I haven't hunted a lot this fall, but I have been out after turkeys a few times. I got one back in October, and another this morning. We can take four during the fall season, but only two may be taken with firearms, so I'll have to break out the crossbow. I still have a few weeks to get a couple more.
The October early gun season with the Encore 12 gauge:
(https://i.imgur.com/BDpXLZ3.jpg)
The December late gun season with the Encore .410:
(https://i.imgur.com/IAGLjcw.jpg)
Pat
Congrats on the bird. I do have a question. Is it legal to use an air gun for them?
Quote from: Hawks Feather on December 07, 2020, 10:09:31 PM
Is it legal to use an air gun for them?
No sir, but air guns may be used for hunting deer, fur bearers, and small game. There are caliber restrictions.
Pat
As usual Pat get's er done. :bowingsmilie:
That encore 410 is a beauty. How long is that barrel? Could you tell me about the sights you have on it? And is it an external choke tube? I have a Thompson contender with a .410 super 14 barrel :yoyo:
Quote from: nastygunz on December 08, 2020, 08:42:32 AM
That encore 410 is a beauty.
Thanks
Quote from: nastygunz on December 08, 2020, 08:42:32 AM
How long is that barrel?
The factory part of the barrel is 15 inches, the choke adds another inch and a quarter, or so.
Quote from: nastygunz on December 08, 2020, 08:42:32 AM
Could you tell me about the sights you have on it?
They are HI VIZ C-series turkey/deer shotgun sights. They clamp and snap on to the vent rib and are a huge improvement over the pitiful factory sights. Honestly, the rear sight isn't necessary, just adding the front sight is all that is needed.
(https://i.imgur.com/3kDKnvv.jpg)
Quote from: nastygunz on December 08, 2020, 08:42:32 AM
And is it an external choke tube?
Yes it is. I sent the barrel to a gunsmith in Tennessee, who does a lot of work on Encores and Contenders. He removed the helical rifling to prevent the shot from spinning, and cut in straight rifling to keep it legal as a handgun. He also made the extended choke.
With the factory rifling and choke, shooting lead shot, this was a ten or twelve yard gun. With straight rifling and custom choke, shooting TSS, it is easily a thirty yard killer. :biggrin:
Quote from: nastygunz on December 08, 2020, 08:42:32 AM
I have a Thompson contender with a .410 super 14 barrel :yoyo:
Get in touch with J.R. Shultz at Shultz Precision Rifles if you are interested in having the barrel worked on. I think you would be happy with the results.
Pat
Congratulations Pat. Is that the new "blind" you built?
Thanks For the information! Do you mind if I ask how long ago you had Mr. Schultz do that work? I tried contacting him numerous times a year or two ago and could never get a response back from him. I wanted to do the same thing that you did have straight rifling and an external choke.
Quote from: nastygunz on December 08, 2020, 01:41:47 PM
Thanks For the information! Do you mind if I ask how long ago you had Mr. Schultz do that work? I tried contacting him numerous times a year or two ago and could never get a response back from him. I wanted to do the same thing that you did have straight rifling and an external choke.
Hard to believe, but it's been four years. I sent him a message earlier today on Facebook messenger. I'll let you know if he responds.
Pat
Thanks!
Quote from: JohnP on December 08, 2020, 11:01:09 AM
Congratulations Pat. Is that the new "blind" you built?
Yes it is, John. I've taken several turkeys out of it since I built it.
Here it is with yesterday's little hen. I'll be back in it with a friend in the morning:
(https://i.imgur.com/8WNVxNG.jpg)
Pat
There he is! :bowingsmilie:
Welcome back Pat. ...said the last turkey :eyebrow: :congrats:
That blind is a lot nicer than the cabin I grew up in :biggrin:
Return of the Turkeynator
Hey Pat, am restocking my survival kits (in packs, vehicles) after a Fall of use and in prep for winter hunting and the plastic box one you sent me reminds me of you. Thank you again!
Quote from: Okanagan on December 09, 2020, 10:14:38 AM
Return of the Turkeynator
Hey Pat, am restocking my survival kits (in packs, vehicles) after a Fall of use and in prep for winter hunting and the plastic box one you sent me reminds me of you. Thank you again!
You're welcome, sir.
Pat
Well by crikey I called Mr. Schultz today about the Thompson Contender work and spoke to him, awful nice fella! He said he would do the work but has been swamped building precision rifles. He asked me to give him a call back in month or two. His quoted price was really good I thought, and I am definiteley going to get the work done!
And....NH is in the process of making it legal to turkey hunt with a .410 now! The only stipulation is you have to use TSS or heavier than lead shot. I contacted the Colonel down at Fish and game headquarters today and he told me that it would be legal for me to use my Thompson Contender handgun! I have been wanting to take a turkey with it for years.
Handgun in .410 for turkey! That sounds like fun, forces you to hunt a little better to get a shot. Best of luck whenever turkey season comes around.
The very last afternoon that I hunted in Canada, grandson Code and I ran across a fellow hunting grouse with a lever action .410 that looked really sweeeet. Nice young man who had hunted with it for one season and loved it. I think it was a Henry. There aren't enough grouse here to make it worth my while to buy one like it, because it would either sit in the closet or merely ride around unused, like my .22 for grouse does now. Oh to have that gun and a half day in a good grouse year in the Dease Lake country!
Right across the river in Vermont where our camp is you can turkey hunt with a .410 shotgun but not a .410 handgun . They sure have some crazy ass hunting rules that's for sure.
Quote from: nastygunz on March 16, 2021, 02:36:05 PM
Well by crikey I called Mr. Schultz today about the Thompson Contender work and spoke to him, awful nice fella! He said he would do the work but has been swamped building precision rifles. He asked me to give him a call back in month or two. His quoted price was really good I thought, and I am definiteley going to get the work done!
It's good to hear that you finally got a hold of him. I think you will be pleased with his work, and have a lot of fun with your Contender. TSS has been a game changer for the. 410, but it's expensive, and hard to find right now.
Pat
Whewwwwwwwww, TSS aint cheap! Everything seems to be hard to find right now, for a reasonable price anyways.
I can't find any 20ga TSS OR other turkey loads around here. I only have about 5 left I think & I really enjoy the 20ga over the 12ga. I like em close. :biggrin:
TSS=💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰. I may be sticking with the big 12 this year!
I here ya on those money bags nasty!! After I made that post curiosity got the better of me. I went to the ammo bin & found a full box,,25rds,, of Win 20ga 3" buffered Turkey loads I forgot I bought some time ago. Those are 35yd slobberknockers! The 12 ga Federal's I have shoot damn near like a slug at 20yds with the CZ factory turkey choke. It's easy to miss with those! :argh:
After making that post I realize I have more turkey loads than available tags for the next 20yrs or so. Maximum of 3 birds per year in Ohio.
I have enough turkey loads to last me for the next 30 seasons but to use a 410 in New Hampshire you have to use the TSS.
Quote from: nastygunz on March 16, 2021, 02:36:05 PM
Well by crikey I called Mr. Schultz today about the Thompson Contender work and spoke to him, awful nice fella! He said he would do the work but has been swamped building precision rifles. He asked me to give him a call back in month or two. His quoted price was really good I thought, and I am definiteley going to get the work done!
I'ma gonna do this some day
I am really tempted to call him again and see if he could slide it in and back before the May 1 opener but I don't want to be pushy :innocentwhistle: then again I don't know if I want to even get involved with the ridiculous cost of the TSS for turkey hunting, but it would be nice for small game hunting to get the work done.
nasty- If I run across any 410TSS would you like some?
I appreciate the offer but I am going to hold out for now because they still havent officially passed the new law and not sure if they will before the season opens.
10/4
Damn red tape!
Doesn't Maine offer .410 for turkeys?
Yes and Vermont does too but you still can't use a hand gun in Vermont. Which sucks because our camp is in Vermont and I am a five minute drive across the Connecticut River from New Hampshire to Vermont and 20 minutes from the camp. I can't use my 22/410 over and under in Vermont either because you can't have a rifle with you when your turkey hunting. I swear you have to be a lawyer to know all the rules and regulations in any of the states. If you ask five different fish cops a question you'll get four different answers from them.
My only goal with using a 410 is to take one with my Thompson Contender I don't really have any desire to take one with a 410 Long gun.
Good job Pat! Love the contender! :yoyo:
I hear ya! That's why I really like Ohio. It's all so much simpler here. :yoyo:
I hope you get to fulfill your dream hunt for sure!! :yoyo: