There are a myriad of shotshell masses marketed as turkey masses lately. To get only a style of the variability accessible, please see Joe Genzel’s article The Best Turkey Loads of 2024, Tested and Reviewed. That assessment focuses primarily on 12-gauge masses. If you happen to had been so as to add in all of the sub-gauge variations plus all of the handload prospects, the choices turn into virtually limitless. However with such all kinds of masses, how do we actually know if any of them are adequately deadly for taking pictures turkeys? And the way do we all know if a given load is deadly or to not the outer vary of accountable turkey taking pictures, which I take into account to be 45 yards?
These had been questions {that a} main ammunition firm wished a science-based reply to. So, manner again in 1988 and 1989 as a part of my consulting contract, the corporate requested me to design and run a managed area check with statistically-sound pattern sizes comparable in methodology to the exams I used to be co-designing, operating, administering, and publishing to objectively check metal vs. lead efficiency for taking wild geese and geese (see my current article Is Steel Shot Effective? Here’s What the Data Say After Decades of Testing). To be able to be legitimate from a lethality standpoint, the check design required taking pictures dwell turkeys at measured distances widespread to turkey hunters. We might assess killing vs. wounding behaviors, pellet strikes, and pellet penetration efficiency information. We might not use such supplies as plywood, chipboard, cardboard, or gelatin blocks for measuring pellet penetration. All of those supplies have big variations in densities, water content material, and elasticity when in comparison with chook tissues.
Pattern sizes must be statistically sound; no firing of one-shot samples (that are just about meaningless). The check additionally needed to embody x-ray and necropsy outcomes of the turkeys shot within the check. Supplemental head and necks used to assemble extra turkey pellet strike and penetration information. Most significantly, the check needed to be completely goal.
Strategies
Right here’s what we did. First, simply as within the duck and goose exams, the turkey check design must be double-blind, that means that neither the shooter nor the people compiling and analyzing the taking pictures information would know which masses had been shot. Secondly, the pattern dimension of the birds shot must be massive sufficient to supply statistical confidence ranges (intervals) of at least 95 % (P ≤ .05). This implies the pattern dimension could be massive sufficient that our findings could be legitimate, correct, true, and repeatable 95 occasions out of 100. This required 10 dwell turkeys per load and one other 25 heads and necks for every load at every related distance (25 physique components x 6 masses x 3 distances = 450 whole heads/necks). We picked a Remington 1100 with a manufacturing facility mounted full-choke, which was a generally used mixture for turkey searching on the time. The turkey physique sizes needed to be consultant of the wild birds truly taken by U.S. hunters. So we used dwell home tom turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) that weighed 24 kilos on common. We used one other 450 home tom turkey necks and heads from lifeless birds of the identical common weight. We suspended the heads and necks at our measured distances.
The check masses had been all 12 gauge choices. We used 2¾-inch, 1¼ oz. metal masses at 1275 fps in shot sizes 5, 4, and three. We additionally used a prototype 2¾-inch, 12 gauge, 1-5/8 oz. buffered Lubaloy (copper-plated) lead load in pellet sizes No. 6, 5, and 4 at 1250 fps. I developed the 1-5/8 oz. lead load for the ammo firm and it has since turn into a regular manufacturing load. The taking pictures distances of the dwell turkeys was 35 and 45 yards. This meant 10 birds at every of those two distances for every of the most effective lead and greatest metal pellet sizes, which we selected based mostly on penetration measured on the 450 supplemental heads and necks shot at 25, 35, and 45 yards.
The dwell turkeys had been obtained from an Illinois turkey farmer. The supplemental heads and necks had been obtained from a California turkey farmer and shot at Tule Lake Nationwide Wildlife Refuge in Northern California. X-rays had been taken at a cooperating veterinarian workplace in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Every dwell turkey was tethered to a stake at a exactly measured distance. The goal level for each the dwell turkeys and the supplemental heads/necks was the fourth cervical vertebrae. Pictures had been made with the turkey’s head and neck dealing with to the left. Any wounded turkeys had been rapidly killed. After testing, all of the turkeys had been processed and donated for consumption.
We additionally did critical sample testing with all of the load variations. Patterns had been taken in 10-round samples at 25, 35, 40, and 45 yards for every of the six masses examined (240 patterns) utilizing the trade normal 30-inch circle drawn across the densest registration of the pellets after every shot was fired. We then counted the variety of pellet strikes throughout the circle. We sample examined two completely different Full chokes with constrictions of .685- and .695-inch. These patterning outcomes indicated about 5 % denser pellet registration from the .685-inch Full, in order that’s what we used all through the check. The 450 supplemental turkey necks and heads fired upon offered 6,940 pellet strikes and penetration measures on the top and neck anatomies focused. The pattern sizes of the sample testing offered confidence ranges of 95 % (P ≤ .05). The top and neck samples offered confidence ranges of 99 % (P ≤ .01).
Turkey Load Lethality Findings
Earlier than you’ll be able to perceive our findings, it’s essential to perceive how we evaluated the birds after they had been shot. We separated shot birds into three habits classes:
- B-1: Lifeless or motionless inside 30 seconds
- B-2: Alive and cell, however retrievable
- B-3: Wounded, in a position to run off
Analyzing the necropsy and x-ray information for the dwell chook taking pictures revealed clearly that each one turkeys which exhibited B-1 habits all the time skilled pellet strikes on the a lot smaller goal space of the cranium and cervical vertebrae, together with the general head and neck floor space. And critically, the minimal penetration depth of these pellet strikes on the cranium and cervical vertebrae on the B-1 birds was enough to cross fully by way of these dense bone tissues to puncture the mind and/or spinal twine.
Lethality Classes at 25 Yards
Necropsies and x-rays revealed each of the masses and all six of their pellet sizes produced ample patterns to supply the wanted pellet strikes and enough penetration on the cranium and cervical vertebrae to B-1 kill 100% of the turkeys shot at that distance.
Lethality Classes at 35 Yards
The identical stage of 100% B-1 lethality efficiency occurred with each of the masses and all six of the pellets examined. Necropsies and x-rays revealed the identical location of pellet strikes (cranium and cervical vertebrae) and the identical depth of penetration related to B-1 habits as at 25 yards. However at 35 yards, fewer whole pellet strikes on each vital areas had been discovered to have occurred. In different phrases, the variety of strikes on the vital cranium and cervical vertebrae areas discovered at 25 yards had been truly in extra of what was wanted for a B-1 kill.
Lethality Classes at 45 Yards
B-1 bagging efficiency didn’t happen 100% of the time with both of the 2 masses and 6 pellet sizes examined. The x-ray and necropsy outcomes revealed why.
The very best performing load was the No. 5 Lubaloy (electrolysis copper-plated, excessive antimony lead shot) pellets. At 45 yards it produced 9 out of 10, or 90 %, B-1 lethality and one out of 10, B-2 (cell however retrieved). Each No. 6 and No. 4 lead produced unacceptably low (failed) ranges of B-1 bagging at 45 yards. They produced effectively beneath 70 % B-1 outcomes. With these two lead pellet sizes totally 30 % of the turkeys shot at 45 yards had been labeled as B-3 (wounded and in a position to run off). Necropsy revealed the lead 6’s didn’t ship the wanted penetration and the lead 4’s failed to provide an ample variety of pellet strikes on the turkey’s vital cranium and cervical vertebrae areas.
Of the three metal masses examined at 45 yards, No. 4 metal carried out greatest delivering eight out of 10 B-1 birds and two B-2 birds, for 80 % B-1 lethality. The No. 5 and No. 3 metal pellets failed equally to the lead No. 6’s and 4’s. The metal No. 5 and No. 3s delivered beneath 65 % B-1 lethality with a 35 % B-3 wounding price. At this distance, necropsy revealed the metal 5’s didn’t ship enough penetration and the patterning density of the metal 3’s failed to provide enough pellet strikes on the vital turkey cranium and cervical vertebrae areas.
What the Knowledge Inform Us
From the taking pictures of each the dwell turkeys and the supplemental heads and necks and their x-ray and necropsy, which offered hundreds of pellet measures, we all know what the minimal variety of pellet strikes and penetration needed on the cranium and cervical vertebrae of a typical massive tom turkey to provide B-1 bagging out to 45 yards. From the a whole lot of patterns shot and counted, we all know the pattern-count and sample density values wanted to provide the minimal variety of pellet strikes on the cranium and cervical vertebrae. That info is printed right here:
Lead Sample Density
- B-1 outcomes at 45 yards with lead turned out to be a minimal common of 207 pellets within the 30-inch circle.
- Minimal common of pellet strikes within the head and neck: 6.8
- Minimal common of pellet strikes within the cranium and cervical vertebrae: 2.8
Lead Penetration
At 45 yards it took at the very least a No. 5 (.120-inch) excessive antimony lead pellet weighing a mean of ~2.57 grains when launched at 1250 fps to be able to penetrating fully by way of a turkey’s cranium and cervical vertebrae to provide B-1 bagging.
Metal Sample Density
- With the metal pellets we discovered it took the same 30-inch sample common 200 pellets at 45 yards of No. 4 metal for B-1 outcomes.
- Minimal common pellet strikes within the head and neck: 7.6
- Minimal common of pellet strikes within the cranium and cervical vertebrae: 3.6
Metal Penetration
A No. 4 metal pellet weighs about 2.28 grains and was discovered to be the minimal weight needed when launched at 1275 fps for this difficult, non-deformable pellet sort to penetrate at 45 yards fully by way of the cranium and cervical vertebrae of a turkey to provide B-1 bagging.
The best way to Check Any Turkey Load
Utilizing these findings right here’s all you must do now to precisely and scientifically measure and decide if any turkey load no matter gauge, shell size, and pellet sort/dimension you plan to hunt with is actually deadly for turkeys out to 45 yards. Proceed as follows:
Choose the Proper Pellet Dimension
First it’s essential to choose the right minimal pellet for ample penetration. That’s a No. 5 lead pellet and or No. 4 metal pellet if you wish to shoot turkeys at 45 yards. I’m at the moment testing TSS masses however that information gained’t be full for a while.
If you choose a lighter weight of both comfortable or onerous pellet sort, cease proper there as you’ll NOT have deadly penetration at 45 yards. Lighter pellets will seemingly penetrate out to 35 yards and positively at 25 yards, however will produce wounded birds at 45 yards.
Sample Your Load and Choke
Now it’s essential to sample check your chosen load at 45 yards. The fitting manner is the trade normal of firing one shot at one 40-inch by 40-inch sample floor (metallic plate or paper sheet ) after which drawing a 30-inch diameter circle across the densest registration of pellet strikes. You need to then depend (not simply eyeball) all of the pellet strikes that fall in or on the circle. Then, as a result of all of the variation in each shotshell load is so nice that no two rounds ever sample the identical, it’s essential to fireplace a minimal of 5 photographs at 5 separate sheets of paper, depend all of them, and common them.
What you’re on the lookout for is a minimal sample depend common of 200 strikes ending within the 30-inch circle. That may guarantee sufficient pellets find yourself putting the vital cranium and cervical vertebrae of your turkey. If you happen to get a denser sample depend than 200 on the distance you imagine you’ll be taking pictures most of your turkeys, a lot the higher. All the time bear in mind: It takes each sample density and correct penetration to kill a turkey (or any recreation chook).
Learn Subsequent: The Best Turkey Chokes
Or Sample With a Turkey Goal
An alternate patterning methodology is to buy and use the Winchester copyrighted Turkey, Head and Neck Target Sheets. Utilizing this turkey patterning aide will take a lot much less time to find out a enough sample together with your chosen load and choke. The goal sheets comprise the top and neck drawing of a turkey dealing with to the left with the very important cranium and cervical vertebrae areas clearly highlighted. The entire drawing is anatomically appropriate and real-live dimension. The proper goal level is marked with an XX on the fourth cervical vertebrae.
Shoot the goal and decide in case you are acquiring the minimal common needed of two.8 strikes with No. 5 lead pellets or 3.6 No. 4 metal on the cranium and cervical vertebrae within the drawing. You’ll nonetheless must shoot a minimal of three photographs at three targets, however 5 photographs at 5 targets is even higher.
Learn Subsequent: The Best Turkey Guns, Field Tested and Reviewed
In order that’s it. Now you have got a methodology to find out turkey load lethality out to 45 yards it doesn’t matter what model you’re taking pictures. Simply because a load is marketed as a turkey load with a longbeard drawn on the field doesn’t make it so. You need to check the load by way of your choke to know whether it is deadly. And I guarantee you, you’ll quickly be taught that many masses usually are not deadly to 45 yards on turkeys. Taking the small period of time to do the above easy testing will be sure that you go afield responsibly with a scientifically measured turkey load realizing its max deadly distance. The top end result shall be hunters producing a considerably decrease variety of wounded and misplaced turkeys afield.