I have been thinking as of late about trying my 1925 Fox sterlingworth for Turkey. It is 12 gauge, improved cylinder, and modified. It patterns quite well, my range limit is 25 to 30 yards where I hunt. I think a 11/8 oz. Load of 5s, should take care of the business at hand. Opinions?
Vintage shotgun for turkey
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at that range it should. I've killed several turkeys with an old plain barrel 870 modified choke and 2 3/4" chamber using Winchester 2 3/4" magnum #4s. good luck. lee
Hevi Shot has some 2 3/4 loads too.
I'm not one for buying into hype, but this stuff does pattern tight and hits hard.
I'm not one for buying into hype, but this stuff does pattern tight and hits hard.
Before Buck Masters, Bass Masters, Turkey Teasers or what ever
they call themselves, Turkeys must not have been as tuff as they
are now. We managed to kill them with standard HI Brass #5s,
some liked #4s. We had no camo, red dots, special shells or a
"Turkey Gun". Guys used their gun they hunted everything else
with. If you have a good tight shooting 12 there is no reason
to feel under gunned within reasonable range.
they call themselves, Turkeys must not have been as tuff as they
are now. We managed to kill them with standard HI Brass #5s,
some liked #4s. We had no camo, red dots, special shells or a
"Turkey Gun". Guys used their gun they hunted everything else
with. If you have a good tight shooting 12 there is no reason
to feel under gunned within reasonable range.
silentflyer
Member
I agree with Drm50, my grandfather managed to hunt with a Winchester 1897 12 gauge for his entire life. The only shotgun he ever had, took squirrels,rabbit,turkey,ruffled grouse,quail,and deer. Also the occasional critter raiding the garden,hen house or whatever.
Not sure how the old timers got along before all the marketing types took over advertising for the manufactures.
Enjoy using your Fox and think of grandad...
Not sure how the old timers got along before all the marketing types took over advertising for the manufactures.
Enjoy using your Fox and think of grandad...
HEY, ! are you saying the old timers didn't even have two way radios or helocopters to hunt with ?
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It sounds as though you know how well and where your double patterns, so I doubt the turkey will know the difference between you and the camo/pistol grip/laser sighted/GPS aided 8 gauge 4" shell toting hunter. 
cowboy4evr
Member
I just like / prefer old shotguns . I have 3 . A 1897 Winchester , made that year , a hunter arms 12 ga. W/ exposed hammers , and my great grandfathers Ithaca dbl 10 , again exposed hammers . I don't want nor need anything fancier .
Bill Bates
Member
If I can kill a turkey with an old 12 gauge A.H. Fox AE loaded with an 1 1/8 oz. of 6 shot; anyone can do it. My Fox is more like full and fuller. I've patterned it at 40 yards and it puts the number of needed pellets to do the job in a 10 inch circle; so, I feel confident a bit past 35 yards but I've never killed a turkey beyond 35 yards.
Take that Sterlingworth out and let it do what it was designed to do.
(dusty 30-30 mentioned Hevi-Shot, it is great stuff but I would never shoot it through a shotgun not rated for steel. Hevi-Shot is hard stuff and not recommended for our vintage guns.)
Take that Sterlingworth out and let it do what it was designed to do.
(dusty 30-30 mentioned Hevi-Shot, it is great stuff but I would never shoot it through a shotgun not rated for steel. Hevi-Shot is hard stuff and not recommended for our vintage guns.)
SC_Mike
Member
Another vote for the 870. 26 inch barrel full choke #5s. Again I think its all about shot placement and good groups and lots of testing.
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Rpg
Member
I've shot turkey with my 16 ga Damascus barrel LC Smith full choke with 1 oz of #5 at about 1,125 fps.
The turkeys didn't seem to care I wasn't using the biggest, baddest gun and ammo.
The turkeys didn't seem to care I wasn't using the biggest, baddest gun and ammo.
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Vintage Shotguns
*** A hammerless (used) Hunter Arms Dbl 12 gauge was the best shotgun I have ever owned. Many years ago I traded it to a gentleman in Kansas City (Richard Koury (sic). I have kicked myself ever since.
*** A hammerless (used) Hunter Arms Dbl 12 gauge was the best shotgun I have ever owned. Many years ago I traded it to a gentleman in Kansas City (Richard Koury (sic). I have kicked myself ever since.
No need for any special purpose shotgun to go out and sit under a tree and shoot a turkey.
Keep it simple,,
the shot pellets regardless, of the gauge, are going to be coming out of the bbl,, regardless of the length at around 1200/1300 fps.
You know what shot load you are using and what size shot.
You know the choke.
So you know what to expect at a given range.
The particular gun makes no difference really.
"Magnum' loads generally just throw more shot for a denser pattern,,not much if any more velocity to the load a rule, the 2 3/4"Mag included.
The denser pattern can extend range, but the added recoil can be disturbing to many shooters and not welcome by older vintage shotguns & their stocks. Check older guns for 'short chambers',,it was the mid 1920's or so before the 2 3/4" chamber started to become into general use. It was a hap-hazzard acceptance and many vintage guns are still short chambered,,even some 12ga. Very, very few were 3" chambered from the mfg.
Patterning it would be a suggestion as many shotguns will throw disturbingly terrible patterns with different loads. Might not shoot to point of aim either.
Shoot at a known distance and at a cardboard or paper target board for a real test.
Shooting at an old tree or into a farm pond doesn't make it when trying to figure where the gun is shooting and what the pattern is like.
Keep your shots within the reasonable range for the set up you're using,,and go have fun with the vintage shotguns.
They still go bang, kill and break stuff just like they used to.
Keep it simple,,
the shot pellets regardless, of the gauge, are going to be coming out of the bbl,, regardless of the length at around 1200/1300 fps.
You know what shot load you are using and what size shot.
You know the choke.
So you know what to expect at a given range.
The particular gun makes no difference really.
"Magnum' loads generally just throw more shot for a denser pattern,,not much if any more velocity to the load a rule, the 2 3/4"Mag included.
The denser pattern can extend range, but the added recoil can be disturbing to many shooters and not welcome by older vintage shotguns & their stocks. Check older guns for 'short chambers',,it was the mid 1920's or so before the 2 3/4" chamber started to become into general use. It was a hap-hazzard acceptance and many vintage guns are still short chambered,,even some 12ga. Very, very few were 3" chambered from the mfg.
Patterning it would be a suggestion as many shotguns will throw disturbingly terrible patterns with different loads. Might not shoot to point of aim either.
Shoot at a known distance and at a cardboard or paper target board for a real test.
Shooting at an old tree or into a farm pond doesn't make it when trying to figure where the gun is shooting and what the pattern is like.
Keep your shots within the reasonable range for the set up you're using,,and go have fun with the vintage shotguns.
They still go bang, kill and break stuff just like they used to.
Thank you all for the responses, I love the old side by side shotguns. I have had the sterlingworth, for a few years. I am not really into the new plastic and titanium, 31/2", auto shotguns. As I have become, "seasoned", I have come to appreciate, old tech, wood and steel rifles, and shotguns. They worked long ago, and still do. My pre Garcia, sako finnbear, 3006, is my favorite, do everything rifle
garddogg56
Member
I killed the only turkey I've ever shot at with 1 oz. of #8 shot @ 1200 fps and the choke was Imp. Mod. The distance was about 30 yds. It was a double barrel gun but the barrels were vertical instead of SXS.
35Rem
Member
Back in the day all critters had higher baseline lead levels from the lead octane boosters in gasoline so it was not necessary to get as much lead on target to bring the quarry down.
OLDSTER
Member
Turkey
OK turkey. Great photo. And BEAUTIFUL old Fox
If I can kill a turkey with an old 12 gauge A.H. Fox AE loaded with an 1 1/8 oz. of 6 shot; anyone can do it. My Fox is more like full and fuller. I've patterned it at 40 yards and it puts the number of needed pellets to do the job in a 10 inch circle; so, I feel confident a bit past 35 yards but I've never killed a turkey beyond 35 yards.
Take that Sterlingworth out and let it do what it was designed to do.
(dusty 30-30 mentioned Hevi-Shot, it is great stuff but I would never shoot it through a shotgun not rated for steel. Hevi-Shot is hard stuff and not recommended for our vintage guns.)
OK turkey. Great photo. And BEAUTIFUL old Fox
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