bnice wrote on Mar 4
th, 2008 at 7:28pm:
Make sure you check if it is legal to use. In Iowa it has to be a shotgun with no larger then #4 shot, your state may have simalar rules
My state, MS, also has one of those ignorant shotgun-only laws. Wonder what the original rationale was?
Fearless Frank has several thousand acres of nice hunting land with only a few rules. One rule is that
no shotguns can be used on turkeys under any circumstances. Another rule is that no game wardens are allowed on his property. His favorite turkey rifle is a 220 Swift, but excellent results have also been achieved with the 32-20 WCF when compared to either the Hormet or 25-20. Apparently the slightly heavier 32-20 bullet is just as accurate and flat-shooting at ranges up to 125 yds and is a slightly better killer. FYI, YMMV of course.
Our MS shotgun-only law is a fairly recent one, maybe 20 years now. It has provoked many heated debates but little actual comparative experience or factual reporting of results. One of my oldest friends, retired from the State Narcotics folks, could easily be enticed into an argument that would result in him becoming so agitated that he would sometimes jump up & down in rage at the idea of anyone actually shooting a turkey with a
rifle. Horrors!
I, of course, took great & repeated pleasure in taunting him that he might change his mind if he ever learned to shoot straight enough to actually
hit the turkey with anything other than his spray-&-pray scattergun!
After all, what are friends for, anyway? I told him that he needed to go back over to the MHP training facility at Pearl, MS, and take some more shooting lessons from Jim Hemphill, the National Champion in charge of the center. Even offered to make him an appointment and work out a schedule. Heck, I even offered to teach him myself!
I won't repeat what he told me to do.
Anyway, don't discount the 32-20, it has a great rep with actual woodsmen. The new 32 Magnums should also be excellent choices IMO.
Good luck, Joe