2 3/4 Inch Loads

[Leo M]

Is one badly under gunned with 2 3/4 inch loads for Turkey? Or just have to shoot at shorter distances? I am talking about a 12 gauge. Thanks for any replies.

[james]

I used a Rem 12 ga. 1100 -2.75" or Win. M12 in 16 ga. in my early years of turkey hunting.  I scored many doubles by shooting the farther turkey first and taking the closer one on the wing.   When my home state of Arkansas changed the regulations to one turkey per day, I ordered a 3.5" Mossberg 835, which was fresh on the market.  I usually shot no more than 35 or 40 yards with the two and three quarter inch but now I can whack em at fifty yards.  Its very difficult for me to get a quick 2nd shot after setting off the 3.5 incher with 2.25 oz. of shot. Sometimes me and the turkey do a little flopping after the shot but so far I have been able to eventually stand up. 

[mcwoodduck]

Generally the differance between the shell lengths is to add payload not speed.  All loads are about 1200 to 1300 fps for a lead load and 1400+ for a steel load.  The other than lead stuff varies.
If you are making your own shells you can stuff as much as an ounce and 3/8's into a 2.75" shell.  Some are a bit rough on auto guns.
Personally I like the heavier than lead "Heavy Shot" as Turkey loads.  The wad is designed to keep the shot tight and I can down size from 2's to 4's or from 4's to 6's and have the same killing power from the pellet but have more pellets to make a dense pattern that will allow you to shoot a bit further.
I was getting ready for my first hunt three years ago and took all kinds of ammo out to the rifle range and a bunch of bowling pins.  Put them at various ranges and shot for the head of the pin.  The heavy shot was able to knock over the pin out to 100 yards with the 3" #4's.  The lead 3" goose loads from the late 80's in 2's crapped out at about 75 yards.
The criteria was to shoot the pins with 5 shots and if one of the 5 did not knock over the pin that limited my range to where it did it 100% with that load.

[dukkillr]

Most of my fall turkeys are killed with 2 3/4s... I wouldn't choose it for spring, but if it's all you've got it beats staying home.

It isn't about killing a turkey.  Pellets to the head = dead turkey.  The point of the best loads is 1) downrange energy (remember that the pellet must penetrate the skull) and 2) pattern density at increasing distances.  With a 2 3/4" you probably lose 15-20 yards of safe killing distance.  Of course you still have twice the distance than I do with a bow, so it's all relative.

[Cuts Crooked]

Last year I took an Iowa gobbler with my 97 "Norchester" with 2 3/4"  Winchester 1 1/2oz #4s. This gun is a short barreled "cowboy action" shotgun with the Tru Choke system in it. I used the standard full choke which gave fairly decent patterns, at 25 yds, with that load. Since then then I've purchased a Hastings extra full tube for it and the patterns are almost half the diameter as the full choke! I wouldn't hesitate to take a 40 yd shot on a Tom that makes the offer!

[levrluvr]

I've always used 2 3/4" #4's for turkey and have had good success. Our turkey population has been increasing in our woods every year. I haven't yet seen the need to jump on the bandwagon of new camo guns or big magnum shells. Might reconsider it if I had a little expendable income, but convincing the CPA wife I need it could prove to be a little difficult if I keep bringing home dead turkeys. She's even taken a few over the years with her 20 gauge. We know how our guns pattern, and go for the head shots.

[ihuntbucks]

I use Winchester 2 3/4 Mag 1 1/2 oz. #4 shot (copperplatted lead).Never had one walk away ........Rick

[JonD.]

2-3/4" turkey loads are plenty enough...

[flintlock]

My dad was a meat hunter, sold turkeys, rabbit, squirrels out of Grandma's country store back in the 30s...He killed more turkeys than most hunters will ever see with a single barrel 12 gauge shooting paper hull shells and #4s...

When I started in the early 70s, we didn't have "turkey guns"...We just used our 12 gauge which we used for pretty much everything, even deer...I killed several with a double barrel
12 gauge and Remington lead #6s...

[Land_Owner]

I kill a lot of ducks with 2 3/4 #4 steel shot out to 40 yards and see no reason not to use that on turkeys if they are close enough (since I have a case of those shells anyway).

I killed my first Tom with #4 Buck shot (41 round balls per cartridge).  I was not sure whether the Tom or Hog would arrive first so I was ready for the Hog just in case.  Six round balls completely penetrated the turkey and killed it and didn't mess up any meat. 

My hunting partner shot his Tom within ten minutes of mine and used a 243 caliber 95 grain bullet going about 2,900 fps at point of impact 155 yards down range and didn't mess up any of the breast meat.

[catkiller]

I use an old winchester mod. 37. 12 gauge single shot built in 1933.I bought a box of duck and pheasant 2 3/4" remington number 7 1/2's about ten years ago and use them for nothing but turkey hunting and have killed a couple of turkey every year with it.No suffering ,dead right there!

[AlbanyCO]

I killed my first turkey this past spring with a 2 3/4 remington premier buffered #5 lead load. It killed him dead on the spot, and I was shooting an Ithaca autoloader with a modified choke too! I limited myself to no more than 30 yards. I don't think you'll have any problems.

[luckydawg13]

would you feel under guned whith a bow a arrow

[Alias DW]

I've killed alot of turks with 2 3/4 16ga single barrel with scope using Win Super X #6 shot,some in excess of 40yds.

[Daman]

I think most magnum 2 3/4 12 gauge shells have more shot than a 3 inch 20 gauge turkey shell. I shoot #5 Nitros in my 870 20 gauge and the only turkey I ever pulled the trigger on that didn't come home was shot at 5 steps with a XXX full choke that holds killing patterns to 45 yards so I flat out missed his head. (Think I was looking over the bead instead of keeping my head down.)

Point being I think you will be fine. My grandpa taught me to turkey hunt and for 40 years all he had to hunt them with was a Stevens double barrel that would only shoot 2 3/4's. He said he always shot 4x6's in it and it was good for 40 yards. He has since upgraded to a NWTF edition Winchester 1300, but after every turkey he kills with it he rubs his shoulder and swears he is going to start shooting those old shells again cause "them shoulder breaking new fangled magnum cannons" are hurting his shoulder. That said he has never went back to 2 3/4's and he has been saying that for at least the 17 years I have been hunting with him.

Daman

[plumberroy]

Magnum shells and super chokes are B.S. put out by guns and ammo makers to sell you stuff. 2 3/4" Hi brass ammo  is all you really nead turkeys are not armor plated I pattern a gun as long as it throughs even patterns the range I can consistantly put 10 pellets in a 12 oz can is the max I shoot.

[Daman]

Magnum shells and super chokes are B.S. put out by guns and ammo makers to sell you stuff. 2 3/4" Hi brass ammo  is all you really nead turkeys are not armor plated I pattern a gun as long as it throughs even patterns the range I can consistantly put 10 pellets in a 12 oz can is the max I shoot.

It is all about marketing! I completely agree with you. Heck opening morning is March 15 here (next Monday) and I might go grab that old Stevens and a couple 4X6's and take out with me.

Daman

[dukkillr]

If you believe that the new shells and chokes do not extend your reliable killing range you are, quite simply, wrong. 

If your point is that you can kill turkeys without those things, I agree, but it will be at shorter ranges on average.

[plumberroy]

If you believe that the new shells and chokes do not extend your reliable killing range you are, quite simply, wrong. 

If your point is that you can kill turkeys without those things, I agree, but it will be at shorter ranges on average.

Yes they do increase range . 50+ yard shots with  a tricked out 12 or 10 gauge turkey gun and $3 a pop ammo doesn't impress me  10 yards with a 410 loaded # 6's remington express  shows some one is a hunter
Roy

[zackyholdem]

you can only kill turkeys with hevi 13 3.5in 2.25oz 6's and a $100 choke tube, any other means of killing turkeys isn't real hunting 

but seriously it all comes down to personal preference, there are those people who are perfectly content shooting lead and having a 30 yard limit, and there are those people who are obsessed with patterning and wont stop testing until they have a 60yd + combo. my opinion is to each his own.

one thing i must say is that many turkey hunters hunt seasons that are very short (less that a week) and many hunters travel to different states and pay big money to hunt thunder chickens, when you only have a limited time to hunt and a lot of money invested, it is in your best interest to have a gun that is maxed out at its optimal performance, you may only get one chance a a gobbler all season and i for one don't want to have to pass on him because he hung up at 45 yards and i only have a 30yd gun, believe me it gives you that sick feeling inside.

[plumberroy]

you can only kill turkeys with hevi 13 3.5in 2.25oz 6's and a $100 choke tube, any other means of killing turkeys isn't real hunting 

but seriously it all comes down to personal preference, there are those people who are perfectly content shooting lead and having a 30 yard limit, and there are those people who are obsessed with patterning and wont stop testing until they have a 60yd + combo. my opinion is to each his own.

one thing i must say is that many turkey hunters hunt seasons that are very short (less that a week) and many hunters travel to different states and pay big money to hunt thunder chickens, when you only have a limited time to hunt and a lot of money invested, it is in your best interest to have a gun that is maxed out at its optimal performance, you may only get one chance a a gobbler all season and i for one don't want to have to pass on him because he hung up at 45 yards and i only have a 30yd gun, believe me it gives you that sick feeling inside.

 my opinion is to each his own Agreed
Improving skills isn't quick or as easy  as buying equipment but in my opinion is the better option
I hunt  for three reasons
1. I like being outside in the field
2. I like matching wits with the critters
3. I want to be practiced if things go to hell and I have to hunt for food
Since I won't go hungry If that bird hangs up and I don't bring him home it is just breeding stock for next year. I have reach yonder guns they mess up feral cats and chicken killin' varmits real well    too many people replace skills with equipment. With any game I work on knowing their habits, habitat  and how to get close. A guy I work with hunts turkey with a true 60 yd gun and limited calling skills  if we traded equipment for a day I would be fine (except I ain't shootin 3 1/2 in a 12ga I don't need a turkey that bad ) he would have a hard times with my gear
Roy
P.S. I shoot 3 1/2" 10 ga often   I just don't care for 3 1/2" 12 gauge

[Ethan]

2 3/4 is plenty but I like a 12 ga. 3 1/2 in. 2 oz.......talk about a Thunder Chicken Killer

[Daman]

If you believe that the new shells and chokes do not extend your reliable killing range you are, quite simply, wrong. 

If your point is that you can kill turkeys without those things, I agree, but it will be at shorter ranges on average.

True. I agree with plumberroy about some guys compensating for hunting skills. I have friends who get so excited over a turkey that he can be strutting straight to them, but they are still going to shoot him 50+ yards when if they waited 3 or 4 minutes he could have been shot at 25 yards.

Daman

[torpedoman]

did anyone feel undergunned before they invented the 3 in shell?

[dukkillr]

did anyone feel undergunned before they invented the 3 in shell?

Did anyone feel too slow in a state of the art sailboat in say, 1700?  Strangely you don't see too many trans-atlantic barges powered by the wind anymore.  Just because something worked doesn't mean something new isn't better. 

I agree with the premise that modern equipment is taking the place of some skill.  I do not agree with the idea that new stuff is not superior in performance to old stuff, at least with turkey shells.

I could post plenty of pictures of turkeys I've killed with 2 3/4" 12ga, I know exactly what they can and can't do. 

[mcwoodduck]

did anyone feel undergunned before they invented the 3 in shell?

As long as I have been around it has been around.
When Desity is the name of the game larger payloads = more shot = denser patterns.
Will 2 3/4" shells kill Turkey.  Yep-  Heck in the Double Gun in the reading room there is a picture of a kid with an LC Smith 410 holding a turkey.
But with the cost of the turkey loads being the a few pennys different between the 2 3/4 and 3" loads why not get the extra payload?  Same reason I like the heavy shot.

[Daman]

Well I figured I might ought to clear up any hard feelings I might have raised with my comments on replacing skills with the shells. Where I hunt guys use 3 1/2 magnums and shoot turkeys through brush they ought not to just cause they got a big shell. I have only shot about 4 turkeys over 35 yards cause we hunt thick creek bottoms, but if I hunted huge pastures I would want all the range I could tweak out of my gun. I have tweaked my 870 to a 45 yard gun cause that is my self imposed limit, but if you are comfortable with a 60 yard shot take it and enjoy the meat.

Daman