I started out with just a cheap $20 box call, killed a jake the first year. I now have 6 box calls, numerous slate, glass, copper, locater, etc. A Berretta Turkey extrema gun, Indian Creek choke.
But heaven forbid I spend another $10 on "A" shell? Many turkeys were killed before TSS hit the market. Many deer were killed with recurves before compound then crossbows that could reach
80 yards. Things evolve and help us cripple less game. No way on this planet I'd take that pattern to the turkey woods, been doing this for close to 40 years.

I shot my first 3 turkeys with a NEF 12 gauge, single shot with a modified choke. 3 inch remington nitro mag shells, # 6 lead shot. Its a 20 yard gun. It took me 3 years to get good enough at calling to get my first turkey. You don't need space age shells to kill them. You need to know the limits of your gun/load. And stay within your limits. I've killed a pile of turkeys with a flintlock 20 gage, cylinder bore. That's also a 20 yard gun. 85 grains 3F powder and 1 5/8 oz. #6 lead. If I had my choice, I'd use my 36 caliber flintlock rifle, but WI law doesn't allow that.

This 100%. Shoot, get to the bird as fast as safe and I always cut the throat. No worries about them running off then.

I was able to find an old pic of longbeard #6 out of a 20 gauge sxp with either the undertaker choke or Carlson longbeard choke can't remember for sure. 40 yards. This is what I consider a good usable pattern at that range. This should give you an idea of kinda what you might be looking for. Both arguments on this thread have some merit. If I was going to go out tomorrow and all I had was the pattern you posted i'd still be going hunting but on the flip side if you're going through the effort to pattern your gun and be confident in your setup you can improve on that pattern quite a bit by trying some different shells and/or choke combo.

On a side note giving the barrel a good swabbing can help if your gun doesn't get cleaned often. Seen it make a world of difference on some guns and no change on others.

Crippled game isn't the gun/bow/arrows fault. It's the hunter's fault, every time. Too far, too obstructed. You have to wait for a clean, ethical shot. All the do-dads and space age materials doesn't change that.

The fact that our country exists is proof that a 62 caliber smooth bore flintlock can keep a family fed and protected. I bet at 35 yards there is no pattern when tow was the wadding. Even spanish moss in the south was used. No shot cups, no chokes. No diaphragm calls.

If someone wants to spend what it takes to reliably kill turkeys at 70 yards, good for them. Just don't look down your nose at people who will not. Wanna shoot a deer with carbon arrows and an incredibly fast compound bow? Get out there and do it. Just don't look down on the guy who knaps flint arrowheads, hafts them to hand made cedar arrow shafts, ties on turkey feathers, makes a self bow, then hunts deer by climbing a tree and standing on a limb, or stalking real slow into the wind.

Yes but would they have used a 62 caliber smooth bore if something better was available? And vise versa to the guy that wants to kill the first bird he can and keep hunting for the next one, just don’t look down your nose at that group!

For those of you wanting extended range and 100% kills, get a good 22-250, find a load she likes, and practice a lot. Leave the fancy calls at home and drive around the local farm fields, you got the ability for real extended range shots. Just make sure and do it when the warden is on the other end of the county.

Entirely meant as satire, you law dogs don't be getting your hackles up, it is only a joke. Although some of the local poachers would argue the viability of my joke.

In all sincerity, turkey been getting killed for years without the use of all the new fancy chokes and shot. Figure out the capabilities of your particular gear and hunt accordingly. I knew many old timers that fed there families with nothing more than a 22 rifle even though many would say taking large game and birds would be impossible with such equipment. I wish you luck.

I've killed a few turkeys over the years. I loaded my 2 3/4 inch shells with 1 1/2 oz of #4 shot in a 12 gauge Browning with a full choke. The farthest shot was 34 yards. The closest was 26 yards. This was on the ones I paced the distance on. Every turkey I killed died on the spot. I don't think you need a huge magnum with these expensive shells to kill a turkey unless you're taking some really long shots, IMO.

It is a bird, not a African big game animal. I have shot a few turkeys and 100's of geese and cranes. Every turkey I ever shot at dropped dead. I never patterned the gun or the shells. It had a modified choke in it, That was what was in it when I bought it. Learn to judge distance and to shoot and keep your shots within range.

Brown or white turkeys?

I have been killing turk for close to 50 yrs and I say that is a sad pattern to try and take a turk with. I have killed them with 20 ga, 12 ga and 10ga. shells long ago were (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) and had to get them closer now with fancy shells and specialized chokes 60 yds is easy for 10 ga or a 12 ga 3.5inch.
as others have said change the shells and choke till you find the right combo. or just trade in the 20ga for a 10ga or a 12 3.5inch mag.
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I am betting the guy with the 62 cal smooth bore would have gladly traded, for that we have today. It worked but it was all he had, it had to work. There have been improvements since then. Same way the cave man was happy with a spear over his club. He was more successful and did not have to get within 2 feet. He will spend the same amount buy a few boxes of lead to find one that patterns good. It's hard to find a 20 ga load with enough lead to have a good pattern with 5 shot. I have killed lots of turkeys with lead still use it when I hunt with my 12 ga, which is not often. Seeing the difference between what lead was like and TSS I switched, never looked back. Found the right combo and bought a case of it. Will I ever use it all, I doubt it. But I am sure someone will.

The job of magazine writers is to sell stuff. Not educate

Most bird hunters that check their patterns might be like myself. After missing a couple long beards at reasonable ranges forced my to check my gun. My gun at the time was a 870 express with screw in full choke. I used this gun because it is one that can get dropped in the mud or banged up against trees. Just not worried about how it looks. At 25 yards this gun had close to a 8 inch hole in the pattern. Something I have never seen. I needed to purchase a choke to try to eliminate that problem which it did. I used to use a Winchester model 50 12 gauge with a factory full choke barrel. Back then there was never a need to pattern test. It would do damage. But now that gun sits in the safe.

Best pattern I’ve ever seen was with a Mossberg pump my Nephew uses with the factory choke amazing coverage.

I’ve witnessed guys shoot paper until their arms are blue , trying to get every pellet they can into a tiny circle at a ridiculous range for a turkey. If that’s your style? Go for it. My message is this... you don’t need to spend crazy money and lose sleep over patterning a dang turkey gun . It’s a scatter gun, call him in and kill him. If you want to shoot them at 60-80 yards you might as well use a rifle. I like getting close, that’s the thrill to me. And it’s worked, I’ve killed my 2 home state birds every year since I was a kid and have bounced around few states for turkey. I know a lot of you guys are also avid turkey hunters, and successful. I’m not saying this is the best pattern as pictured, but I’d spend more time scouting, practicing calling, and focus on the hunt rather than getting so wrapped up in a perfect pattern.

Wannabe ( to answer your comment ) I hand load for my rifles. Enjoy shooting long range. When I gun hunt my goal is not to get close. I bow hunt to get close. Different ball game. I also turkey hunt to get close.

So back to the OP’s question, Will this pattern kill?

Yes it will kill but It’s certainly not as tight as I would want it. If you’re going to hunt with that gun I’d make sure the bird is close, within 25 yards. In order to get them close, focus on calling, being patient, sitting still, and learning the turkey woods. Good luck and have fun.

Without a doubt and no hesitation I would absolutely NOT even point that pattern at a turkey. I have been fortunate enough to harvest a lot of turkeys from all over. I have 5 dedicated turkey guns. I have one now that I only use and I won't go into that but I will say one is a Mossberg 500 12 ga 25". I would be looking for a lot more density than that which can probably be achieved with different ammo. or move closer and limit your shots to a range that the gun will give you an adequate pattern

Good Lord Law Dog!!! There would be no head left on that one. It probably would not even flop!!!

I have always hunted with my Browning Pump 10 Gauge and have killed every one between 10 and 65 yards, that gun shoots 5 shot and shoots it very tight. Now with 6 shot it does not do as well at longer range. It also does very well on Ducks and Geese. I also have a Mossburg 835 that does a great job at long distances. I have a Benelli that does good with 4 shot but sucks with 6 shot. Sometimes I think different guns shoot Different loads better than others.