[Jack Crevalle]

I read a post from someone mentioning down loading a .30 cal. round for hunting turkeys. I believe it was .30-06.

While I've seen birds hunted with .222 rounds I was wondering if anyone had any actual personal experience with shooting a bird with a .30 or greater round and what was the result?

 

[Tom]

30-06

While deer hunting in the fall, I shot one with a 150 grain 30-06 once. I was lucky, it was facing me and I hit it right between the breasts a little low. It was gutted and the tail shot off when I got to it, the breast and leg meat was fine. The hunting club I was in a long time wouldn't allow rifles for a long time because the rounds destroyed the bird on a broadside shot. I guess a full metal jacket might make it threw ok?

 

[Jack Crevalle]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

That's an interesting question. Then again, a hollow point might only make it through one breast and not go through the body cavity contaminating the meat.

 

[Jack Crevalle]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

You might have trouble hitting a turkey in the head even with a scoped rifle and a good rest. It's a small target and it's almost constantly moving.

With a shotgun, some people use smaller shot and aim strictly for the head since a body shot, even with full choke, larger shot and magnum shells doesn't penetrate that much.

 

[mtn boy]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

I have took turkey with 30/06 and 22 mag here in Va. The 30-06 shot was a back shot with the bird feeding toward me,there no breast damange. The 22magnum shots have been upper body shots( above the breast)good clean kills. I'm going to try the 17 hmr this week. Good Luck. mtn boy

 

[m14dan]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

My son uses a 35 rem with a 200 grain lead flatpoint handload at about 1800 fps. I use My M-14 sniper .308 with a 168 grain lead bullet going about 2000 fps. Lead bullets are great. My gun is extremely accurate and I will take a head shot if I can but due to brush or whatever I am happy with a body shot. I am just careful where to put it. That pointy lead bullet won't blow it up unless it hits a lot of bone so I try to go for a broadside base of the neck shot. that is pretty easy. My son goes for the middle of the body. It does a little damage but the bullet goes right through and hasn't messed much meat up. High power jacketed bullets though be careful with. They can mess up a lot of meat if you don't hit them right.
http://www.m14dan.mrswizard.com/jpg7B.jpg

 

[Jack Crevalle]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

I have took turkey with 30/06 and 22 mag here in Va. The 30-06 shot was a back shot with the bird feeding toward me,there no breast damange. The 22magnum shots have been upper body shots( above the breast)good clean kills. I'm going to try the 17 hmr this week. Good Luck. mtn boy

A buddy of mine thinks the 17 is too hot. He wants a .22 Mag. Let us know how the 17 works.

 

[m14dan]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

I thaught they did allow rifles in Tn. I am from Tipton county and I used to in the fall season I know. just a 22 mag back then. That was almost 20 years ago though. I never carry a shotgun anymore down here in Texas. Too many hogs around and Shooting one of them with a shotgun is like commiting suicide. I carry a mag full of my lead reduced loads for the turkeys and a mag full of barnes X bullets for the hogs. They are open all year long down here.

 

[varmit_master]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

Hi the 22mag works GREAT for this job one shot one kill

 

[LONEBRAVE]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

I USE A 22 HONET A LOT IN THE FALL WHEN HUNTING LONG BEARDS, ITS ACURATE , LIGHT, AND YOU CAN TAKE LARGER GAME , IM STILL A SHOTGUN MAN IN THE SPRING, BUT FALL GOBBLERS DONT COME RUNNING TO YELPS, SO YOU NEED SOMETHING TO REACH PAST THE SHOTGUN RANGE. LONEBRAVE

 

[LONEBRAVE]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

WITH A SMALL RIFLE LIKE THE 22 HORNET AIM FOR THE BASE OF THE WING, THAT ANCHORS HIM , AND TAKES OUT HIS VITALS ALSO. LONEBRAVE

 

[Tcallbuilder]

Anyone Ever Shot a Bird With a Round >

i have taken turkeys in the fall while deer hunting with a 30-06
if i remember right the load was rem 180gr cor-lot
bullets designed for deer (or larger) size game will useally expand very little on turkey.
but i think if i were looking to set up a dedicated turkey rig......i would go with a .22 cal center fire round like the hornet, .222, or .223.


TCB