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It’s been a little over a year since pandemic panic-buying left store shelves devoid of ammunition and, not surprisingly, supply still hasn’t caught up with demand. The rush to buy something—anything—that goes boom resulted in an ammo shortage the likes of which we haven’t seen, and no sector of the ammunition market was spared. And that includes turkey loads.
While ammunition supplies are starting to rebuild in parts of the country there are still regions where laying hands on a dedicated turkey load is a tough (and often extremely expensive) proposition. The good news? There’s no law against hunting gobblers with bird shot geared toward other species. But before you start substituting whatever’s laying in the bottom of your game bag for a dedicated turkey load, take a closer look at which shotshells can effectively pinch hit for turkey loads.
Turkey hunting is a popular pastime for many hunters across North America. The challenge of calling in and harvesting a wary old tom makes for an exciting hunt. Having the right ammunition and equipment is key to success and an ethical harvest. Many hunters wonder if they can use the same steel shot loads they use for waterfowl hunting to take turkeys This article will examine if steel shot is a viable option for turkey hunting and things to consider
Background on Steel Shot for Hunting
Prior to the late 1980s, lead shot was the standard for all shotgun hunting However, due to concerns over lead poisoning waterfowl and other wildlife, restrictions were put in place in 1991 mandating the use of non-toxic shot for waterfowl hunting. This led to the development and proliferation of steel shot as a lead substitute
Steel shot has some differences compared to lead that are important to understand:
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It is lighter than lead – a #4 steel shot pellet weighs around 36 grains vs. 54 for #4 lead. This means lighter payloads for the same shot size.
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It patterns tighter than lead due to the uniform round shape and harder surface.
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It has less energy downrange than lead and loses velocity faster.
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It can damage/wear out chokes and barrels not designed for it.
While mandated for waterfowl hunting, steel shot is generally not required, but allowed, for upland game and turkey hunting. However, its properties may make it less than ideal compared to lead or tungsten-based shot.
Is Steel Shot Effective for Turkeys?
The two main factors in determining if a shotgun load will be effective on turkeys are:
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Sufficient pattern density to ensure pellet strikes to vital areas
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Adequate energy for penetration through feathers, hide, and bone
How does steel shot compare to lead for these factors? Let’s take a look:
Pattern Density
The tighter patterning of steel can help place more pellets on target. However, with lighter payloads this advantage diminishes past 30-40 yards. The lighter #4 steel shot, common for ducks, only contains around 128 pellets vs. 216 for a 1 1/4 oz #4 lead load typical for turkey hunting.
Penetration
While steel pellets retain enough energy for turkeys at close range, they shed velocity and energy more rapidly than lead. This makes longer shots (past 40 yards) more questionable.
So while steel shot #4 can work on turkeys under 40 yards, it is not ideal compared to lead or tungsten-based loads that pattern well at longer ranges with superior energy retention.
Should You Use Steel Shot for Turkeys?
While steel shot can be effective on turkeys in the right situations, there are some good reasons why hunters may want to use other non-toxic alternatives tailored specifically for turkeys:
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Increased Effective Range – Hevi-Shot, TSS, and other tungsten-based turkey loads maintain pattern density and energy better at longer ranges (50+ yards) providing a larger margin for error.
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Larger Shot Sizes Available – Larger lead shot sizes like #4, #2 are common for turkeys. Steel shot larger than #2 is hard to find and not recommended in most chokes.
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Choke Concerns – Steel shot can erode and damage chokes/barrels not specifically designed for it. So turkey hunters need to ensure their choke tube is steel rated.
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Ethics – Turkey hunters owe it to the game to use ammunition that brings a clean, ethical kill. Marginal shots are irresponsible.
Using Steel Shot on Turkeys – Best Practices
While not ideal compared to other non-toxic loads, steel shot can be effective on turkeys. Here are some best practices if you plan to use it:
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Pattern your shotgun at the maximum range you plan to shoot to ensure proper density. Look for at least 100 hits in a 10″ circle.
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Use #4 shot or smaller for the best pattern density. Larger than #2 steel is not recommended.
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Limit shots to 30-40 yards maximum. Steel sheds energy rapidly past this range.
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Aim for the head/neck area only – no body shots. Hold dead on center, not above like with some lead loads.
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Use a quality steel rated turkey choke like Rob Roberts Heavyweight Hammer or Indian Creek .665 to get best performance from steel shot.
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Consider tungsten-based alternatives like Hevi-Shot, TSS, or Heavyweight 7s to get superior performance over steel at longer ranges.
While steel shot is allowed for turkey hunting in most states, it does have some disadvantages compared to lead and tungsten options designed specifically for turkeys. Careful patterning and limiting shots under 40 yards can allow you to harvest turkeys effectively with steel loads. However, hunters wanting maximum ethical performance should consider switching to more appropriate non-toxic turkey loads that deliver denser patterns and superior knockdown power at extended ranges. With the limited number of shots per season, using the right ammunition for the game is recommended.
Shooting Non-Turkey Loads Isn’t a New Concept
Tony Caggiano is the CEO and founder of World Slam Adventures in Windamere, Florida. Caggiano is one of the few booking agents who specializes in turkey hunting. He has hunted gobblers throughout North America (when I spoke with him he was planning to hunt birds in eight states this spring before finishing the season with a trip to Mexico). And, on more than one occasion, he has been forced to use something other than a dedicated turkey load to get his bird.
“When I can’t get my hands on turkey loads I like to use high brass upland loads, especially those which are designed for driven pheasants and the like,” Caggiano says. He finds that lead No. 5s pattern well through his turkey chokes, and he prefers copper-plated pellets if they are available.
“When I began turkey hunting 30 years ago that’s all we had, and they worked fine,” Caggiano says. “While I love and use many of the great new products that were designed specifically for turkey hunting, I always remember that serious, hardcore turkey hunters have been around longer than any of these items.”
Browning Ammunition brand manager Ben Frank says that while he hasn’t hunted turkeys with anything other than turkey loads, he has seen a great deal of pattern testing and says that so long as you respect the limitations of your weapon and follow the game laws where you’re hunting, other types of shotgun shells can kill gobblers.
“Most turkey loads are built with buffer,” Frank says. Buffer in the shot prevents pellets from bouncing into one another and deforming or flying out of the shot string. “This makes a huge difference in pattern density when compared to standard field loads.”
But Frank makes it clear that copper-plated, buffered shot of the proper size (he recommends lead 4s, 5s, or 6s) will kill turkeys, but it almost certainly won’t kill birds cleanly at the same distances as dedicated turkey loads. He suggests that hunters know their limitations and limit their range.
Read Next: 8 Great Turkey Hunting Shotguns
Muller Chokes | Making Full Choke Real With Steel | Review
FAQ
Can you shoot turkeys with steel shot?
Do not shoot steel at turkeys. Also do not shoot steel through a full or turkey choke.
Can you shoot steel shot out of a turkey choke?
These chokes feature a 1.05 parallel section designed to produce the optimum pattern with your shotgun and favorite turkey load. Never shoot steel shot larger than #4 through any turkey choke.
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 turkey shot lead or steel?
But steel shot has some advantages over lead and can certainly be deadly on turkeys. Steel shells contain more pellets than their lead counterparts of the same size. The popular No. 4 steel load may contain as many as 300 pellets depending on the charge, while a lead shell of the same size contains just over 200.