Hey guys, I was killing time in Gander the other day, and stumbled across a 28” versa max sportsman on sale. I have a great 3” shotgun, but I didn’t own a 3.5”. I couldn’t resist buying it. I took it duck hunting on the last weekend of duck season, and I dropped several birds with it. I have a good turkey choke for my A300 outlander, but I’d like to take my versa max out and try to kill a turkey with it.

I can’t afford to purchase a bunch of expensive turkey chokes and different ammo to pattern it, so I was hoping someone on here may have already done some pattern testing with a versa max, different ammunition, and some turkey chokes. My LGS carries Indian creek, Rhino, and Carlson long beard. Any ideas on which is the best choke/ammo combination?

IMO if you don't have time to pattern it with different CTs, then your best bet is to buy some high quality turkey loads and go forth. The turkeys will not realize you don't have the latest "Turkey Mauler/Eliminator" choke tube in your gun.

Believe it or not, many a gobbler has been smacked down with old doubles and Auto 5s using fixed chokes! Seems impossible I know, but nevertheless true.

The Winchester Long Beard and others have proven to be quite good. Finding them for sale will be the challenge. Good luck.

I understand what you’re saying, but mine only came with a modified choke. I have to purchase a turkey choke anyway, so I was hoping someone on here had patterned some of them. I’ve looked online for some video reviews and patterns, but haven’t found any. If I’m gonna spend hard earned money on an after market choke, I’d like to know it patterns well from my particular make shotgun. I have read lots of great reviews on Winchester long beard xr ammunition, so I had planned on giving it a try.

In that case, I would contact Trulock chokes and ask their opinion because they have done quite a bit of testing with ammo & their specific turkey chokes that they have paired. They make excellent chokes IMO and are reasonably priced.

https://trulockchokes.com/turkey_hunting/

Not all barrels will pattern the same even with identical chokes and loads. That said, it would be hard to go wrong with an Indian Creek turkey choke. Which constriction patterns best in your gun will probably depend on the load you choose. You can get some good info on it at oldgobbler.com and/or call the Indian Creek company for a recommendation.

Thanks guys! I don’t have trulock available at my lgs, but I’ll check the price on them. The Indian creek chokes I’ve looked at will cost close to $100 after tax. I’ll willing to spend it on one if they pattern well from pro bore barrels.

It is your money so do whatever you want; however, you don't need to spend $100+ to get good performance. I know, I know. If it cost more it has to be better!

Call Trulock and they will mail you what they think is best and if it doesn't work or you don't like it for some reason they will take it back! How can you go wrong?! Here is an example for your VM Pro Bore.

SKU
PHRPB12695
Constriction Type
Extra Full
Constriction
0.040
Price
$44.99

SKU
PHRPB12660
Constriction Type
Turkey
Constriction
0.075
Price
$44.99


From Trulock Chokes website. "Return Policy

We stand behind our products and want you to be completely satisfied. If you are not completely satisfied for any reason, please return your merchandise and a copy of the invoice within 60 days from the date of the invoice for a full refund minus shipping cost. If you prefer an exchange, please let us know and we will send it promptly. If your item arrives damaged, please keep all boxes and packing materials and immediately contact us at 1-229-762-4678 for further instructions." "Looking for the right choke? CALL: 1-800-293-9402"

FWIW, I have no vested interest in Trulock chokes nor does anyone in my family. I just hate to see a fellow SW member waste money for some unproven perceived benefit. Good luck!

SHughes - I don't know which turkey choke is "best", but here are a few of my turkey load pattern numbers from Remington extended chokes to give you an idea of the kind of performance you might get. Obviously, the load you shoot can make a difference, so the only way to really know how your load/choke combo performs is to pattern it!

The 12-gauge 3-inch loads were shot through a Remington 870 Special Purpose shotgun and the 12-gauge 3 ½-inch loads were shot through a Remington 870 Super Magnum Special Purpose shotgun. A Remington Turkey Super Full Extended choke (.063-inch constriction) was used for all lead loads.

Pattern testing was accomplished by using 48-inch x 48-inch pattern paper with a turkey head-and-neck target placed in the center of each pattern sheet prior to the patterning shot; yardages were measure with a tape from muzzle to target; and pattern counts, pattern percentages and Skull/Cervical Vertebrae (S/CV) hits were the average from five patterns.

In-shell pellet count averages were the result of cutting open and counting the pellets from five shells out of the same box/lot as the pattern loads. These in-shell pellet counts allowed for true pattern percentage calculations.

Remember, an effective turkey gun/load/choke combo needs to have enough pellets to provide sufficient pattern density and pellets with adequate penetrating energy to reliably penetrate a turkeys skull and/or cervical vertebra at the yardage used!

Here’s my short take on this topic! When using a 12-gauge for turkeys... out to 30 yards "most all" turkey loads with a full choke will be 100% effective, out to 40 yards "many" turkey loads with a full or tighter choke can be 100% effective, out to 50 yards "some" turkey loads with a tight full turkey choke may be 100% effective, and out to 60 yards "very few" turkey loads with a tight full turkey choke are 100% effective.

40-YARD PATTERNS
Fed Hi-Velocity 3" 1 ¾ oz #5 lead (322 pellets) / 30” pattern 272 (85%) / S/CV hits 3.6
Rem Hi-Velocity 3" 1 ¾ oz #5 lead (280 pellets) / 30” pattern 225 (80%) / S/CV hits 5.8
Win Hi-Velocity 3" 1 ¾ oz #5 lead (293 pellets) / 30” pattern 257 (88%) / S/CV hits 5.8
Win Long Beard 3" 1 ¾ oz #5 lead (305 pellets) / 30” pattern 295 (97%) / S/CV hits 11.0 / 10” pattern 118
Win Super-X 3" 1 7/8 oz #5 lead (317 pellets) / 30” pattern 276 (87%) / S/CV hits 3.4
Rem Premier 3" 2 oz #5 lead (328 pellets) / 30” pattern 258 (79%) / S/CV hits 3.4
Win XX Mag 3" 2 oz #5 lead (336 pellets) / 30” pattern 293 (87%) / S/CV hits 3.6

Fed Premium 3" 2 oz #4 lead (290 pellets) / 30” pattern 213 (73%) / S/CV hits 3.2
Rem Premier 3" 2 oz #4 lead (255 pellets) / 30” pattern 209 (82%) / S/CV hits 3.6
Win XX Mag 3" 2 oz #4 lead (258 pellets) / 30” pattern 243 (94%) / S/CV hits 4.6
Win Long Beard 3½" 2 oz #4 lead (255 pellets) / 30” pattern 247 (97%) / S/CV hits 11.6 / 10” pattern 126
Win XX Mag 3½" 2 ¼ oz #4 lead (300 pellets) / 30” pattern 242 (81%) / S/CV hits 4.2

50-YARD PATTERNS
Win Long Beard 3" 1 ¾ oz #5 lead (305 pellets) / 30” pattern 275 (90%) / S/CV hits 7.4 / 10” pattern 89

Fed Premium 3" 2 oz #4 lead (290 pellets) / 30” pattern 163 (56%) / S/CV hits 2.6
Rem Premier 3" 2 oz #4 lead (255 pellets) / 30” pattern 149 (58%) / S/CV hits 1.6
Win XX Mag 3" 2 oz #4 lead (258 pellets) / 30” pattern 170 (66%) / S/CV hits 2.2
Win Long Beard 3½" 2 oz #4 lead (255 pellets) / 30” pattern 234 (92%) / S/CV hits 7.2 / 10” pattern 86
Win XX Mag 3½" 2 ¼ oz #4 lead (300 pellets) / 30” pattern 162 (54%) / S/CV hits 3.2

60-YARD PATTERNS
Win Long Beard 3½" 2 oz #4 lead (255 pellets) / 30” pattern 206 (81%) / S/CV hits 5.4 / 10” pattern 54

Hope this helps, good luck!

This is exactly the information I was looking for, however, the issue is the versa max has a different barrel than the rest. That’s great info for barrels that utilize rem chokes, but the Versa Max is back bored and uses pro bore chokes. Different from pretty much all the other Remington auto loaders. I was just hoping someone had patterned some chokes and ammunition with a versa max on here. I do like the idea of giving trulock a try.

Yes, they have a slightly larger bore diameter than an 870. For lead loads, get an extended choke that has about .065" constriction and shoot a few patterns with your favorite load at your max distance. For hard nontoxic loads (steel, tungsten, etc.), get an extended choke that has about .055" constriction and do the same.

If you are shooting lead loads, you'll not be able to beat the Winchester Long Beard Turkey loads!

I do plan on shooting the long beard XR rounds. I think I’m gonna give trulock, or the Carlson longbeard A try this season. They are two of the less expensive chokes. If I’m not happy with them, I’ll consider the more expensive chokes next season. I’ve already spent quite a bit on this gun to make it how I want it for hunting. I wader Hunt a lot during duck season, so I took it to my LGS to get it cerekoted and dipped. I’m having them install a bolt release paddle on it while it’s there. I also ordered a briley charging handle for it. When I get it back, I’ll have just about everything the waterfowl pro does, except for factory extended choke tubes, over molded rubber grips, and the fiber optic front sight, and I still have $400 less in it than a new waterfowl pro would have cost me. I mainly duck hunt and dove hunt with a modified choke anyway. I really only need a turkey choke and maybe a skeet choke. I
Never cared for a fiber optic front site, but they can be purchased for $10 should I change my mind.

As far as a fiber optic front sight for turkey hunting, I don't typically use one except when I've shot a bird or two with my son's gun, he has a magnetic fiber optic front sight. I don't really think it makes much difference for turkey hunting, so go with what you like.

Never had a Trulock choke, but I've been happy with a couple Carlson's we have.

Good luck!

Ive never cared for high vis sights either. I’ve always been a bead guy when I shoot. It’s actually one of the things I like about the sportsman. I honestly don’t pay attention to the sight when I’m waterfowl hunting or shooting clays, but I know I’ll need it as an aiming point when shooting Turkey. My LGS should be finished cerakoting and dipping in in a week to 10 days. Once I get it back, I’ll probably just get the carlsons long beard choke and put a couple of turkey loads through it at 40 yards. I do thank you for your response