#4 Turkey Load for HD

[RedFord150]

I have a couple small boxes of 00 buck for my pump SG for HD. With current events, I went to my LGS to buy some #4. All he had was magnum turkey loads. I bought a box of 10. How are turkey loads different from any other #4?

[bballwizard05]

I use #4 as well. When I first got my shotgun I bought slugs and 00 (because thats what everyone talks about) but after doing a fair amount of research, I came to realize just how much these rounds would penetrate through multiple walls. I have a box of #4 and a box of #6, I have not had a chance to test penetration between these two rounds on my own, but I know that either will do the job if need be, with far less chance that they go through multiple walls. I have even tested birdshot, and at 18 feet (the farthest distance I can figure I would shoot in my home) there is almost no spread. I would have no qualms about using birdshot if that was what I had available.

[VegasND]

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2010/02/robert-farago/shotgun-penetration-with-various-rounds/

[therealnickb]

I have a couple small boxes of 00 buck for my pump SG for HD. With current events, I went to my LGS to buy some #4. All he had was magnum turkey loads. I bought a box of 10. How are turkey loads different from any other #4?

Did you mean to buy 4 buck for the "recent events"?

I don't know how turkey loads are different from other 4shot, but they are not buck. Probably a little more powder in the magnum though.

[SilentPea]

#4 turkey is a birdshot load still. Probably more powder and velocity than your standard #7.5 or #8 clay loads, but still well below the most people's recommended minimum of #4 Buck.

Shot diameter is .13" vs .24" for bird/buck #4.

[ucsdryder]

High brass #4 would be absolutely devastating inside 30 yards.

[nrakid88]

People here need to state #4 BUCK or #4 BIRD. Seriously stupid for me to guess what you all are talking about.

[edgerly779]

If they are #4 turkey they are obviously not #4 buck. #4 buck not legal for turkey.

[Khromo]

Back in the last century, when I had a job, #4 buck had gained a lot of traction within the law enforcement community as a good compromise to achieve the "perfect" amount of penetration in the target and through your home's walls.

It is my understanding that LE has migrated away from #4 buck as the mediocre performance on determined attackers outweighed the benefits of less penetration through drywall, etc. It is my understanding (from a distance these days) that a larger projectile is more in vogue.

At close ranges, I would suspect that any 12 gauge load will solve the vast majority of defense problems with good shot placement. I continue to follow the lead of the LE community, and have mostly abandoned the #4 buck when there is a larger projectile load available. Maybe #1- or #2 buck.

[plumbum]

Pretty sure a "turkey" load is generally a heavier load (more shot, maybe 1.5 oz) and manufacturers like to plate the shot; and we are talking about "birdshot" not "buckshot". Turkey hunters like large doses of shot out of an extra tight choke. It probably says 3" max dram or something on the box, followed by the shot size and the weight of the shot.

And yes, at close range on a soft target they can be devastating.

[RedFord150]

... It probably says 3" max dram or something on the box, followed by the shot size and the weight of the shot.

And yes, at close range on a soft target they can be devastating.

Yes, it was #4 shot vs. #4 buck. This was my confusion.
12 gauge, 2 3/4", 1 5/8 oz. shot, copper Plated, 4 Dram Eq.
Brand is Federal Premium Magnum Turkey.
I simply asked for #4, I did not Specify Buck or Birdshot.

[edgerly779]

plumbum got it mostly right except for dram equivalent. A low base dove/ skeet/ load has 3 dram equivalent a high base or magnum loads go from 3 1/4 to 4 drams. a typical low base load is 3.1.8 3 being powder charge 1 being 1 ounce of shot 8 being size of shot.

[Bad Voodoo]

#4 Buck inside HD; #00 Buck outside HD. Bird for training/target.

[NRai2001]

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/201...arious-rounds/

Good link..

In the article the author believes that #1 buckshot is superior to 00 buckshot.. stating that 16 x .30 caliber pellets (penetrating 16.5 inches, stretch of 8.5 inches) is better than 9 x .33 caliber pellets (penetrating 20.5 inches, stretch of 8.5 inches)


"In our opinion, this load is superior to 00 buck for selection as a tactical shotgun load. While exhibiting slightly less penetration, overall penetration is still acceptable and if all pellets strike their intended target there is potential to create approximately 77% more wound tract with the additional 7 pellets..."

[Bad Voodoo]

...#1 buckshot is superior to 00 buckshot...

LEAs and military think so too. That's why WE can't be find it on the shelves, ANYWHERE!