TC Encore Shotgun Help/advice please?

[12ring]

I just ordered a brand new TC Encore 12ga Turkey Gun in ALL CAMO w/a 26" barrel.  It comes w/a turkey choke tube and I was wondering what shotshells would be best to shoot through it.  Some choke manufactuers say not to shoot "heavy shot" through them.  I was looking at wal-mart and found some 3" # 5 shot with 2oz powder.  They are Fed Premium Mag-shok.  I think they were copper plated.  Would these be ok ?  I'd like to hear any other sugguestions as to what shells to shoot that are safe for the gun.

And also,....  Can this turkey gun be converted to a rifle simply by changing the barrel and forearm?

Any input would be appreciated,...... and thanks in advance,  Derek.

[jlk]

I would not shoot any plated shot through it, but it would be good to here other inputs. And yes you can convert it by just swapping barrels and forends.

[12ring]

I have never used any "plated" shot, so I don't know the advantages or disadvantages of it.  I've always just used regular #6 lead turkey loads.  I wonder if the gun will come with any "recommended" or "non-recommended" literature?  I appreciate the info,..............  Derek.

[New Hampshire]

You will find nowadays that ANY load listed as being for turkey is using plated shot.  The copper plating decreases pellet deformation which has a twofold advantagous effect.  1) Less pellet deformation means tighter patterns.  2) Again, less pellet deformation usualy means deeper penetration.  I would pick up a few boxes of different Turkey loads.  Shot charge weight isnt too important as long as you are dumping about 6 or more pellets in the head/neck area for a clean kill.  Pattern your gun a 10 yard intervals as far out as you plan on shooting.  I think 30 yards is plenty, but thats me and you will have to decide.  As long as your getting proper pellet counts in the kill area.  Some bbls/choke tubes arent rated for hevi-shot because it is made from Tungsten Iron, whic is as hard as your bbl.  This will cause scoring and marking in a bbl and choke tube not meant for it.  Plus, because it does not deform at all (unlike the lead does) too tight a choke will mean a burst bbl for sure.  Besides, I was using hevi-shot the past couple of seasons, but the price of the dang things, plus the fact I only shoot out to about 30 yards, meant I was wasting money for nothing.
So just pick up yourself some boxes from the likes of Federal, Winchester and Remington and pattern.  Pick the best load for you and have at it.  If you do pick the 2oz loads just remember one important thing.......TUCK THE GUN IN YOUR SHOULDER!  Lets just say failure to do so will result in bodily bruising  :wink: .
Brian M.

[Gitzit]

Last spring I shot several loads in mine including the Hevi-Shots.  I ended up buying a tighter choke .660" as opposed to the factory tube of .670".  I had no problems with Hevi-Shot in the factory tube but did not try it in the .660" tube.  The Winchester Supreme high velocity #6 shot the best in my gun.  These are a 1 3/4 oz. copper plated load and these shot better than the 2 oz. loads in my gun.  One shell I definately want to try this spring is the new Federal with the Flitecontrol wad.  Also the barrels on these guns accept any choke threaded for the popular Winchoke-Browning-Mossberg-Weatherby pattern.  I hope this helps.