rimfire shotshells for wild turkey?

[metalheadlead]

hi everyone, just wondering if anybody had any thoughts about using .22 rimfire cci shotshells for head shot on a close range wild turkey. thanks!

[RetiredLawman]

My opinion: No way you can get close enough to get a honest, clean shot. The #9 & #11 shot are great for snakes and rats at 8-10 feet with 38 revolver cartridges. A turkey is a different critter. If you are goodenough in stalking and calling to get one that close, you are a candidate for "Hunter of the Year".

It is best not to shoot unless you can get a clean, non-crippling shot. The shot cartridges may lodge under the skin and cause infection and later death. Be a sportsman. If you can't get a clean, killing shot with a shotgun and proper shot, please don't try it.

I have extensive experience with shot cartridges and they are a cops dream for killing snakes at close range. You would have to be very close to a wild turkey to sting him with 22 rat shot.

[jmorris]

No way, go get some and put a paper plate about 10 feet away and shoot it, then you’ll know why.

If you can get that close use a regular 22lr bullet, head shots only, and you won't even scare nearby deer.

[10-96]

Well sorta....

My first thought was, "Don't do it". Then I got all side tracked and started thinking about things like a sweet little gal some 80 miles southwest of here that I don't know how to tell her I love her cause I don't think she'd have much to do with a half broke snuff dippin hick like me. Then I got to thinkin about needing a new John B. Stetson hat, hot coffee, pearl snap shirts, cheap bourbon whiskey, and that song "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades from some years back. But no, I don't have many thoughts about shootin a turkey with such a light load.

[JWT]

They'll likely work fine IF you can locate a turkey that allows you to place the gun less than an inch from his head and pull the trigger.

[hogdogs]

JWT, That turkey exists in a large place set aside for the preservation of animals... My local Walmart meat cooler... minus the head of course! :D And they are naked thus allowing deeper penetration of them black pepper grains they call "shot" in a .22 rat shot.
Brent

[Doyle]

Let me tell you how weak those things are. I took my .44 mag and put one in it (now remember that rimfire uses #12 shot and centerfire uses #9 shot). and I shot at a squirrel sitting about 20 ft away. It made him run away real mad but didn't come close to putting him down. There is no way I would attempt to take a turkey with a centerfire shotshell let alone a rimfire.

On the other hand, they do work great a point blank range for snakes. When I hunt, I wear a Ruger Blackhawk with the first two cylinders loaded with snakeshot.

[Jeff Mulliken]

This question can be answered two ways, legal and logical.

First the legal issues. In most states this is covered by regulations. Here are the regulations from my state:

"Fall turkey hunters are permitted to use rifles, handguns, shotguns loaded with #4s, #5s, or #6s, and vertical bows. Spring turkey hunters are restricted to shotguns loaded with #4s, #5s, or #6s and vertical bows"

So, as to my knowledge there are no rimfire cartridges that meet the pellet size requirement it is always ILLEGAL in this state.

The other is logical, these birds are held in high regard, beautiful and are worthy table fare. It is illogical to have so little respect for this game animal as to do something that is likely to harm it with little or no chance of recovering it? These are resources that deserve better treatmen than that, even when the ultimate result is their destruction.

Jeff

[mnhntr]

illegal in most states and much like hunting bear with a slingshot

[Hawg Haggen]

Turkeys die hard. .22 shot is not the way to go.

[lockedcj7]

I hit one this year with a 12 ga. 1 5/8 oz. Super X magnum. He flopped for a minute then got up and started running!!! I was close enough by then to hit him again and the second time, he went down for good. Turkeys are big, tough birds.

You're going to need to be so close that you might as well just strangle him. Forget the .22

[roy reali]

You would have a better chance of nailing a turkey with a Daisy Red Ryder, and this ain't no joke.

[Wuchak]

only if you're talking about the label on the whiskey bottle. Even then I'd think twice since who wants all that broken glass messing the place up?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4e/WildTurkeyBottle.jpg/199px-WildTurkeyBottle.jpg

[NINE]

http://media.putfile.com/22-shotshell

[lon371]

NO

Before you try, please try on paper. Below is a free printable turkey target. Try it at about 40-50 yards.

http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/birds/turkey/target.htm

There are other things a person can do for bragging rights. Wounding an animal is not one of them.

Please try it on paper.

[TxGun]

No way! It would be hard to imagine anything less sportsman-like. You'd be better off throwing rocks at it.

[metalheadlead]

thanks guys, loved the replies, but i was not seriously considering using the load. although, from what i understand, it may be legal in my state (PA). fine shot no larger than #4 lead or #2 steel should be used.

[Jeff Mulliken]

Boy cries wolf.....

Think twice before posting, then stop and think again.

[10-96]

True...

But I still think about-a new John B. Stetson hat, hot coffee, pearl snap shirts, cheap bourbon whiskey, and that song "Rhythm of the Rain" by the Cascades from some years back.

[hpg]

NO, it won't do the job.....

[CajunBass]

I'll never forget old "Mr. Kelly" telling how he shot a turkey with 00 buck during a deer drive one morning. He said that turkey just dropped, lifted one wing, and then just sort of collapsed. "Boys I making gravey in my mind when I walked up and reached to grab him. Then that turkey came to life and ran off like a race horse. I threw the gun up and then realized I had never kicked the empty shell out."

He lost his shirt-tail on that one.

If you can get a turkey close enough to use 22 ratshot on it, you can just grab it and wring it's neck like a farmyard chicken. You don't need a gun at all.

[SimpleIsGood229]

BAD idea! I don't care if you're Bear Grylls, stuck in the middle of no where; don't do it!