Turkey Gun Barrel Length...

I've been using the same 28" for 45 yrs., full and modified. Also use it for almost everything else, dove, quail.........

16 turkeys in 5 yrs? That's a pretty good year here.
 
I have killed quite a few more than that. 9 of those were killed in a 2 yr span.

Here's the kind of patterns I get with my Moss 835 28" barrel in a 10" circle at 40yds.

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Here's one a guy I know shot with his Moss 835 with I believe a 28" barrel, Star Dot choke and his special reloads using 2 1/4oz Hevi #7 at 40yds in a 10" circle. You won't get this in factory shells. He himself says the 835 is his best shooting shotgun.

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The main thing is to remember that pattern is independent of barrel length. Choke is part of it, but the difference among various loads is apparently the biggest factor. E.g, my ancient Model 12 is near-perfection with Winchester high-brass heavy loads of 7-1/2, but horrible with field loads or dove/quail loads.

What is as important as the percentage of hits within a circle is that there are no blank areas, no "holidays" in the pattern...
 
masterhunter,

You sound just like I used to be. So I will give you a little education just like the guys that knew more than me took the time to educate me to the truth. It shall set you free. It did me. I was a #4 big fan for turkey hunting.

Hevi-Shot #6's will penetrate better than lead #4's. I'll show you some proof. Actually Hevi-Shot #7's will penetrate better than lead #4's.

Read these for the facts.

http://www.nwtf.org/message_board/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=137678&page=1

http://www.nwtf.org/message_board/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=128722&page=1

I hope you, too, will see the light like I did and admit that you are wrong and not edcucated to the facts like I was.

Seeing is believing.

Try some of these Hevi-13 loads and you will love them. They shoot way better than lead. And they kill better as well.
 
Therein lies the rub.........I cant use Heavyshot in my 12 gauges choke tube...my predominant turkey gun.

My 20 gauge on the other hand I use Heavyshot #6's when I feel the need to use it for turkey.
 
Then you should switch to a choke that can. ;)

Indian Creek, Jelly Head, Pure Gold are some of the best.

I have such good luck out of my $20 Star Dot that I can't see paying more for one that probably won't shoot as good.
 
I am sure Hevi-Shot is good but umm at $24/pound??? Its not that good. I will use my lead #5 and call them in closer than 50yds. My $0.75/pound lead gets the job done, never had a turkey get away yet.
 
I'll pay the $4 or $5 a shell for the Hevi -13 shells that will reach out farther than lead. When you only shoot 2 shells a spring season, $10 ain't going to break the bank. And you can reach farther out and hammer a bird to the ground that lead will just pepper spray them. ;) I would rather extend my lethal range today and be packing a bird to the truck than to stick with lead because it's cheaper and wait for hopefully tomorrow for the same bird to get closer when it didn't want to today. ;) But hey, go ahead and keep shooting your lead loads. It's your decision.
 
Definately like Art said, there is no ballistic advantage with a 28 over a 24 or 21".
Click to expand...

Well I can't completely agree with that as worded. You may say that there is not enough ballistic advantage for you to care about with a 28 inch barrel vs a 21. But to say there is none is just flat wrong. You definately lose some velocity with a 7 inch shorter barrel. And less velocity means less energy which in turn affects pellet penetration. Also while you can certainly get some short barreled guns to pattern well enough to kill turkeys at any ethical shot range (I own one) the best shooting 21 inch barreled shotgun will never out pattern the best shooting 28 inch barreled gun. Go to a NWTF still target shoot and count how many 20 or 21 inch barrels you spot. The fact that you will see none is not a fluke. There's a reason for it! Longer barrels typically outshoot shorter ones.

To me a 24 inch barrel is the best compromise between light weight and portable vs lethal patterns when it comes to turkey hunting.

Now all that said, the muzzle flash knock on shorter barrels mentioned in the origin post makes little sense as a criticism to me as well. One of my turkey guns is a little 21 inch barreled mossberg tactical turkey. I have never been handicapped by or even noticed the muzzle flash of it in a turkey hunting situation.
 
Todd,

I will agree with all that you said above except the 24" barrel thing. I think the 26" barrel would be the best of both worlds for turkey hunting.

I'll still stick with my 28" 835 barrel though. The .775 backbore barrel just thows some superior patterns to most other shotgun barrels from what I have seen.

But the rest of it your pretty well deadnut. ;)
 
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