I use a good ol' fashion padded seat on the ground with my back against a tree. I rest my turkey gun (FA .454) on a Bog POd and PSR rest( not made now, but a Bog Pod U shaped rifle rest should work). 2-6 Bushnell Elite on the FA. I range multiple trees with my Leica Geovids for possible shots.
My load is the old Speer 260 gr. Mag HP (not made now, but the newer model may work). Damage is about 1-1 1/2") thru the wing butts (the only shot that won't totally destroy the breast meat).
Last year I used this set up on a spring gobbler (21 1/2#, 9" beard) at 129 yards and a fall gobbler (19#, 7" beard) at 68 yds. Those were # 36 & 37 turkeys with this whole set up. It works.
I tried some other .45 bullets years ago, but probably not XTPs. I'm not a fan of them. They may work, but I don't know how they'll do on turkey butts(wings). My want to try lighter XTPs. Turkeys are killed by tissue shock, not expansion (!) or penetration(!). I thought they were. I used a 400 gr. lead FP in a .45-70 Contender in the past. Broke one wing and one hip joint. He got away. None of the 37 turkeys killed with the .454 have moved. They all folded immediately.
Good luck. Turkey hunting with a handgun requires enormous patience and a little luck getting set up on the turkey.


Last edited by wvhitman; 04/18/2021 10:22 PM.