what's a turkey load?

[Ukraine Train]

I was looking at ammo on Cabela's website and most of it says "turkey load". What does that mean? I'm looking for #1 buckshot for home defense, would #1 buck turkey load work well?

 

[mete]

Depending on the laws of the state you live in . In NY you are limited to # 4,5,or 6 shot . These will not penetrate feathers so you have to use head shots, that means you have to use a turkey choke too (extra full) and usually sights or scope. Home defense who be better with a goose load such as BB shot or going to the #1 buckshot.

 

[blue86buick]

AFAIK, turkey loads are usually a bit stouter than your normal load...so recoil is harder, which for a HD shotgun isn't necessarily a good thing.

 

[cookhj]

if it said that it was a #1 turkey load, then it is using #1 shot, not #1buck. i know in VA that you can't use anything bigger than #2 shot for turkeys, and #4 or #6 is better. for home defense, just get some reduced 00 buck loads.

 

[labgrade]

A "proper" turkey load might be loaded a bit hotter & have a maximum payload of a given shot size - = max dram/max load.

A bud uses Winchester's 1-7/8 oz of #4s at max dram & does very well. At around ~$14/25, it's cheaper than the touted "turkey loads." Have a few boxes myself ....

A turkey load is what kills turkeys consistently - likely a statement about the hunter rather than the load, although a tight patterning load (for your SG & choke) is better than not.

& having never used nothing smaller than #4s for the big birds, I can attest that they (#4s) do shoot through feathers jolly well enough.

I would stay away from anything called "turkey load" for home defense as that's not what they're made for (i.e. a single shot/very tight pattern at fairly decent distances). HD is close-in, quick & possibly multiple shots.

'Sides, I know of no place that allows #1 buck for turkeys (CO limits to #2/T shot sizes) ... betcha you either misread the ad of Cabela's misprinted.