What about a....?

[P. Beyer]

Again, I'm an absolute idiot when it comes to Turkey. I'm even dumber when it comes to guns. I'm determined to get a turkey this year after 4 unsuccesful years. It will be my first. What kind of gun is best? I've got an old, and I do mean old 12 Gauge single shot, or an 870 express 20 gauge. I know nothing really about either. The 20 was a gift a long, long time ago, so it's never been modified. The other I picked up somewhere. Too bad I'm not good enough to thump this ol' bird w/ a PSE, I'd at least know how to use my weapon[:D]

"It makes no difference whether I got anything; it has to do with how the day was spent"

Fred Bear

[GSP]

I would go with the one that has a full choke barrel.
Get your self some 4,5 &6 shot and try them out. See which one patterns the best. Try working on a 30 yard shot. I know you are going to get a lot of responses here. I think using a 9" paper plate works the best in patterning. Staple it to a newspaper so you can see where your main pattern is hitting.
Something I do before season is stick a couple of coke cans on bushes and practice on them. You don't have a background and it makes aiming a little tougher. If you turn a coke can into screen wire, you will do fine on a turkeys head.

[HardinCountyHunter]

GSP, The Coke can is a good tip. I never thought about that for a simulated turkey head. Although, a Pepsi can might be better color wise.

[RutNBuck]

P Meyer....
the 870 is a very trusted gun...heck i have one set up for turkeys that i would loan you..it has a red dot scope on it..(i never use it i have another turkey taker...) with see thru mounts so therefore you can use either...
i have killed a many turkey with an 870 but i got a new SP10 thru a trade and thought i would try it out..WOW awesome pattern....shooting 3 1/2 #6 at about 40 yards i literally tear the target in half...for those that will say i am over kill...yes i am a bit over gunned..BUT you cant argue with success..and that one extra pellet may be the difference in hit or miss...


"A wise indian once said,the more you move the less you will see,the less you move the more you will see"

" I live to hunt, but my wife says i may hunting a place to live"

[schuyler olt]

That 870 20 guage is good turkey medicine, assuming you can get an extra full choke in it. You can pick up a new 870, Mossberg 835 or Winchester 1300 pretty cheaply, and other than screw in chokes, the bells and whistles don't do as much as they cost. Camo tape is cheap, and a set of tru-glo sights won't set you back much. By all means, spend the money to install a sling. Personally, I use a 1300, and I have two of them. Both guns will pattern almost any shell I use, even with the stock Winchoke in extra full. One tip--turkeys tend to appear to be closer than they really are, especially in open fields. Before season, Go out to some of the areas you expect to hunt and pace off various distances. If you have a decoy, set one up at those distances-- 25, 35 and 45 yards, and get used to seeing what they look like. This spring, when you set up on a bird, try to have some reference point you know to be about 30 yds out. The easiest way to miss a bird is to shoot when the bird is too far out. The second easiest is to shoot when the bird is too close. Shoot a paper target at ten yards, and you'll see what I mean.

[Valley Station]

Paul,

You can kill an ol' turkey with a "tobacco stick", if you get him close enough. Pattern the guns you have and limit your shots to their lethal distance. Don't expect the your 20 ga to be lethal with standard heavy load 6's past about 25 steps.
If your serious about shootin' a turkey, get some sort of 12 ga., chambered for 3" shells, so you can take advantage of "Turkey loads" that are available.This will be good out to about 40-45 steps.

[Multidigits]

A man wanting a good turkey gun and not wanting to spend an arm and a leg, will have a very hard time beating the 835. 'nuff said.

[Boss Gobbler]

Multi said it all. 835 all the way.

[The Beagler]

I wouldn't forget the 870 Express. Go to Wal-Mart they have good prices and they're the same guns. They sell Remington and Mossberg.

[ez]

If you call well and aim well you can kill a turkey...............ez