Turkey gun opinions please.

Art

Art

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Location
Thunder Bay, Ont
Hello, my dad is retired and is finally going to get in the game and take up turkey hunting. I'd like to find him a good quality used shotgun for this purpose and a bit of pest control.
Questions:

1)What make/model/barrel length should I consider?

2) Does he really need a 12 gauge, or would the proper 20 gauge work?

All opinions appreciated.
 
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Any shot gun with screw in chokes,is fine for turkey hunting.Buy a turkey choke that shoots well and enjoy.If he likes it he can get a so called turkey gun later.
 
You can get a nice camo, 23 inch barrel 870 for $375 new. Add a good turkey choke and your set. If you don't mind shooting turkeys with a 26 inch barrel you can get a wood stock 870 for under $330.


I think its a better deal than paying the $300 and plus for the used ones I keep seeing.

870s are great guns and ideally suited to lying around in shyte while waiting for Turkeys.


Good luck.
 
20 guages are putting a world of hurt on the birds lately. Any legal gauge will work, but you need to know the limitations of your gun. 12G is a very nice all around gun. but if recoil is a consideration than certainly have a look at the 20 gaugers
 
Art said:
Does he really need a 12 gauge, or would the proper 20 gauge work?
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All I use is a 20 gauge 870 Express. It will down a gobbler or a deer just as easy as a 12 gauge will. I find the 20 gauge is a lot more comfortable to shoot than the 12 gauge.

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I use an 870 camoed with 26 inch barrell, i love it especially for how cheap they are and the abuse the can withstand. As for gauge the 20 will work just find, pattern the gun/choke/shell combo and know your limitations you will be fine, but for the price u cant beat the remington.
 
My Mossberg 535 does just as well, for much less. And there are multi barrel combo's for not a lot of money either.

The 870 is a gun good no doubt, but in terms of value, I feel Mossberg gives a little more.

Good luck
 
savage112 said:
All I use is a 20 gauge 870 Express. It will down a gobbler or a deer just as easy as a 12 gauge will. I find the 20 gauge is a lot more comfortable to shoot than the 12 gauge.
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I agree 100%. I use a 12 and a 20. I find myself grabbing the 20 all the time now when i need a shotgun. No recoil issues...the 20ga is just a joy to carry and shoot! So much that there might be a 12ga for sale soon...and a rifled barrel...
 
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sorry if its a dumb question :redface: ,but:
Is there a balistics chart that would show range of various guages and loads?



Example: Guage, shot size, chamber size, effective range?
 
warrenb said:
You can get a nice camo, 23 inch barrel 870 for $375 new. Add a good turkey choke and your set. If you don't mind shooting turkeys with a 26 inch barrel you can get a wood stock 870 for under $330.


I think its a better deal than paying the $300 and plus for the used ones I keep seeing.

870s are great guns and ideally suited to lying around in shyte while waiting for Turkeys.


Good luck.
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Well I just double checked, prices have gone up a little since I looked last month. Le baron has a 21 inch wood stocked 870 12 gauge with Turkey choke for $376 however.
 
Spring is coming.....eventually. Let see some more turkey guns. Here's mine. I'll either replace the wood stock with a Remington camo ShurShot or a regular factory camo. Will also get some Truglo sights for it.

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I went with the Mossberg 535 combo. I bought the ATI stock and Red Dot seperate. The gun came with 28" and 22" smooth barrells, both threaded for chokes. The Improved, Full, Modified, and XX Full Turkey chokes were also included. The Shotgun has a nice Mossy Oak finish and can chamber 2 3/4" all the way to 3.5". I found this was THE best deal available for what I wanted, just over a year ago.

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