5 New 2014 Turkey Shotguns

Benelli M2 APG

Benelli owners swear by their shotguns, and much of that loyalty comes thanks to the uber-reliable Inertia Driven operating system. By utilizing three simple parts—a rotating bolt head, the bolt itself and a stiff inertia spring—the Inertia Drive system harnesses the power of the recoiling shotgun to quickly and reliably cycle action with either 2¾ or 3-inch loads. And thanks to a ComforTech stock, that felt recoil is greatly reduced by nearly 50 percent according to the company. This proprietary Benelli technology consists of a specially designed stock and gel recoil pad that also limits muzzle climb to put you back on target quickly, something you’ll come to appreciate if you whiff the first shot or are hoping to double-up on a pair of strutting toms. Coated with Realtree APG camo. ($1,469; benelliusa.com)

Franchi Affinity Compact APG 20-gauge

In recent years, ammo manufacturers have introduced hard-hitting, high-density shotshells that finally make the 20-gauge a viable option in the turkey woods. If you’re interested in less recoil without sacrificing a lot of performance consider carrying a 20 this year, like the Affinity Compact. It offers the same time-tested reliability of the Benelli Inertia Drive system (which Franchi shares a bloodline with) in a package that’s about a full pound lighter than similar 12-gauge offerings. The lightweight aluminum alloy receiver and slim synthetic stock are covered in Realtree APG to help keep hunters concealed in the woods. Included stock spacers adjust length-of-pull, making the Affinity Compact a great entry-level turkey gun for young shooters, or anyone wanting a semi-custom fit. ($999; franchiusa.com)

Weatherby PA-08 Turkey

A friendly price doesn’t necessarily mean no frills as this pump-action turkey gun so aptly illustrates. It features a durable, CNC-machined alloy receiver and the kind of wood-to-metal finish one would expect from a gun made by Weatherby. The 22-inch barrel is a dream to carry and swing in the thick, brushy turkey woods of spring, plus it has been chrome-lined to stand up to hard, hot high-density turkey loads that are so popular. A 3-inch chamber might seem limiting in today’s bigger-is-better world, but I personally wouldn’t want to shoot anything heavier in a pump gun, despite the company’s claim that the barrel’s lengthened forcing cone reduces felt recoil. And true to Weatherby’s history of going their own way, they opt for Mothwing Spring Mimicry camo dip on the synthetic stock and forend. ($399; weatherby.com)

Remington Versamax Sportsman Turkey

I’ve been testing Remington’s newest gas-operated autoloader for a few seasons and it has quickly become my go-to scattergun due to reliable operation with basically any shell I stuff in it. It’s also one of the easiest shooting shotguns I’ve ever fired. Even heavy 3½-loads are, if not comfortable, at least tolerable thanks to a SuperCell recoil pad. The new-for-2013 Sportsman series forgoes a few features of the original Versamax—most of which hunters won’t miss, to come in closer to the $1,000 mark. What you do get is a 26-inch hammer-forged steel barrel, reliable Versaport gas system and durable synthetic stock finished in Mossy Oak Obsession. The one head-scratcher is the use of competition-style Pro Bore chokes, rather than the standard RemChokes of which there are a million aftermarket turkey-specific models available. As it is, the Sportsman Turkey includes an extra-full turkey choke of the Pro Bore variety. ($1,175; remington.com)

Browning A5

For the last 100-plus years, many a turkey has fallen to the A5 and, I predict, many more will over the next century. Browning reintroduced the classic autoloader last year, and for 2013 has come out with a version capable of handling 3½-inch loads to help even the toughest old bird on his path to the turkey afterlife. The company’s Kinematic inertia-drive system is guaranteed to successfully cycle up to 100,000 rounds, making it one of the most reliable autoloaders available, or the best marketed anyway. The distinctive humpback design raises more than just eyebrows; it also extends the sighting plane farther back, a feature that’s especially welcome on a turkey gun meant to be fired with rifle-like precision. Available with a Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity Dura-Touch finish. ($1,699, browning.com)

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How Many Easter Peeps Does it Take to Stop a Bullet?

Typically, Kirsten Joy Weiss can be found attempting some pretty wild trick shots on her YouTube channel. But the former college All-American and present member of Team Lapua takes time out of her busy schedule to answer one of the more pressing questions of the day – exactly how many Peeps will a .22LR shoot through?

Ms. Weiss comes well prepared to see how many of the gooey marshmallow Easter treats it takes to stop a bullet. And when everything is said and done, the results are rather surprising. No bean spilling here, you’ve got to watch the video.

Enjoy and Happy Easter!

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Reloading Ammo, the Versatile .300 Win. Mag.

.300 Winchester Magnum reloaded with Swift A-Frame bullets.

The .300 Winchester Magnum is known for its accuracy, even at the longest of distances. But is it too much gun for a novice hunter or a person of small stature, particularly when hunting whitetail deer?

If you’re like me, you are constantly asking questions of other experienced handloaders.

Early on I learned that, when you ask a group of 10 handloaders a question, you’re likely to get at least a dozen answers, usually more. The ensuing debate is like an elixir for those of us who thirst for knowledge.

This time there was no group discussion, but I did have the ear of Phil Massaro, owner of Massaro Ballistic Laboratories.

Phil custom loads cartridges for the specific game and conditions in which his clients will be hunting. He’s not only a ballistician, but also an avid hunter who has taken game across North America and Africa. In short, he really knows his stuff.

Our conversation began with me asking why we Americans tend to carry what many consider to be too much gun, especially for whitetail deer.

With a laugh, Phil suggested that we were going to get along just fine. Then he answered, “Advancements in bullet construction over the past 30 years have really transformed the capabilities of what were once considered lesser cartridges. The old Elmer Keith versus Jack O’Connor arguments need to be revised. Bonded core, partitioned and mono-metal bullets have changed the game.”

He went on to explain that the old cup-and-core bullets—bullets that have a copper “cup” and a lead “core,” no bonding, partitions or anything to hold them together when they start to deform—wouldn’t remain intact like today’s bonded and partitioned projectiles.

Back then, a .270 was considered marginal for elk. Phil pointed out that now your deer rifle can take down an elk when loaded with a good bullet like a Swift A-Frame or the Barnes TSX.

When asked what he carries, Phil didn’t hesitate.

“The .300 Winchester Magnum,” he said—and by the end of our discussion about too much gun and advancement in bullet technology, my jaw was on the floor.

Load It Down?

Phil Massaro at his press (Photo courtesy J.D. Fielding) .

Of course I wasn’t surprised when he said that he could load it up for big game. That’s what the round was developed for. That he could “load it down” for a teenager to shoot whitetail and not walk away bruised and battered was a bit of a shock.

When hunting game on the African plains, Phil will likely have his Winchester Model 70 Classic loaded with a 200-grain Swift A-Frame backed by 75 grains of Reloder-25 that will push it to 2,750 fps. He also developed a load to duplicate the specifications of the .300 H&H, with a 220-grain Hornady Interlock backed by 53 grains of IMR4064 and zipping along at 2,400 fps. His all-around big-game load is 180-grain Swift Scirocco II with 73 grains of Reloder-19, which zings along at 2,900 fps.

Of course, we all know the .300 Win. Mag. is a great cartridge for elk, moose and bear, but I was really interested in the lower end of the spectrum. You see, I am as focused on developing new hunters as I am bagging my own game. If we want women and teens to embrace our hunting lifestyle, we don’t want them beat up by an unnecessarily heavy-recoiling rifle.

Too much gun can turn a would-be hunter into a “not-gonna-be” hunter. Even those committed to the sport can have issues.

“The recoil from full-house factory loads can be a detriment to new shooters, for sure. A flinch developed early on, especially from bench-rest shooting, can be very difficult to overcome,” Phil explains.

He also pointed out that using less gun can be an issue with an inexperienced hunter.

“The 6mm and .22 centerfires are often found in the hands of beginners. But I think that, due to the lighter bullet weights in these calibers, they are best left in the hands of an experienced hunter, one who is more willing to turn down a questionable shot and wait for the broadside shot that will kill effectively and humanely,” he says.

While I understand his point, I am not totally on-board with Phil’s assertion. It’s not as though we toss a rifle to a new hunter and say, “bring home some venison.” A new hunter is likely to be in the field with someone more experienced who is going to coach them.

Phil could tell I was unconvinced that the .300 Win. Mag. still wasn’t too much gun for a new hunter, especially one of small stature. So he went even further in his reasoning.

“Even a 10-percent reduction in velocity can result in a perceived recoil reduction of half,” he says.



Half? Really?

The .300 Winchester Magnum is known for its accuracy.

Yup. Chock a 150-grain bullet into a case with 28 grains of SR4759, and you are pushing it 2,050 fps. That’s close to .30-30 performance. A 165-grain projectile loaded in front of 27 grains of SR4759 nets you about 1,900 fps, while a 180-grain bullet with 31 grains of IMR 4198 lands in the 1,850 fps range.

Even at these velocities, though, the cartridges maintain the legendary accuracy the .300 Win. Mag. is known for—and it’s more than enough to kill a whitetail at 150 yards, and without punishing a smaller person.

“The 300 Win. Mag. is simply one of the most flexible cartridges for North America and African plains game,” Phil says.

I have to say his conversation made me a convert. When you can get a cartridge to exhibit this kind of breadth and depth then you definitely have a winner that is perfect for the game being hunted and the shooter doing the hunting.

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3 Laser Sights Worth Drawing a Bead On

LaserMax Micro

When it comes to aiming devices, laser sights are becoming more and more popular. They are smaller, more convenient and more compatible with more handguns than ever before. Here are three laser sights definitely worth drawing a bead on.

Crimson Trace Rail Master

The CMR-204 (green) and the CMR-205 (red) lasers are new models that also have LED lights in the same unit. They have Secure Lock technology that will match many firearms and can be removed and snapped onto another gun in seconds. The device is waterproof up to one meter and it runs on a CR-2 battery. The green model gets two hours of burn time and the red one gets up to four hours. The units can be run with both light and laser, laser only, light only, laser with strobe and just the light in strobe mode. ($270,crimsontrace.com)

LaserMax Micro

The Micro is perfect for compact and sub-compact handguns that have Picatinny or Weaver rails. Small and lightweight, it only takes up one inch of rail space and therefore, is compatible with numerous handguns. It has a sleep mode that protects against unintentional draining of the battery—after ten minutes the laser automatically switches off. The gun owner can easily install the Micro on the rail with minimal effort. ($130, lasermax.com)

Veridian CSL

Veridian’s bestselling unit is the C5L and most likely it is because it will fit on any gun with a rail. It has a green laser and a 100-lumen tactical light that also has a strobe setting. The unit fits snug between the muzzle and trigger guard, with no overhang to snag on a holster. It has Instant-On activation technology that turns on the laser as soon as the gun is drawn from an enhanced combat readiness-equipped holster. It runs on a CR2 battery that will last four hours with the laser alone and an hour-plus with the light and laser used together. ($349, viridiangreenlaser.com)a

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Ruger Bearcat Shopkeeper, Sweet and Petite .22 Revolver

Lipsey’s exclusive New Model Bearcat Shopkeeper.

Ruger’s classic .22 single-action revolver becomes even more compact with this bird’s head grip version available from Lipsey’s.

Enter the Shopkeeper
Some new-age guru said if you wish hard enough the things you desire will eventually come to you. Thanks to the psychically attuned folks at Ruger, the bird’s-head Bearcat I’ve been thinking of is now available. It’s called the Shopkeeper, in honor of those businessmen who preferred the more easily concealed bird’s-head revolvers for protection in the old days.

The Shopkeeper is based on the current Ruger New Model Bearcat single-action .22 revolver, but with a few key changes. Unlike other versions of this revolver that contain some aluminum components, this one features an all-stainless-steel construction, including the ejector rod housing. The sights consist of a rounded blade up front, and a fixed square notch rear sight that’s milled into the top strap. The barrel and ejector shroud have been shortened from 4 to 3 inches.

To accommodate a shorter distance for the ejector rod to travel, the rod’s lever has been cut into a crescent shape. This allows it to move past the top of the reduced cylinder pinhead, all the way to the frame. The nonfluted cylinder is engraved with the same nature scene that graces other models. The bird’s-head grip is fitted with medallion rosewood grip panels. Like the other Ruger New Model single-actions, the Bearcat has a transfer bar safety that allows the gun to be carried with all six chambers loaded.

As expected, the fit and finish of the Shopkeeper are excellent. Some manufacturers provide factory-installed dings and scratches in the finish of their guns. But Ruger made sure this one arrived in pristine condition, as is only proper. The fit of the trigger guard to the receiver is so nicely done you have to look for the seam.

Smooth Operators
The shorter barrel and rounded grip of the Shopkeeper look terrific, and even better, proved to be fun to shoot as well. The hammer and trigger were both smooth operators, with the short, crisp trigger tipping the Lyman’s digital trigger gauge at 4 pounds, 2 ounces. The bird’s-head grip seats itself comfortably and intuitively in the hand. The revolver’s excellent balance and mild recoil make it a shoot-all-day kind of handgun.

The 3-inch barrel and bird’s head grip of the Shopkeeper make it a very compact and handy .22 revolver.

The Shopkeeper was test fired with several flavors of .22 Long Rifle ammunition, ranging from bulk-box varieties to high-performance hollow points. Every round inserted and fired properly, but early on some would not eject, even with repeated taps from the ejector rod. This was not due to the shortened ejector. Removing the cylinder and tapping at the stuck cartridge cases with a cleaning rod showed they were stuck because of some factory-fresh chamber roughness. Over the course of testing, the rough chambers smoothed out and ran as expected.

Since the .22 revolver is technically a sub-compact handgun, accuracy testing was conducted using five 5-shot groups fired from a bench rest at 15 yards. This also happens to be a good plinking distance for new shooters. Groups hovered right around the 1.5-inch mark, with the best groups at the 1.25-inch range. Working from a bench rest at 25 yards was also a satisfying experience, with groups hovering comfortably around the 2- to 2.5-inch range.

What makes the Shopkeeper just that, a keeper, is that it offers both good looks and provides top-notch functionality. This version of the Ruger New Model Bearcat is a Lipsey’s exclusive item. So if you would like one, but you don’t know which shops in your area are authorized Lipsey’s dealers, then visit www.lipseys.com and click on DEALER FINDER to locate one near you.

Lipsey’s Ruger Bearcat Shopkeeper Specifications
Caliber: .22 LR
Capacity: 6 rounds
Barrel: 3”
Sights: Fixed
Frame: Satin Stainless Steel
Trigger: Single-Action
Length: 8”
Weight: 22 oz.
Options: Bird’s Head Hardwood grips, engraving
Suggested Retail Price: $649

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New 2014 Handguns

Sig Sauer 1911 Spartan

Sig Sauer P226

Remington 1911 R1

Colt CQB

Browning Buck Mark .22

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Maximizing Shooting Efficiency for Turkey Hunting

Before you load up and hunt, you must know the maximum effective range of your gun, choke and load combination. That can only be accomplished by spending time at the range.

Critical aspects of bringing home a long beard happen way before the start of turkey season. Testing to discover the maximum range of your gun and the most effective combination of choke and loads are preseason musts.

Killing turkeys at longer distances is possible with today’s plethora of ammunition and choke tubes. A critical factor, of course, is the hunter’s personal ethic and comfortable kill zone. For some, that’s within 30 yards. For others, it might be farther. That’s part of the hunting process we have to decide and must live with.

Maximizing long-range efficiency with your shotgun and ammunition requires trial and error at the range.

Ammunition and choke tubes are expensive, so combining efforts with fellow hunters is a good way to spend time learning about which setup works best for you. Three or four hunters chipping in, bringing chokes and ammo and spending a few hours patterning loads is paramount to discovering what works best so you’ll be comfortable in the woods.

“At 40 or 50 steps, or any range for that matter, I want to get 10 hits in the kill zone of a life-size turkey head target with an even pattern that surrounds it,” said Brandon Wallace, a 33-year-old Alabama hunter and founder of Wallace Custom Calls. He’s chased turkeys for two decades.

“It only takes one hit in the bone of a turkey head to put it down for the count. Lots of guns and loads do this at 30 yards, and many will also do it farther. Everyone likes the holy grail of 300 pellets in a 10-inch circle, which is awesome, but it takes a special load, choke and lots of range time to do it.”

Know Your Limitations

Hornady’s Heavy Magnum Turkey loads.

Wallace noted that, “Some guns might be 30-yard guns, and some might be 50 and beyond,” which is why range time is so critical. Clark Bush, founder of AllAboutShooting.com, has spent hundreds of hours at the range testing chokes, shotguns and ammunition through the years, and he agreed that knowing your setup’s efficiency — and limitations — makes all the difference.

“I buy butcher paper by the rolls and spend a lot of time at the range,” Bush said. “I shoot everyone’s chokes, guns and ammo. There’s no way to know how a gun patterns until you’re at the range.

“I’m not into numbers (of pellets) as much as I want to see a good, even core density within a 10-inch circle at 40 yards, or a 14-inch halo around it and good density. It’s not subjective. If it has a gap in it of more than 2 inches, I don’t find that acceptable. The problem I see with that is (hunters) pattern these in the middle of summer, and we hunt mostly in spring and autumn. Those patterns are affected greatly by ambient temperature and density.”

Time or financial constraints might keep hunters from getting to the range several times a year in various seasons. But Bush believes it’s necessary to shoot in different seasons and weather conditions to truly discover what your gun and ammunition can do.

Turkey hunters dream of gorgeous spring days, warm temperatures and sunny skies. But the reality is we might have a late winter, hotter-than-normal temperatures or a late cold front that blows in. If you have only patterned your gun in summer, those cold temperatures could alter the dynamic of the shot pattern.

Pick The Right Choke
Mark Bansner spent years designing and refining choke tubes for hunters and competitive shooters, working in thousandths of degrees of constriction to create maximum downrange patterns.

Today, Bansner is out of the choke business and instead focuses on designing custom rifles from his company headquarters in Pennsylvania. He’s applying his knowledge of shotguns and accuracy to rifles, and believes turkey hunters can do the same to maximize their success.

“I think the No. 1 thing is to have a gun with a barrel that’s 24 inches long,” Bansner said. “I think that’s the optimal length for a shotgun barrel. Shotgun powders burn extremely quick and are exhausted by the time the shot column gets to about 22 or 23 inches. Anything longer than that actually slows it down. I proved that more than 25 years ago by cutting barrels in 1-inch increments and chronographing it.

“After hundreds of rounds, I determined … there’s no real difference between 18 and 24 inches, but 21 to 24 inches is perfect. From a power and velocity standpoint, the barrel should be 21 to 24 inches. From a patterning standpoint, in the old days, copper-coated was king, and I was an advocate of using a larger pellet. But with today’s alloy loads and heavier loads, like tungsten polymers, their No. 5 shot is equivalent of the penetrating qualities of No. 4 lead.”

Patternmaster Code Black choke

Wallace noted the Nitro combos, such as the 5-by-6-by-7, and other turkey loads today are combinations of different shot sized or souped-up polymers. Some turkey hunters stick with lead pellets — for tradition, finances or both — as their top performer. Whatever the load, Bansner said matching the choke tube to the ammo is keenly important to get the best results.

“Pellet size is critical,” Bansner said. “You might shoot 6s or 7s and get 40 or more pellets in the head (area), but you might not be doing anything with them if the energy isn’t there. Knowing the limitation of your gun is important. Once you figure that out, the choke systems today, and even the ones we were producing years ago, will help.”

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The Practical Mathematics of the .22 Caliber Firearm

The Federal Champion .22 Long Rifle Fresh Fire Pack has 325 36-grain copper-plated hollow-point cartridges in a nitrogen-sealed can that prevents corrosion and keeps powders and primers dry. Once opened, it has a resealable plastic lid to keep the ammo protected. $20.(federalpremium.com)

Let me make my case for the .22 Long Rifle as the ultimate survival choice in terms of rifle cartridges. What does the .22LR have that would make someone even consider it as a survival choice, let alone the best all-round?

I was able to find a chart on the Internet that compared the weights of various pistol and rifle (both rimfire and centerfire) cartridges in bulk. I did a bit of checking on my own using a postal scale, and found it took 143 rounds of .22LR to equal 16 ounces.

Digging a bit deeper, I learned that one pound equals:

•10 rounds of 12-gauge shells
• 21 rounds of 30-30 cartridges
• 23 rounds of .243 cartridges
• 17 rounds of .30-06 cartridges

My point? Though very much concerned with pinpoint accuracy, I am also a believer in the mantra: Peace (or Continued Existence) through Superior Firepower.

That said, I would opt for 143 effective, though admittedly circumstantially limited, cartridges over 17 or 21 or 23 bigger, more powerful rounds. The bottom line is the .22LR offers the option to carry an absolutely ridiculous number of rounds easily; the others, not so much.

Even in the most out-of-the-way country grocery store, there’s almost a 100-percent chance they’re going to have a box—or several boxes—of some sort of .22LR ammunition lying around.

Inside 100 yards, you should be able to hit what you are shooting at easily with a .22LR. If it’s a meal you’re in need of, there’s really no cause to look further than a .22LR. Whether it’s red squirrel or cottontail rabbit or sitting duck, the .22LR works with precision shot placement.

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El Paso Saddlery’s Stunning Ruger Bearcat Holster

El Paso Saddlery’s Ruger Bearcat Shopkeeper holster.

El Paso Saddlery offers the Bearcat Shopkeeper owner an exquisite and authentic option to holster their .22 revolver.”

It would be a shame to carry a beautiful Ruger Bearcat bird’s head Shopkeeper in anything less than a quality western-style rig, like those provided by El Paso Saddlery.

A popular rig for those who want both period aesthetics and in-the-field functionality is the hybrid #44 Outfitter holster and belt. The holster has a rollover lining for an easy draw and the belt is sewn rough-side out so it will stay put on your waist.

But could a #44 rig be pulled together for a diminutive 3-inch barrel .22 revolver?

The answer was yes; it would not be a problem at all. The holster was trimmed down and the belt sewn with .22-friendly cartridge loops instead of the usual .45 caliber loops. The result was a handsome holster and belt that are a perfect match for this gun.

Investing in quality like this means they can be used and enjoyed together for years to come.

El Paso Saddlery offers a variety of holster and belt options for cowboy action shooting, concealed carry, and hunting handguns. They are willing to work with their customers to make the changes needed for a perfect fit..

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Hatsan Introduces Whisper-Quiet Air Rifle

Hatsan’s BT65

Hatsan has made a name for itself with hard-hitting, highly accurate air rifles.

The Turkish manufacturer has especially won high praises for its line of pre-charged pneumatic rifles, which can tear out a bull’s eye from 75-yards down range. Precise as these guns are, they have earned the unusual reputation of being noisy. But this is a problem the company has aimed to overcome.

Hatsan has introduced a new line of its popular PCP rifles outfitted with some extras that are certain to make them whisper quite without loosing their zip. The Quiet Energy Series are outfitted with full-length barrel shrouds that tapper into metal and plastic baffled suppressors. The result is an air rifle 32-percent quieter than its unmodified counterpart.

Certainly this gives shooters an advantage when picking off flighty game, such as crows or starlings. But the real benefit of Hatsan’s innovations goes to the backyard target shooter. With a barely audible report, the Quiet Energy Series avoids rising the ire of neighbors with sensitive hearing or ones who might not be keen about close-quarters marksmanship.

The QE modifications have been incorporated into Hatsan’s BT65 and AT44-10, giving shooters the choice of rifles that pushes high density lead pellets up to 1250 feet per second. The air guns also come tricked out with all the extras shooters have come to expect from Hatsan.

Both rifles have Quattro two-stage, adjustable match triggers and each are available in three calibers — .177, .22 and .25. Each rifle is outfitted with precision rifled steel barrels and come with adjustable synthetic stocks, easily modifying the length of pull and cheek rest. The guns also come with built-in pressure gauges, allowing shooters to keep an eye on when it’s time to recharge the air cylinder. The PCP rifles come with easily re-loadable magazines that hold 10 .177 or .22 pellets or nine .25, as well.

Hatsan has also outfitted its piston-charged Torpedo 150 for shooters who do not want the hassle of refilling air cylinders.

Air rifles have come a long way and from the clunky versions many cut their teeth on as little shavers. They are now precision instruments, but ones certain to bring the kid out in anyone who gets behind the trigger — whether it be in the field or in the backyard.

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Rugged Ruger Revolvers

Ruger revolvers are famous for their strength and durability. From the new Gun Digest Book of Ruger Revolvers, here are some tough-as-nails examples of factory and custom Ruger wheelguns.

Custom Ruger Single-Six

Lipsey's Ruger Bearcat

Alan Harton-built Ruger Bearcat

Ruger Blackhawk Convertible

30 Carbine Blackhawk

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In Turkey Hunting, Practice Makes Perfect

Solid preparation helps ensure success during turkey season.

Because the main tool of turkey hunting is a shotgun, some hunters get the false impression that it produces a large pattern of shot, making it easy to hit a target. So, they tend to skip shooting practice. But with fine-tuned barrels and high-tech shotshells designed to take down gobblers beyond 40 yards, that way of thinking is far from reality.

Be Sure Your Gun Will Deliver

The first task is to ensure that your shotgun setup produces the best shot pattern possible. Whether you prefer a 12- or 20-gauge, or a 3½-inch or 2¾-inch shotshell, the golden rule for choosing a turkey shotgun is to select a gun that you’re confident in and comfortable shooting.

A Helpful Sight

Weaver Kaspa VZT Turkey Scope.

Tight patterns delivered by constrictive turkey chokes mean you’re trying to hit a baseball-sized head with a basketball-sized swarm of small pellets at long distances. An upgrade in shotgun sights will improve your success rate. There are many turkey-specific sight systems available. Rifle-style peep sights and electronic red-dot-type sights are popular choices among turkey hunters. A magnified scope with a turkey-specific reticle might be the best option because it lets you fine-tune your shot pattern. Using the scope’s elevation and windage turrets, you can move the gun’s point of impact so the densest part of the pattern is at the point of aim.

Advanced Ammo

Vary your shot sizes and brands from several distances, and stick with the one that gives you the most consistent pattern. That said, it’s next to impossible to get good long-range patterns out of inexpensive lead loads. Products that incorporate advanced technology and high-grade shot produce the best results. For example, Federal Premium Heavyweight turkey loads feature the innovative FliteControl wad, which helps ensure tight patterns downrange. This is coupled with Heavyweight pellets, made of an ultra-dense tungsten alloy that is 15 percent heavier than lead to provide greater downrange velocity and knockdown power.

A Tight Choke

Typically, too much choke constriction causes the pellets to become deformed and inaccurate. Too little choke can throw your pattern too wide, leaving little density in the kill zone. You might find something that delivers better results. In general, more open choke constrictions are better suited for larger pellets, such as No. 4s. The tighter chokes in the .640- to .655-inch range are designed for smaller shot, such as size No. 7. Don’t be afraid to keep experimenting with various choke and shot size combinations.

The National Wild Turkey Federation, among others, suggests the ideal pattern for turkey hunting is 100 pellets in a 10-inch circle at 40 yards. Note that it’s also important for this pattern to be spread out consistently. Large gaps within that 10-inch circle could cause a miss.

Don’t just spend time shooting off a bench.

Practice in Realistic Scenarios

Ditch the shooting rest and make your practice sessions as realistic as possible. Step away from the shooting bench, and practice while sitting on the ground with a solid backstop behind you, just like you’re sitting up against a tree during a real hunt. You should have at least one practice session wearing your hunting clothes and vest. If you plan on using specialized accessories, such as a monopod or a padded shooting rest that attaches to your knee, you need to practice using those, too.

Practice Your Shot Repetitively

To become proficient at other shotgun sports — such as trap, skeet and sporting clays — athletes take thousands of practice shots before competing. Turkey hunters can benefit from repetition, too. Master the physical acts of flipping the safety, accurately placing your aim, steadying your shot, taking a deep breath and properly squeezing the trigger.

For repetitive shooting practice grab a box of clay targets and less expensive target ammunition. Standard clay targets are roughly the same size as a gobbler’s head, about 4 inches in diameter. For a greater challenge, choose mini-sized clays that are about 2 inches in diameter. The simple way to set up stationary clay targets intended for turkey training is to sharpen the ends of several 2-foot sticks, shove them in the ground and hang the targets from them. Try putting some brush or other obstacles in front of some of the targets to make for more realistic hunting scenarios.

Train and Condition

Turkey hunting is a physical activity that you should train for just like other athletic sports. You should train and condition yourself to be in good physical condition before hunting season, because to make a good shot, you need strength and endurance. During shooting practice at the range, pack your favorite mouth call. Sound off a long, loud calling sequence until you’re huffing and puffing, and then take aim at a distant target and squeeze off a shot. Run a few short sprints in the parking lot, knock off a dozen pushups, or jump rope for a few minutes until your heart is pounding and you’re breathing hard, and then immediately sit down and practice your shot.

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New Turkey Loads 2014

New Turkey Loads 2014—These new optimized turkey loads hit strutting toms like a Mack truck and do so with astounding efficiency. Don’t go after longbeards this season without some of these turkey loads in your vest.

Federal Mag-Shok Heavyweight

With all the marketing hype surrounding magnum turkey loads, you’d think it was nearly impossible to kill a turkey with anything less than a howitzer round. The engineers at Federal Premium know differently and have proven it with a 2¾-inch turkey load that hits hard downrange, yet is nearly 50 percent easier on the hunter side of the shotgun compared to a similar 3-inch round. It is filled with 1¼-ounces of tungsten-based Heavyweight shot packed into a pattern-producing Flitecontrol wad atop optimum loads that deliver up to 1,300 fps at the muzzle.

Remington High-Velocity Magnum Turkey

Magnum charges can play havoc on lead pellets, deforming them in the shot column and creating scattered patterns with holes big enough for a turkey to escape unscathed. To help reduce the chances of that happening, Remington fills its high-velocity loads with buffered, copper-plated shot that resists deformation and uses a specialized piston-like wad to absorb some of the initial blast at ignition. The result is a tight wad of shot that exits the muzzle at 1,300 fps and retains that energy to produce a turkey-killing pattern well down range. 

Winchester Long Beard XR

Winchester’s newest turkey offering hits the market hard with perhaps the most innovative, and certainly the most hyped new load to come along in years (see review on page tk). And with good reason—independent testing has shown Long Beard XR is truly capable of pushing the killable range beyond what most folks thought possible. The unique secret is a resin that bonds the lead shot together in the shell, yet shatters upon ignition, creating a buffer that essentially eliminates any shot deformation. This results in tight, turkey-killing patterns at, dare I say, up to 60 yards. 

Spectra Shot White Lightning

Continuing the trend of downsizing loads, yet optimizing performance, Spectra Shot packs White Lightning turkey killers with just 1 5/8 ounces of shot. That, along with a special blend of all-weather Hodgdon powder that pushes a muzzle velocity of around 1,200 fps, makes these shells lighter on the shoulder, but the dense, uniform nickel-plated lead shot still retains plenty of energy downrange to ruffle more than just the feathers of a strutting tom—it also puts them down hard. The manufacturer also claims the lighter load allows for tighter choke constrictions, something both turkey hunters and competitive target shooters can appreciate.

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