The 3" (3.5"?) option.

[FirstBubba]

I shoot #5 lead Remington turkey loads. No state requirement to use non-toxic. If there were, I’m sure a load of #3 steel would take out Tom.

That "otter" do it! 😉

[FirstBubba]

My neighbor lady killed the biggest Merriam’s tom that I’ve seen with a .410 this season while grouse hunting (we have a fall season). I usually shoot at grouse with a 20 ga.

I picked up the .410 because of my shoulder. Federal makes, or did make, a 3" tungsten (#9's) turkey load.
I bought two 5 packs for $60! Six bucks a round! 🤯
Just out of sheer desperation, I shot 2 just to see how they'd pattern.
I think the little gun would do just fine with some good quality 3", lead 9's, but finding 3" .410 ammo is harder than locating 16 gauge ammo!

[WA Mtnhunter]

I picked up the .410 because of my shoulder. Federal makes, or did make, a 3" tungsten (#9's) turkey load.
I bought two 5 packs for $60! Six bucks a round! 🤯
Just out of sheer desperation, I shot 2 just to see how they'd pattern.
I think the little gun would do just fine with some good quality 3", lead 9's, but finding 3" .410 ammo is harder than locating 16 gauge ammo!

Why tiny 8 and 9 shot?

[FirstBubba]

Why tiny 8 and 9 shot?

Pretty simple, WAM.

"pattern density" and "penetration"

[dewman]

[QUOTE=FirstBubba;n69029]

Pretty simple, WAM.

"pattern density" and "penetration"

Pattern, maybe. Up close it's not an issue. Penetration no. Bigger shot hit harder, penetrate deeper.You can't buck physics. IMG_2718.jpg

[FirstBubba]

[QUOTE=dewman;n69030]

Pretty simple, WAM.

"pattern density" and "penetration"

Pattern, maybe. Up close it's not an issue. Penetration no. Bigger shot hit harder, penetrate deeper.You can't buck physics. IMG_2718.jpg

I don't know what to tell you dewman.

Best I can tell you is folks talking about knock down power.
Which has more "knock down"?
A .375 H&H or a .375 Ruger?
A .458 Win Mag or a .458 Lott?
It's numbers on paper and the game doesn't know... ...or care.
Aeronautics say a bumblebee bee can't fly.
Guess what?

I know folks think you can't kill turkeys with #8's and I know what my experiences have been.
The biggest shot I've ever used to kill a turkey was #7.5....and that was one bird. EVERY turkey I've taken with a shotgun was with #8 lead shot.

I've even x-rayed the head and neck of turkeys I've taken with #8 shot.
https://www.charlieelk.com/2017/06/1...key-headnecks/
...and I've even recovered #4's and #5's from the backs of turkeys legs.

The target area on a turkey is NOT that tough and shot doesn't have to penetrate THAT deep!
A turkeys skeletal structure isn't steel, concrete or even heavy bone, it's bird bone.

Number 8 shot will hit a turkey hard enough to break the spine and penetrate the skull and penetrate deep enough to do that. You only need one pellet, regardless of size, to disrupt the CNS to anchor a turkey.

[WA Mtnhunter]

Pretty simple, WAM.

"pattern density" and "penetration"

I guess so. Can’t dispute your success!

[FirstBubba]

I dunno WAM. If I used bigger shot and heavier loads, I might be even more successful. Who knows?
If I attributed my success to anything, it would be the turkey population where I was hunting. There were lots of birds. Getting one close enough to shoot wasn't THAT difficult.
It darn sure wasn't my magical, Pied Piper calling abilities! LOL! 100E0899.jpg In a preseason scouting/photograph session, I caught these six toms in a sparring match.