Get it patterned before the season begins
Turkey season begins next month in both Carolinas, and right now is the perfect time to pattern your shotgun. It’s an important step that many hunters overlook, and are then left wondering why things went wrong when they failed to close the deal on a gobbler that steps into range.
A hunter that’s comfortable with his shotgun is a turkey’s worst nightmare. But a hunter that hasn’t taken the time to pattern his gun is his own worst enemy.
“Every shotgun is different, every choke, and every load is different,” said Alan Tuten of Rectifire Chokes based in Brunson, SC. “Any time you change one of those three variables, you don’t know what you’re going to get until you test it out by pulling the trigger on a paper target and seeing what kind of pattern you’re getting.”
Be proactive
Many hunters have had success one season, then left well enough alone, deciding not to shoot their gun again until Opening Day, only to find themselves heading home without a bird.
“The biggest mistake a hunter can make is waiting until the last minute to purchase turkey loads, especially if the load they end up getting is one they’ve never shot out of that gun, and with that same choke,” said Tuten.
Plenty of hunters will say they’ve never patterned their gun, and that they kill turkeys just fine. But Tuten said that’s not the best approach.
“It’s certainly possible to buy a gun and some turkey loads, go straight to the field and kill a turkey,” he said. “But you’re leaving a lot to chance if you do that.”
Tuten also said that it doesn’t matter what brand, how expensive it is, or how great a reputation a shotgun has. And that’s the same for choke tubes and for turkey loads.
“Hunters would be surprised at how often a shotgun simply doesn’t shoot exactly straight when using a certain choke tube, a certain load, or a certain combination of the two.
Wide variations
“One specific load might work great, but another may shoot slightly left, right, up or down,” he said. “And that’s why it’s important for hunters to pattern their guns, no matter what brand their shotgun is, their choke, or their load.”
When it comes to turkey chokes, Rectifire offers three distinct series: the Diamond Series, the Spade Series, and the Cyclone Series.
Diamond Series: This non-ported series of choke is ideal for all types of shot and flight control wads.
Spade Series: Specifically designed for flight control wads in turkey loads. Works well with hand-loaded TSS.
Cyclone Series: This series features helical slotted ports that will slow the shot wad, allowing better shot patterns.
One of the most frustrating aspects of changing choke tubes for hunters disappears when using any of Rectifire’s chokes.
Many choke tubes, especially ones produced by gun manufacturers, that come with the shotgun require a tool to remove and install. This tool is often misplaced, leaving the hunter scrambling as the countdown to Opening Day gets shorter and shorter.
And the choke tube tool from one brand doesn’t always work for another, adding to frustration. None of those problems plague guns using Rectifire chokes.
No tools needed
“All Rectifire chokes are installed and removed without tools, and they extend out beyond the barrel, so gripping them is not a problem at all,” said Tuten.
When a hunter purchases a certain load to pattern his gun, but finds out his pattern is less than desirable, Tuten said they shouldn’t be disappointed.
“You’re just one step closer to finding the right load at that point,” he said. “It’s always best to try several different loads, because you’ll be surprised how different they can pattern out of the same gun with the same choke.”
Tuten said patterning a shotgun is simply setting up a fresh target at your desired distance, then aiming at the bullseye and pulling the trigger.
“You want to use a fresh target with every shot so you can get a feel for how tight your pattern is, and how close you are to hitting your exact target,” he said. “Targets with a turkey head drawn on them can be especially helpful, because you want to know how many pellets are hitting them in the head. And it gives you a better look at what your pattern is going to do to a turkey than just a clean target.”
Most hunters like to pattern their shotguns at a distance of 40 yards, but with the availability of TSS loads, some are stretching that to 50 yards and beyond.
It’s never a bad idea to check your pattern at a range of distances, because even when you have your decoy set up a certain span away from you, that doesn’t mean a longbeard will always cooperate.
Check out Rectifire’s chokes, muzzle brakes and more at www.rectifire.com.
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