Where should I hit a turkey?

[osage]

My first turkey, many years ago when young and lucky, I used a 20ga. pump loaded with 7 1/2 shot, low base 2 3/4 shells, no call other than mouth yelping as I head him coming, laying down lenth-ways of a small log, when he got within 15 yards (I was already aiming at him over the top of the log) he stretched out his head to look as if to say, "what is that?" (one more second and he'd have been gone) BLAM to the head, dead right there. What a memory! I now use a 12 ga, high-base, #4 and shoot anywhere within 40 yards.

[wabi]

Actually 7½ is very effective out to 30 - 35 yards. It's hard to find it in 12 ga magnum shells, but it is (or at least was) made by Federal I believe.
Most of my turkeys have been at less than 20 yards, and about any gun that patterns well with anything from 7½ to 4 shot will drop them at those ranges.

In my muzzleloader I actually use a mix of 5 - 6 - 7½ shot and get good tight patterns. I have no explanation for it, but mixing shot sizes usually works in a muzzleloader. Do it in a shotshell and you'll usually get a "blown" pattern.

The main thing is to pattern your shotgun, then stay with a load that has tight dense patterns, and stay within the range those patterns stay tight!

[SPITFIRE]

20 gauge 3" #5 nickel plated chilled lead shot. 30 yards and under they don't go nowhere. Shoot for head and neck.