Run n Gun turkey rig

[bnewt3]

Just seeing what you folks use for your turkey hunting.

I have a M37 that I use for everything right now. Its a solid gun, no complaints other than it is a bit heavier and longer than I would like for a good mobile setup, and its 12ga.

I am thinking about a dedicated turkey gun in 20ga. The single shots like the Stevens 301 and Rossi are attractive on price and pretty popular.

Also im correct-handed so I would like something either ambi or lefty specific.

I also am not going to spend the money for an A400 or anything close.

In addition, the Stevens and Rossi come with 26" barrels which seems a bit unnecessary and somewhat cumbersome in the woods(if you know better then let me know), is Rob Roberts THE place to send it for custom work, or are there others?

Thanks.

 

[Ferrulewax]

I considered having my Rossi cut down, but I decided that was kind of working in the opposite direction of all my rifles I have put supressors on. I just consider the extra barrel length a built-in “suppression” device. The Rossi also doesn’t feel like a 26 inch barrel because it’s so light and it doesn’t have an pump/automatic action so that 26 inch length is all the way to the breach.

If I had to guess the total length of the rossi is probably shorter than a 18” inch barrel Remington 870. Granted the Rossi does have a bit shorter length of pull.

Mine is also a 410

 

[WoodDuck]

I can’t think of a reason to choose a single shot 20 over a single shot .410 for a lightweight turkey gun. Lighter, kicks way less, and factory TSS is cheaper. The .410 with #9 TSS isn’t giving up anything in regard to efficacy on a 12 gauge with #5 lead 50 yards and in.

There’s several threads discussing .410 effectiveness if you use the search function. I am happy with the Stevens 301 but don’t have experience with others. The 26” barrel doesn’t feel long at all, the gun feels very compact and handy.

 

[Aux Arc]

It’s kind of funny the way I’ve circled around but my first gun my dad got me as a kid was a h&r pardner .410. Used it for squirrels and rabbits for a couple years until I moved on to deer and it basically sat in the safe unused for many years. Then I started handloading tss a few years ago and its now my go to turkey gun for timber hunting.

Factory fixed full choke and #9 tss, lightweight and low recoil. Inside 50 yards it kills just as well as my 12 gauge with lead ever did. Still take the 12 when we hunt kansas, mostly cause I can’t judge yardage.

My wife uses a youth model 870 in 20 gauge and if I didn’t have my 410 thats exactly what I would get. Short, light, and lower recoil than my 12.

 

[K9kodi]

Intriguing theories. Although I don’t find my a400 or Winchester sx4 heavy. I use em turkey hunting although they were bought w duck in mind.

 

[duckhunter175]

Youth 20ga 870, 21" remchoke and add a red dot-- this is the way

 

[K9kodi]

Haha, who doesn’t like a youth 870. I’m a grown ass man and still run a youth 870 where slugs are permitted but not rifles

 

[satchamo]

I swapped to a 20 3 years ago and haven’t looked back.

I run a franchi affinity youth. I had mine cerakoted in “bottomlands” and threw a red dot on it. It can kill further than I ever will with apex 9s and a Trulock 575.

410 is fun and I have a Rossi tuffy turkey for my son to use and it’s almost a toy it’s so small and light but even with tss that’s half the payload of a 20. It doesn’t even come close to a 20 with tss. Will it kill a bird? Yes and it has but i wouldn’t recommend a 410 as your primary unless you just really can’t deal with a slightly heavier to carry gun.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Remington 870 20ga youth with 21” barrel and an IC555 choke with a Vortex Venom red dot. I had the gun dipped and love it. It’s a 60 yard gun with my TSS handloads.

I also have an 11-87 20 ga Compact setup the same way. Not as lite as the 870, but love it.

 

[RMM]

I'm currently using a Mossberg sa410 with Indian Creek .390 and viper ammunition 15/16oz 9.5/10s. That little gun is lightweight and nasty. I put 190-200 (can't remember exact number) bb's in an 8in circle at 40yds. I've killed multiple birds between 40-50 yds with it.

 

[robtattoo]

I've only hunted turkeys once (last year) and I can't wait for season to open again here in a few weeks!
I bought myself a Steven's 310 in 20ga, slapped a spare Vortex () SPARC on top & there really isn't a thing I'd change about it now. If I could find a big game rifle that carries this well, I'd buy one in every chambering!

 

[Kimber7man]

Youth 20ga 870, 21" remchoke and add a red dot-- this is the way

Yep, except mine is a compact camo model!

 

[Ringbill27]

Also im correct-handed

If you are correct handed it seems odd why you be looking at left handed models. yep odd.

If you are stuck on a single. I see Retay just came out with the Gamelander which comes with a 22” barrel with an over all length of 38”. Seems pretty compact.