Sighting my Shotgun in, What?

wshootingjournal ^ | 3/8/2015 | Larry Case

[w1n1]

As we are speeding into the month of March, many of us “shot-gunners” are thinking about (or should be) preparing for the spring turkey season. I want to caution you about merely grabbing the shotgun off the wall, and heading off to the woods. Success comes from having confidence in your weapon, and we achieve this by doing some shooting and knowing what the gun will do.

First, remember that this turkey shooting deal, in the spring, has evolved into something more like rifle shooting than “shot-gunning.” Ideally we are aiming, not pointing the gun, at a small, stationary target (the turkeys head and neck). Almost any kind of sights we put on the shotgun, more than just a standard bead, will help us. Read the rest of sighting in shotgun story here.

[taxcontrol]

I’m thinking a green laser mounted under the barrel would work better.

[doorgunner69]

To verify POAis going to be very close to POI, Laserlyte makes a fine tool that with the shotgun spud will verify everything. Have used it many times with rifle sighted barrels to get things close.

[TexasGator]

If you dont dit the head you will have no idea which way to adjust

[taxcontrol]

I am not a bird hunter. I hunt 4 legged (squirrels to elk) so I admit I don’t know much about turkey hunting.

It is my understanding that you have to get close, like less than 100 yards close. Since a green laser produces a beam, not a dot, it should be easy to adjust. I would imagine the process would be to obtain your best sight picture, press the button to activate the green laser, adjust laser to target and fire.

[riverrunner]

There are many reasons to make sure your shotgun is hitting were you aim or point it.

With most smaller game animals and birds it isn’t as critical.

With the more open chokes not as much. With real tight full extra full chokes used for some things like turkeys it makes a different.

The shot pattern of an extra tight choke might only be 6 inches across at normal or closer hunting ranges.

So having sites and being able to know where the center of the pattern well hit is very important.

I shot turkeys as close as 10 feet and as far away as 50 yards with a shot gun.

At 10 feet you better be dead or your going to miss.

[riverrunner]

The barrel pictures sure does look like a rifle barrel.

[MileHi]

It is my understanding that you have to get close, like less than 100 yards close

You wear camo and call them to you. 50 yards is a long shot.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’ve used the Site Lite, a similar device, and their software. Good results, even sighting in a .45-70 Sharps with vernier iron sights.

[Hugin]

I don’t know about other states, but here in CA laser sights are illegal for hunting. In any case since you’re aiming for the head, and turkeys have eyesight comparable to eagles, as soon as you shine that light in their direction they would be off.

All you really need is a good iron sight, though some use scopes. You really don’t even need that, plenty are taken with a plain old single bead. Also an ultra tight choke is essential if you are shooting more than about 30 yards.

[Holdem Or Foldem]

This will Work, just remember to ditch the flashlight if you see the game warden!

[Vendome]

I guess if yer dead, you are absolutely going to miss...out on life...

[gundog]

I’ve heard it compared to calling and bow-hunting for elk, in terms of distances and frayed nerves.

[MileHi]

Yes, it does get yer heart goin’. Once we called this huge bull on a high ridge during the rut. No tag for him, we had deer tags, so we just teased him in. He was 20 yards away for about ten minutes. I could hardly sit still that long. He was awesome.

[TexasGator]

“I would imagine the process would be to obtain your best sight picture”

Why use a laser, then ...