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 season is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start gearing up and preparing for a successful hunt. One of the most important pieces of gear is choosing the right ammunition for your shotgun. While small game and upland bird hunters may opt for birdshot, many turkey hunters gravitate towards heavier loads like buckshot. But is buckshot the best ammo choice for turkey hunting? There are some definite pros and cons to consider.
What is Buckshot?
Buckshot refers to larger lead pellets that are typically used for hunting bigger game like deer boar and bear. The most common sizes are 00 (“double aught”), 0, 1, 2, and 3 buckshot. The larger the number, the smaller the diameter of the pellets. For example, 00 buckshot pellets have a diameter of about .33 inches and weigh around 54 grains. #1 buckshot is around .30 inches and 51 grains.
Buckshot shells contain fewer pellets than birdshot. A standard 12 gauge 00 buckshot shell may contain anywhere from 9 to 15 pellets depending on the load. The lower pellet count means the pellets can be larger in diameter and carry more energy for deep penetration.
Pros of Using Buckshot for Turkeys
Knockdown Power
The first advantage of buckshot for turkeys is the knockdown power. With its thicker pellet walls and increased mass, buckshot hits much harder than birdshot. This can translate into cleaner kills on turkeys. The heavy .30+ caliber pellets penetrate deep and transfer maximum energy into the turkey’s vital organs.
Effective Range
Buckshot also extends the effective range of most turkey loads Those thick pellets retain energy and velocity better as they travel downrange 00 or #1 buckshot can be deadly on turkeys out to 40 yards or more when using an open choke, Birdshot quickly loses steam beyond 30 yards,
Penetration Through Cover
Another plus for buckshot is penetration through grass, brush, and limbs. Turkeys often hang out in the thick stuff, and those bulky pellets can punch through light cover better than smaller birdshot. This helps ensure clean hits when a turkey is partially obscured.
Minimizes Pellet Spread
With fewer pellets in the shell, buckshot won’t spread as fast or open up as wide as birdshot. This can be beneficial for concentrating more pellets into the turkey’s head and neck area. Though not as precise as a single projectile, it does help improve shot stringing at longer ranges.
Cons of Using Buckshot for Turkeys
Over-penetration
One negative of buckshot is the potential for over-penetration. Those heavy pellets and extra energy make buckshot prone to completely passing through a turkey’s body. This can lead to lost pellets and damaged meat. Birdshot tends to deliver maximum energy transfer and stops quickly after impact.
Excessive Damage
Following the over-penetration, buckshot can sometimes create excessive damage to the turkey. Large holes blown through the body can ruin a lot of meat. The shock of those heavy pellets can also pulverize bone and organs. Using birdshot leads to cleaner, more localized damage.
Large Pellet Spread
While buckshot won’t spread as fast as birdshot, the pattern still opens up quicker than a single projectile. This makes precision head and neck shots more difficult beyond 30 yards. Misses also become more likely compared to a tighter birdshot pattern or rifle bullet.
Unethical Beyond Close Range
The potential for wounded birds and ruined meat makes buckshot a questionable choice for most shots beyond 30-40 yards. Ethical hunters limit shots to within their effective range rather than risk crippling losses. Birdshot and turkey specific loads are better suited for most typical turkey hunting distances.
May Be Illegal
Finally, some states prohibit the use of buckshot for turkey hunting. Oregon, for example, only allows #2 shot or smaller. Hunters need to check their local regulations before grabbing buckshot shells. Several states do set pellet size restrictions.
Best Uses for Turkey Hunting
Within its effective envelope, buckshot does have some appropriate applications for turkey hunters:
- Close range shots inside 30 yards
- Thick, brushy cover where penetration is key
- Hunters who want knockdown power on longer shots out to 40 yards
- Areas where gobblers hang up just out of range
Overall, buckshot works best when you need maximize energy for close, quick kills.
However, most experts including the National Wild Turkey Federation still recommend sticking with lead turkey loads in #4, #5 or #6 shot. These deliver lethal performance and minimize meat damage across typical turkey hunting distances. Hevi-Shot, TSS and other tungsten-based turkey loads now allow excellent 40+ yard patterns in the #5 and #6 range as well.
Specialized turkey chokes like the Primos TightWad or Indian Creek .665 can transform your shotgun into a devastatingly tight turkey gun. With a tuned turkey gun, birdshot pays off in deadly 30-40 yard headshots.
Buckshot certainly has some advantages over birdshot when hunting spring gobblers. However, smaller lead turkey loads or tungsten products specifically designed for turkeys offer superior performance across more ethical distances. They kill cleanly without ruining meat and allow for more precise shot placement.
Overall, buckshot works best inside 30 yards when you need raw knockdown power. But for most turkey hunting scenarios, you’re usually better off using turkey specific ammunition that balances lethality with shot density. Nosler, Winchester, Federal and others now make excellent turkey loads that retain lethal energy at 40+ yards. When paired with the right choke, these shells create dense, even patterns for clean harvested birds.
So while buckshot can work on turkeys, hunters wanting tight patterns, deadly performance at range, and minimal meat damage should opt for turkey-specific loads in #4-6 shot. Make sure to pattern your gun and ammo at various yardages and only take ethical shots. This ensures a clean, successful hunt whether you choose buckshot or specialized turkey loads.
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.
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!”
Turkey Choke for buckshot?
FAQ
What shotgun do you use for turkey?
A pump-action gun like a Mossberg 500, Winchester SXP, or Remington 870 is perfect, and all are easy on the wallet.
What animals can you hunt with buckshot?
It turns smoothbore firearms typically used for firing birdshot at small game, wild turkeys and waterfowl into useful hunting pieces for bagging larger game, such deer and wild hogs.
Is it legal to use buckshot for turkey hunting?
In some areas, it is not legal to use buckshot for turkey hunting. Buckshot is not the best choice for larger distances when turkey hunting. Guns work reliably only if all their mechanisms and parts are kept clean and free of any traces of corrosion on their surfaces.
Can you use buckshot on a bird?
Using buckshot on a bird is considered, by many, unethical and typically renders the majority of the meat inedible. Although buckshot might not be the best choice for bird hunting, it’s widespread use by law enforcement has led many homeowners rely on a home defense shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot shells for protection.
What is the best birdshot for turkey hunting?
Shots if you could get them tended to be on the long side. Turkey chokes really shine at giving you tight patterns with heavy loads (1.5 – 2.25 Ounces) of #4 – #7.5 Lead Birdshot for Turkey Hunting. They also throw tight patterns with #8 – #10 Birdshot for Cardshooting Games, a.k.a. “Turkeyshoots”.
Can You sub buckshot for birdshot?
You cannot sub buckshot for birdshot as they do not flow through the choke the same, this changes pressure and can cause problems. Ridiculous. By the time the shot has got to the choke, the pressure is not an issue. Just so you’ll know, MAXIMUM pressure in a shotshell is achieved BEFORE the base of the wad leaves the case.
What chokes can I use with a lead buck shot?
What this means it that any choke will be fine with lead bird shot #F-#12 plain/nickel plated/copper plated, lead buck shot #OOOO-#4 plain/Ni plated/Cu plated, soft nontoxics like Kent TM, HS Classic Doubles, Nice Shot, and Bismuth. What causes problems are the harder shots like Hevi Shot, Heavyweight, Steel, TSS, and ITX 13.
Can You bait a Turkey at a deer feeder?
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