Turkey Loads for Kids

mike braden

mike braden

Well-known member
My son has passed his hunting test and has been shooting semi regularly now with trap and pheasants while shooting lite loads and now 2 3/4 #6 that is typically used for pheasants and rabbits. He got the invite to go down to south Jersey and turkey hunt in a few weeks. Just checking to see if some of you could shed some light on what loads you had your kids shoot for turkey. My intentions are to set the decoy 20 yards the most and tell Kyle that is the farthest that he can take a shot.

Kyle is 10. Little short for his age and thin as well. He isn't recoil sensitive but a 2 3/4 turkey is the most that I'd consider. What are your thoughts on a #5 shot high velocity pheasant load? Being that i will manage his shots to 20 yards and under and not the 40 that i have seen some guys do, I would think that this would be acceptable for what he is doing and don't feel that a magnum 3 inch is the ticket here. He'll be shooting an 11-87 in 20 gauge.
 
I have killed a couple of turkeys with #7 target loads. I am not a light load fanatic, just used what I had. Okay maybe I'm cheep. But loads worked. Aim for the head, right?

Lead in MUCH better than steel for knock down power. I don't feel the need to buy higher power and costly shells in a five shot box for turkeys. Although I admit the target loads may be pushing the limits a bit in power and cheepness.

A 20 gauge #5 upland load in 2 3/4" should be plenty.
 
I have three teenaged boys that have been fortunate to harvest numerous “thunder chickens” over the years. Given the relatively small critical area we have found that 6 or 7 ½ shot 2 ¾ inch with a modified choke will give you a quick and humane kill. Pattern the gun and make sure the aim is true and enjoy.
 
Many states don't allow 7 1/2 loads. Check on that first. Buy a quality lead or hevi shot in 5 or 6 and pattern it. Pattern means more than anything and of course if it is close enough anything will work.
 
My daughter is 11 and she is a little recoil sensitive also. I have her set up with 2 3/4" #6's in a Rem. 870 youth model. I put a H.S. Strut Undertaker choke in it and the pattern at 30 yards is pretty impressive for a cheaper choke and that load. I didn't pattern at 20 yards but at 25 it was brutal on the head and neck. Very managable and a the pattern is tight enough that I wouldn't worry about wounding a bird. The recoil was more equivelent to a .410 according to her.

Hope this helps a little.
 
2 3/4 5's pheasant load will work fine I have killed them with 2 3/4 6's in high brass without an issue in the past.
 
Thanks for all the replys. I figured that the high 5's would be enough but just needed a little encouragement. The weather has been breaking so we will start to pattern the gun at 20 yards.

Kyle got a little charge on Tuesday as we were driving through some farm country and I said that I was surprised that we haven't seen any turkeys yet. Just as we turned the corner there were over 40 on a homeowners front yard. Took some cool videos of them in full strut and gobbling.
 
Thanks for all the replys. I figured that the high 5's would be enough but just needed a little encouragement. The weather has been breaking so we will start to pattern the gun at 20 yards.

Kyle got a little charge on Tuesday as we were driving through some farm country and I said that I was surprised that we haven't seen any turkeys yet. Just as we turned the corner there were over 40 on a homeowners front yard. Took some cool videos of them in full strut and gobbling.
Click to expand...


No need for 5s if you are keeping shots under 40 yards. 6s can get it done until 40 and then some and 6's will give you greater pattern density. 6s and mod choke would probably be good up to 30 yards or so - the mod will give a new shooter a better margin.
 

This was Parker's jake from last year. .410 with reddot and 6 shot lead. 15 yds and graveyard dead!

IMG207.jpg

Well, Brock is large for a 5 yo and wanted to shoot the 20 gauge. Reddot, jellyhead choke and nitro blend 3". He patterned well with the shooting stick at 25 yds. I think the 20 gauge 1187 kicks less than the .410.

IMG489_zps1536964d.jpg


BUT, Brock missed a gobbler at 25 yds the other day. He said he had it on him, but that joker is a little quick on the trigger! Dad was able to drop the bird cleanly at 45 yds. The tom just had to take another look back before sliding into the woods!


IMG503_zpsa99cb0d5.jpg


Like others have said, I think the 5-6 shot with modified is fine. I really like the reddot and the shooting stick with my boys.
 
Thanks for the additional replies Tod and Brian. I was waiting for you guys to chime in since I know that you two regularly hunt turkeys.

I agree that the #6 shot would be more beneficial since we would be planning on keeping the shots to 20-25 yards. How would you guys feel about using Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 2 3/4 #6 1245 FPS in a 1 oz shot 20 gauge? I think that 25 yards and under would be OK but 30+ would be pushing it
 
Thanks for the additional replies Tod and Brian. I was waiting for you guys to chime in since I know that you two regularly hunt turkeys.

I agree that the #6 shot would be more beneficial since we would be planning on keeping the shots to 20-25 yards. How would you guys feel about using Fiocchi Golden Pheasant 2 3/4 #6 1245 FPS in a 1 oz shot 20 gauge? I think that 25 yards and under would be OK but 30+ would be pushing it
Click to expand...


Of course every gun is different, but getting a strong turkey killer to 30 yards is usually just a matter of putting shells in with a 12 gauge, but with the 1 ounce that may be getting sparse at 30. At 20-25 it should be a no brainer. I haven't patterned at under 40 in years, though.
 
I have found that patterning turkey loads is the worst part of turkey hunting. You might want to pattern the load to check pattern density.

Like shooting most game, I can't say I ever remember feeling the recoil when shooting a turkey. The most excited I have gotten hunting is shooting a gobbler up close.

Be where they want to be and let them get close, just not too close with a tight pattern.

I hope your son has fun,

Tom
 
I took a kid turkey hunting a few years ago. He was shooting a Mossberg Bantam 20 ga. In patterning the gun we got really good patterns with 3" #4 steel which is a 1 ounce load and with Heavy Shot 3" #6. We patterned with the factory full choke tube. 2 3/4" lead loads did not impress me out of his gun. The #6 heavy shot with the factory full was really impressive and was good to at least 35 yards. I had a friend who let his daughter shoot her 20 ga with light loads but for the hunt he put in 3" heavy lead loads. She killed a bird and never knew the difference.
 
I did the bait and switch with turkey loads for a buddy's wife. We never knew she was shooting the full charge when hunting for at least two years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top