Which AFFORDABLE Turkey Load is BEST? | Full Test & Review

[@michaelrogers4285]

Good comparisons here, you should get you a table and lead sled

[@TDINWY]

You absolutely need a gun rest rig.

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

We thought about using a gun rest, then we decided in real life you don’t get to use a rest, so doing it this way would be more “realistic.” Honestly, looking back on it, we regret doing it this way and wish we would’ve used a rest! Hopefully, you can still get something out of this test!

[@jcann313]

What size choke were you using?

[@carlwilliams6300]

I love the Winchester long beard XR

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

It hasn’t let us down yet!

[@Blackpanther_risen]

Appreciate u doing these tests but to eliminate deviations, use a gun bench/rest. Also, remember every gun/choke combo shoots differently w/ different shells

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Good call! Definitely should have used a rest on this one!

[@budgetbirder]

Exactly.. and I noticed in the review at the end you talk about consistency.. now, put 3 targets out and each distance and shoot 3 of the same shot/load and check for consistency... not saying one is end all be all good or bad, but check for consistency.. this will also tell you if you pulled the shot or moved.. I second the opinion of using a trigger stick or bench rest..

[@caseychapman4794]

Been using Longbeard XR in 3 and 3 1/2 for years, 3 1/2 i use in an 870 with Briley XF choke and the 3 i use Carlsons longbeard xr choke both have knocked the slobber out their beaks every time. They’re my personal favorite.

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

It’s about as deadly as it gets!

[@joncavallo4391]

I use Winchester Longbeard ER, 3 inch, 12 gauge, #5 shot, shooting a Mossberg 835 mag, with a Tru-Glo gobble dot, mounted on a pic rail. Good tight patterns at 50 yards! 😊 By the way, choke is a Carlson's 0.670. The only thing I've done differently is added o-rings to keep caps on W/E from coming off, due to recoil! Scope and caps being camo, hard to find a cap in thick grass! Lost one, but Tru-Glo sent another set at no cost, then put o-rings on at base of turrets! No more lost caps!

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Sounds like we have a very similar setup! I hope they bring each of us some luck this season!

[@budgetbirder]

Oh also, I want to give this bit of advice to anyone, only because we're going through it as we speak.. I love the XR's... shot them for years.. BUT... it's good to find another shot that gives you the results you desire out to the yardages you expect to shoot.. because, as we are going through right now, we can't get the Longbeard XR's anywhere.. went to all 5 shops in our area, they're all backordered and can't get any in, probably not in time for season.. so... do your due dilligence and test out other brands and sizes of shot, just as an insurance policy so to speak

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

That is great advice! It’s always good to have a backup plan!!

[@budgetbirder]

@@BuckFeverOutdoors thanks.. I only started that mentality a few years ago when, same as right now, we had a shortage of Longbeard XR's in our area so I panicked.. I tried 2-3 different shells and they were horrible.. thankfully we got the XRs in just before season so I was happy.. this year, I have to find another shell as a back up.. I got the Double X's because our shop here has them in 3" .. I have my youngest boy (12) as a first year hunter under the Ontario Apprentice Hunter program and I am sure he won't like the 3 1/2".. lol.. I did want to say great video too... I saw the Federal Grand Slams here so I may go back today and pick up a box just to see how it handles through my gun ( Remington 887 Nitro Mag) and my Carlsson Long Beard XR ported turkey choke in .660...

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

@@budgetbirder thank you! Good luck this season!

[@budgetbirder]

@@BuckFeverOutdoors thanks so much.. best of luck to you as well

[@joncavallo4391]

I've managed to get Winchester Longbeard, 3 inch, 5 shot, 12 gauge at Cabelas!

[@jerrodladner3019]

Thru the yaers i have also spent lots of money on chokes and even a few new turkey special shotguns.everytime i had a set up that shot super tight i ended up missing 1 or 2 birds every year. I now shoot either longbeard 6s or federal 6s thru a old winchester with a fixes full choke and juat do not ahoot past 45 yards.i still miss every once in a while but have a much better overall average.

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Glad you found your sweet spot! Good luck out there!

[@Dan-ms1zk]

I do the same. Stay with my old Winchester and get em in close. If he don't come close enough you still had a good day. Have a good season.

[@jds2010ram]

Why are comparing ammo free hand ???

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Using a rest would’ve definitely improved accuracy, but then there’s really no point in doing the test at all because every shot would be identical. It seemed more important to test the ammo in a more “realistic” shooting scenario with no rest, to see how forgiving each load would be when the shooter has more of an impact on the trajectory. If you make a perfect shot with any load, the result will be deadly. It’s the loads that still kill the bird even when you don’t make a perfect shot that are truly the best.

[@User-nx7rs]

I agree with you TSS is too expensive especially since when I hunt turkeys if I can't call the birds to 40 yards or less I let them walk.

[@coltoncarroll5935]

I shoot the long beard xr 6s out of the long beard xr choke and I’m lethal out to 50yd and this video really helped me out in making me decision thanks a lot!

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Glad to hear it!! Thanks for watching!

[@russellehrgood9835]

I like the time and effort you put into your video. If you can tell us your shotgun setup, choke and make. I shoot my shotgun patterning off the bench, it gives a more accurate reading of the performance of the shotgun, choke and ammunition.

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Thank you! Looking back, I should’ve been shooting off of a bench! I’m shooting a 12 gauge Mossberg Maverick 88 with a Head Banger Long Range choke.

[@camocamario6300]

Federal grand slam has been my go to. I agree 5 shot is the sweet spot.

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

The federal grand slam would probably be my second pick if I couldn’t find long beard xr anywhere!

[@paullight6341]

6 s worked the best with my gun and tubes 1100 mag with Remington turkey choke fifty plus right on

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

@@paullight6341 whatever gets the job done!

[@tripplebeards3427]

Your bead and or rib was installed off center. Install a red dot which I use to use but have got away from because most my shots on turkeys have been 10 to 15 yards lately. So close I almost miss because my patterns with the cheap $5.99 box of nitro turkey loads are the size of a baseball with my code black pattern master tube.

[@budgetbirder]

it's funny you mentioned this.. I used 3 different shotguns over the past few years ( alwasys 12 gauge) and it's because I couldn't get good patterns.. I kept missing birds or hit them way too low ( in the breast).. I found I had a difficult time anchoring the shotgun consistently... I installed a red dot and wow, night and day difference..

[@tripplebeards3427]

@@budgetbirder I have a beretta pintail with a bead issue. It also hits low. I use my silver mallard because it’s right on the money. I drilled another big Tom two days ago with the cheap Nitro turkey #5’s. Hammered it!

[@budgetbirder]

@@tripplebeards3427 awesome man.. I didn't get a good pattern out of my set up with the Nitro's but I know a few that do.. it's crazy to think of the vast difference in patterns not only between brands of shell, but just shot sizes too..

[@tripplebeards3427]

@@budgetbirder shocked as well with cheap trap hulls they use

[@burkejones8277]

I shoot the 3.5 LB XR in #5, the magnums at 1050 fps. They pattern extremely well in my 870. I was trying to go down to a 20 gauge for next year with tss, but I am sticking with the 12 and the LB XR’s. But I have killed turkeys with all the shells you shot on this video over the years except the Federal Grand Slam. I just never shot them once I found the Longbeards.

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Somehow we always come back to the LB XR as well. It always seems to get the job done!

[@HollerTenn]

Good job man

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@josephsnisky1851]

Turkey kryptonite -Rem Nitro turkey 5 or 6 3 or 3.5 .

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Whatever gets the job done👊🏼

[@budgetbirder]

sadly, to properly test these shells you'd have to also try different chokes.. I had a Jellyhead in my gun and it did okay, so I thought.. until I changed to a Carlsson and wow, talk about a much better result.. each gun will handle each load differently, but the gun and choke combo will be the ultimate decider.. your set up on this test may handle the XR's perfectly, but change to a Jeb's or any other choke, or change the size of the choke ( say a .680 to a .640) is also going to yield different results.. I am going through this right now ( or I did) when I got this Remington 887 Nitro Mag.. like I say, the Jellyhead was in it and my dad loved it.. I put in the Carlsson and like I said, it's amazing the difference..

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

The choke certainly makes a huge difference! Maybe more than some people realize!

[@budgetbirder]

@@BuckFeverOutdoors oh I hear ya.. even more than I realized when I first got into it about 22 years ago.. I just bought a "cheap"' choke that fit the gun and went out thinking they all shot the same.. wow, was I wrong.. so many types and styles, so many sizes, it's unreal once you scratch the surface.. BUT it gets so expensive if you opt to take the entire process and figure out what type, style ( ported or non-ported), size of choke and try to match it to the gun AND the load.. it can be expensive and rather exhausting.. lol

[@NitroRoo]

Great video! I did a similar test and came to the same conclusion. I also know how your shoulder feels! 😅

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Haha! Glad you had a similar result - makes me feel better about the consistency of the Long Beard XR! Rest up that shoulder and good luck this season!!

[@robertblumer2578]

Could be the choke

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Definitely has a lot to do with it!

[@mattsalassalas3883]

Hell I was just gonna go out with 2 3/4 number 6 shot think that’ll work lol

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

In most cases, that should do the trick!

[@joshuabennett7334]

I’m my opinion with extensive patterning of most tungsten on the market and most lead turkey shells. Tss is awesome but if you are shooting a 12g is kinda a wast of money unless you have a optic on your shotgun and hunt open terrain. I love how tss makes a 20g capable of what a 12g was 20 years ago. And makes a 410 a viable turkey gun. I have not had much luck with any Remington lodes and Winchester long beard and double x pattern the best as far as lead lodes go. Counter to what the market pushes a none ported choke is patterns better than a ported similar choke. Every lode likes a different constriction so you should get a 660 a 670 and a factory full and dial it in from there you can choke to tight and when you do you get horrible patterns. A lot of cheap shells work best with a factory full vs a turkey choke

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Sounds like we’re on the same page about these loads! Thanks for watching!!

[@joshuabennett7334]

@@BuckFeverOutdoors I spent a couple of grand on tubes and shells over the past couple years just to figure out a decent lead shell in a 12g with a factory full is all you need to hunt in the tick woods around me

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

@@joshuabennett7334 doesn’t have to be the fanciest, just has to do the trick!!

[@castfountain4905]

I’ve been shooting the federal grand slam with a improved modified getting great patterns out to 50 yards

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

@@castfountain4905 sounds like a great setup!

[@steemerxaxon1643]

I would NEVER put ANYTHING over the WINCHESTER LONG BEARD (MAGNUM) # 5/6 with the PRIMOS TURKEY CHOKE I have in my 870

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Gets the job done every time!

[@gregorymceaddy8884]

Don't you mean nitro turkey not fire ?

[@bobhicks7738]

I am impressed with your marksmanship, however here is a suggestion to consider for evaluating Turkey Loads. Optics on your shot gun will allow you to adjust your shots to zero on your target for each brand. Every brand, & different loads within that brand will print differently on your target. Optics will allow you to correct the variations. Next, for eliminating variables caused by the shooter, get a steady rest to zero your shotgun & for testing various loads. FYI, my son shoots the Winchester XR, & I shoot the Federal GS in 3”, both are very effective. Nice to know the Federal GS patterns well enough to shoot out to 50 yds. Have not tried to shoot that far, but I can recall a time or two that it would have come in handy to know.

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing those great tips! I think for this video our goal was to really keep things as simple as possible to be more relatable to the weekend turkey hunter who doesn’t have an expensive gun, or a fancy red dot sight, or anything like that. Trying to find the best affordable option for someone who doesn’t go too crazy with their setup. Best of luck to you and your son this season!! Thanks for watching!

[@Mississippi72]

Save money just use them 2 3/4" pheasant loads #6 or 7.5 shot copper plated get 25 in a box

[@RockyMtnGobblers]

I guess you get what you pay for, those shells suck at 20 yards. Most of my shots now are 20-25 yards.

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

@@RockyMtnGobblers definitely want to avoid those cheaper shells if you can!

[@gregorymceaddy8884]

Try it with no choke...

[@henrybright8531]

Testing lead shot patterns in below freezing temps will net poor results

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

Never heard that before but you might be on to something! I wonder if that was causing some of the patterning issues.

[@henrybright8531]

@@BuckFeverOutdoors atmospheric conditions like temps effect ballistics. Though all the loads were tested in the same temp so that’s a good control, just know the load will improve when temps are warmer

[@BuckFeverOutdoors]

@@henrybright8531 that is very good to know!

[@raybobkowalski2154]

You are a rookie,no sand bags, no bench,no sights,or red dot& gun that Don't shoot straight man you got alot to learn buddy😂😂

[@jathantalley-iv9yf]

He won’t have a sandbag or a bench to shoot from when he’s in the woods, so why not test it like you would if he was hunting with it. You got a lot to learn buddy😂😂😂

[@tripplebeards3427]

If your load testing at least get a solid rest so your not wasting ammo to find out if it’s YOU or your gun.

[@Bryce-uu4cf]

​@@jathantalley-iv9yf because this is a test of different loads from a distance idiot

[@User-nx7rs]

Pattern both ways, a solid rest to see what it really does and off hand to see how it performs in the feild.

[@escapetherace1943]

imagine using a red dot or anything but a bead sight for anything under 50 yards lol, lmao

[@JosiahTippelt-q9e]

If your going to pattern or even compare patters i would use some sort of a rest. NEVER free hand your patterns my grandpops told me