Smallest full framed turkey gun

[Long Cut]

I was looking a Charles day 101 for turkeys. I’ve heard a rumor that the scope mount is made of plastic. It that true? Seems like it would be a awesome handy and light weight fun in the woods.

Yes the rail and butt plate are plastic. I ended up switching them both out for a SumToy mount for the Burris FF3 and a Limbsaver pad.

Triggers got some creep and on the heavier side, 5-6# range.

So after replacing the cheap stuff and gunsmith working the trigger, probably a wash price wise between the CD 101 and a Steven’s 301. Only edge to the CD is the shorter barrel length IMO.

 

[Davyalabama]

Smallest gun I carry is a 2 3/4 Winchester model 12 w/ 30" barrel. The largest gun I carry is a Remington 1100 w/ 30" barrel and 3" shells.

 

[butcherboy]

My daughter drew a special youth turkey tag for this year. I’ve started researching youth shotguns for her and I am leaning towards a .410. Originally thought a youth 20 gauge would be good but she is tiny and only 10. This will be her first hunt and definitely don’t want a gun bigger than her.

 

[Davyalabama]

Ok, 10, 410 with TSS probably the cheapest and easiest route. Stevens or Rossi are fine guns, plenty out there on what chokes.
Just to clarify, I would go 28 gauge for more pellets. Mossberg makes a youth bantam that has a short length of pull and 24” barrel. Don’t hinder her with fewer pellets.
I’ve done this a long time, I don’t aim at the head, ever. I aim at the lower part of the neck where it meets the feathers. If he’s out there about 30-40 steps, I shoot for the butt of the wing. Now I don’t run a super duper tightest pattern I can get choke, all my old guns are full choke.

I wouldn’t suggest the tightest constriction for her, she may need a little leeway. Those tight chokes just do not give enough room for error or that joker bobbing that head at the wrong time.

To each his own, I’m not a gun writer or YouTube star, and you won’t see me pimping the latest shotgun/ammo/camo, but I’ve stayed at several Holiday Inn Expresses when it comes to these rascals. I’ve still got a lot to learn.

When it comes to what I carry it’s out of nostalgia and familiarity. I carry those different guns, model 12, 1100 and A5 to take my favorite uncle and my dad, both passed away, with me. It’s us against them, I’ll kill as many as the law allows. It’s deep in my blood to chase them.

It’s all fun and games until the picking, cleaning and singeing is nigh. Doggone a turkey stinks worse than a gut shot deer.

 

[Swamppirate]

Remington 870 20 ga. youth model, Burris FastFire red dot, Remington TSS extended choke with Apex Ninja’s. Mobile and deadly….

 

[Kurts86]

My daughter drew a special youth turkey tag for this year. I’ve started researching youth shotguns for her and I am leaning towards a .410. Originally thought a youth 20 gauge would be good but she is tiny and only 10. This will be her first hunt and definitely don’t want a gun bigger than her.

There is no reason to use anything besides a .410 with TSS anymore for a youth turkey hunt. Less recoil, smaller guns, and the shotguns and ammo are readily available at reasonable prices. You can have great 40 yard patterns easily.

 

[Kurts86]

Ok, 10, 410 with TSS probably the cheapest and easiest route. Stevens or Rossi are fine guns, plenty out there on what chokes.
Just to clarify, I would go 28 gauge for more pellets. Mossberg makes a youth bantam that has a short length of pull and 24” barrel. Don’t hinder her with fewer pellets.
I’ve done this a long time, I don’t aim at the head, ever. I aim at the lower part of the neck where it meets the feathers. If he’s out there about 30-40 steps, I shoot for the butt of the wing. Now I don’t run a super duper tightest pattern I can get choke, all my old guns are full choke.

Availability of Turkey guns and ammo with 28 gauge is significantly worse than 410 and the recoil jumps significantly going from 7/8 oz to 1 3/8 oz. I own both and the .410 is absolutely adequate and the 28 gauge really pushes up close again 20 gauge payloads with 28 gauges often lighter than 410’s making recoil worse. Those gains with TSS would really only be realized in the 40-50+ yard range.

The only material advantage with 28 gauge youth guns is you can at least buy a Benelli SBE3 whereas .410 are the realm of Turkish imports or Mossberg pumps. Nicer .410’s don’t exist yet outside of double guns.

 

[ianpadron]

My daughter drew a special youth turkey tag for this year. I’ve started researching youth shotguns for her and I am leaning towards a .410. Originally thought a youth 20 gauge would be good but she is tiny and only 10. This will be her first hunt and definitely don’t want a gun bigger than her.

Stevens, Rossi, or CVA single shot, red dot, TSS...410 is a much better idea than 20.

The recoil of the little 20 gauge I have pictured in post 1 would knock a small kids socks off, not a good approach to teaching them to not fear pulling the trigger

 

[doc holiday13]

I use a 28g semi auto for turkey. 1oz #9 TSS. it'll wack'm down at 50 yards

 

[Davyalabama]

Benelli, I like the guns personally, however, the inertia I would worry about for a youngster unless they have several years of shooting under their belts.

It's all in the 10 year-old, we know that too. I like a single shot .410 or a gas operated for a kid, it's just me. My own personal biases get in the way sometimes. I grew up with an auto, only was allowed 1 shell in the gun for several years, it made me make sure of my first shot. Turkeys, you generally only get one shot anyway.

Shoot, buy her both, let her try them out, sell the one she doesn't like. There are plenty of people jumping on the .410 and 28 band wagons. The 28 will sure come in handy at a skeet range.

 

[butcherboy]

Thanks for the recommendations. I’ll more than likely go with a .410 and then graduate her to a 20 when feels ready. My boy shoots a 20 gauge but he is a lot bigger than my daughter. I was shooting a 12 gauge when I was 8 because that’s what we had. I loved it and I got used to it pretty quick. It didn’t have a recoil pad either and was an old shotgun from when my dad used it as a kid back in the 50’s. The shot will be close since the area we will be hunting is fairly thick with small openings or close shots on a pipeline right of way. My son killed his bird on this same draw hunt last year at 10 yds.

Here is his bird from last year. Top of a pipeline right of way.

 

[WoodDuck]

I only have 1 year experience with the .410 and #9 TSS, with 3 turkeys between my wife and I. Prior to that it was always 12 gauge and #5 lead.

I had never seen turkeys that didn’t flop after the shot until those 3 birds last year, all stone dead. Shot distances ranged from 20-55 yards (not advocating the 55, misjudged range on my wife’s part).

IMO stick with the .410, especially with a kid, as you aren’t giving up ANYTHING in terms of lethality compared to a 12ga with lead.

 

[StupidLightweight]

Every turkey hunter should check out Vortex's new red dot. I just mounted one on a Mossberg .410. I like it a lot.

Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Red Dot

Purpose-built for the fast pace of turkey hunting and wingshooting, delivering an ultra-low-profile design and wide field of view for intuitive shooting and superior recoil control.

vortexoptics.com

 

[ianpadron]

Every turkey hunter should check out Vortex's new red dot. I just mounted one on a Mossberg .410. I like it a lot.

Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Red Dot

Purpose-built for the fast pace of turkey hunting and wingshooting, delivering an ultra-low-profile design and wide field of view for intuitive shooting and superior recoil control.

vortexoptics.com

Dang that thing looks legit.

The multi reticle for wingshooting is a cool concept