Selecting shotgun shells and chokes
The variety of available shotgun shells can be dizzying, and there are more being introduced all the time. But taking into account the size of your shotgun and your intended target will help you narrow the choices to a more manageable number.
Where to find shell information
When you buy shells, the box they’re in will be labeled with the gauge, shell length, amount of shot inside the shell (in ounces), the size of shot and how many feet per second the load travels. Some of this information may also be printed on each shell to help you identify loose shells.
Buy shells to fit your gun
Select shells that are the right gauge and length for your gun.
- Match the gauge of the shells to the gauge of your gun. For example, a 12 gauge gun takes 12 gauge shells. You CANNOT use a shell that’s a different gauge than your gun, even if the shell fits into the chamber of the gun.
- Buy the correct length shells. Shell length is measured in inches. The maximum shell length will be engraved on the barrel of the gun. That is the longest shell you can shoot with the gun, but you can always shoot a shorter shell.
For example, if your older gun is chambered for a 2 ¾-inch shell, you cannot use a 3-inch shell. However, if your gun is chambered for a 3-inch shell, you can use a 2 ¾-inch shell.
Pick suitable shot sizes
"Shot" refers to the pellets within a shell. Pellets come in different sizes depending on what they’ll be used for – the smaller the pellet number, the larger the pellet. Weird, huh?
Shooters might use shot as small as #9 for very small birds like quail, or as large as #2 for large birds like geese and swans. For comparison, there are 585 #9 lead pellets in an ounce versus only 90 #2 pellets in an ounce.
For turkey hunting, shot sizes 4, 5 and 6 will all work.
Size and velocity vs. recoil
Though turkeys are big birds, the target area (head and neck) is relatively small. Having a high energy load with a tight shot pattern is key to a clean kill. However, there are trade-offs between the having most and biggest pellets, the longest shells and the fastest velocity, and recoil.
Many newer turkey-specific loads come in long 3 ½-shells, with velocities up to 1,400 feet per second, and are designed to be used with specialized turkey chokes. These high-powered loads will kill a turkey but can be difficult and uncomfortable for some hunters to shoot.
It will take some trial and error to find the right shells for you and your gun. We’ll go over this more when we talk about patterning your shotgun.
Chokes
By definition, a choke is a tapered constriction that shapes the spread of the pellets as they leave the gun. A less-constricted choke throws a wider patter, and a more-constricted choke shoots a tighter pattern.
Some older shotguns have fixed chokes that are an integral part of the barrel. Most newer guns come with a selection of interchangeable chokes that look like small metal tubes and screw into the muzzle. The amount of constriction varies among the chokes tubes, allowing a hunter to change how their gun shoots based on what they’re hunting.
For a big, stationary targets like turkey, a full choke is the best choice and is usually included with the purchase of a new shotgun. This choke concentrates the pellets into a small pattern, ensuring more pellets hit the target zone (the turkey's head).
There also are specialized turkey chokes that are extra-full. These chokes shoot a dense, narrow pattern that may be more effective at longer distances.