The old timers seemed to have the opinion that 4s were the best thing going, but you'd be lucky to get one pellet in a can where #6s would riddle them. So 6s it was. I later became interested in patterning guns with various loads and various chokes, even moved up to shooting paper targets that had turkey heads on them. If I put 10 or 12+ pellets in the head, I was cooking with Crisco. Again, #6s always took the victory, so that's what I hunted. My first "good" patterning rig could accomplish that task with 3" Winchester lead #6s out to 50yds. I knew no different, 6s proved to be the winner every time. The funny thing is I killed a pile of toms with 6s, never had a problem with crippling birds. Many of those birds were out at that 50yd mark + or - a couple yards. Again, none ever took flight. Then, there's a couple poorly misjudged birds along the way out past 50yds and yep, those inferior 6s killed them stone dead. Pure lucky pellets I suppose. I really couldn't tell you how many birds I've killed with lead 6s, but it's more than enough to know for a fact that they are indeed deadly turkey fodder in range tested set-ups. So, to the point of the story, I just don't see the reasoning behind the myth that 6s are a poor choice when it comes to turkey hunting. I personally feel it has far more to do with guys shooting birds at much further ranges than their gun is set up for, guys not knowing their POI, guys getting those lucky one pellet hits with larger shot....basically guys just not knowing their equipment. I fully admit that I'm eat up with this stuff, I'm a passionate handloader and love to come up with loads and gun/choke combos that take things to extreme limits. For those reasons I no longer use my beloved lead #6s, but I darn sure know that they are fully capable for turkey hunting out to ranges where the pattern density holds. I also realize one needs to run the combo that suits his style of hunting best. There's a give and take to long range set-ups, a comprise in close range pattern size is a good example. I personally like to kill my birds in the 25-35yd range and do so more times than not, but I'll take one at 60yds in a second if given the chance. I spend too much time and money chasing these rascals to let one pass me by if they hang up at a range I know my equipment will perform. If that's not your cup of tea, I'm cool with that as well. I like shooting them with smaller ga guns or archery tackle at times as well and fully understand the sense of accomplishment for those challenges.
Anyone else feel the same as me about good ole #6 lead?
loder
