Turkey with 18.5" Barrel?

[Advan]

I'm thinking about picking up one of these:

Not because I need it, because I want it! However, this gun appeals to me because of the broad array of aftermarket parts I can add on, the standard peep sight and rail, and the fact it uses the Rem-Choke system. My current turkey gun is an IGA break-action which certainly does the trick, but is getting a little tiring. If I threw a turkey choke into the 18.5" Remington barrel, would I have a decent gobbler gun or should I find something with a longer pipe?

 

[Nonus]

You can always pick up a longer barrel for that beast from the EE, they always pop up and sometimes with decent prices. However it won't have the front site then.

 

[manbearpig]

why?
do you really think that extra couple inches between the 18.5 and the ~20" factory turkey pipes is going to make that much of a difference?

buy a turkey choke and be done with it. there is absolutely no benefiit to the longer barrel aside from better swing (irrelevant for turkey), a few more FPS (irrelevant) and a longer sighting plane (less of a factor with receiver mounted ghost rings).

 

[Advan]

do you really think that extra couple inches between the 18.5 and the ~20" factory turkey pipes is going to make that much of a difference?

I didn't realize dedicated turkey barrels were so short from the factory. I thought they were more like 24-26"...

Thanks!

 

[tjhaile]

The short barrel will be fine for turkey. Pattern is a function of choke, not barrel length. Any velocity difference between an 18" barrel and a longer one will be negligible.

 

[janesy]

ya mine is 20", my other barrel is 23". No different either way. However the few inches saved sure makes it easier when hauling through thick brush.

 

[sherlockbonez]

Just remember to get it plugged for hunting. I imagine you will have to fashion some sort of dowel to fit in the mag tube.

 

[Tarn]

18.5" will work fine for turkey.......its the choke that matters really.I'm going to use my Benelli M4 this spring.......should work out ok.

 

[Nonus]

Mag tube plug, use old shells, cut them, the straighter the better, then use electrical tape to tape them together to make one long tube. That is what I have been using with my 2ext tube and never had a problem. It also makes putting the tube back on a lot easier by guiding the spring.