Turkey gun.

[Boss Gobbler]

I am thinking of getting a new turkey gun. I have a 835 ultra mag I can COMFORTABLY shot 50 yards with it. I want 3 1/2" capibilities and the new HD camo patterns. What kind of gun should I look at? Will a semi auto hang up on 3 1/2" shells?

[Multidigits]

I've got a Browning gold 3 1/2" that works geat. I'd recommend it anyday.

[duckbuster]

I bought a Winchester SuperX2 about 4 years ago. I run through about a case and a half of 3 1/2" steel waterfowl loads during duck season and I have never had the first problem. I also shoot alot during dove season also with the same results. I was so impressed with it that I bought my son one last year when he stepped up to a 12ga. Bottom line........alot of shooting, not one problem.

whack 'em and stack 'em

[johnboy]

i have a mossberg 835 and it shoots 3 1/2
yours does not?

[Hammer]

I got a Benelli Nova Pump at Whitaker's. It's in a nice camo pattern, and it was 330 bucks. Hard to beat it.

[Boss Gobbler]

Yes I dont want a gun that will not shoot 3 1/2.

[Multidigits]

The Browning gold and the Super X2 ae about the same except the Gold has a magazine cut-off and the barrel is back bored. recoil is ver light compared to shooting the 3 1/2" in the 835.

[RDL270]

All good guns posted on here. My son used the super x2 will guiding duckhunters in Arkansas, loved it. I shoot a benelli Nova for turkey, no problem exjecting shells, long throw, but its not bad. If you want the semi, I'd take a hard look at the new berretta xtremea. Its got the camo pattern and shots the 3.5, optima chokes and backbored too I believe.

[P. Beyer]

Are you looking only for a semi-auto? I'm impressed with the 870 express magnum pump, it handles 3 1/2's and has a nice skyline pattern to it. I've compared this gun side by side with the Nova @ the shop, and honestly I like the ol' faithfull Remington better. A purchase of this gun is in the works as we speak for me!!!

I'll add that with a suggested retail around $500, I've seen it for $400[:D] Not too bad I don't reckon.

http://www.remington.com/firearms/shotguns/870_exp_sm_tky_camo.htm


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

Fred Bear

[Hunt n nut]

I believe the Charles Daly is available in HD, but I don't know what other guns are offered. I am pretty sure that the Super X2 is also backbored. I know that they will take the same choke tubes.

Will a semi-auto hang up on 3 1/2" shells? My browning does. Clean, dirty, hot or cold weather...it jams. I have had every gun shop around town clean it, because they all say that it is dirty. None of them have been able to get it to shoot without jamming. I talking to a Browning rep and he told me it was because I wasn't using Browning oil. Their oil didn't help either. I know two of my buddies have the same problem, so if anyone knows a solution please share it. If there is a solution to the jamming problem then I would recommend a Gold for a semi-auto or an 870 if you are looking for a pump.

The best thing to do is to look around and get the feel of several different guns. I fell in love with mine as soon as I shouldered it. It just felt good. Petty much everyone that makes a 3 1/2" gun these days has a pretty good one.

[The Beagler]

First thing I would say is if you can shoot your gun comfortably at 50 yards why buy another gun that you may or may not be able to shoot as well. Second, I've shot turkeys with 3 1/2 guns (Rem 870) and they don't kill any more dead than 3 inch guns. This year my cousin and I both shot turkeys passed 50 yards with 3 inch guns (both 870). I don't recommend doing it, but it's possible. Third, my dad just bought a Rem 11-87 3 1/2 inch and it hasn't jammed yet. Likewise, you can shoot the big dogs through it all day long and still be able to move your arm. My personal opinion is get you a Rem 870 or 11-87 3 1/2 gun. The reason I say get the 3 1/2 is because they have better resale value now that the 3 1/2 came out. Nobody is buying the 3 inch guns they all want 3 1/2. Lastly, I'm always looking for a new excuse to buy a new gun, so go out and buy another. You can't have to many guns.

To <b></b>Hunt N Nut<b></b> I don't know what the deal is about your gun jamming. But I do have some suggestions. First take some fine sandpaper and sand the inside of the barrel (towards the trigger) sometimes they will rust and that little thousandths of an inch of rust will keep them from throwing out the 3 1/2 inch shells. If that doesn't work, then do something a little more drastic. First take the gun to an authorized repair person for your brand. They can root out a couple thousandths of an inch and that will sometimes keep the guns from jamming up. I had a problem with my 3 1/2 rem 870 last year and I took it to a smith and he rooted out the barrel a little. Now she throws shells out smooth as you please.

I don't know if that will help, but that's my suggestion. Good luck to both of you.

[greenskeeter]

My father and I both have 870 Express we use and we both love them. Unfortunately (as you might have seen from the skunked thread) I did not get to unleash mine on a tom this spring, but my father filled his tags.

[14MERCS]

I bought the xtrema from beretta. It has shot tremendously well with all types of loads. It would not cycle the light loads at first but after a box of 3 1/2's it cycles everything. Shot a tom in Indiana last week and well he is very dead. The gun takes the Optima Plus choke tube system, which is different than the Optima. It comes HD camo'ed and has several different recoil reducing funtions. The gun was built from the ground up to handle the heaviest loads. The gas piston spring is as big around as a pencil. It replaced my Benelli M1. Go check it out!

[Willie]

870SP in 3 inch. Using a turkey extra full choke. Shooting 3" magnum Hevi-Shot #5s.

I've got it topped with a Simmons Pro-Diamond 2X scope.

Lightening Death out to 45 yards....

[Boss Gobbler]

Anyone that hunts like I do knows that ten years of hunting hard takes its toll on a gun. My ol 835 is is starting to hang shells in the tube where the plug is.[ I cant think of what it is called so tube is good]. I may just end up with another 835. I thought there may be some new improved hot shootin guns.

[Feedman]

I use a Remington 870 super mag. I have had it 5 years and it hasn't jammed yet. I shoot 3 1/2 inch shells. I had heard the rumors that they would jam after i first bought the gun. I bought a improved cylinder choke tube and took it to the dove field that first fall. After 1 day and over a hundred rounds. I think that it works great.

[N2hepcoop]

Wanna good gun?!

I bought an Ithaca 37 Turkeyslayer 3 years ago. Light in weight, but very durable. Action is VERY smooth! Shoots 2 3/4 - 3" and I shoot #5's. I shot my Eastern this year at 46 steps! the pattern is tight. Check into one, you will not be disappointed!

[schuyler olt]

I'm always intrigued by the interest in 31/2 inch guns. Shell length and pellet counts are probably the two LEAST important factors, IMHO. A #6 pellet is a #6 pellet. Even going to Hevi-shot, the weight difference is so small that the difference in momentum on a single pellet is pretty negligible, especially within 50 yards. What WILL drastically increase the killing force of a pellet is speed. Since most 3" and 31/2" loads use the same powder charge, the 3" will generally have significantly more speed, and therefore more downrange killing power. If you have properly choked your gun, pattern density should be more than ample with the 3". One other point to consider is that a faster shot column will generally hold tighter patterns downrange, all else being equal. Finally, a faster shot will arrive on target more closely to where the target was at the time the trigger was pulled. Considering the speed at which a turkey can move its head, that could make a difference. Speed kills.

[greenskeeter]

Are we suggesting the extra 1/2 inch should be powder? I know I would be facing the sky after every shot then! An forget trying to pattern the gun. I'll stick with the 3's myself!

[schuyler olt]

Greenskeeter, I'd be facing the sky myself, but with my size I'd be ten feet from the tree![xx(] I talk to a lot of guys that think about giving up a good shooting, reliable 3" to "step up" to the 31/2". In fact, it may be a step down. Also, because of the heavier shot charge and Newton's first law of physics, the impact on the gun and the shooter is appreciably more with a 31/2". A friend's Winchester X2 recently suffered a complete break of the recoil spring in the gas port collar. Good looking, very expensive single shot he had there.

[N2hepcoop]

I agree. 3 1/2 is unnecessary for turkey. Now shooting geese at 40 ft, thats a different story, but I will stick with my 3" #5's.

[Boss Gobbler]

What about a hung up turkey at 50 yards. I wouldnt try that with a 3".

[Boss Gobbler]

If there is not more powder why is the recoil so much greater?

[INKYHUNTER]

Because you are forcing more shot down the same restricted area. I have a 3" and have taken birds over fifty yards. I don't do it as a practice but have misjudge birds in fields and thought they were closer.