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
Turkey hunting has evolved tremendously over the past few decades. Modern turkey loads, chokes, and shot types have increased effective hunting ranges and lethality on turkeys compared to the old days. However, with so many turkey hunting ammunition options now available, it can be confusing to choose the right shells and shot sizes for your hunt. This article provides a complete guide to selecting the proper shotshells and shot for consistent, ethical kills on spring gobblers.
Overview of Shot Options for Turkeys
There are several main types of shot that turkey hunters can choose from:
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Lead – Traditional lead shot has been used to kill turkeys for generations Lead is dense, affordable, and delivers knockdown power on gobblers However, it is toxic to waterfowl and banned for waterfowl hunting.
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Non-Toxic – With the 1991 nationwide ban on lead shot for waterfowl, manufacturers developed non-toxic steel, bismuth, tungsten, and other shot types These are harder, denser, and provide improved downrange performance compared to lead
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Copper-Plated – Lead shot coated with a thin copper jacket. The copper plating reduces deformation of lead pellets on impact, improving penetration.
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Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) – Smaller tungsten pellets allow for very dense shot strings and patterns, TSS has become popular for turkeys due to superior downrange energy and lethality
Shot Size Considerations
The size of shot you select for your turkey loads impacts performance and lethality:
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Large Shot – Sizes #4, #2, etc. Large lead or tungsten shot provides maximum energy for knocking down big toms. Useful for 50+ yard shots when regulations allow.
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Moderate Shot – Sizes #5 and #6 are preferred by many turkey hunters. Provides a balance of pellet count and sufficient kinetic energy for kills out to 40-50 yards.
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Small Shot – Sizes #7, #8, #9. Smaller tungsten or TSS shot allows for very dense patterns. Excellent for close range shots under 30 yards. Not legal in some states.
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TSS and Tungsten – Even smaller #7 or #9 tungsten performs like larger lead due to increased density. Smaller shot = more pellets = better patterns.
Matching Shot Size to Your Situation
Consider your specific turkey hunting scenario when selecting shot size:
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For close range shots under 30 yards, smaller #7 or #9 lead or tungsten shot allows for tight patterns on a turkey’s head and neck.
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In open fields or longer range shots, move up to larger #4 or #5 lead or tungsten to provide additional energy and knockdown power.
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In heavy cover where pellets can deflect, larger shot sizes limit deflection compared to smaller tungsten.
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For extra large toms, larger #4 buckshot or tungsten provides maximum penetration for clean kills.
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In states prohibiting smaller shot, #4, #5 or #6 lead or tungsten are good default options that meet regulations.
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For youth or new hunters, moderate recoil loads with #5 or #6 shot are preferred to limit recoil.
Recommended All-Around Shot Sizes
For most turkey hunters, #5 or #6 shot is a preferred choice covering most typical hunting situations:
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#6 shot delivers sufficient energy for lethal 40 yard shots. Patterns tightly when used with a tight turkey choke.
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#5 shot carries more energy downrange and penetrates well on larger toms.
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Legal for turkey hunting in most states that prohibit smaller shot sizes.
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Moderate recoil compared to larger buckshot or magnum loads.
With modern choke tubes, #5 or #6 shot in a 12 or 20 gauge shotgun has enough power to cleanly take turkeys at common hunting ranges. Consider your expected shot distances and hunting conditions to refine your choice.
Turkey Loads with Unique Shot Options
Several manufacturers offer turkey loads with unique shot blends:
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Winchester Longbeard XR – Shot-Lok technology mixes #5 lead shot with resin pellets to limit pellet deformation and improve downrange patterns.
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Federal Premium – Flitestopper and Heavyweight TSS blend smaller #7, #9 tungsten or blended shot with larger #5s or #6s for a mix of pattern density and knockdown power.
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Remington Nitro Turkey – Contains copper-plated buffered steel shot mixed with tungsten pellets for a dense pattern.
Testing these and other options can determine if a particular load and specialized shot work well in your shotgun.
Takeaway on Shot Selection
While massive magnum turkey loads were once thought necessary, loads with #5 or #6 shot accounting for your expected hunting ranges will kill turkeys effectively. Consider regulations, typical shot distances, firearm, and recoil tolerance when fine tuning your choice. Patterning your shotgun with different loads gives confidence your chosen ammunition will be lethal when a gobbler sounds off within range.
12-Gauge vs. 20-Gauge For Turkey Hunting
Turkey hunting is not necessarily a “go big or go home” game, so having a 12- or 10-gauge shotgun is not a requisite to enjoying a successful gobbler hunt. “We have seen tremendous growth in 20-gauge shotguns over the past 15 years for turkey hunting,” says Compton. “In lead loads, wad designs and choke tubes are making this possible by delivering very tight patterns that are extending the traditional ranges of a 20-gauge. TSS loads have made the 20-gauge even more viable with plenty of power and much less recoil. Do not be afraid to hunt with a 20-gauge and some TSS tungsten!”
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.
8 Turkey Hunting Ammos Put To the Test | What Works & What Doesn’t
FAQ
What type of shot do you use for turkey?
A standard 2 ¾-inch or 3-inch magnum tungsten load is more than enough for killing turkeys out past 50 yards.
Is a 5 or 6 shot better for turkey?
A single high velocity #6 will kill a turkey past forty yards. Sometimes a #5 load will pattern better than #6. The better pattern increases odds of getting that single pellet on the bone. So, go with whichever load patterns best regardless of shot size.
What is the best shot on a turkey?
The obvious best shot is a head shot as this will immediately kill the turkey in its tracks, but if you take a body shot it best to shoot a turkey in the back. By that I mean it is best to shoot a turkey as it is quartering away or facing straight away.
What shotgun ammo is best for turkey?
The most effective shot sizes for turkey hunting are #4, #5, #7, and #9. For #7 and #9 to be the most effective, they must be tungsten.
What size shotgun do you use for turkey hunting?
Shotgun hunters typically use sizes 4, 5, or 6 shot for turkey hunting. These sizes provide enough energy and penetration to take down a turkey at a reasonable range. However, the size of the shot can vary depending on the hunter’s preference, the type of shotgun, and the turkey loads used.
Which shot is best for turkey hunting?
It will allow you to quickly and accurate place your shot and get clean kills. In summary, No 4 – No 7 shot can all work well for turkey hunting. We think most hunters would do well sticking to either 5 or 6. The important take away from this article is that you need to pattern you gun before hunting with a new load.
How do I choose a turkey shot?
The first is the size of the shot. Turkey loads are typically available in sizes 4, 5, and 6. The larger the shot size, the more penetration it will provide, but the fewer pellets there will be in the shot pattern. A compromise between penetration and pellet count is often the best choice.
What is the best shotgun to kill turkeys with?
The biggest lesson I learned from this test for the best turkey loads (other than there are few guns better than the 870 to kill turkeys with) is that you must pattern your shotgun extensively, and at different distances, with the load you intend to hunt with if you want to kill a bird at or past 40 yards.
Can you shoot a turkey if you use the wrong size shot?
Using the wrong size shot can result in missed shots or wounded birds, which is not only frustrating but also unethical. Shotgun hunters typically use sizes 4, 5, or 6 shot for turkey hunting. These sizes provide enough energy and penetration to take down a turkey at a reasonable range.
Which Turkey load is the best size shot?
When standing at the ammo shelf at your local gun shop trying to decide which turkey load is the best size shot, many hunters simply hedge their bets with the obvious compromise and pick No. 5s. Not a bad choice, but let’s consider what’s good and maybe not quite as good between one shot size and the other.