Turkey gun barrel length

Standishray

I'm confused. Seems that drawing a turkey "in" to shoot is difficult, so that leads me to believe that a longer range shotgun would be preferable. I've heard so many stories of turkeys that stay just out of range. Longer barrels have greater range, right(?), think goose gun or 5" vice 3" 45. Larger loads have higher energy which means greater effective power delivered further away. So why are "turkey" guns marketed with relatively short barrels and super tight chokes?

I bought a Benelli SBE with the longest barrel, added a turkey choke, but haven't used it, or patterned it at any distance yet, thinking it would be close to ideal for a first time turkey hunter, 10 gauge being better.

New to these forums, still learning the ropes, hopefully some experienced gobbler hunters can explain.

32 Magnum

According to Barnes in "Cartridges of the World" - the highest shot velocity (in general) for 12 ga. shot shells is from a 22 to 24" barrel. Pattern "density", i.e. the number of individual shot within a given area at various ranges is controlled by barrel "choke" or constriction. Most Turkey "type" barrels sold today are in the 22 to 24" length and are usually equipped with an X-full or XX-full choke tube - this concentrates the pellets in the pattern very tightly and provides more strikes in the lethal zone at any range.
Barnes cites examples of shot velocities for various types of shot and composition. He also demostrates that longer barrels actually will reduce muzzle velocity. The longer barrels provide a longer sighting plane which, in general, will provide a better sight picture. However, most modern Turkey barrels are equipped with adjustable rifle type sights for point shooting. Many are fitted with adjustable fiber optic sights.
Hand gun and rifle loads are designed to work optimally with standard barrels lengths - different story than with shotgun loads.

beantownshootah

quote:Originally posted by Standishray
I'm confused. Seems that drawing a turkey "in" to shoot is difficult, so that leads me to believe that a longer range shotgun would be preferable. I've heard so many stories of turkeys that stay just out of range. Longer barrels have greater range, right(?), think goose gun or 5" vice 3" 45. Larger loads have higher energy which means greater effective power delivered further away. So why are "turkey" guns marketed with relatively short barrels and super tight chokes?

I'm not a turkey hunter (yet), but I think I can add something here.

You're right that the limiting factor in turkey hunting is range. . .you want the maximum range possible.

Consider that shotguns are a little different than rifles.

Yes, in *GENERAL* a longer barrel means more velocity, but you hit a point where the shot (or bullet) hits its maximum velocity, and after that point, more barrel actual translates into LESS velocity, as it just represents more friction for the shot wad/column (or bullet) to have to overcome.

As mentioned, with shotguns, you hit that limiting barrel length before the maximum length of common shotguns. For ordinary loads, you won't gain extra energy from a 30" bbl compared to a 28" bbl.

There are really only two reasons to go with a longer barrel on a shotgun. One, *IF* you are using rifle-like sights (which many turkey shooters do) then you get a longer sight radius. The other reason just has to do with balance. A longer barrel swings slower. . .which may (or may not) be an advantage depending on what exactly you are trying to shoot. If you are shooting clay targets, it could be good.

If you have to carry the gun long distances (ie weight is important) and are using optical sights (eg a dot or scope sight), or need to get the sights on target ASAP, then a short barrel is what you want.

Now one big difference between a shotgun and a rifle has to do with ballistics. Briefly, the round shot fired from a non-rifled barrel means that shotgun pellets lose velocity. . .and therefore effectiveness. . . pretty quickly, in a matter of only a few dozen yards (as opposed to several hundred yards for a serious rifle cartridge).

Using denser pellets can help here a little bit (explaining the popularity of "heavy shot"), but there is only so much you can do there. (IE you can't hunt using depleted uranium shot! [;)] )

In practice, there are really only two ways to increase the effectiveness of a shotgun pellet load at range. Both have to do with maximizing useful pattern at distance.

One way is to have the tightest choke possible, so that you retain the maximum number of useful pellets at your aiming point. This explains the super-tight chokes in turkey guns.

The other practical way to increase the effectiveness of a shotgun pellet load (eg pattern) at range is to increase the absolute number of pellets in the pattern. In other words, you want the maximum possible payload of shot.

One way to do that is to go to a bigger BORE shotgun, eg a 10 gauge.

The other way is to increase the payload of shot using larger shells, specifically 3 and 3.5 inch shells.

Thus explaining why turkey hunters like the super-magnum shells. Its not because they hit harder (although to some extent they do), its because they put more shot in a useful pattern at maximum turkey ranges.

Hope that helped a little bit.

rcoane

I AM A TURKEY HUNTER AND A PORTED BARREL OR CHOKE WILL GET YOU MORE RANGE. THE TURKEY LOADS ARE MADE SO THE WADING STAYS WITH THE SHOT LONGER BY OPENING BACKWARDS. I LIKE NORMAL BARREL LENGTHS BECAUSE I HUNT MORE THAN TURKEYS. I LIKE 4 SHOT BECAUSE IT HITS HARDER AT LONGER RANGE. IT ALSO HELPS TO FIND SOME TURKEYS THAT NEVER GET HUNTED AND WORK ON YOUR CALLING. I HAVE A LAND OWNER THAT DOESNT LET PEOPLE HUNT ON HIS PROPERTY BUT LETS ME MY PRACTICE MY CALLING. I FOUND OUT I WAS MAKING SOME MISTAKES. A DECOY WILL ALSO GET THEM A LITTLE CLOSER. THEY NEED TO SEE THAT HEN AT SOME POINT IF YOUR IN OPEN AREAS.

timhill100

i have a rem 1100 20 inch barel with rem chokes, for turkey i use the extra full choke and have killed birds out to 45 yards using just #5 hi brass 2-3/4 inch shells, seems to work fine for me and i can also just change chokes for rabbits grouse ringnecks, or whatever small game i go after, best all around shot gun i have, next to my 870 but that stays set up for rifled slugs only

asop

We've been using tents for the last 5 years or so. Really forgiving in movement and comfort using those cheap plastic lawn chairs. We always use a hen decoy. Guns a guns a gun. Not over calling and pateince has worked for us.

Standishray

Appreciate all the input. Have shorter barreled guns, will need to chokes for and the tent plus hen decoys. Most likely need to work on calling.

Funny how in the off season I've had to chase them out of my yard or driveway, but come season they're wary as all get out.

A 223 would do so many times here, but not allowed here, got to be a shotgun. I'll work at it.

Any calling tips..... as he opens Pandora's box carefully.[:D]

Mobuck

I'm proud to say I was one of the first to shift to the short barrel turkey guns. I had a custom made barrel for my Rem 870 when Winchester was first starting to use screw in chokes. It also had a lengthened forcing cone and polished bore. I guess I should have patented the concept. This barrel is 22 1/2" determined solely by the location of the vent rib posts. The earlier shells gave a huge fireball due to their slower burning powder which current shells don't seem to produce. There is no set of rules relating to the best patterning ammo/choke combo. Only testing will determine your best load and choke. My favorite load was the XX 2 ounce #4 which put a lot of turkeys on the ground when I was a turkey guide.

tsr1965

I might not be the first or last to say so, but your logic is all wrong. I have seen turkey's killed with everything from a 410 to a 10 gauge. Dead with the 410. was as dead as it was with the 10 gauge.

My own personal turkey gun is a Remington 870 Express Turkey gun with a 21 inch barrel, and a factory extra full turkey choke. At 30 yards the pattern of #6 Winchester Suprem Hi-Velocity 3", 1 3/4 oz. load is just a little bigger than a bowling ball. I have killed turkey's with this, out to 65 yards. One thing to remember or keep in mind, is that it is not the single pellet energy that kills the turkey by penetrating its spine...unless you get lucky and put one thru the brain. It is the energy of a massive shot string, folding his neck over, or dislodging it that kills him...so the more pellets on the bird, the better. They say heavy shot has an advantage, but I can't say so as I have not used it.

But in all, you don't need a cannon to kill a turkey. you can beat yourself up if you wish, but it is not a requirement.

Best

BowGunHunter

Your Benelli with a turkey choke and 3 inch number 4 or 5 shot will pattern well out to 50 yards possible a little farther. Try different shells and see what works best.