TacomaNWTF.org

 

Each spring a countless number of hunters spend precious time scouting, hunting and shooting at wild turkeys. But there is a big difference between shooting at an old tom and pulling the trigger on your trusty scattergun, knowing you’re going to kill a turkey clean and quick. Anchoring a wise old tom takes a well-placed, dense pattern of shot right to the head and neck. The only way to be sure your shotgun is capable of that is to pattern it. 

Turkey hunting has changed a lot in the past few years.  The market is flooded with equipment that has been graced by Jeckle-and-Hyde technology. The best and worst advances are new super-magnum shotguns.  The extra power is ideally suited for turkey hunting, but the misconception behind all that oomph makes some folks believe that patterning a shotgun is unnecessary. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Simply put, a person could shoot 2 ounces of shot at light speed, but it won’t kill a turkey if it doesn’t hit vitals. Patterning a shotgun isn’t difficult. It takes a small amount of time and a little investment in several brands of shotshells. 

For starters, a full choke is minimum. The idea is to retain the tightest pattern of shot as far as possible. If you want to spend some extra money, investing in a specialized turkey choke is a good idea. Most new shotguns come equipped to handle interchangeable chokes. A new choke is not necessary, but it might give you a slight advantage over factory issued chokes.  

To pattern a shotgun, begin by purchasing several brands of shotshells in various shot sizes.  What is the reason for this? Each brand of shell and shot size will pattern differently out of each individual gun. By testing an assortment of shells, the best combination of shot size, shell brand and shotgun can be determined. It’s important to realize that two guns of the same model and setup will pattern differently with identical shells. 

Find a suitable range or remote area to perform the test. The targets can be plain paper or silhouettes of turkey heads.  Post the target on cardboard boxes or a homemade patterning board. Position them at distances from 15 to 35 yards at 5-yard intervals. It’s best to shoot from a bench rest or other position that yields constant accuracy. 

Start by firing an identical shell at each target from 15 to 35 yards.  Collect each target and clearly label it. The information should include the brand of shell, shot size and distance. Repeat the process until you’ve fired a sample from each of the test rounds you’ve chosen. 

With all of the targets collected and labeled, it’s time to study them.  Take each target and draw a 15-inch diameter circle around the densest collection of shot in the pattern.  With every target marked, you should start counting holes inside the circle.  The targets with the highest number of holes at the farthest distance are superior choice.

The test not only reveals the best-suited load for your shotgun, but it gives you an accurate count of yards for effective killing range.  As soon as the cluster of pellets leave the barrel they start to disperse. Shooting at 5-yard intervals displays the spread of the pattern downrange. To reliably kill a turkey, the count of pellets should be high enough to place at least 15 in the neck and head of the turkey. Any less, and there is a risk of wounding the bird. Restrict the distance of the shot to keep the pattern tight.

Your shotgun is the most essential piece of gear on your person. The rest of your turkey gear won’t do you a bit of good if you don’t have a shotgun.  Turkey hunters work hard to put birds in front of the gun, and patterning will ensure it does the job.