I know people aren't fans of birdshot, but it's quite effective on drones. That will become more important and relevant over the next 5 years. Trust me on that one.
Our local gun shop put out a shit load of 00 buck and slugs today. He also has 9mm. 556. 223. 40 cal. There's a 1 box limit of each per day. But maby just maby it's a start of restocking and getting things back to normal in the ammo shortage
Yeah, my buddy down the road had one that he used to take photos for realtors. He flew over a property that likes privacy. Number 4 shot fixed the problem.
8 shot and 00buck definitely good for anything from small game to home defense here in WV, those are the 2 I keep; plus a cpl boxes of slugs just in case.
Whatever ammunition fits your firearm, you can presently locate and afford. One homicide I was on, years ago, the weapon utilized was a .410 with birdshot. Happened inside a residence and victim was found dead in the room where the shooting took place. Like nearly any ammunition; shot placement usually wins over caliber size.
Shotguns are great for senior preppers. Anything busting into your bug in home is confronted with a 12 gauge buck shot or number 2 or 4. The receiving end will respect the owner of the property fast.
For small game and birds #5 birdshot is probably the most versatile. It's not too big for small birds, squirrels or rabbits and it's not too small for larger game like turkeys, ducks, raccoons, etc. So if you stock up on #5 birdshot, 00 buckshot and slugs you should be able to do anything you want.
All you need for whitetail deer to feral dogs to drones to defense to waterfowl to small birds like doves is number 6 tungsten in the heaviest short magnum 2-3/4". Just cut halfway thru deep all around midway right where the shot begins for big critters and it exits like and hits like a frangible slug... Kind of like a giant version of a Magsafe or Glaser pistol bullet
Load all my own shotgun shells pour my one buckshot and lead round balls. Also if I run out of regular smokeless powder I can reload them easy with black powder have 75 pounds of #4 shot I always pick up the old empty Shell's from the skeet shooting guys so I have hundreds of empty Shell's shotgun is 100% the way to go
Just stocked up on shotgun ammunition two weeks before Floyd passed away. Best decision I ever did. Buckshot ammo and slugs are getting harder and harder to come by. Just started reloading my own. Even the Lee Loader 2 what's hard-to-come-by at a good price. Best investment I ever did.
Normal target loads are 7.99 to 12.99depending on the brand or store. Heavier Duty special load can be 15 to almost $30 a box. Just saw some Winchester 5-pack Double odd Buck for 7. 99 at Academy. 1350 for velocity. All the buckshots I stocked up on was 1200 fps low velocity. Pretty much what they use for SWAT teams. I found 25lb bags of I was just loose buckshot for $90. And have been loading my own. There's videos on RU-vid how to do it. And for the six months I have been doing it I haven't had any issues with the reshoots.
Yup I started rolling my own about 3 years ago...some of my coworkers thought I was nuts..."shotgun shells are so cheap" even back then buckshot was like $1/round... I cast my own buckshot and round balls... So the savings really do add up
Completely agree with the general "do all" round. It was exactly what I was thinking and is a more middle of the road shell that would apply to many situations.
I love shotguns for SHTF. In a world without hospitals, ANY lead is sufficient. The more you deliver down range the better. In the absence of antibiotics, any penetration is potentially lethal. Everyone is likely to know this. Don't concern yourselves with delivering instant death. What your delivering is fear of infection. Don't think that an attacker wont retreat unless he's bleeding out. Unlike you in your stationary retreat, an aggressor will have the option of retreat. He will be stricken with panic the instant he feels the burn. He will immediately consider the longer term implications and seek to lesson the odds of infection. Especially if hit in the torso or head. My personal preference is 4/O buckshot in 12 gauge. My second is 00 and thirdly, the dreaded slug. All these are very effective out to about 60-70 yrds. If you live in a wooded retreat, or retreat in a wooded area, you'll probably never be presented with a shot longer than that.
That's a great point, many people invest in long range, and never consider the shots they may encounter. There's nothing over 300 yards close to me ,unless your peer down a state road.
An excellent point. Tetanus and blood poisoning have probably killed more people than all cartridges combined. But that is like why are throwing stars scary, since they have no immediate incapacitation- historically, just let them rust a bit, maybe smear a little horse poo on the edges. But if you need to shoot someone, them dying in a couple days might be more time than you can wait, particularly anyone who's grown up with modern medicine- it will take people a year or two to unlearn the idea of antibiotics.
@@tenchraven same theory as old .31 cal black powder belly guns. A .313 ball with 10gr of fffg behind is by no means is a one shot stopper unless you stuck it into someone's ear. It was just enough to get into you and kill you 2 weeks later while you're laid up wishing you hadn't tried to claim jump that old man
If I HAD to pick one ( for anything other than hunting big game) it would be high powered waterfowl/ turkey loads . .. it'll cover most the bases, especially home defense
My first firearm was a Mossberg 500 w/bird, rifled deer, and 18” smoothbore barrels. Stocked ammo for it cheap and deep. I don’t shoot it often, but it is an extremely versatile tool, and if I could only have one gun, I think that would be it.
Thanks for a well thought out video. The case you show at the end is the same as what I keep in my truck. Very handy. One thing I also carry a handful of is 12 ga marine flares that would be useful for signaling if needs be.
Good stuff, I don’t even own a shotgun yet but definitely need one. Figured it’s going to be the last thing Biden bans...he literally told us to buy a shotgun 😝
I've always preached that if u can only have or afford one weapon it should be a reliable 12 ga for the reason of versatility, the ability to perform big game small game and defense is a all in one , bird shot ,buck shot, rifled slug, less than lethal and exotic like dragonbreath or bird bombs, truly do all platform!!! Great video n keep up the good content!!!
If I lived in the mountains or some remote place, yes a 12 gauge for me too. But give the state of mankind in these darkening days, if I lived in an city/semi-urban place, I would choose for my only gun a semi-automatic rifle like an AR that would give me more rounds and be very quick to reload.
Great video MP! I like to stock 00 & slugs and have several hundred rounds of bird shot. My M1 super 90 is a little unreliable with certain bird shot, but a semi-auto shotgun is a must have shtf weapon.
If you can find 1 buckshot I highly recommend it. You can stuff more pellets into a standard or 3 inch Magnum shell than 00 buck. A standard shell will fit 16 pellets vs 9x 00 buckshot. More pellets increases hit probability. The grain weight is decreased from 54 grains (.33 caliber) to 40 grains (.30 caliber) but you get 89% more pellets therefore giving you less holes in the pattern for game or two leggeds on the run. The energy will carry to ~90 yards which is a long shot but a hit is a hit.
I make all my own #4B, #1B, #00B, .35 cal, #000B, slugs and round ball from .562 - .69 cal. #5 Turkey Load is ridiculous not only because it's not NEARLY as lethal as buckshot, but also three times the price. You can buy buckshot and bird shot for the price of Turkey Loads.
For buckshot loads I know reloaders that drop #4 or smaller in the spaces in the shell with the 00 stack. Then cover with buffer. Every space in the shell is used with a decent pattern.
thumbs up as always, checked still subscribed, great job as always. im retired p d and police academy instructor. reduced recoil 12 gauge, 00 buck and #4 buck shot, for 20 gauge what i been using since 1990 for self defense shotgun loads. good luck.
Exact same way I tried to store mine. Variety is the spice of life. Wouldn't want to shoot a squirrel with 00? But wouldn't want to try to open a door with birdshot either. Then deer hunting is a whole nother story you better have a slug
@@curbcreeper7012 I keep more birdshot than any other round just because I think it’s more versatile. It’s also the cheapest thing I can find right now and I’d rather eat 1200 squirrels than 100 deer
@ Ben Haynes I started stocking up on ammo before the shortages started and the price went up. Wasn't able to do so with my rifle rounds and my handguns as much as I would like, but I have a decent Supply as long as I don't practice like I used to. Using more dry fire simulations than actual range time. I agree prices are crazy right now. Couldn't stock up the same if I was just now starting.
@@curbcreeper7012 I’m just starting and I was very lucky to get 1000 rounds of brass 5.56 for $450, I have that and carry ammo for my handgun but otherwise I’m fairly limited rn just trying to shoot .25 cent birdshot till my shoulder gives out
I stock 00,#1, and #4 buckshot, #4 heavy birdshot, and #7 1/2 birdshot. I agree with the heavy birdshot loads being great all around. Put it through a hunting length barrel with a tighter choke and you can get some series range out of it.
Good point on the number 5s. They're easier to pick out of rabbits and squirrels than 8 shot. At point blank range, there's not much difference between any load. They all leave a massive hole under 5 yards.
I thought about it but, I didn't want to get too confusing for newer gun owners out there. Although it can make a huge difference for the effectiveness for certain loads so in hindsight I probably should've at least mentioned it.
You both have great points. Different chokes are definitely part of the equation, but would have been a lot to add to the topic of ammo. Choke, among others would be a great topic for a subsequent video on the shotgun for SHTF. 👍
Dont forget about DIY "cut shell slugs". You can make slugs out of typically useless bird shot by simply cutting the shell. Also 12 guage is the easiest bullet to field reload by hand using black powder and a few simple hand tools & primers. Hell, Even primers can be made from very easily obtainable ordinary materials. Remember everyone when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Buy yourself a hand shotgun primer tool. Instead of cut shells, you should try making Flex-Seal slugs. Better than wax slugs because Flex Seal won't melt in your truck. I make them out of cheap bird shot and they are super hard hitters.
Cut shells are ok, but break action only. I would never run wax, glue or flex seal slugs through an autoloader, but they are fine for a pump. But I agree, so long as you have primers you can load with black powder, but while reloading primers isn't hard making the priming compound and having ten fingers is a bit more of a trick.
Good video on a tough topic. I say it's a tough topic because we all have our own situations and preferences. And by situations I mean the area and subsequent game where we live, our household situation such as distance, overpenetration concerns, etc. Understanding that a wider variety is preferable, I think you called it pretty well on your recommendations if one was to stock only two loads. Some may disagree, but I doubt it would be by much if they do.
I personally load 12 gauge shotshells with 6mm daisy bbs using leftover shells found at my local range. Thanks to my grandpa for teaching me how to before his passing! 🙏
The rich stay rich by spending like the poor and investing without stopping then the poor stay poor by spending like the rich yet not investing like the rich
I happened to get an amazing deal on a lot of 12G 7.5/8 shot, however I have also practiced making cut shells/wax slugs and living in a state where all ammo has to be lead free, I have started buying steel bbs for my red Ryder and emptying the lead shot from cheap lead shot shells and loading the steel bbs instead. I have found that one thing to absolutely buy for a shotgun is a set of gauge adapters, I have a set that stacks from 12G-20G, 20G-410/45Colt, 410/45Colt-22LR. The adapters are not perfect by any means, however, it increases the usability of my shotgun for hunting with scavenged ammo if I can't find a functional gun to match the ammo.
Thanks for the info. I'm still learning about shotguns, all of my firearm knowledge comes from military experience and I've only fired a 590 at a joint range a few years ago. Aside from breaching there isn't a ton of shotgun usage in the Army.
The 12 ga shotgun has become my overall truck gun in Non-SHTF life. The versatility can't be beat. As you said I can deal with two-legged threats, 4 legged threats(I spend time in bear country) and I keep bird shot shells on my sling, which holds shells. Those are good for emergency survival. Yes, it has limitations and if the grid goes down with anarchy in the streets, the shotgun would get moved to a secondary role. But under normal conditions the shotgun is perfect.
Several years ago the Federal Government tested various shotgun loads to determine the "best" load for self defense purposes for Federal agencies to use. Their conclusion, if you think they knew what they were doing, was that in all the various conditions a shotgun could be used in an armed incident was to use a 27-pellet, #4 nickel-plated buckshot at 1325fps. load. Fiocchi makes this exact loading in 10-round boxes if you'd like to get some for use. I've had that load in my SD shotty for a long time. Luckily I've never needed to test its effectiveness, but I feel confident it would easily do the job.
For new preppers out there, especially the smaller statured ones (men or women) who are on a budget, also look into 20 gauge. It might not be quite as powerful but will still get the job done and if you HATE shooting your 12 gauge, you’ll never practice with it. The best weapon to have is the one you can afford to buy and afford to practice with. Plus I was seeing shelves and shelves of 20 when 12 was sold out.
Exactly. I started with a 20guage in 7th grade. Now I shoot a 12 but I STILL love my handy little 20 gauge. It’s a relatively short barrel so it’s not a bad choice at all for home defense. PLENTY of knock down with buck
I was thinking this too and the other issue is with a SHTF scenario where you have to bug out with just what you can carry on your back. You can fit 40% more shells in a given space than with 12 gauge.
Lotsa' info without a lot of personal BS . Thank you . Have always been a fan of "SMOOTH BORES" . If I had to leave the house with one choice , it'd probably be this . ALTHOUGH ! a 410 was probably my FIRST LOVE and STILL like them .
When you mentioned ranges of the various types of shells you didn't mention the shot spread as the pellets travel farther from the end of the barrel. Lighter pellets will spread out father than the heavier pellets, but all will spread. So at the close to maximum range for the load you're using the spread could be large enough that most or all your pellets will miss the target, even when your point of aim is correct. I'd suggest that you spend a couple of each weight pellets you're using to see what the spread is at that range. It could mean eating that night or not. Or worse case scenario if you make it back to your retreat location or not. And even at close range, when the spread is minimal, the shotgun must be aimed like a rifle so you don't miss the target with the same results possibly occurring that I mentioned above.
I actually have #2 goose loads for home defense, works at home defense distances, won't go through exterior walls. A slug is a poor man's anti-materiel round, we can't all buy a Barrett. Good for an engine of a threatening vehicle.
Hi my friend. Another great video. Believe it or not I do not own a shotgun yet, however I like Your choices.Great minds think alike.......my all around 12 gauge load would be 2 3/4 #4. I do love Your Turkey load though. The ONE area I MIGHT suggest something a bit different would be 12 gauge Buckshot. I would go with 2 3/4 #1 Buck. The reason? Measure the surface area of the Pellets between #1 and 00 and You are in for a shock! Finally You are dead on when You mention versatility! back in ancient times in Michigan, Farmers always had a shotgun (usually a pump 12 gauge) for most purposes. Add to taht any .22 Rifle and IF the Farmer was "well to do" He usually had a .38 Revolver likely a 4 inch Barrel. Where the Shotgun really shines in Defense (home) is area saturation say a hallway against intruders (think home invasion). Again a GREAT and informative video My hats off to You!
I think the best thing to have is a good variety. If your space or budget is limiting you to a few, you need to choose the most important. I would have said 00 buck shot before he mentioned turkey shot. Magic Prepper is right on with his priorities: turkey shot, buck shot, slugs (in that order). I disagree with what he said about not wanting too many types laying around; my policy is the more the merrier. I have one of those 'ammo crates', and when I see something novel at the gun store I often add it. I stock a lot of different types of shells, but mostly bird shot, buck shot, and slugs.
if you only have birdshoot you can uncrimp the shells and fill the shoot cup with elmers glue to bind the shoot into slugs just allow to fully cure before recrimping.
I have a number of 12ga. pumps - mostly 870 police mags. But my first go to, for home defense, is a Mossberg 500 youth 20ga with the 18.5" barrel and #1 buck (probably slightly undersized, as it should be .30 cal. but more likely .29 cal. - but still an awesome load).
I grabbed a Benelli m4 this winter and I’m stocking any single and 00 buck I can get my hands on. Remington, Winchester, herters, even off brands. Not terribly concerned about shot pattern. Primary guns are AR-15s. The Benelli is my last ditch effort gun for if I should run empty and need to retreat because of an angry heard ( deer, mountain lions, Buffalo, chickens... you name it)
Love all your videos; while I have a LOT of each kind of 12gauge ammo I favor larger birdshot (#4, #5, and #6). It’s effective for all around survival.
Got my first 12 guage for this Christmas, I was given a Benelli nova pump action. I have since purchased at least 1500 rounds of bird shot. Slugs and buckshot are crazy expensive rn, so I only have around 150 of each and about 100 rounds of steel 3.5 inch waterfowl shot. I’m glad I have what I have but I would love to have more. Trying to keep enough ammo to be Comfortable with all of my firearms Is very hard rn😭
I have a Mossberg as well. Mine doesn't cycle Winchester and some others as well as federal shells. If you compare Winchester shells even all being 2 3/4 are slightly longer than federals which causes it to catch and hang up sometimes. I know shotgun shells aren't exactly all uniform but it can make a difference. Also from my experiences with big game, slugs are the way to go. Like you said, a hand cannon! If 430+ grains going 1500+ fps won't do the job then idk what will. Within 100 yards or so anyways.
I've bought a lot of everything common. I bought 8 boxes of 100 rounds of bird shot for like $25 a box, 40 or so boxes of 20 round 2 3/4 00 buck 9 pellets (says military use only green cased) for about $11 a box and 30 boxes of 20 round boxed 2 3/4 slugs for $9 a piece just 3 years ago, with great timing before the whole pandemic happened. I thought I was made an unwise choice at the time bc I don't shoot my shotgun that often but now I'm wishing I had bought more.
Buy Benelli Nova shotguns, they can shoot up to 3 & 1/2 shells factory built. #2 and 00buck shot seem like the all around go to shells. How accurate are basic slugs out of a smoothbore shotgun. We typically just buy #2 and #6 bird shot and 00buck, I know my pop bought some sabot rounds years ago that he's only used, and I haven't seen slugs in my area in a long time.
Shotguns are just plain awesome. I have several of different styles, break action singl shots, pumps, semis, double barrels. The most versatile is the single barrel, break action. You can shoot litterly anything out of it, especially with chamber adapters. If you run out of ammo, but have primers and powder, you can turn a single shot gun into a muzzle loader
That is pretty dang far for a smooth bore shotgun barrel. But, if that's the case then I am impressed! For the purpose of this video, I was hoping to reach new shotgun owners who may not have thought of some of the information presented within. In that sense, the effective range of a slug would be much less considering the level of experience behind the trigger. Just my thoughts! Thanks for sharing.
I think the idea of #4 or #5 turkey loads isn't bad if you could only have one. But shotguns are flexible, and IMO the best options, plural, OO buck, #4 birdshot, and non-saboted slugs. If you have a 3.5" 12ga, the Winchester 4 Buck is amazing (54 pellets, at 50 yrds the pattern is the size of table but doesnt really have holes), and #2 or BB birdshot for longer range hunting and small apartments, but that is a specialty item. For 20ga, whatever buckshot you can find, high brass #4 birdshot, but sadly the 20ga is so ignored. But if your first shotgun is a 12ga pump and your second a five or six pound 20ga single, add 410 and 28ga adapters, and all the bases are covered. For organizing, many years ago Plano made a box made to hold 4 25-shell boxes, but I haven't seen it around. Which is a pity because they are my personal favorites for the grab-and-go. 50 #4, 24 OOB, and a dozen each of 4B and slug, all in one convent little package.
Stockpile powder, primers and wads. Anything can be stuffed in a shotgun shell. Rocks, glass, pieces of wire, nails, bearings, etc. Anything hard and heavy. I have used old sewer pipe joint lead melted and poured into a 1/2 inch copper pipe. Reloading can be done with some rudimentary tools and some chunks of wood in an emergency, but get a good reloader. In an emergency, you can do without the wad and it is possible to make powder, but it would be very important to have a large supply of primers.
when stocking up birdshot i pretty much stick to #4 and #5 then slugs and #4 buckshot works great for home defense then the 000 and 00 buck for hunting but when i do get the birdshot in 4s and 5s i try to have everything from2.75 inch to the 3.5 inch shells
Best do all...2¾", 1oz of 7½shot, loaded to 1350fps. Very economical to buy even today. Allows you to put food on the table, devastating for self-defense at close range w/o over penetration, and thanks to the "old timer" practice of "cut shells" can quickly be converted to a slug capable of reaching out and touching someone or something at distance. Oh and 12ga bird shot range on dove is out to about 40yrds for average shooter. And, a rifled slug is a 100 yard round.
I must respectfully disagree. I find the performance of 7.5 is lacking on a woodchuck at 25 yards (for those not familiar, a large ground squirrel like critter between five and ten pounds in weight). It will kill them, sure, but not quickly. If you want to smell it rotting in it's hole, 7.5 will work but if you want to eat it, pellet mass equal penetration which means getting to the organs and breaking bones. #4 on the other hand does just fine for them.
@@tenchraven I would argue that 7½ is the middle ground shot size for putting food on the table. It is not perfect for every small game and bird but it is the one that will work for every small game and bird in my experience. It also is very effective on pest control from snake to skunk to coyote to intruder. Earlier this year while quail hunting, I happened on to some wild pigs. I pulled out my knife and made the necessary modification to all the shells I had in the shotgun plus a couple more for good measure and went to work. When the shooting stopped 3 dead pigs lay ready to process, from 25 yards to 60 yards, before me. Plus, I limited out on quail that day...all with the same shell.
Surprised you didn't mention wax slugs or glue slugs, which can be made from target loads or light game loads for self-defense purchases. They can be very effective for home defense or breeching, on top of survival hunting. That makes bird shot the most versatile in my book.
I would only add some Winchester AA Low Power/Low Recoil loads for practice, especially with new shooters. Full power loads are hard on my wife, but she loves the Low power loads to practice with.
All stores around my area are completely sold out of any and all shotshells (including 410 and 28ga). The only reason I'm still going out and busting clays is that I stockpiled flats in a corner of my basement for years during sales.
I love how winchester came out with the pdx rounds like theyre a special, new thing. Buck and ball rounds were very effective at close range in the civil war. Against single assailants.. eh, maybe an alternative to normal buckshot. I do like the idea of a pump shotgun or a lever/bolt rifle for looong term shtf, with the ability to function with black powder
I love the Mossburg shockwave ..I wish we could own them here in England as easy as you guys can ... 0/0 or number 4 seems the best shell for home defense from all the you tube videos I have sat through daydreaming
#5 up to small game I can see, up to medium small mammals, but #4 an up buckshot for defense, slugs for larger game. Just for the record tho, so you know, a breaching round is sintered metal, think like powdered metal compressed into a slug, the reason for it is no back blast of shot to the breacher or others in the stack on the entry team, an no harm to anybody on the other side of the door, or it at least limits any harm to others, accidents can still happen tho, when the lock or doorknob comes flying apart. Thx for the vid.
@@alh961 I got a mav 88 with 3 bbls 1 short and 2 I have coned and back bored I use it for turkey shoots mainly. I also have a winchester sxp pretty decent and a remington 870 supermag all pretty decent. Got a khan centurian semi auto that i also use at turkey shoots I bought used almost like new for 150 dollars bad reviews no longer made gun will eat any load. Brands yeah sometimes some are bad like the hatfield generally are. But that maverick mine has been ok.
You’re my favorite. Honest question. Do you practice bushcraft skills? How big of a focus is that for you??? I truly believe in Bugging-In rather than bugging-out and it sounds like you have a perfect set up to Bug-In. I know you probably can start a fire obviously but are there any other skills you recommend to learn and practice? I know Preppers try to be a jack of all trades type but I also believe in prioritizing and really narrowing your options. I’d rather have five attributes maxed out than a bunch of mediocre add ons. My main priorities are medical skills, water storage, food, and defense. I don’t own a home yet and have been putting away to get a home in the near future as well.
I bought the Black Aces Tactical FD-12 Semi auto bullpup shotgun last summer. Its the greatest shotgun I've ever fired. I love it. I purchased several 10 round mags and 1 20 round drum mag. Imsane mag capacity for a shotgun.
One thing you have left out, is cut shells, basically you take your pocket knife cut around the shell all the way through except for one spot, and basically what you Have is a homemade slug, was very popular during the great depression era, when you could not buy slugs, Another popular load if you reload for shotgun shells, is ball and buck, basically two or three double 00 buck balls and one large round ball, very popular during the Civil War
Everything you talked about was very interesting, some day I hope to get me a shotgun. I guess I’m behind but since a rifle got stolen with five thousand rounds I just haven’t had money to replace anything. Guess that will be on my wish list. Everyone have a wonderful day and remember Danny loves ya God Bless
Stocking up on different types of shotgun loads (Birdshot, Buckshot, and Slugs) is WHAT any shotgun owner should do. As many different sizes of Buckshot as you can afford and find will increase the effectiveness of your shotgun. Same with Slugs. Not just the foster style "Rifled" variety but the Brenneke types along with the BRI (Ballistic Research Institute) style slugs.
I reload my own between .31cal=0bk .36cal=00bk .69 cal =slug you can meltdown any birdshot and cast it into any outher round you need. Also works with my .50 muzzle loader black powder Or buck and ball
Although I don't hunt anything but elk, I still keep a 12 gauge around. Shotguns are so versatile and cost effictive, it's hard not not to have. Great exploration of most of the possible loads. What do you think of coyote loads? I've been keeping some for both coyotes and general property defense, and found the shot size and spread to be great for anything under 40yds.
#6, 00, and some slugs. The #5 tungsten turkey load is pretty impressive, but, overall, I'd still opt for #6 as an all-around game getter, through a modified choke.
