Don't forget that short range pattern

**Leo** · 02-08-2009, 11:55 AM

It's pretty easy to become obsessed with 40 yard targets and beyond. That's good to fine tune and get the best at that range. Just don't take for granted that short range pattern is gonna go exactly where you want it. Your pattern is pretty darn small under 20yds if you have a 50yd gun.

You better be sited in. Not much room for error here.

**WaCoyote** · 02-08-2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by Leo

It's pretty easy to become obsessed with 40 yard targets and beyond. That's good to fine tune and get the best at that range. Just don't take for granted that short range pattern is gonna go exactly where you want it. Your pattern is pretty darn small under 20yds if you have a 50yd gun.

You better be sited in. Not much room for error here.

Howdy Leo, Long time no see. I agree but I am one of those pattern obsessive folks who thinks about 40 more than 20 yards. Oh' Well.

I'm gonna do it a bit different this year. I'm taking My CZ Bobwhite SxS out with a turkey choke in #1 and a Improved Mod, or full in #2.

Depends on how she patterns though. Hopefully I'll be able to do that this week.

Good luck this year.

**hoythunter37** · 02-08-2009, 03:16 PM

That is one heck of a pattern at 40 yards. Good luck this year.

**Leo** · 02-08-2009, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Matt Fadler

That is one heck of a pattern at 40 yards. Good luck this year.

Yeah it would be incredible at 40 yards but this was at 17 yards. The point I was trying to make is don't take your super close yardages for granted. Those are tough shots. If your sites are off they can be impossible.

This same gun puts 117 #5s in a 10in circle at 40yards and 89 #4s in a 10inch circle at 40yards. Both loads are more than adequate at that distance.

**PA_RIDGE_RUNNER** · 02-08-2009, 04:52 PM

Leo you are right. That is why I put sights on my turkey gun just to be sure that I concentrate when the shot is close.

**goodnottygy** · 02-08-2009, 06:14 PM

I have killed numerous turkeys at 20 to 50 yards.... however, missed more at 5 or 10 yards because of the tight patterns than 40 yards!

So... just remember that there is not much room for error at close ranges.

**ljmelea** · 02-09-2009, 09:44 AM

Amen on that!If that gobbler moves his head an inch you miss.great point.larry

**maytom** · 02-09-2009, 09:54 AM

Good advice. Be sure to check your patterns at all ranges!!!

**pendog** · 02-09-2009, 10:05 AM

At real close ranges i aim a little lower on the neck. I found at that close range down into the feathers is where you want to be. It pivots less than the upper neck. Does anyone else aim lower the closer they get?

**Leo** · 02-09-2009, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by pendog

At real close ranges i aim a little lower on the neck. I found at that close range down into the feathers is where you want to be. It pivots less than the upper neck. Does anyone else aim lower the closer they get?

Absolutely CORRECT!!!

At point blank range broadside aim just above the beard in the feathers. Believe it or not if you hit right there you won't tear up the breast as it actually starts a little further back.

The head is the quickest moving part of a turkey's anatomy. At point blank range it can move 6 inches almost instantly.

**Adjam5** · 02-09-2009, 12:49 PM

Leo I have had a personal experience with a Tom at close range. I just about assassinated this bird like Lincoln at the theater

.
He came in all quiet behind us, while my son Joe and I were working birds in front of us. He turned his back with fan spread to get past a downed branch on the trail and that gave me a chance to swing my gun around. The barrel was practically touching its head when I fired. MAYBE 6" from it...
The gun had to send out a pattern no bigger than the size of the barrel. I was luck to have dropped him where he stood. After that, I have really gotten to know how this gun shoots and have done 1 yard, 5 yard and 10 yard patterns.
Just this past Saturday, at a gun show here in NY, I was able to purchase a shorter bbl for this Mossberg 835. I was using a 28"bbl then, with a HS Strut Undertaker tube and now I have a 24 incher. The long one caught every branch as I walked in the turkey woods.

Excellent advice Leo to know your gun at close range.

**WaCoyote** · 02-12-2009, 12:38 PM

Not to hijack but I've got two chokes for sale in the classifieds if interested.

**Dakota** · 02-12-2009, 01:22 PM

Aim lower ar closer ranges, got it!

Dakota

**Strut10** · 02-12-2009, 02:03 PM

Sighting systems are your friend.

A bird that gets in really, really tight on me is going to get body shot. Probably on the butt of the wing so as to miss the breast meat.

So........Leo.........whatcha gonna do about those 18 flyers in your pattern??? Looks like you need to tighten that up a little.

**Covehnter** · 02-12-2009, 08:06 PM

You gotta be real real careful up tight. I wish i could figure out how to get our videos from last year up. I have a toad at 8 yards catching the center of my 3.5" #6's. Its something to watchin in slow motion.