I would like to know what cal. to use. I shot one with a 44 and my wife said not to bring any home like that one. I do not hand load, kinda looking at revolvers, But I have Encore pro hunter in a 308 So a cal. in the tc would work.Thinking of a red dot since I will be shooting 50yrds and under. Also thinking of a 357 any thoughts

All of what you've mentioned is illegal in my neck of the woods...I use the T/C 45/410 and call 'em in close and shoot 'em in the head. Don't mess up any meat that way...KRal

all are illegal here in Pa's spring season too. I'd shy away from the 357-I've seen them bounce off animals larger than squirrels!!

Anyway, all of the calibers you mention will destroy the breast of a turkey-Even a 55gr FMJ from a 223 blows up a Turkey like a M80 stuffed in a big frog!

A 308 is a good choice if you only want to mount the beard and Tail fan!

I would have thought a FMJ would do wonders out of the 308? I shot a squirrel with a 223 Rem 55gr FMJ at 90 yards and it did a stellar job.


KRal, ride’m hard with that LiL .410!!! Hoo Haa

Here in the fantastic state of NY, you are only allowed to use shot guns for turkeys too. If your looking to use a rifle or pistol, I would suggest a .17 HMR and look for head shots. Keeping that little bullet in a 1-1.5 inch circle especially at 50 yards with a .17 HMR is very easy to do.

gene, I really didn't answer your question with my last post but, if it were legal here, my choice of revolvers would be a Ruger single-six chambered in 22 mag or 17 HMR. Either one of these would be plenty to kill a gobbler, with a well placed shot in the vitals....shouldn't mess up your bird either...KRal

I thought that too,that's why I tried it but the proof was on the ground in the form of a pile of feathers. I hear you about the 308 and squirrels. Zips in and out. I do balistic testing on them and bunnies when I can't shoot anything else. Maybe it was the position of the bird, but the 223 FMJ absolutely ruined 1/2 the breast and of the other side. I guess 1/2 a Turkey in the pot is better than 2 in the bush!!

I've taken three fall hens with handguns...two w/ a XP-100 .222 Remington--the top pic'd gun--(50gr V-Max at 2900fps) and one w/ a XP-100 7mm WSM (162 A-Max at 2825fps). My experiences are very different than anyone else describes.

The .222 dropped one bird at 229yds and the other at 100yds. One was facing away from me while the other was quartering away...both shots impacted between the wing butts, in the spine. Both shots never damaged an ounce of meat.

As for the bird killed by the 7mm WSM...it was walking directly at me w/ its head down feeding. The range was 396yds. I placed the bullet just under its head, through the top of the chest, parallel to the spine and it exited out the pooper. It also never damaged an ounce of meat.





Shot placement on a turkey is key. The breasts are low and "under" the bird. If you keep your shot at "beard" level and break the spine you will have zero meat damage. This is a high percentage shot and what gun you use does not really matter.

As for head shots, a turkey's head moves WAY to much for me to try it. However...I did kill one at 23yds while archery hunting several years back using a steel blunt tip. Since I was up in a treestand, I tried the head shot and it worked perfect.

My favorite spring turkey cal is the 22 Hornet. I shoot a Contender with a SS 12 inch barrel. IMO it don't get any better than this

Hey guys thanks for the info. I was not taking a 308 turkey hunting, it just the cal. I have. As for the 44, I was wondering what the 44 specials would do on turkeys. It is legal to hunt with a pistol in va. where rifle is allowed. A lot of guys use 22 hornets and 222 around here. that might be a good choice. Also I want kill a spring turkey more than 50yrds. The fun in it all is calling them close not just killing them.

Bullelk Hunter "I'd shy away from the 357-I've seen them bounce off animals larger than squirrels!!"

What kind of loads are you using?! I've shot numerous Mule Deer and Turkeys with a 357 magnum. I'd been in Law Enforcement in the Denver Metro area for over 12 years and I've yet to see someone get up after being hit with the 357, and I think they might be a tad bigger than a squirrel!

As far as Turkeys go, a head shot is all you need.

Nevermind him....he just likes repeating the retoric repeated by the .357 Mag nay-sayers. His tones of sarcasm does not translate well on the screen.

guess i will have to give the 9mm a "turkey tryout"! bring 'em in close and wait for the shot....

Gerry......sarcasm???? NEVER!!! LOL<LOL<LOL

Them must be some awful tuff critters out in wyoming!!!!! I better stay in va. Ha