Auto pistol in .45 acp for Alabama Turkey?

[ironworkerwill]

Alabama rules:

TURKEY

*Shotguns, 10 gauge or smaller using standard No. 2 shot or smaller.
*Long bows or compound bows (no crossbows).
*Handguns or pistols using centerfire mushrooming ammunition, black powder handguns or pistols .40 caliber or larger. Handguns or pistols can only have open metallic sights (no scopes).
*Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit the possession of rifles, shotgun/rifle combinations (drilling) or buckshot and slugs when the hunter is stalk hunting both deer and turkey provided no person shoots or attempts to shoot turkey with the rifle or shotgun using buckshot or slugs.

I've been practicing out to 35yds and at this distance would be the limit of my engagement. I've been shooting 230rn fmj just to practice.

Would Y'all like to suggest an accurate factory (mushrooming) loading? I'll be getting enough to re-practice.

Does anyone have experience shooting turkey with bullets? From what I've seen, on the turkey targets, the vitals are not exactly where I expect them to be. Placement would be easy if they were all facing away while in full strut. One right up the ''bum'' seems to be the spot. I have hunted them for years with shotguns. Of course, shot placement with a shotgun is paramount but much more forgiving.

 

[rcmodel]

I would shoot them through the leg joints, or wing joints.

Keeps them from jumping off the ground and flying off before they know they are dead from a pistol bullet.

rc

 

[buck460XVR]

I would still attempt to shoot them in the head. Years ago I used to rifle hunt turkeys in South Dakota. It's amazing how a bird can take a bullet thru the chest and still run far enough to get away and die a slow lingering death. If one is hunting them with a handgun for the challenge, then a head shot is definitely a challenge.

 

[Patocazador]

The question I have is what bullets do you use to assure the "mushrooming" requirement in a .45 ACP?
The ones I have tried only mushroomed when they hit something hard like a log.

 

[jmr40]

I'm sure any HP or SP bullet would meet the legal requirement. How well it would expand on a 12-20 lb bird is hard to say. Not something I'd want to do, but if you can make hits then go have fun.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Alabama general rule for mushrooming is cast lead, jacketed exposed lead tip, or hollow point ammunition. Per local game warden.

attempt to shoot them in the head.

That would cut my range down to about 4 yards. Maybe 3
At least there'd be no suffering.

I might not try it unless I get something on the order of 41mag or better. I'm confident in my range but I don't want to loose one to the coyotes.

 

[Walkalong]

I simply don't understand why we can hunt deer with a rifle but not turkey. Weird. The .22 Hornet would be just the ticket for head shots. Either a clean kill or a miss.

 

[Fremmer]

+1 on buck's comment, I've seen them shot in the body with a .30-06 and fly away.

If you can hit one of those shifty turkey heads with a bullet, more power to you. I'll have to stick with a shotgun.

 

[rcmodel]

I agree.
Kansas has the same shotgun only law on turkey hunting.

It would be way more sport for me to use my old Winchester 25-20, .218 Bee, or a handgun.

However, every year, somebody gets shot while hunting in full camo, while using a turkey call in a brush blind.

By some idiot taking a 'sound shot' at a guy using a turkey call in the bushes.

The KF&G thought is, better it happen with bird-shot then a rifle bullet through the chest.

Sad we have to protect ourselves from other slob turkey hunters with such foolish laws though.

rc

 

[Jim Watson]

I'd use a 185 JHP Nosler or Zero as is popular in target ammo in lieu of SWC.

 

[Fremmer]

Don't ya think a .22 would be sufficient? It's just a turkey head. A .22 rifle with a scope would be interesting.

 

[ironworkerwill]

Around here they did use 22lr at turkey shoots, back when they shot actual turkeys at said shoots. 22lr works great for head shots.

 

[urbaneruralite]

Twigs do awful things to flight paths of single projectiles. With a shotgun you have lots of single projectiles. If there's a little brush in the way, you will still have enough projectiles stay on course to get the gobbler. Safety of decreased range aside, the shotgun is the surer choice in the woods at the ranges we usually kill turkeys.

Also, I think most would find that shooting turkeys at distance isn't much of a thrill. Getting close is the fun.

All that said, I was already considering the Talladega NF for a fall turkey hunting trip. Now that I know I can use my .327 revolver, I'm going to give it some serious thought. It'll have to be clear shots and lined up to a backstop to catch the bullet, but I really like the idea.

 

[Liquidring]

A nice mushrooming bullet for the .45 acp is the spear gold dot hollow point, and it stays together, I've shot some xtp's that separated.

 

[redneck2]

I simply don't understand why we can hunt deer with a rifle but not turkey. Weird. The .22 Hornet would be just the ticket for head shots. Either a clean kill or a miss.

Back in the 60's when I was growing up, southern states commonly allowed the .22 Hornet. IIRC, they'd try to hit at the butt of the wing. Lotsa difference between a centerfire varmint rifle than a solid pistol bullet.

Back I my youth we had a chicken that was all kinds of scroungie looking and sickly. So, I decided to shoot it with a .22. And shot it, and shot it. After chasing it around for maybe fifteen minutes and maybe ten hits, it finally died.

IMO, unless you happen to hit the spine, you have virtually no chance of recovery.

 

[gamestalker]

RC nailed it. I've seen turkey take to the air dead, they just didn't know it. I once plastered a gobbler real good in the head with a 2 oz. load of copper plated BB, nearly took his head off. But he got up while doing his death beat and flew away. But while walking back to my truck I found the turkey dead as a door nail about 500 yds. from the slope I had called him in and shot him on. I've had a few other similar, yet bizarre experiences with turkey.

If you break the leg, the wing won't usually function on that side, same thing if you break the wing, the leg won't work. It will at least prevent them from flying or running off.

GS

 

[redneck2]

Gotta remember on a bird, the actual kill zone is quite small. Brain is very small, maybe the size of a pea. Heart maybe the size of a walnut. Most of the bird is breast muscle. Hit there only wounds

Shotgun has the advantage of throwing enough pellets to hit the brain and/or spine.

Fastest kill I ever got was with my 10 gauge at 67 yards, Hevi-Shot, custom super tight choke. At the shot the bird completely flipped. DRT. No twitch, wiggle. Nothing.

Hit another one dead on at about 20 yards. Flew off about 150 yards into the side of a tree. If he hadn't hit the tree trunk, I never would have found him in the swamp.