.38 Special or .357 for...

[snapcrackpop]

Turkeys.
Dad and I are headed to South Dakota this fall for mule deer and part of our hunting trip will be trying for our first turkey.  Anyways, in SD you can use rifle for turkeys in the fall (either sex).  What caliber would you suggest?  My handis are: 17Mach 2, 17HMR, 22lr, 223 and the .357.  (I also have a Savage in .243 and .308)

I have read elswhere that some of the larger calibers will zip through a turkey without expanding... thus my question.

[Spanky]

I shot a jake the other day with my 357. I was using a 38 special 158gr. wadcutter and I shot him dead center of the body with him broadside. The bullet passed through without blowing anything up. If you shoot 'em in the middle of the body the bullet goes behind the breast and in front of the drumsticks so you don't lose any good meat.



Spanky

[snapcrackpop]

great Spanky!  What distance?
Do you think a 158 or 180 mag load would have the same effect?

I'm happy with my mag loads for deer, but haven't had much of a need to tinker with 38special loads till now.

[SHOOTALL]

I have killed turkeys with 30-06 , 25-06 , 7X30 waters , 30-30 and 308. Oh yea 50 cal. ML. I have yet to see a bullet not expand that was supposed to. I know of some who use ball ammo so there won't be as much meat loss. I read once in a hunting mag that a guy shot a big tom with a 243 HP and the bullet stopped in the body feathers after going thru. the wing I think it was hand loaded to max which may have made the bullet expand to quickly. . I would think you won't have a problem with expansion. My son has gotten them with a 204 Ruger which worked well. of your list I would use anyone over 223 REM.
By mistake I shot a turkey in the egg maker area and the insides were pulled ot mostly . I tried this again with similar effect . It leaves the breast un hurt. It seems much like what spanky posted but maybe lower.

[snapcrackpop]

Spanky, either I'm confused or I misread your post... I thought you wouldn't want a larger caliber bullet to expand on a turkey.

I hope to aim for the head or neck on a close shot, but the wingbut on a broadside shot... right?
Otherwise with a non expanding bullet I could hit him in the chest from the front and not worry about much meat loss, correct?

[SHOOTALL]

A turkeys head seldom is still .

[quickdtoo]

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,146187.msg1098597159.html#msg1098597159

[Spanky]

Spanky, either I'm confused or I misread your post... I thought you wouldn't want a larger caliber bullet to expand on a turkey.

I hope to aim for the head or neck on a close shot, but the wingbut on a broadside shot... right?
Otherwise with a non expanding bullet I could hit him in the chest from the front and not worry about much meat loss, correct?

If I shoot 'em with a rifle I always aim for the center when they're broadside. I've never shot one in the chest straight on but if I did I would aim for the base of the neck.



Spanky

[chutesnreloads]

Use whichever of those rifles you shoot the most accurately.Aim at the base of his neck, right where it starts getting bigger.This is where his neck will be moving the least.You'll either miss or put him down with very little to no meat loss.I use a .223 ...so far I'm 5 birds for 6 shots.

[gcrank1]

My wife's cousin's brother in law says the .223 with mil-surp ball through the wing butts........

[snapcrackpop]

Thanks guys.
Now that Tim put me in the right place...  , I've been reading the turkey with a rifle thread.  Lots of good info there as well.