Turkey Gun Help and Opinions - Please Read

[JimIsland]

The above is from a Stevens 20 gauge with a red dot. I've only killed 2 Turkeys in my life as a new Turkey Hunter however, this appears to be more than adequate. The Stevens 301 weights like 5 pounds, and comes with an extra full choke, camo pattern and a red dot. Hard to beat for the money.

 

[JimIsland]

Sorry, mine was the splatter target at 40 yards.

 

[CascadeHunter180]

I’m hearing a lot of really great advice and I appreciate it. On one hand, a lead 12 Gauge will certainly get the job done no questions asked. on the other hand, a TSS 20 Gauge will get the job done but will be more enjoyable while your getting it done. I’m still hanging on to a short barreled pump action no matter what I choose.

Anyone ever use a youth model or bantam model pump action for turkeys? I’m under 5’ 11” and I’m comfortable with a small gun. Could make it even more compact while maintaining that barrel length.
Thinking about a Mossberg 500 Turkey Bantem, very short 20 gauge, but you can add a stock extender.

500 Super Bantam Turkey - Holosun Micro Dot Combo

The Super Bantam includes a 1"stock spacer, to allow for customizing length of pull to best provide a proper fit for smaller statured users. Super Bantam shotguns have a smaller grip for easier trigger reach, EZ-Reach™ forends on select models for shorter reach while cycling the action, and...

www.mossberg.com

 

[Aux Arc]

I’m hearing a lot of really great advice and I appreciate it. On one hand, a lead 12 Gauge will certainly get the job done no questions asked. on the other hand, a TSS 20 Gauge will get the job done but will be more enjoyable while your getting it done. I’m still hanging on to a short barreled pump action no matter what I choose.

Anyone ever use a youth model or bantam model pump action for turkeys? I’m under 5’ 11” and I’m comfortable with a small gun. Could make it even more compact while maintaining that barrel length.
Thinking about a Mossberg 500 Turkey Bantem, very short 20 gauge, but you can add a stock extender.

500 Super Bantam Turkey - Holosun Micro Dot Combo

The Super Bantam includes a 1"stock spacer, to allow for customizing length of pull to best provide a proper fit for smaller statured users. Super Bantam shotguns have a smaller grip for easier trigger reach, EZ-Reach™ forends on select models for shorter reach while cycling the action, and...

www.mossberg.com

My wife hunts with a youth 870 20 gauge. I handload #9 tungsten for it and I have watched her roll a tom at 72 yards with it, not on purpose, just poor yardage estimate which is one of the benefits to tungsten.

If I were looking for a new turkey gun for myself, it would 100% be a youth 870 20 gauge. I’m 5’10 with long arms and have no issues with the youth gun. I do recommend that if you go the 20 gauge tss route with a tight choke, either use good sights or red dot/scope. My wife’s gun may as well be a rifle inside 20 yards.

I don’t have anything to add as far as mossbergs go. Ive got a handme down 500 that I hated the moment I got an 870 and never touched another mossberg.

 

[bowhnt]

For years I was always ran a 12 gauge 3.5” and finally joined the dark side with 20
Gauge this year. Picked up a steal of a deal on a franchi affinity and tried a few load and choke combos. Happy to say I’m getting better patterns at distance with this 20 than I ever did with a 12. And it doesn’t beat the tar out of me. Current setup is giving me me 154 pellets in a ten inch circle at 50 yards still.

No reason with today’s ammo selection to continue shooting a 3.5” 12

If you must have a pump. Then an 870 is the answer In my book.

If you do go the 20 route grab a used 870 and grab a mesa tactical stock adapter and you can use any 870 12 gauge stock on the 20 gauge receiver.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[N2TRKYS]

I’m hearing a lot of really great advice and I appreciate it. On one hand, a lead 12 Gauge will certainly get the job done no questions asked. on the other hand, a TSS 20 Gauge will get the job done but will be more enjoyable while your getting it done. I’m still hanging on to a short barreled pump action no matter what I choose.

Anyone ever use a youth model or bantam model pump action for turkeys? I’m under 5’ 11” and I’m comfortable with a small gun. Could make it even more compact while maintaining that barrel length.
Thinking about a Mossberg 500 Turkey Bantem, very short 20 gauge, but you can add a stock extender.

500 Super Bantam Turkey - Holosun Micro Dot Combo

The Super Bantam includes a 1"stock spacer, to allow for customizing length of pull to best provide a proper fit for smaller statured users. Super Bantam shotguns have a smaller grip for easier trigger reach, EZ-Reach™ forends on select models for shorter reach while cycling the action, and...

www.mossberg.com

I guess you didn’t read/look at my post, cause my 870 is a youth model. I love it.

 

[LongWayAround]

I’m hearing a lot of really great advice and I appreciate it. On one hand, a lead 12 Gauge will certainly get the job done no questions asked. on the other hand, a TSS 20 Gauge will get the job done but will be more enjoyable while your getting it done. I’m still hanging on to a short barreled pump action no matter what I choose.

Anyone ever use a youth model or bantam model pump action for turkeys? I’m under 5’ 11” and I’m comfortable with a small gun. Could make it even more compact while maintaining that barrel length.
Thinking about a Mossberg 500 Turkey Bantem, very short 20 gauge, but you can add a stock extender.

500 Super Bantam Turkey - Holosun Micro Dot Combo

The Super Bantam includes a 1"stock spacer, to allow for customizing length of pull to best provide a proper fit for smaller statured users. Super Bantam shotguns have a smaller grip for easier trigger reach, EZ-Reach™ forends on select models for shorter reach while cycling the action, and...

www.mossberg.com

Some of those Mossberg youth models are comically small (maybe it's the Maverick?). Be sure to read the specs carefully if you order one without seeing it in person.

@ianpardon I believe bought one and replaced the stock with a collapsible.

 

[BeerBugler]

Turkey hunting is infinitely more enjoyable with a single shot .410. I’ve evolved to this position and will never go back. Give it a try, you will be amazed at how effective they can be. Rossi tuffy turkey and Stevens 301 turkey are solid and inexpensive.

 

[brancher147]

I absolutely love turkey hunting, but have been borrowing my dad's old 870 for the last several years, and I think it's time for me to upgrade and get my own turkey gun.
Here are my parameters/wants (I'd like your opinions on these):
1. I'd like it to be a 12 Gauge
2. I would like it to ideally hold 3.5" shells
3. It needs to be a pump action; I don't like autos
4. I think I want a shorter barrel, I'm a 45 Yards and in type of guy, and I'd prefer to have the mobility of a shorter barrel, maybe a 20"?

So I think I'm going to get this Mossberg, but I'd like to hear from people on their thoughts about what makes a good turkey gun.
If anyone has experience with these types of Mossbergs, let me know
thanks

The Gun:

https://www.cabelas.com/p/mossberg-835-ulti-mag-turkey-pump-action-shotgun-with-holosun-optic-and-sling

Reading your parameters that is the exact gun that came to mind. I have the same gun in the tactical turkey version. It’s light, short barrel, great for run and gun. I shoot 3.5” with the factory choke and it is absolutely devastating out to 60 yards or a little farther depending on your setup. Sure the recoil sucks but I never feel it when shooting a bird. Don’t overthink it…that gun will suit your needs just fine.

 

[ATL]

Been using a Remington 870 youth with 21” barrel for 20 years+. Very light weight and maneuverable.

 

[Chris in TN]

FWIW - there are worlds of 12 gauges out there that won’t reliably kill turkeys at 40 yards, much less 50, with lead shot. Actual reliable 40 yard turkey killers were rare before TSS. But you have to spend a lot of time shooting them and drawing 10" circles around patterns and get yourself clobbered in the head a lot, to really see that.

To be clear, I know people kill birds past 40 with lead. But most guns won’t do it reliably.


With TSS it’s kinda hard to find a 20 gauge that won’t kill at 50+.

I took my old single barrel this morning.
But here’s the kids 20 with a .555 Indian Creek choke. 171 pellets in 10” at 45 yards. From the Apex LT-20 load.


The rule of 70% (ie that patterns decrease by 30% per ten yards) would indicate that this load would be lethal at 55+.

 

[CBB1]

Here is the turkey killer I’ve settled on. Yildiz youth 20ga. It’s short and light. One barrel for the normal 40-50 yard turkey, the other for the ones that get in too tight and have to be shot sub 30 yards. In my opinion it’s the perfect turkey gun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CascadeHunter180]

Reading your parameters that is the exact gun that came to mind. I have the same gun in the tactical turkey version. It’s light, short barrel, great for run and gun. I shoot 3.5” with the factory choke and it is absolutely devastating out to 60 yards or a little farther depending on your setup. Sure the recoil sucks but I never feel it when shooting a bird. Don’t overthink it…that gun will suit your needs just fine.

A little recoil makes a man tougher anyway... Thanks for the help!

 

[CascadeHunter180]

Does a longer barrel increase range and tighten up groups? Or is that mostly up to a good choke and load combo?

 

[Kernal1985]

Does a longer barrel increase range and tighten up groups? Or is that mostly up to a good choke and load combo?

I think good choke and load are the most important. I’ve been using a youth mossberg 20 ga for the last several years with mostly tss and I won’t hesitate to shoot a bird at 50yds. Killed one a 62yds with that setup and federal tss 9’s. Love how compact it is and recoil is a joy compared to 3.5 12ga anything.

 

[N2TRKYS]

FWIW - there are worlds of 12 gauges out there that won’t reliably kill turkeys at 40 yards, much less 50, with lead shot. Actual reliable 40 yard turkey killers were rare before TSS. But you have to spend a lot of time shooting them and drawing 10" circles around patterns and get yourself clobbered in the head a lot, to really see that.

To be clear, I know people kill birds past 40 with lead. But most guns won’t do it reliably.


With TSS it’s kinda hard to find a 20 gauge that won’t kill at 50+.

I took my old single barrel this morning.
But here’s the kids 20 with a .555 Indian Creek choke. 171 pellets in 10” at 45 yards. From the Apex LT-20 load.
View attachment 1054502

The rule of 70% (ie that patterns decrease by 30% per ten yards) would indicate that this load would be lethal at 55+.

I would’ve thought it would have a higher pellet count than 171. Mine is a 1 5/8 oz load, but has 300 pellets of #9s at 40 yards in a 10” circle. I get 170s with my #7.5s.