56,cal smooth-bore..question????

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turkey45

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..can i shoot buck shot,in this barrel for turkey hunting???
any info about shooting the smooth-bore will help..thanks
 
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess: T/C Renegade? They're the only .56's I've ever heard of.
I suppose if you had card wads for it, you could shoot any type of shot you want out of it, minding that there prolly isn't a choke of any sort on that gun, so patterns will be large... strictly a close range deal.
 
Shot Size For Turkey

Every state has different shot size restrictions about what can be legally used for turkey hunting. My state restricts shot size to #4, #5 & #6 shot, since buckshot can be used to poach deer and if the shot size is too large, the pattern won't be dense enough. Other states may allow #2 shot or even the use of rifles. I don't know if buckshot is legal in your state or if you would be better off using your gun as a rifle shooting a single ball or not.
However, I've heard about successful turkey hunts with the TC cylinder bore .56 loaded with shot out to 25 yards, and maybe a little farther is possible with a large shot load.
You'd probably want an overpowder wad or card between the powder and the shot. Here are some gauge conversion decimal equivalents to give you an idea of which ones to buy for a good tight fit over the shot also:
Gauge...............Caliber
24_____________.579
25_____________.571
26_____________.563

You really need 24 gauge, and you can get them from circlefly wads:
http://www.circlefly.com/

I've experimented using tamped down newspaper as a substitute for wadding over and under the shot and it will work, but be careful about starting any fires with burning embers.
What size of loose shot do you have available? #4, #5 and #6 is what's legal here and the most commonly used elsewhere too (#6 is smaller but gives fuller patterns).
You would use your powder measure to measure out your shot charge. Setting your powder measure to 120 grains will give you 1 5/8's of an ounce of shot which is pretty much the maximum amount that you would want to stuff into your .56 bore, maybe even use a little less (but at least 100 grains of shot), along with 80 - 100 grains of powder. This is an approximate turkey load for you to pattern in advance to see how it will shoot.
Make sure you put something over your shot to keep it in the bottom of the bore and from slipping forward in the barrel, even if it is only a small to moderate amount of tamped down newspaper. And let me add that you should seriously consider carrying your rifle in at least a slightly muzzle up position at all times as you travel through the woods to keep your shot charge down in the barrel, and so it won't slip forward or out of the bore.
Good luck and let us know how things go! ;)
 
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