Having just acquired a sweet little Kimber/Oregon SA in this caliber, was wondering if anyone had an accurate load using 70-80 grain bullets suitable for wild turkeys...Looking for something in the 2300-2600 fps range....

H355 works great in my 6X47 Kimber...

At the velocity range you mention, the 80 grain Speer is a fairly stout bullet, and H335 is the powder that generally gives the best blend of accuracy and velocity in this case. That would indicate a combination of the two should be in order (be sure to use Rem 7 1/2s as years of shooting the little 6mm wildcats have proven their worth time and again).

Start around 24 grains of H335 and work from there. In fact, you may even want to try a bulkier powder to give better load density since you prefer to stay around 2600 fps -- and Re-15 may just be the ticket in the event H335 doesn't work out for you.

If you just have to use the 6x47 to hunt turkeys try 24.9 grains of IMR 3031 and the CCI BR-4 primers behind the 70 grain Hornady Spire Points or 27.0 grains of IMR 4895, same primers behind the Hornady 70 grainers or the 70 grain Sierra BK's! Or better yet, learn how to call the darn things in to 20 yards or less and shoot them with a youth model 870 20 guage!!! 49 long beards so far on one gun!!! Rifles for turkeys should be outlawed!!! GHD

thanks for all the advice.......to GHD: really appreciate that tip on calling-I'll try to remember that the ONLY way to hunt turkeys is YOUR way.........

I don't know how many states have similar laws, but it is illegal in KY. It's not a safety thing, since rifle hunting for all other game is legal. I think it is to protect the turkeys. If it were legal and quotas allowed, you could kill every turkey on our farm in a couple of days if rifles were allowed.

Pennsylvania turkey hunters sometimes like to shoot each other when they dress like other turkeys (we have turkeys here which wear camouflage and move about in search of humans who imitate their calls)....especially in areas where our turkey hunters are concentrated such as the more poulated counties....Result is the Game folks decided to limit the rifle to the less populated counties where hunters are more spread out......It IS most definitely a safety concern in Pennsylvania which limits the use of rifles to certain areas in the fall season......

Funny thing is since fluorescent orange requirements were enacted here the accident rate has dropped....Guess it wasn't the rifle which killed turkey hunters after all?

Woodhick: I far prefer using rifles for turkey hunting. There's never seemed anything sporting about using a blunderbuss to bowl over a ground-dweller to me. On the other hand, a turkey is a relatively small and elusive target for a rifleman. Actually, I have no quarrel with anyone's methods, so long as they have none with mine.

Years ago, Speer made a 90 grain FMJ that was perfect for turkeys. I have no idea, other than lack of sales, why they dropped it. I still have a few, loaded to modest velocities, for a .243. If you could find some, they would be the cat's whiskers in your neat little 6x47 (wouldn't be for sale, would it? )

Lacking FMJ's, your best bet would be some very hard alloy cast bullets. Loaded under 2400 fps, I doubt that they would expand at all.

Woodhick: You gotta love it when you ask a simple $2 question and get a $100 answer. If your state allows rifle hunting for turkey and that's what you plan to do, by all means, go for it. I shot a turkey in Texas one year with a 7x57mm Mauser (popped the thing's head off) and I didn't feel at all bad about it. I have no load information about your 6x47, but the best of luck to you and your endeavors. Tom Purdom

quote:

Rifles for turkeys should be outlawed!!! GHD

Do you REALLY think that there should be a law against every hunting technique that you have a problem with? ... now THAT'S scary!

Years ago I tried Norma 100 grain FMJs in a 243 with reduced loads....Their performance indicated an expanding bullet to be in order...I went to various 22 centerfires, using 45-55 grain bullets in the 2400-2600 fps range which have worked very well....I am going to try 70 grain jacketed bullets in this 6x47 loaded in the 2000-2100 fps which should work OK...
Appreciate everyone's help......Not going to sell this little gem anytime soon....It's got their ABCD options which really make it special...

Appreciate everyone's help.....

Not trying to start an argument, but I've been hunting turkey for over 37 years, and it takes a lot more skill to take one with a well placed rifle or pistol bullet than it does to call one up and use a scatter gun. I don't find it challenging at all to use a shot gun on turkey.

Now, I have gone to archery and have taken them that way, also.

Barnes makes some nifty solid brass spitzer boat tails designed for fur bearers without too much pelt damage. I have used a few on turkeys over the years.

I have no problem with hunting turkeys with rifles where legal. In fact, I think it would be kinda neat since I love rifle hunting. However, even having never done it, there is no way I believe it is harder to hunt turkies with a rifle. I have hunted them all over the southeast and midwest for years, and it is really hard to call them close enough to kill with a shotgun (its not like shooting a quail; sights and a head shot are required.) Conversely, I have never failed on any single day to get a bird within rifle range of easy shots. I am out on our farm almost daily (rolling pastures and oak trees), and there is never a lack of opportunity for killing shots with almost any kind of rifle at 100-150 yds. As I say, I have never shot one due to legalities, but I can honestly say I could have killed hundreds with no problem. I just don't see the skill required.

To all the folks who thought my answer was a "smart ass" answer.......I really don't give a FRA about what you use to kill them and my little comment was not meant to flame.....after all, I did give a recommendation of loads for the 6x47 and not many other responders did so! Some of them probably have no idea what a 6x47 is!! Sorry if I offended anyone(not really!) and I hope the loads work! GHD