doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Turkey Season Comin!!! "Whatcha Usin??"

I know upland season is still on in most of the country, but not here. Just bought the turkey application today here in Michigan. That time again. Please share any pics and comments on your choice of gun,load, and your call preference. Yes, jOe, post photos of your turkey dogs.

Last spring, I had the chance to use a FOX HE/12b, borrowed from a friend. Sorta ala Buckingham. Had my own LC Longrange/12b at the time and did compare patterns with some vintage Western SuperX, paper hull, 1 1/4oz, #4's and the LC shot noticeably tighter at 40yds. than the FOX. Both measured very close to each other in choke diameter. This particular FOX was not Becker bored. Maybe made the difference. I did use the FOX, and the bird called into 50ft. it didn't seem to matter.

I'm not an expert on turkeys, got my first look at hunting turkeys (Merrimans) on a weekend hunt to Nebraska with a friend. Skipped school at Colorado State(1968) and we roared to Indianola Ne. in my 62 Chevy Impala 327 for the hunt. Hez got a bird the first morning, locating with an owl call and talking them in with an Ashby "Old Hen" box call. That year I picked up the same outfit as my friend. Ashby "Old Hen" and a wood owl hooter call. It wasn't until the mid 90's before I thought I'd give this turkey thing a try. Still had the calls. Now, I really get a hoot (so to speak) out of this turkey hunting. The owl call is now destroyed as I took one of my lab pups along on a morning scouting trip last spring and didn't associate the gnawing sound in the back to my owl call being consumed by the eager pup.

This spring the gun of choice will be my LC Smith Pigeon Grade/12b, 30" steel barrels, Mod/Full.



Photo #1 Turkey and the FOX, Ridges provided good cover to get within calling distance of the roosting birds.



Photo #2 Closeup of FOX, great gun



Photo #3 Wife Patty with FOX and pattern board

I am planning to use a Parker #3 frame 10 gauge with 30" Damascus tubes, choked F/F. I have some 1-1/4 oz. blackpowder loads that should do the trick.

This is all contingent on me getting invited to hunt....

For me, it is either a 3-frame Parker 10 ga. DH with 30 in. full/full and 1-1/4 oz. handloads, or a 2-frame Parker 12 ga. with 30 in. full/full and 1-1/4 oz. handloads. I've taken nice gobblers with both guns before.

It seems a shame that I cannot seem to find a decent low-pressure handload for the short ten that uses the Remington SP-10 wad/cup and has more than 1-1/4 oz. of shot.

My hunting...bird, small game, hog, deer, bear, TURKEY is all with contemporary flintlocks. For turkey I'll use either of these:

Gentleman's double in 20ga, 30 inch barrels, left barrel choked ten thousandts, right barrel choked 30 thousandts, using 60gr 2f powder and 1 1/8oz #5shot. Effective out to 30 yards. The original of this piece was made in New York in 1810. I have a second set of 16ga barrels for wing shooting. Left barrel cyl bore, right barrel choked 10 thousandts.

New England Fowler in 16ga, 51 inch barrel choked ten thousandts, using 70gr 2f powder and 1 1/4oz #5shot. Totally effective out to 40-42 yards. The original of this piece was (probably) made in Rhode Island in 1755.

Turkey hunting is addicting, isn't it!

Even more addicting when you're using a flintlock!!!
All the best

Randy, last Spring I used the L.C.Smith hammergun I bought from you with Republic Metallic Cartridge Co. black powder 4's. The first week of the season I called up 3 big gobblers together and shot two of them with a right and left. I could have smoked the 3rd one, but didn't want to risk a wingshot with two already on the ground.

The open barrel on the Smith hammergun is too open really for turkeys though, so this Spring I am going back to my NEF 3 1/2" single with heavy shot. The hammer Smith is relegated to quail duty. I quit shooting an automatic at turkeys the last time I had to carry 60 pounds of gobblers(3 of 'em)for two miles out of the woods. Might as well shoot an elk or something as do that again. One shot, one gobbler; and go back tomorrow.

I use friction calls mostly, my favorite being a box-type call I bought from an old guy named Tom Gaskins, I think. He ran a tourist trap called "Cypress Knee Land" somewhere near Lake Okeechobee in South Florida and I stopped by on the way back from a snook fishing trip in the Everglades. We had a great conversation about turkey hunting and I bought one of his calls. He's long dead, but I believe his family still markets the call...Geo

RMC, that Fox is deeelishus! Imagine the bird was too!

It may be off topic, but you had to ask. I use a Browning gold 12 gauge w/ 3-1/2 roman candle loads! Kills 'em dead @ 55 yards.

American Arms Turkey Special, 3 1/2" 10ga, 26" barrels. Sudden death on turkey and geese.

George, Thanks for the reply. Curious about your TomGaskin box call. Googled it and one shows up on Cabelas, Is that the call your talking about? Looks puzzling as to how it works. Does the cork hold in the corn squeezens for celebrating the successful hunt? Randy