Smallest full framed turkey gun

[ianpadron]

Figured my fellow gear nerds would appreciate this...

Been shooting a Mossberg 500 pump, 12 gauge of course, for turks the past few seasons. It has a 20" barrel and last season I put a pistol grip on it. Super compact, dang handy...just a great no nonsense setup.

Wasn't light enough for my liking though, so I decided to look into sub gauges, especially after hunting with 20s and 28s exclusively in the uplands the past few years.

I was at a local gun shop the other day and saw the tiniest little shotgun I've ever seen, a Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam...18.5" barrel, LOP of like 10" lol. Overall length of like 34"...felt like a toy.

Did a little research and learned it accepts any standard 500 aftermarket stock, so I slapped an adjustable Phoenix Kick-Lite butt stock on it, and believe I have achieved turkey gun perfection. Will add a Bushnell TRS 125 on top and call 'er good.

Just a hair over 5 pounds all up, here it is next to the already compact 12:

 

[RocketRob16]

Very nice! I've been looked at the Stevens 301 to start using as a dedicated turkey gun. Currently have a Stoeger M3000 that pulls duty for ducks, dove, squirrels, rabbits, and turkey. That Bantam looks awesome, hope you enjoy it!

 

[Fordguy]

You could probably customize your own NEF (single shot action) and have a shorter turkey gun with a longer length of pull. I said probably because I don't want to make assumptions about anyone's abilities. It can definitely be done. Nice looking mossbergs though. I've wondered about shorter pumps for a while, but not sure I've ever fired more than 1 shot at a turkey.

 

[ianpadron]

You could probably customize your own NEF (single shot action) and have a shorter turkey gun with a longer length of pull. I said probably because I don't want to make assumptions about anyone's abilities. It can definitely be done. Nice looking mossbergs though. I've wondered about shorter pumps for a while, but not sure I've ever fired more than 1 shot at a turkey.

Thought long and hard about the single shot route.

I mostly hunt in NW Montana and see lots of bears in some of my spots, so I like the option to have a turkey shell in the chamber and a couple slugs in the mag just in case. Not sure what Mr. Greenpants would have to say about that set-up but I hope he'd understand

Make sure you have the right choke in if you want to mimic that set-up of course.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Well done, OP. You built a fine turkey gun. I used the 510 Mini in 20 gauge for my red dotted predator shotty. I'm not much of a turkey chaser, but they seem ideal for that usage too. In the image below, the 510 is shown next to a Remington Mohawk-600, both with 18.5" barrels.

 

[ianpadron]

Well done, OP. You built a fine turkey gun. I used the 510 Mini in 20 gauge for my red dotted predator shotty. I'm not much of a turkey chaser, but they seem ideal for that usage too. In the image below, the 510 is shown next to a Remington Mohawk-600, both with 18.5" barrels.

Tell me about that red dot being mounted on your barrel, due to short LOP?

Looks like you have found the dynamic duo

 

[StupidLightweight]

Aimpoint's S-1 shotgun red dot mounts to the rib. Clever design that gets the dot lower than anything else. LOP isn't that short, maybe 12.5. It's a full-size stock with flip-flop pad.

 

[Fowl Play]

Figured my fellow gear nerds would appreciate this...

Been shooting a Mossberg 500 pump, 12 gauge of course, for turks the past few seasons. It has a 20" barrel and last season I put a pistol grip on it. Super compact, dang handy...just a great no nonsense setup.

Wasn't light enough for my liking though, so I decided to look into sub gauges, especially after hunting with 20s and 28s exclusively in the uplands the past few years.

I was at a local gun shop the other day and saw the tiniest little shotgun I've ever seen, a Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam...18.5" barrel, LOP of like 10" lol. Overall length of like 34"...felt like a toy.

Did a little research and learned it accepts any standard 500 aftermarket stock, so I slapped an adjustable Phoenix Kick-Lite butt stock on it, and believe I have achieved turkey gun perfection. Will add a Bushnell TRS 125 on top and call 'er good.

Just a hair over 5 pounds all up, here it is next to the already compact 12:

View attachment 659219

Nice, was just looking at something like this myself for my daughter. Only reason I did not go with the mini super bantam is due to the fixed choke and no drilled receiver (I run red dots on my turkey guns as well).

Went with the optic ready 500 in .410 and am purchasing a smaller stock for her to reduce the LOP to around 11 inches.

 

[ianpadron]

Nice, was just looking at something like this myself for my daughter. Only reason I did not go with the mini super bantam is due to the fixed choke and no drilled receiver (I run red dots on my turkey guns as well).

Went with the optic ready 500 in .410 and am purchasing a smaller stock for her to reduce the LOP to around 11 inches.

That's the nice thing about the 20, drilled and tapped, and removable chokes.

For double duty kiddo gun though, .410 is the way. I'm fully expecting this 5# 20 gauge to have some bark to it, even with the kick lite stock.

 

[Fordguy]

Thought long and hard about the single shot route.

I mostly hunt in NW Montana and see lots of bears in some of my spots, so I like the option to have a turkey shell in the chamber and a couple slugs in the mag just in case. Not sure what Mr. Greenpants would have to say about that set-up but I hope he'd understand

Make sure you have the right choke in if you want to mimic that set-up of course.

I'd probably feel the same way you do, but I doubt Mr. Green Pants would look kindly on slugs in the turkey gun. No bears here, but they won't even let me take along a 22 to shoot coyotes that come in when I call turkeys. I'm not willing to waste my turkey loads on coyotes.

 

[dtrkyman]

Midland has a single shot that folds in half, short barrel is 18.5 I believe.

 

[GoatPackr]

Some of the single shot 3" .410 guns are pretty small. I've been looking at them. A couple guys I know that mentor kids have found with the tungsten shot that they are getting great patterns at 50 yards and knocking the snot out of the gobblers.

https://www.gunbroker.com/All/search?Keywords=Pointer%20pup%20.410&Sort=13

I've been eye balling this one and for the money it wouldn't be a bad one to try.

Kris

 

[Long Cut]

I love it.

I’m currently sending the bottom gun off to my smith to get chopped, threaded, custom red dot mount and lengthen the forcing cone.

The Stevens 301 will get chopped in June-July when I’m done with it.

OAL on the Charles Daly 101 is 36” to the end of the barrel, will be 33-34” when it’s done.
The Stevens 301 OAL is 38-39” I believe, but taking that 26” barrel down to 18” will make it a sub 5# compact beast.

 

[ianpadron]

Ye ol micro turkey blaster did its job admirably this spring.

 

[nephewjephew]

Figured my fellow gear nerds would appreciate this...

Been shooting a Mossberg 500 pump, 12 gauge of course, for turks the past few seasons. It has a 20" barrel and last season I put a pistol grip on it. Super compact, dang handy...just a great no nonsense setup.

Wasn't light enough for my liking though, so I decided to look into sub gauges, especially after hunting with 20s and 28s exclusively in the uplands the past few years.

I was at a local gun shop the other day and saw the tiniest little shotgun I've ever seen, a Mossberg 510 Mini Super Bantam...18.5" barrel, LOP of like 10" lol. Overall length of like 34"...felt like a toy.

Did a little research and learned it accepts any standard 500 aftermarket stock, so I slapped an adjustable Phoenix Kick-Lite butt stock on it, and believe I have achieved turkey gun perfection. Will add a Bushnell TRS 125 on top and call 'er good.

Just a hair over 5 pounds all up, here it is next to the already compact 12:

View attachment 659219

Its that time of the year when I start thinking about turkey gun projects again, and I love the idea of this set up. My question is for the 510 series do they accept all 500 aftermarket stocks? Or was the Phoenix the only one that fit. I did email Mossberg about this. I had one retailer (aftermarket stock) tell me their stuff won't work on the 510. Just trying to clarify before I get too deep in this. Also what load and choke have you found to work well? I currently use a youth 870 20 with a aftermarket adjustable pistol grip and tss and will do the same if I go down this road.

 

[ianpadron]

Its that time of the year when I start thinking about turkey gun projects again, and I love the idea of this set up. My question is for the 510 series do they accept all 500 aftermarket stocks? Or was the Phoenix the only one that fit. I did email Mossberg about this. I had one retailer (aftermarket stock) tell me their stuff won't work on the 510. Just trying to clarify before I get too deep in this. Also what load and choke have you found to work well? I currently use a youth 870 20 with a aftermarket adjustable pistol grip and tss and will do the same if I go down this road.

The receiver and mounting screw are identical to every other 500 I've taken apart so I'd assume you're g2g. The Phoenix stock is just a universal 500, so if it works... they all should.

Factory full choke, Herters #9 TSS...lights out. I shot a bird at 35 paces last year and he was stone cold dead on arrival.

 

[camelcluch]

Those look sweet. My son and I have been using a TriStar Viper youth .410. I put a little Bushnell (T-25 I think) red dot on top. With TSS I don’t think I’ll ever shoot and another 12ga at a turkey.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I use a Remington 870 youth in 20 ga. It has a 21” barrel. I can’t stand a pistol grip, so I use the factory stock. I’ve got a consistent 300 pellets in a 10” circle at 40 yards with my setup and handloads.