16 for Turkeys?

[Chucker]

Does anyone make a load that is suitable for dropping a tom with a 16?  That's currently all I have available, and I'm considering getting out this spring.

[archbishop]

 question, most people i know use 10's and 12's for turkeys but im sure a 16 is suitable if you have a clean shot. i take it there is no turkey load for 16 guage? if not i would assume a 6?

[spiker2]

i have never heard of a 16 gauge load for turkeys. but you never know. check your local sporting goods store. they would knoe for sure.

[adkRoy]

My dad uses remington 16 gauge #4 shot shells. He's taken many a turkey with this shell.

[Bobman]

I've never seen 16ga turkey loads.  You may be able to find #4 "magnums" for the 16 but those are hard to find as well.  I used #4 heavy game loads from Federal or Winchester Super X for a lot of years.  It will do the job if you get a clear head shot at close range (no more than 30 yards) but forget about anything far or through a lot of brush.

[Chucker]

OK, just did some browsing around....
Winchester has a Super-X with 1 1/8 oz. of 4s.
Remington has a Nitro-Steel with 1 5/16 oz. of 2s or 4s.
Federal has three choices - Premium Ultra-Shok High Velocity Steel with 15/16 oz. of 2s or 4s.  Premium Wing-Shok Magnum with 1 ¼ oz. of 4s.  Game-Shok Hi-Brass with 1 1/8 oz. of 4s. 
All of the above are running over 3.19 drams of powder, hovering around ~1300fps.

Most everyone makes a game load with 6s, usually around with 1 or 1 1/8 oz. of lead, running ~1200fps.

I think I've got two different questions now....What choke I've got, and if I can safely run the hotter loads.  It's a ~1940s Stevens 520A.  I've only seen one other one, and I can't recall what choke it had.  Mine isn't marked.

[devil-man]

Don't use steel in an older gun.
Any of the other #4 loads should work fine.
Buy a box of each and see what patterns best in your gun...

If you have a tight pattern at 30 yds your choke will work.
If you take it to a gunsmith they should be able to tell you what it is by the diameter.
Or just measure it with a caliper and call them...

[spiker2]

hey mike. just bought an undertaker choke for my mossberg. the pattern on that thing at 40yrds is unbeleavable. about the size of a half dollar. i'll bet i could reach out and touch them at fifty no problem with it. may want to consider 1 for your gun. only cost $25.00.

[devil-man]

may want to consider 1 for your gun. only cost $25.00.

I think a little broader pattern is probably a good thing for my gun. 

[spiker2]

better use a double barrel then i like the choke. it allows your patter to hold together longer so you can reach out and touch them. this will definatly turn there heads into a hacky sack ball for sure.

[JimP]

Any shotgun will kill a turkey. Just be mindful of the range and how your gun patterns. -Jim

[Deer-Downer]

 I am going for my first time this year with woth a 20.gauge all I have to do is get em good and close and make a clean shot.

[Lobes]

I would use a 16 gauge for anything you can take with a 12 gauge. Ballistics are nearly identical. Only a few less pellets. I used a 16 gauge side by side exclusively for several years and would not hesitate to throw anything from 4's to 6's at a turkey. Just pattern your gun to verify your effective range with a good concentration of pellets. You'll enjoy the combination of high velocity and low recoil just like I did.

[Chucker]

I doubt my gun will ever be used for turks...  After poking around a bit, (but admittedly not checking with a scissors gauge) most of the Stevens 520As were imporved cylinder.

[bwhunter2417]

I killed my first turkey with a modified choke... shooting 9 shot (long story) low brass load for clay birds... dropped it in mid-air in the fall... ended up being an 18 1/2 lb gobbler with 8 1/2" beard...