I dunno; I got my first turkey of the season last evening with Federal Premium # 4 shot, 3.0" mag, with an X-full choke out of an NEF Excel Auto 5. But it was only 21 yards away. I just wouldn't try shooting a turkey past 35 yds or so, even though it probably would work fine. I'd be too afraid I'd not get a good hit, and since they're usually pretty easy to call in closer with a little patience & some decoys, I just wait until they get under 25 yards or so, then shoot at the first clear opportunity. If I thought the turkey was gonna turn and walk away, I'd try a shot out to abot 35 yards, but probably no further. However, with modern heavy loads & chokes, I'm probably being too conservative. I think Twycross speaks wisely - if you've patterned your barrel at the range in question with this or that particular load, then you will know whether you have enough density (and accuracy) at the range to get about 8-11 pellets on the head & neck area, which in turn will give you around 3 pellets directly hitting the CNS, giving you a floppin' turkey, not a flyin' one.