Best dedicated turkey gun

MaxKW

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Timmins,On
I'm looking for everyone's opinion on the best dedicated turkey shotgun, my turkey spot is a 9 hour drive so I only get a few day but I want to make the best of my time there and I don't like junk, what is everyone using or what would you love to have. Make, model, barrel length, optics or sights, etc etc
 
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Remington 870, 12 gauge the same gun I use for ducks, geese, grouse and rabbits etc....
 
Wouldn't trade my Benelli Super Black Eagle II for anything. It's been at home anywhere I've taken it.
 
An important part of the formula is your choke, load and sights. I'd suggest a good brand like Trulock or Briley chokes. I use a 20 gauge 870 youth with a Trulock turkey choke and Federal Premium. The short light pkg is agile and great for shooting from a blind or for "run and gun". I get patterns equalling a 12ga with this set up too.
 
I have a Browning Gold 3 1/2" but the long barrel doesn't feel ideal.

I do have a Rem 870 20ga with a 21" barrel that could work.

I guess the lines get blurred between what "could work" and what is "perfect" if that exists.
 
An important part of the formula is your choke, load and sights. I'd suggest a good brand like Trulock or Briley chokes. I use a 20 gauge 870 youth with a Trulock turkey choke and Federal Premium. The short light pkg is agile and great for shooting from a blind or for "run and gun". I get patterns equalling a 12ga with this set up too.

What sights or optics are you using?
 
I have a 42 mm Red Dot($20 from Walmart years ago and this gun has only seen 3.5`) on my dedicated 870 and will second the fact you can adjust your pattern. Also with a Red Dot there is no concern of form when you shoot, just put the dot on them and giver. I have shot few turkeys when in a comfortable shooting position, usually twisted around, sometimes left handed. on your belly, slouched sideways, you get the idea. My gun shot consistently left, not much but enough to be a concern and the Red Dot fixed that.

The gun and load must be matched as they do not all preform the same. I have shot an Undertaker choke for years and it performs from 0-55yds as it should. From 0-15 the pattern is golf ball size so practice a couple in close so you know how tight it is on those 3 yd birds. When you find a ammo combo that works my advice is to buy lots as sometimes material changes are made year to year. Got me one year when the brand I use changed the wads and unknown to me it made my gun shoot 12 inches right. Missed 5 birds before I thought to put the gun on paper and it was then I shot an old shell right on, the new box 12 inches right and when walking to the patterning board noticed the new wad. Twist of the Red Dot fixed it but it was a humbling experience on not trusting ammo manufactures to keep things the same.
 
I've used everything from 20 ga to 10 ga. 2-3/4" 3/4 oz loads to 3.5" 2-1/4 oz loads in single barrel break actions to sxs to ou to pump and semi auto. There's no perfect gun. Find one you like that fits you well in which you're comfortable shooting and practice with it until you can hit what you're looking at without question

This year I'll be using a 2.5" chambered 1890 Charles Daly hammer gun.

Pattern your gun and loads and hunt within your limits
 
Mossberg 935 is my go to turkey gun. I swap out the rear stock with a Choate pistol grip stock and switch the waterfowl barrel with a 24" turkey barrel. Of all the guns I have or have had, none patterned better then my 935. As mentioned previously, its essential to pattern the gun and loads being used. Determining POI is also paramount. You can have the tightest pattern possible, but if you dont know where the centre of that pattern will strike, you may lose that bird you worked hard at getting in close.
 
Pattern ur gun. Center things up, shoot it like a rifle. Work within what you determine is your max kill range for your gun. It's generally a one shot deal if you do all of the above. And any legal firearm will work !
 
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Picked up a Browning Silver NWTF, now I just need to find a red dot and play with chokes, I'm going to start with the Winchester Long beard loads,
 
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