I’ve always shot a 870 with a jellyhead choke and Winchester xx 3” #6. Patterns great and kills them dead.

However, interesting story.
Maryland started a winter season a few years back, in late January for only a few days. Well I was duck hunting, wading a creek easing along. Jumped a duck and killed him. A turkey shock gobbled. I waded along, picked up my duck and leaned up against a cypress tree. Waited about 5 minutes and yelped with my mouth mimicking a hen. He gobbled. Interesting, I couldn’t believe this was happening. I called, he gobbled and was coming. I got ready, he was literally coming through phragmites to the creek. I spotted his red head, and smoked him with a duck load, 3” #3 steel with modified choke at about 30 yards. Really cool hunt, although not necessarily targeting turkey, capitalized on the winter season with a nice gobbler!

I recommend patterning your gun - but don’t overthink it. Think ethical

I hope you aren't hunting in my zone. Met a guy 2 yrs ago that hadn't patterned his gun and new choke. Told me he needed to buy different ammo because he had shot at 3 turkeys and they all ran off and he was unable to recover them.

Heck yeah! Congratulations on that bird. Great story!

Try it...you'll be amazed

Longbeard xr is my choice. I dont bowhunt deer at 50 yards, dont need to shoot a turkey at 50 either. All mine have been 30 and under. No fancy choke just a carlson cremator mod range.

Point of impact should stay the same with the same gun. That had mire to do with the individual and gun fit. When youre adjust cast, length of pull, and drop etc, you will change your poi. Patterns will change from shell to shell and choke to choke.
Speed kills patterns. I havent seen turkey shells get as hot as some of the pheasant loads. Im sure someone will come up with some new 70 yard lead load at 1550 fps. So much marketing. Stuff in the 1200-1300 fps range has patterned decent out of every shotgun ive shot. I would confidently buy/shoot any of it out of any shotgun for pheasants without patterning.

My first years, my turkey loads were 3.5 mag copper plated #4s. I fired those in a Mossburg 500! The recoil was harmful!!! I am now down sizing to 3 inch mags. I put up some small shrubs at 30-40 and 50 yards, so I gt a better idea of my longer range shots. Early in my turkey hunting I past up toms that were close enough but I did not think they were. I did not pattern my gun well until my 4th season and I learned a lot.

Bryce

I shoot my beneli when I kill a bird but when I bought it that was different story , 3 inch 6’s work for me

Get off your rocker lol. At 35 yards or in, I've never seen much different out of my gun. I don't make pokes out to 50 like some do.

Bought a 720 Franchi 3in 20. Thank God I patterned it. Whole patten width to the left at 30yds! Sent it back. Got it back and it was great!

People shooting at turkeys at 60 yds just proved they’re not very good callers.

The amount of folks that must wound turkeys on here is astounding. Not sure where yardage came into play, it’s about patterns. And no it’s not about patterns at different distances, it’s about patterns per shot size and manufacturer. I’ve never, in my life, seen a gun that can take any shell or any shot and shoot the same pattern, I’d be willing to say such a gun doesn’t exist, unless you’re one of the ones that say all it takes is one pellet.

I have shells (manufacturer) and choke I shoot for turkeys.
I have shells (manufacturer) and chokes I shoot for dove and the same situation for ducks.

I’m guessing y’all do the same with rifles and bullets shooting small game and big game too? As long as it hits a poster board it’s good to go. Not every rifle is going to shoot different bullets all the same. You’ll find that one manufacturer and grain of bullet that hits EXACTLY where you aim it and that’s the bullet you stick with. Bet some on here throw a scope on a rifle and grab a box of shells from Walmart and go hunt deer without ever shooting, lol.

I've patterned my gun for waterfowl. Shells are cheap. But as expensive as a box of only 5 turkey loads is. I can't do it. I've never wounded a bird either. Get em close and no worries.

Ok, lol. So what choke and shells work the best for your gun with ducks? And where do you find cheap duck loads?

I enjoy tinkering with turkey guns. Have shot most of the turkey loads out there in both 12 and 20. Have seen very few loads to hit the same POI. Some off several inches from point of aim. Which would have been a miss or a cripple. There is a reason most turkey guns come with sights or able to mount an optic. Before that we would have to shave or shim to get it there. Not sure why anyone won’t take the time to shoot before taking one hunting. Takes a few min and can save a lot of grief.

Not that I have to justify anything to anyone, but I shoot black cloud and kent fast steel. Bought a bunch years ago once I knew which loads shot the best. Still have a few boxes left. Pretty sure I'm shooting factory rem improved cylinder.

Or you haven’t hunted them much.

Gone to a 20 ga. 870 w/ a Primos Tight Wad .570 choke and a Leupold 1-4X. Remington TSS # 9's shoot patterns I wouldn't have believed possible 10 or so years ago. Longbeard 6's are pretty good too in my gun.
I just sight in at 20 yds w/ some high brass 6's and save the #9's for the show... yep, very pricey... but 1 or 2 shells a year is the norm.
An inexpensive extendable monopod is a useful addition to a backpack or vest too IMO.