10Gauge

i would be scouting this weekend if our season started in 2 weeks....lucky dog!!!

I recently put a SteadyGrip on my SBE & SuperNova and was wondering about shim's....let's start with the SBE since both guns use a bit different shim design; SBE SteadyGrip Since the SteadyGrip stocks can't use the steel "cast" washers it appears the stock cast can not be adjusted for an SBE. I'm I correct in this assumption? The shims on the SBE will only adjust "drop" so is it safe to assume the SteadGrip has a "Zero" cast or is straight for both a right or left hand shooter? SuperNova SteadyGrip (applies to SBE2 as well) There isn't any provision for the steel "cast" washer inside this stock either. However, it appears that the shim system that goes between the stock and reciever may allow for some "cast" adjustment. I'm wondering if this is correct even without any adjustment washer inside the stock as found in the ComforTech stocks??? Does anyone know how much cast change the shims provide? The manual is not clear on this with respect to SteadyGrip stocks.

1 oz (reload) of #6 copper plated lead in 16 gauge........modified choke

i'm with Sarge on this one my SBE's have ALL fired multiple rounds from a low gun position (not on my shoulder)......having said this I'm also shooting "magnum" or high velocity" ammo and my guns cycle flawlessly. I've never tried a light target load but my M1S90 20 ga that see's a lot of dove field action is frequently fired with light loads and there have been many times I fired this little gun without having it mounted properly (not completely against me shoulder) and she cycled everytime. i've seen this happen with semi-auto handguns mostly 1911's, called "limp wristing" and maybe it can happen with a shotgun....i've just never witnessed it with ANY semi auto's i own and shoot?!?! BTW - The military, i.e. Marine Corp prefer gas operated semi-auto shotguns because they are "self regulating" meaning they will typically shoot ANY load they choose to fire...low recoil "rubber bullet" loads to heavy buckshot loads! A gas operated gun is more reliable when it comes to lighter loads this is why the military demanded a gas operated M4.

I hear ya, hog! I have two small steams that border both sides of my property (coon magnets) and i gave up planting sweet corn a couple of years ago....even after "thinning" the herd those rascals seem to know when the corn is ready and will come in at night and wipe out a 1/2 acre of corn! On the first "real" camping trip with my son when he was about 6 years old we put a box of food in the tent before going to look for firewood....the box had chips, marshmallows, bread, etc. When we got back to camp it was nearly dark and our flashlights caught a half dozen pairs of eyes on the nearly picnic table! we also had a trail of bread, marshmallows and chips leading from the tent toward the nearby lake....we counted 9 of these masked bandits in the campsite at one time!

nice bird honk! you won out on the "theory of probability" with that shot and if I were in the same situation I would have taken the shot as well. you mention the pro-diamond scope, is this the Nikon turkey scope? The reason I ask is I got a Nikon (with diamond reticle) in a trade that is mounted on my Encore 12ga (3" chamber) and i have not shot it yet but thinking i might give it a go this spring in KY or TN. I've never been a big fan of scopes on a shotgun but how do you like yours?

mud, you will be in my neck of the woods...i'm 15 miles south of Dayton, 40 miles north on Cincy! good news, we might be in the upper 30's low 40's this weekend....yippie! Are you coming out for the Bass-Pro "Spring Bash" that starts this weekend??? i just got back from working a helicopter tradeshow in Houston Tx and it was in the mid to upper 70's everyday....got cold at night (30's) but the days were beautiful....I only wish I was hunting or shooting and not talking lubricants! btw, mud - 1090fps is plenty fast enough for turkey's....they aren't "springing teal" ya know!!!

sounds like a good job for an illegal immigrant???? it was 9degrees here in ohio this morning when I rolled out of bed....low 20's right now! it isn't showing any signs of warming for a couple more weeks and i'm getting cabin fever really really bad! Spending 6 days in houston texas didn't help me much, weather was nice but i was working not having fun with a shotgun?!?!

You guys are killing me...I want to get some shooting in but the weather sux in ohio at the moment! Bowhunter,I have found high velocity loads to be detrimental to "better" patterns...faster is not better with respect to tighter patterns from my experience. I like loads under 1100 fps in my reloading or when buying factory ammo! Nice patterns btw....

Hog makes a valid point and some claim varmint control is a bad thing. However, having raised livestock and poultry all my life we have to eliminate the pesky coons every couple of years or our birds and eggs suffer! Some researchers claim if you kill 3 coons 6 more move in to replace them...I don't see it here on the farm! We live trapped 14 in one spring and only get a couple each year since then...same with coyotes and fox we got a few the first year (2000) but not many since. Rabbits were scarce until we did varmint control but they are on the rise now. We see most predation from hawks and owls on our place today! These birds get a free pass and their numbers are way up,too.

A friend uses that same choke in his remington for waterfowl but he is shooting 2's and BIGGER mostly steel as well....it patterns well with the big stuff from what he tells me...I've only seen it in action and he kills birds with it! I hope it warms up in ohio soon...I want to test some chokes and new loads!!!!

ROTFLMAO........... mud, you forgot about shooting the barrel rings off your SBE2's but i took care of that on my end! lol

good luck TS!

my "tag" is a quote from the Duck Commander.....nope i'm not the same guy! I'm a reloader, trky, for my 10ga and i use similar components as the Nitro boys, even shoot a Rhino in the 10....Nitro makes good stuff but if your willing to do a little research and pattern a few factory loads in the benelli's you can have a good shooter out to 40 yds....look at mudhen's posts with respect to his jellyhead and win XR's for example! he is getting more than 100 pellets in a 10" diameter circle and the patterns are consistant and uniform, too. My SBE's & M1's (12ga) are using .665" kick's tubes and copper plated federal's (5's & 6's) with good results and throwing excellent patterns to 35yds.....35yd patterns are a breeze....when you start going beyond that range things can get ugly real fast! finally, don't believe everything you read about shots over 40-45yds on ANY forum....most guys "pace" their shots and the reality few will truely be as far as they claim! it sure sounds impressive though.....

flhawg, did you try contacting the NWTF and asking them about the document??? i have seen similar articles in publications and recall a university study a few years ago on raccoon, skunk and oppossum predation. my uncle began a bobcat elimination program on his place in KY and after removing nearly 20 cats over the last 3 years his turkey population increased dramatically....bobcats are very hard on the poults not the eggs but if your friend does a little research he will find the data out there!

NK, practice your calling with a slate & box call....use the terrain (stay above the turkey's whenever you can) and you won't need to worry about the extra range......they will be in your lap, struttin!!! good luck

i'm waiting on a case of EM's new 10GA #5's in Hevi-13....the dealer said they would not be available until mid-late march!?!? i hope they come earlier....but i can always use my "reloads" if they don't! personally, i consider anything under .645" a "card shooter" but i ain't no card shooter so what the heck do i know?!?! i just won't shoot anything tighter than .655" with shot size #6....i'd would reach for 7-1/2's or smaller if i do....i have a .640 tube in a hastings wadlock/paradox barrel on an A5 Mag12 and that is a wicked patterning rig with 7-1/2" nickle plated lead, but i've only shot turkey's with that combo inside 25yds! finally, when i pattern i average my number of pellets inside a 10" diameter over a minimum of 5 shots of any particular load....so the ssx is posting an average of 87 pellets in 10". The JellyHead (.660"?) is more consistant with the same load so i'm thinking an even more open choke might pattern better than either the Jelly or the SSX...have you tried a .675 or .680 yet with the XR #6's?

did you try #4's in that $10 tube?

let me rephrase my question....what do these tubes you are shooting actually measure i.d. (inside diameter) in inches? lots of tube makers call a choke cylinder but they are not always a "true" cylinder for a benelli......most 12 ga makers use a .729-730" dia bore and your nova is more like .723-725". therefore your wad wizzard or patternmaster should be .723-725" but i'll be it is less....maybe .710-712" if you accurately measure the smallest diameter (not on top of those nubs) would me my educated guess but please enlighten me....i'm curious because i believe way to many of us over choke our turkey guns trying to tighten patterns and i am just as guilty! most of my guns are shooting .665-.675" tubes with good results but i'm considering a move to a .710 or .720" for kicks.....thanks!

you better double check those numbers....maybe in a 30" diameter circle @ 40yds! welcome aboard, btw!

those are good patterns in my book!

i'd keep shooting the jellyhead if you are going to stick to those win xr's! my take on these patterns you posted in the ssx is too tight....i'll bet it patterns 7-1/2's, 8's or even 9's beautifully....but that's a card shooter set up not a turkey setup!

I use the m1 20 but have not done a great deal of testing. I'm using an UndertakerHS and Hevi-Shot 6's and getting 88% patterns at 35yds...very dense head and neck 17-20 pellets. My son got his first turkey with this combo in 2004. His turkey was killed at 10-12 yards and i would limit my shooting to 25 yards with a 20 ga but that's just me! In 2005, I shot a gobbler in KY with the same gun and load and the bird was about 18 yds when he was rolled oback over the ridge....it will kill turkeys!

If you are getting patterns like that, I'd try them with hevi-shot or federal magshox flightcontrol! most of these are fairly open, do you know what constriction you have? Keep us posted on your patterns.

Straight ribs always intrique me...I have a hastings paradox barrel on one of my a5's and the choke has straight ribs too! It shoots the federal shells exceptionally well w/665" tube but the 640" tube is best with 7.5 lead. Keep us posted on your testing!