What am I looking for in 12 ga. 3" for a turkey shoot or is just anything with a turkey on the box ok?

Are you talking about a turkey shoot or turkey hunting. Most turkey hunts supply the ammo so that every is shooting the same loads. For turkey hunting I shoot #2 copper plated.

What am I looking for in 12 ga. 3" for a turkey shoot or is just anything with a turkey on the box ok?

 

Are you looking for ammo to use for turkey hunting?

 

Are you talking about a turkey shoot or turkey hunting. Most turkey hunts supply the ammo so that every is shooting the same loads. For turkey hunting I shoot #2 copper plated.

 

Unless you're hunting in NY, #2's are not legal for tukey hunting in NJ or PA. Largest legal shot size here is #4 lead.

Sorry guys, I realize my mistake with terminology, I'm new to shooting anything but paper.

 

I guess it it will be just an informal hunt on private land, actually is in NY. Thanks for the suggestions.

If you are hunting in NY, you can use #2's, #4's, #5's or #6's. Turkey loads can be lead, copper-plated, nickel-plated, or non-toxic like Hevi-Shot. (All will work.) Loads for turkey do not need a "turkey" on the box to be suitable for turkeys. If you have any old lead-shot loads laying around that were used for waterfowl those are ideal. Lead #2's will take down a turkey with a body hit. (You just have to pick out the pellets while feasting on your bird.) Pattern your gun at a patterning board and see which load patterns the densest in the head/neck area of a turkey target, for that will dictate to you how far you should be shooting with that load provided it doesn't exceed 40 yds. Pellet energy needs to be 2.5 ft.-lbs. to penetrate the head/neck of a turkey. Most of the smaller size pellets lose that energy beyond the 40 yd. mark. Most 3" loads have 1 3/4 oz. to 1 7/8 oz. of shot, and run 1200+ fps to 1300 fps. With shot size as small as #5's, you can kill birds cleanly out to 40 yds.

 

You SHOULD buy a few different loads and pattern your gun with a full choke or something a bit tighter. This is the most important step. You need to know where your gun shoots and how it patterns.