Whether you’re new to hunting or a seasoned turkey hunter pursuing a Grand Slam, choosing the right turkey shotgun shell and load can make or break your next gobbler hunt. Spurred on by ever-evolving performance through improved shot material, shotgun shell manufacturers continue to fine-tune options available for waterfowlers, upland bird hunters, and turkey chasers. At the forefront of shotgun shell innovations has been Federal Ammunition, which has been selling ammo for the past 100 years. They help us break down the perfect loads to consider for your next successful turkey hunt. Table of Contents
When spring turkey season rolls around, choosing the right ammo is key to bagging a big tom For 12 gauge shotguns, there are a few options for shot size that will get the job done on turkeys. I’ll walk through the pros and cons of different shot sizes like #4, #5, and #6 so you can decide what 12 gauge turkey loads are best for your hunt
#4 Shot
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Pros: Heavier shot size with more mass per pellet. Carries energy farther for increased range. More penetration through brush and limbs.
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Cons: Larger pellets don’t pattern as tightly in some guns, especially with tighter chokes. Can result in ragged holes instead of even pattern density.
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Overall, #4 shot is a good choice if you might need some extra punch for longer shots or shooting through light cover. Be sure to pattern test first.
#5 Shot
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Pros Provides a good balance of shot mass and pellet count, Works well in most 12 gauge turkey chokes, Retains energy for lethal 40-45 yard shots,
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Cons: Limited pellets per shell compared to smaller sizes. Less forgiving of shooter error than more dense payloads.
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#5 shot is the typical all-around choice for turkey hunting. It’s a safe bet in most scenarios if your gun patterns it well.
#6 Shot
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Pros: Smaller pellets allow for very dense, even patterns for more pellet strikes on target. High pellet counts extend maximum pattern density range.
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Cons: Lightweight pellets limit penetration, especially at longer ranges. Maximum effective range is around 35 yards.
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Overall, #6 shot excels when you need a dense cloud of pellets up close. It’s great for early season hunting when turkeys are out in open fields.
Recommended 12 Gauge Turkey Loads
For 12 gauge shells, I recommend trying these shot sizes and turkey loads:
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#4 Lead or Copper Plated Lead: Winchester Longbeard XR, Remington Nitro Turkey
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#5 Lead or Copper Plated Lead: Federal Premium Grand Slam, Winchester Super X
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#5 or #6 Tungsten Super Shot: Winchester Longbeard XR TSS, Federal Tungsten Turkey
No matter what you choose, always pattern test your shotgun at realistic hunting distances. This will give you confidence in your ammunition and let you know the effective range to stay within.
Shotgun Choke Tubes
Extra full turkey choke tubes are designed to concentrate your shot pattern for more pellets on the vital head and neck area. For lead or copper plated lead shot, try:
- Remington X-Full Turkey Choke
- Carlson’s Long Beard XR Choke Tube
For tungsten super shot, use:
- Indian Creek Breeder TurkeY Choke Tube
- Primos TightWad Choke Tube
I’d recommend starting with the factory choke in your shotgun first before buying an aftermarket choke tube. Many modern turkey guns come equipped with an effective turkey choke.
Pick Your Ideal Range
Once you settle on the right shell and choke combo for your 12 gauge, it’s time to pick your maximum shooting distance based on patterning results. This will depend on your ammunition and shotgun.
As a general guideline:
- Lead #4 Shot: 40-50 yards
- Lead #5 Shot: 40 yards
- Lead #6 Shot: 30-35 yards
- Tungsten #5 or #6 Shot: 50-60 yards
Set up your decoys and blind within your gun’s effective patterning range. Be conservative – it’s better to call a gobbler in close than take a marginal shot and wound the bird.
Follow Up Shots
Having a second shell ready for a quick follow up shot is a good insurance policy. If your first shot doesn’t immediately anchor the turkey, a fast second shot can seal the deal.
For this, I prefer to have a 3″ 12 gauge magnum load on standby with #4 buckshot or #2 steel shot. The heavier payload has knockdown power at close range to finish a wounded bird.
Preparation is Key
With the right planning and preparation, your 12 gauge shotgun is a turkey killing machine. Pattern testing your gun, figuring out the maximum effective range, and choosing the right 12 gauge turkey loads for the job will lead to an exciting hunt and tasty bounty. Stay ready for that thunderous gobble!
Understanding Shotguns and Shells
A shotgun is a firearm that shoots a pattern of “shot,” which are pellets made most commonly from lead, copper-plated lead, nickel-plated lead, bismuth, tungsten, or steel. The spread of these shot makes it easier to shoot moving targets (such as birds or small game); although “slugs,” which are a solid lead projectile used for big(ger) game, is another type of shotgun load but not one we’ll cover here. Shotguns come in different gauges. The gauge is a bore measurement like that of calibers for pistols or rifles. The two most common gauges used for turkey hunting, in order, are a 12-gauge and 20-gauge shotgun. A 12-gauge has a larger, wider barrel than a 20-gauge. Here’s how gauges of shotguns are classified. Imagine a round lead ball that fits perfectly inside a 12-gauge shotgun barrel (0.729″). It would take 12 lead balls of that diameter to equal one pound of lead. Since a 20-gauge shotgun barrel has a smaller diameter (0.615″) it would take 20 lead balls to make up one pound of lead. That’s the difference between the sizes of these guns. Shotguns also come in 10-gauge, 16-gauge, 28-gauge, and a .410 (the smallest bore shotgun available).
Shotgun shells are sold by their gauge, shell length, and shot size. The shotgun shell gauge should match the gauge of the shotgun. The length of the shells will range from 2 ½” for most small-bore guns up to 3.5” inches for long-distance shots from a 12-gauge. Shots are categorized with an inverse naming system, where a #1 shot is larger than a #4 shot. One can calculate the diameter of the shot by subtracting the shot-size number from 17 and then dividing that number by 100. Thereby, a #6 shot would have a diameter of .11” (17-6 = 11, divided by 100, equals .11). Just to confuse matters, however, there are larger diameter shots than #1 and they are labeled as B, BB, BBB, T, TT, and FF. The general range for shotgun shells used for bird and turkey hunting purposes, though, falls between #1 (long-range ducks) to #8 (doves, quail, and pigeons). In a moment, though, we’ll cover a #9 shot used for turkey hunting. It’s also worth noting that “buckshot” has an even larger diameter than the shot defined above. These loads are generally for home defense and medium-to-large game, including whitetail deer. Shot sizes for these loads range from #4 (.24” diameter) to #000 (.36” diameter). To visualize the differences in shell sizes based on gauge, length, and shot, a 2 ½” shell for a .410 will hold eight #4 buckshot pellets, but a 3 ½” shell for a 12-gauge will hold 41 of the same size #4 buckshot pellets.
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What Are The Best Shotgun Loads For Turkey Hunting
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