Author Topic: Would you use a rifle for turkey hunting (Read 11350 times)

ro · « **Reply #30 on:** January 30, 2009, 08:14:58 PM »

Here in Mississippi it's Shotguns only, No Rifles for Turkey Season.

jimkim · « **Reply #31 on:** January 30, 2009, 11:43:20 PM »

I would if I could. In GA it is shotgun, bow, or muzzle loader only.

next gen · « **Reply #32 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:04:55 AM »

Well, whatever is legal will work, however here where i hunt turkey, i would prefer no one use a rifle. This is based on how much land you are hunting and is anyone else close. The thing is that you dont know who else is in presuit of the same gobbler at the opposite end of the field in full camo with a shotgun, waiting on the shot. I just think there are to many wild shots that go off at turkey with a rifle. I guess the bottom line with any hunting is know your area, land and who, if anyone hunts close.
Safey first.

Greg

squirrellluck · « **Reply #33 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:14:02 AM »

The same argument can and has been made for deer hunting as well. My opinion and this is just my take on it is... Regardless of what you hunt you always have those same considerations to deal with.

sachel.45 · « **Reply #34 on:** February 21, 2009, 09:11:17 AM »

id love to hunt turkeys with a rifle (or a muzzleloader or a pistol) but its not allowed in washington

lewdogg21 · « **Reply #35 on:** February 25, 2009, 05:50:07 AM »

Of course I would use a rifle if I could. I'd try it and when i realized it makes it too easy I would go back to shotgun. I like to kill stuff so anything that allows me to do so more often is a winner in my book.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #36 on:** February 25, 2009, 09:38:20 AM »

Would if I could, not legal here. Would use .50 MZ or 30-30.

curtism1234 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 07, 2009, 05:13:04 AM »

I hunt pressured public land in Missouri and haven't killed a turkey in 5-6 years. They will walk away from your call every time gobbling as they go wanting you to follow them because they know something is going on after first light on opening morning.
A rifle would be the only way to get some kind of success.

I wouldn't mind having the first 2 weekends shotgun only and turn the 3rd weekend into shotgun/rimfire (maybe even 22cal or under centerfires --- there's no need to go bigger because these idiots here will use 30-06 for sure) with some type of orange required for everyone.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #38 on:** March 07, 2009, 05:57:20 AM »

I like the idea of 22 centerfire and or rimfire season.

Cheese

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #39 on:** March 07, 2009, 06:16:33 AM »

savage had it figured years ago 22 mag. over a 12 ga. or 223 over a 12 ga. some were 20 ga

lil_hunter12 · « **Reply #40 on:** March 08, 2009, 02:11:31 PM »

i have an uncle that has a savage i think .222 over 20 gauge. sighted in for something like 200 yards with the 222 and patterned for 40 yards with the 20 gauge bought it to turkey hunt in wva with but has never taken anything but bobcats and wild dogs with it.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #41 on:** March 09, 2009, 02:42:10 AM »

both good uses

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #42 on:** March 09, 2009, 04:30:07 AM »

I just picked up a Savage 24J-DL .22 mag./20 ga. The sides of the receiver show a turkey on one side and a fox on the other, a good indication of the intended uses for the gun. And with a group under 1" at 75 yd., it would make a fine turkey gun if it was legal to use rifle here in New York. Actually I got it from a friend who used the shotgun barrel for turkey until he picked up a Remington 1100 20 ga.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #43 on:** March 09, 2009, 07:15:53 AM »

do they still make them ?
some around here loved them in 22 lr or mag and 20 ga for tree rats

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #44 on:** March 09, 2009, 08:09:01 AM »

I don't see them in the 2009 Savage catalog and a dealer told me that they stopped making them. I know that the latest list price was in the $700 range. You can usually find them in gun shows and dealer racks from $300 to $400. They stopped making them on the smaller 20 ga. frame a while ago and were making them on the larger, and heavier, 12 ga. frame whether they were 12 or 20 ga.

I currently have;
A 24C, which is a compact .22/20 ga. with short barrels. The shotgun barrel is not choked on this model.
A 24J-DL in .22 mag./20 ga.. The shotun barrel is full choked.
A 24F in .30-30/12 ga. The 12 gauge model has interchangable chokes.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #45 on:** March 09, 2009, 08:12:02 AM »

nice collection

woodchukhntr · « **Reply #46 on:** March 09, 2009, 08:28:56 AM »

I'll probably be looking at trading the 24F for either another one in .223/12 ga. or an older one in .222 or .30-30/20 ga. or perhaps a .243 rifle.

Last spring I had traded the .30-30/12 for a .222/20 at a gun show. A guy at work wanted the .222/20, so I traded for a .357/20 that he had. But the barrels didn't shoot near the same point when using a slug, so I traded it back to the same dealer at the fall gun show for the same .30-30/12. Let's see what happens at this spring's gun show.

JonD. · « **Reply #47 on:** March 11, 2009, 01:18:29 PM »

Quote from: 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

I'll tell you right now, it isn't legal in my state, but if it were, I would definitely consider using a .22 rim-fire rifle. And only a rimfire, any centerfire is just too dangerous in the turkey woods. There is way too much room for visual error at longer distances(mistaking someone for a turkey). After my shotgun breaking my shoulder(it sure felt like it anyway) after two 3" magnum # 5 and 6 shots, anything would be an improvement.

chucky52 · « **Reply #48 on:** April 07, 2009, 04:08:48 PM »

Hopalong, what kind of load in the 32H&R?

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #49 on:** April 08, 2009, 12:55:33 AM »

Lead SWC(110gr I think) over Unique(I'm at work and don't remember the exact amount, but it's a fairly stiff load). I've used quite a varity of different bullets over the years in the 32 and also a .22Hornet, .218Bee, and .22WMR and to be honest I've not seen much difference in any of them. Walt

renegade50 · « **Reply #50 on:** April 11, 2009, 09:34:06 AM »

if it was a legal weapon in tennessee for turkey
i would in a heart beat

but it aint..........

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #51 on:** April 12, 2009, 12:13:09 PM »

An interesting thread. I have shot most of my turkey with a rifle. A .222 or .223 is about perfect with a hold at the wing butts. As for shotguns, I used them some in Pa. in the fall due to the heavy brush. After a season, I went back to the rifle. As the old time turkey hunters said, I hunt for sport, not meat, there fore I use a rifle.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #52 on:** April 12, 2009, 12:40:01 PM »

When I was a kid In the early 60's, I remember a uncle recounting hunting turkeys with a Hornet using factory bullets loaded backwards.... This was an old story when I herd it so I am going to "guestimate" the year to be early 50's.
I have shot two turkeys with firearms other than shotguns. Both where with a 22Mag. One with a pistol and one with a Marlin 882. Both immediate kills to the body.

CW

gstewart44 · « **Reply #53 on:** April 12, 2009, 04:02:44 PM »

Hey CW - did the 22mag tear up much meat?

ol bumpy · « **Reply #54 on:** April 13, 2009, 11:57:47 AM »

I was taught how to turkey hunt by an ol' timer, in the old school fashion, so I'm biased on this subject....Not trying to ruffle any feathers here, but I'm of the opinion that if you use a rifle, you're just "shooting" turkeys, not "hunting" them. There's a huge difference between the two, whether rifles are legal in your state or not.

Also of the opinion that blinds and decoys are also an erosion of the tradition of turkey hunting. A good turkey call (used sparingly) and some patience are really all that are required to kill a bird.

Again, not trying to offend anyone....Just expressing my opinion on this subject.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #55 on:** April 13, 2009, 12:03:11 PM »

shot um with both rifle and shotgun , as the distance was about the same can't really see the difference . As far as tradition seems all those pilgrams carried guns that shot both shot and ball . As the turkey was an American bird it would seem either was traditional to me .

cwlongshot · « **Reply #56 on:** April 13, 2009, 01:47:27 PM »

Quote from: gstewart44 on April 12, 2009, 04:02:44 PM

Hey CW - did the 22mag tear up much meat?

Not awful, IIRC, nickle sized exits. With the rifle where I can really place my bullets. I shoot for the wing butt, kinda side on. With the pistol center chest.

I was impressed with the speed of incapacitation.

CW

valvesinmyhead · « **Reply #57 on:** April 13, 2009, 03:27:28 PM »

If rimfire was allowed. Then yes. Round of choice .22 mag.

mechanic · « **Reply #58 on:** April 13, 2009, 04:41:37 PM »

Strangely enough, (at least to me), here in Ga. we can use a 50 cal. muzzle loader, but not a rimfire. Its shotguns and front stuffers only. Wonder what a 320 gr. conical would leave? Maybe a beard? Certainly not much meat.

HuntHard · « **Reply #59 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:16:52 AM »

I have a savage 22 hornet over 12ga combo and I also have a mossy 835 ultramag. Just the other morning I called in a gobbler off of the roost. I watched him in open woods strut and gobble and dance for at least 100 yards. I was carrying my mossy he hung up about 65yards out and strutted like crazy and gobbled his head off a great show until 2 roosted hens flew down 35 yards beside him and he ran off chasing them. If i would have had the 22hornet then i would have had a dead turkey and I wouldn't have sacrificed any show. So I see no problem with a rifle for turkey. An over and under combo is the best of both if he hangs up shoot with the rifle and if he struts on in get him with the shot gun.