boat Tails. No doubt I'll be using Laupa brass, CCI primers, and definitely will start with Varget. I've had excellent results in accuracy with those components in 6.5 X 55 and .308. The thing is though, we'll probably never get to shoot Turkey with rifles in Wisconsin anyway. But its fun to think about it.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 29, 2009, 02:44:32 AM »

When I was quite young, I thought that all those old turkey hunters that insisted on using 12ga shotguns to shoot a turkey in the head that was standing still at close range must really be poor shooters. So I set out with my trusty .22 to show them how to do it. Well now, I'm in my mid sixties and have still yet to accomplish that little feat. The only time I've EVER seen a turkey hold his head still is 8-12 minutes after I just shot him. As someone pointed out...square broadside, base of the wing...bang-flop...very little to no loss of meat. Favorite weapons.....22WRM, .22Hor, .32H & R, and yes... 12ga.shotgun.
BTW In the Hornet I've used FMJ to TNT Hollow points....really didn't see a whole much a' difference. Walt