I know some states allow it, wish it was legal here in Mo. For you fellas that have taken them what handgun did you use and caliber, ect. Did you change your tactics much from using a shotgun.

My turkey gun is a FA .454 with old Speer 260 gr. Mag HPs. Killed 37 with it. One shot thru the wing butts and they're glued to the ground. Damage about 1 1/4". No meat loss.
I call them or spot them.
The .454 with ONE bullet gives the bird a chance over 300+ shotgun pellets! It also extends my range. This year I got 2 big gobblers at 68 & 129 yds.

In the county that I hunt pretty much any firearm is allowed for the fall season that runs concurrently with whitetail deer season. During the spring season only shotguns are allowed. Shot my first turkey about 30 years ago using my Contender with a 10 inch 22 Hornet barrel and factory 45 grain loads. They worked well and didn't damage much meat. Since then I've shot a few more using the 45 Colt in a S&W 625 using a Sierra 240 grain JHC at 1000 fps, and an EMF Hartford (Rossi M92 with octagon barrel) in 45 Colt using a Nosler 250 grain JHP at 1200 fps. No shots have been beyond 60 or 70 yards, and when hit the birds just drop. Meat damage is minimal.

I have used a FA 454 and a contender in 22 hornet for most on my turkey hunting. I did take one with a S&W 22 mag.

Most have been called in but I did snipe a couple at longer range with the hornet

Here in PA you can use any type firearm for fall turkeys. Although the Game Commission is considering going to shotguns only. I have taken turkeys with Contenders in .218 Bee and .223 along with 44 mag in a revolver. Shot placement is key on turkey. As WVhitman has said the wing joint is the spot. A turkey?s vitals are about fist sized and are between the wing joints. I also agree that a big slow revolver bullet works best with minimal meat damage. I think he probably has the most handgun turkey kills on the planet.

I had read where PA is considering going to shotgun only for fall season due to low turkey numbers. That would be a huge disappointment, for me anyway. I hope they reconsider.

I won't even bother if I have to use a shotgun but maybe that's the point of changing the regulation.


John

They say the fall kill is too high. I contend that there are fewer fall turkey hunters than there were 20-30 years ago. What there are more of is predators. Coyotes, bobcats, eagles, hawks, fishers. All of these prey on turkeys 24/7. Rifles do not have that big of an impact.

If the fall kill is too high, it certainly doesn't have anything to do with me.

But I do prefer hunting with a handgun over anything else during the fall or otherwise.

And I agree with you regarding the number of predators. Coyotes run rampant where we hunt in north central PA and last season my cousin had a bobcat attack his decoy when he was calling. Would have liked to have had video of that.

John

Well, it's official. They took centerfire and rimfire rifles and handguns out of the PA fall turkey season.

Temporary measure according to one of the board members in their meeting.

We'll see.

John

I wish. We're shotgun/archery only, which is the only reason I haven't got into turkey hunting. Tennessee even prohibits workarounds like the Judge or the Kauger Arms 410 Tomahawk.