Some such as Mossberg 500 come drilled/tapped for a scope rail, so if you don't get a dedicated turkey gun (smoothbore barrel with rifle sights) something that allows you to mount a red dot would be another option.
Best shotgun for turkey hunting, and why?
- Thread starter sschintz
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Some such as Mossberg 500 come drilled/tapped for a scope rail, so if you don't get a dedicated turkey gun (smoothbore barrel with rifle sights) something that allows you to mount a red dot would be another option.
I do own a 535 ATS fully set up with a scope and adjustible m4 carbine stock with a custom made .650 choke but the truth is any legal gun and ammo combo can work. I've taken them with a birds head gripped 12.5" barreled pump to single shots to various sxs guns with fixed chokes to even a Beretta 1301 comp 21". Even taken many with archery gear.
Hunting skill and land layout is more important then the gun. That said I'd never talk someone out of a new gun.
I like sxs guns to have an instant option of 2 chokes and 2 loads as there's way to many coyotes where I turkey hunt so I'm always prepared for them.
I think the perfect gun could be anything. Just make sure it throws a dense pattern where you look and hunt within its limits. For most of the guns I use that's 7/8oz of copper plated 6s and I'm good to 40 yards easy
For a cheap easy set up the Stevens 301 turkey edition is a solid choice. I have the not legal here for turkey 410 version and love it. A 20ga or even 12ga with a 1-4x20 optic or red dot would be perfect
The Mossberg 500 is always a solid choice if you like to swap parts on and off and they come factory set up for turkey hunting.
If a semi is your style the 1301 or any a400 is a top choice
And if classic is your style a vintage sxs is always nice to carry thru the woods
Hunting skill and land layout is more important then the gun. That said I'd never talk someone out of a new gun.
I like sxs guns to have an instant option of 2 chokes and 2 loads as there's way to many coyotes where I turkey hunt so I'm always prepared for them.
I think the perfect gun could be anything. Just make sure it throws a dense pattern where you look and hunt within its limits. For most of the guns I use that's 7/8oz of copper plated 6s and I'm good to 40 yards easy
For a cheap easy set up the Stevens 301 turkey edition is a solid choice. I have the not legal here for turkey 410 version and love it. A 20ga or even 12ga with a 1-4x20 optic or red dot would be perfect
The Mossberg 500 is always a solid choice if you like to swap parts on and off and they come factory set up for turkey hunting.
If a semi is your style the 1301 or any a400 is a top choice
And if classic is your style a vintage sxs is always nice to carry thru the woods
There is no need to punish yourself with 3.5" heavy mags. Clay shooters have no issues smashing clays with an ounce of shot at 35 to 40 yards. A turkeys head and a clay target are roughly equal sized. I've seen many guys try to sight in off the bench with the big heavy turkey loads only to develop a massive flinch
Even 3" loads they can pack a lot of shot into - Challenger stuffs 2oz of #5 into theirs, I found the 1.75oz Federal loads patterned better in my gun though.
Never not got a turkey that I got within range of. Never used a 3" chamber, only 2 3/4" or 2 1/2". Never used anything other than the standard bead sight. Never used more than 1 3/8 oz lead. The vast majority were shot with 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 oz.
I've been hunting and shooting turkey for almost 30 years. in that last sentence, the operative word is "hunt". I have a friend/acquaintance who was, maybe still is, a professional turkey hunter. Signed to Quaker Boy. Long before TMM, he was using a full choke 20 gauge. So much of what gets talked about is what I think of as gun/ammo overkill. Take the gun you have and go hunting. The fun part is supposed to be the hunting part. And like Brybenn, I don't want to talk someone out of buying a new to them gun. But buy it for the right reasons. Spend two or three seasons hunting with the gun you have, then go shopping as a substantially more informed buyer.
Agreed.
Any shotgun can kill a turkey with a 2.75" load of 6s inside of 30-35 yards.
To be good past that range, you will want to test out a full or better, choke with a few different shells and see what patterns best.
Or a Cooey single shot that shoots a fairly tight pattern.
My favorite turkey load is my 7/8oz skeet load. I just swap the #### in the hopper from 7.5s to copper plated 6s. I've used 2.25oz nitro mags from my 10ga guns and just about everything in 12ga except TSS shot. In all of my turkey hunting I've killed 1 tom and 1 Jake using specialized gun set up for turkey and 1 tom I carpet bombed with the 10ga and 2.25oz of #4. Every other bird I could have taken easily with less than an ounce of shot with an ordinary full or even modified choke.
I like to take a different gun each time out for turkey just to keep it fun
Sure some loads like the federal flight control will get you tighter denser patterns at longer ranges but the reality is you're shooting a big bird in the face. It doesn't take 100 pellets in the neck and head to kill a turkey. Arrows to the body are also extremely lethal and I use the same setup I use for deer. A simple 3 blade mechanical tip
Don't over think it. Just pattern what you have and plan to use and hunt within those limits. If you want a new gun buy a new gun. I'm sure if you asked around some gun clubs you could find more than a few willing to let you try their turkey setups to help you decide what you'd like
I like to take a different gun each time out for turkey just to keep it fun
Sure some loads like the federal flight control will get you tighter denser patterns at longer ranges but the reality is you're shooting a big bird in the face. It doesn't take 100 pellets in the neck and head to kill a turkey. Arrows to the body are also extremely lethal and I use the same setup I use for deer. A simple 3 blade mechanical tip
Don't over think it. Just pattern what you have and plan to use and hunt within those limits. If you want a new gun buy a new gun. I'm sure if you asked around some gun clubs you could find more than a few willing to let you try their turkey setups to help you decide what you'd like
Loyalist84
Member
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
I've used a few different guns for turkey over the years, and I pretty much always reccommend a 3" capable gun with an appropriate Turkey-constriction choke that will reliably put 15+ pellets into a the brain and spine of a turkey target at 40 yards with a hold on the caruncles. Anything besides that is window dressing, but heavy loads are better. I've seen birds taken off their feet and lost due to inconsistent shell batches, so the more margin for error, the better. I love a Dupont era 3" Wingmaster, but now I'm carrying an Ithaca Mag-10, and if I was to buy a dedicated Turkey gun, a Browning Gold would be my first port of call if Browning's dimensions fit me, which they don't. Next in line is a Wingmaster or a Benelli semi. Something to soak up recoil is a big help at the patterning bench.
Lots of great advice! I think maybe I should have mentioned in the original post, that I currently do not own a shotgun, so I'll be taking all this advice in to consideration before making a purchase. I have a few old guns from my grandfather that I use for grouse and moose hunting, neither one is overly fancy, but they do the trick. I also own a few newer rifles that would work, but it's more rewarding getting the job done with a family heirloom to me. I just wanted to make sure that whatever shotgun I end up purchasing will be well suited to a turkey hunt, because other than perhaps some clay shooting, I can't imagine it will get used for much other than turkeys. Y'all have given me lots of good points to consider. Appreciated!
So..are there turkey up in Schreiber?
If you don't have any shotgun, my recommendation would be to buy a used 870 Wingmaster in 12 gauge. Reasonably priced. Reliable. Versatile. Just make sure you get one with removable chokes. With the right choke and shot load, just fine for any bird you might possibly hunt. And you'll sell it for roughly what you bought it for. Whenever.
Nope, no turkey up here yet...other than those at the groceria! I'm looking at heading South in March to find some. I was invited to tag along with some friends.
I ended up finding a used Wingmaster, but it's a fixed full choke. It was local-ish, at a good price, so I'm still comfortable with picking up a Carlson's or used 870 barrel for it, to make it a little more versatile.
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A full choke may not always be a bad thing. Many clay games can be shot well with a full choke. You'll know when you're on and when you are you will be rewarded with smoked targets. It's a good way to build confidence. Sure you may miss some targets but I've always found a clear yes or no was easier to help learn than bad breaks and small random chips using a cylinder bore. I still routinely use a full choke in skeet and most small game hunting. Just pattern different ammo at different ranges and hunt with in the pattern
In terms of the shotgun, it really doesn't matter what you get as long as you get a dedicated extra full turkey choke, paired with a shell that will pattern well at 20 - 45 yards or so.
Most important thing about turkey hunting is learning the hunt well ahead of time.
Consider getting a copy of the best turkey hunting book out there: Tenth Legion by Tom Kelly
.
It's like the turkey hunting bible and I can't recommend it enough. Get yourself a good box and pot call and start practicing 'talking' Turkey. The book discusses in great detail about everything you need to know about Turkey hunting.
Most important thing about turkey hunting is learning the hunt well ahead of time.
Consider getting a copy of the best turkey hunting book out there: Tenth Legion by Tom Kelly
.It's like the turkey hunting bible and I can't recommend it enough. Get yourself a good box and pot call and start practicing 'talking' Turkey. The book discusses in great detail about everything you need to know about Turkey hunting.
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Extraordinary book. A turkey hunting fanatic friend from Savanah sent it to me.
