Turkey gun: To scope or not to scope?

Mount Sweetness

Mount Sweetness

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I have a pile of scopes here and am pondering the idea of throwing one on my turkey shotgun.

For those that have scoped - will you ever go back?

Or is scoping a 50 yard shotgun ridiculous?

Let's hear your opinions from both sides.
 
If a scope helps *you* get an ethical kill then put a scope on your shotgun. If you think it would be cool, or you want to put a scope on it for any reason, then put a scope on.

Personally, I don't use a scope as I don't feel I need one, and I have no desire to pimp out a turkey gun.

I think it really comes down to personal choice or requirement. It will be different for everyone.
 
For later season birds I use a Redfield 4x32 scope with target dot. Good glass and well I don't much like the scope on anything else. It's plum coloring matches my mossberg as well. It's nice for watching birds to make sure they're bearded. I also use it when hunting fields. The gun is set up for longer shots. Other wise I use sxs guns. I've let many Jakes go by simply because I couldn't tell if it was a beard or just a tuff of feathers. The scope really helps out. Also when shooting close with a super tight choke the scope has the advantage of putting the small dot on the head instead of covering the whole head and neck with a bead and hoping. They do have their place. I personally like them
 
I don't have any Turkey opportunities near me, but I use a Leupold Turkey plex scope for the "shot only" Blacktail season here.

The circle is 6.5" @ 45y (4x power)

 
I love a scope or red dot on my turkey guns. It helps canter your pattern. Also let's you put you point of aim in line with your point of impact.also it us very fast to get on ysrget.and you get to see your whole target.noy to much can be said against scoping a turkey gun.
 
I've had my scoped since about 1990 and would not change it now. As said eye sight problems are helped, but glasses can be a little bit of a problem but I'm working with it as I look over glasses into a scope. I like to see the Glare in his eye just before I shut them ! lol



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42 mm Red Dot and never looked back. You can be twisted around, laying sideways or any of the awkward positions one finds themselves in turkey hunting. Dot on head, is where your pattern will be. No head down or any technique issues to remember at crunch time.
 
I wear glasses, I'm getting older and even my short vision is starting to go.

Short vision lens I can see the sights but not the target, long vision lens can see the target but sights are blurry so for me it's a "no option" situation, I scope all my rifles.

In the case of my Turkey shotgun and my crossbow, as you note both 50 yard weapons which are usually shot at sub-25 yards I opted for red dot scopes - point and shoot with one OR both eyes open.
 
A scope on your turkey gun makes good sense especially if you are prone to raising your head. I think missed turkeys happen primarily because guys want to watch the bird and forget to " bare down" on the gun before they pull the trigger. A scope definitely forces you to look through it to your target, for that reason alone a scope may help kill what may have been an otherwise lucky turkey if you were shooting open sights or plain bead. Remember shooting a turkey gun is supposed to be like shooting a rifle most of us scope our rifles.

Just my 2 cents
 
I scoped both my shotgun and my old man's,did it this winter. Put red dots on both. Would never go back. So far 3 birds down all perfect head/neck shots found 2 pellets in one breast. Didn't have that kind of accuracy before. I'm not a life long hunter only been hunting and shooting a few years now. It definitely helps with placement and confidence.

For some out there who were raised in the world of hunting and shooting sports it's probably not necessary.
 
hoytcanon said:
don't scope... But do pattern.
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x2.

I have never shot a turkey beyond a distance that required optics. While I've shot a couple turkey's at approximately 45 yards, most birds I've taken are within 15-20 yards. If you know where your gun shoots and what choke/load combo works best, all you need to do is wear your prescription glasses and your set.
 
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1963beretta said:
x2.

I have never shot a turkey beyond a distance that required optics. While I've shot a couple turkey's at approximately 45 yards, most birds I've taken are within 15-20 yards. If you know where your gun shoots and what choke/load combo works best, all you need to do is wear your prescription glasses and your set.
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I love they replies LOL some people just are not the same. I paid $500.00 for my glasses and I still need/use a scope, but now you make me feel like I've done something wrong ! just because I use a scope. Let me say Not all of the turkey hunters hunt the same private property were no one else is allowed and gets the change to work birds all the time to the end of the barrel. I challenge you to hunt some of the places that turkeys hunters have no choice but to work the same birds day after day and after a week of a youth season and call that bird into 40 yards let alone 20. Its not happening 100% There are different angles to everyone means, there is No right way its what you want. Just something to ponder ...
 
I currently have a red dot on my mossberg 500 and it patterns well but because i plan on using my rifled slug barrel for deer season (has a cantilever mount) it means having to take off the scope rail each time to put the rifled barrel. Not wanting to install and uninstall a scope rail and red dot twice a year ive opted to install a set of Beard Buster sights onto the vent rib of my turkey barrel. Have yet to pattern it because the red dot is sighted in currently but once spring season is over ill be taking the red dot off and sighting in the Beard Buster setup.

Now if they made a catilever turkey barrel for the 500 then id probably scope it as well with a 3 or 4x to be able to help identify it from further away without having to use binos or range finder and then switching.
 
Adrian J Hare said:
I love they replies LOL some people just are not the same. I paid $500.00 for my glasses and I still need/use a scope, but now you make me feel like I've done something wrong ! just because I use a scope. Let me say Not all of the turkey hunters hunt the same private property were no one else is allowed and gets the change to work birds all the time to the end of the barrel. I challenge you to hunt some of the places that turkeys hunters have no choice but to work the same birds day after day and after a week of a youth season and call that bird into 40 yards let alone 20. Its not happening 100% There are different angles to everyone means, there is No right way its what you want. Just something to ponder ...
Click to expand...

Touchy, touchy...

When we started turkey hunting 20 years ago, we used various optics, scopes and red dots... but it became clear that, even with failing eyesight, scopes and red dots are unneccesary out to the distances where patterns are effective... patterning your gun and load is essential, and becoming comfortable with mounting your gun and settling the sight picture while contorted in awkward positions... the next battle is remaining calm and retaining your wits at the moment of the shot.

If you want you use optics, go ahead and do so, but IMO it just complicates a process that can be quite simple.
 
Love the guys replying who obviously have never used a scope on a turkey gun but they know what is best.................................it's not about distance it's about point of impact..............I have been using a scope for well over 10 years now, don't wear glasses, have no problems shooting hundreds of flying fowl yearly with a beaded shotgun and I don't push my guns range limits on turkeys. I would never go back to not having a scope on my turkey gun, I use a Bushnell trophy with the circle X reticle, love it, place the birds wattles in the circle no matter the distance (within my gun/choke/shell limitations) and it's dead turkey.


I was kinda the same were I didn't see the point in using a scope until I actually tried it and like I previously stated I would never turn back and totally recommend buying and scoping a dedicated turkey gun. To the OP do it and you will not regret it.


If you think a scope complicates things you might be the one who is simple.............


The whole patterning of gun/choke/shell comes down to precision and knowing what your guns limitations are. There is no doubt you can achieve better results from a scope over a beaded sight.


If you don't like using a scope that is totally fine but to look down on someone who does is just plain well...........simple..........
 
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Patterning is a must BUT my 870 shoots consistently left off the bead even after a trip or two in a barrel press. Red Dot solved that in a few twists. My thought process cannot wrap around aim right to hit target and things that don`t work as they should simply piss me off. I might be simple as well, but putting a dot on something is way more easy than doing mental calisthenics of where I want to hit or might hit if I get it right off the bead.

I will use a recent example. I used a new to me 20 gauge 1100 at a recent trap shoot and broke a dismal 5 on the round off the bead. I will admit on my best days I am not a proficient wing shooter and a very learned gentleman pointed out I was lifting my head when I shot. Pissed off, on the second round I grabbed my dedicated turkey rig, red dot, turkey choke and all from the truck and the looks and comments on the line were as expected from the crowd holding many $10-20K guns. Long story short the round with the turkey rig busted 22. Lesson to this is I don`t care what others think I shoot better with a Red Dot.
 
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