Best Turkey Gun for Spring

[KYHUNTER76]

Which is the best Turkey Gun out there. Currently I am looking at the new Beretta Al 391 Extrema in Advantage Timber and the Mossberg 835 in Advantage Timber. I know these guns are on opposite ends of the price spectrum. I am wondering if the Mossberg is just as good or good enough. I do not really want to put $1300 dollars into the Beretta but if the Mossberg is junk I do not want it.

[Hammer]

Mossberg's are good guns. Very reliable. I also like the safety on top. I think you'll be satisfied. GL!

[RutNBuck]

if your looking to save on $$ a single shot 12 would do the trick since on turkeys you usually only get one shot...but if you perfer to have more back up shots i suggest a Rem 870 in the matt finish can get a good deal on it..and the gun will also take a beating of those ridge running gobbler hunts...

"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"

[Multidigits]

Buy the 835 in a Combo. The have a very acurate slug barrel, if you need a shotgun for deer hunting. Good deals on them too. I used one a lot for turkey and goose, until I got a Browning Gold 3 1/2". The 870 has a bit better workmanship but they were having some extraction problems with the 3 1/2" shells.

[ceohunter]

If your looking at the Beretta you might as well look at the Benelli SBE. It is on the expensive side, but one fine gun it is!

[mossyhorns]

I shoot an 870 SP and have never had an extraction problem. I even use it with 3 1/2's for waterfowl and it cycles pretty fast. The only problem with the 3 1/2's that I've noticed is that the recoil slams the bolt all the way back in an instant before you realize it. I've been caught trying to work the slide when the bolt had already bottomed out and all I needed to do was push the slide forward. An 870 Special Purpose turkey gun would be a good compromise between the big "B" guns and the Mossberg.

[Multidigits]

I've sold three of the 870's and all had to be worked on. One was replaced by the factory after the local service center couldn't fix it. The bolt would not pull the empty from the chamber on these guns. You must have gotten a good one. Overall, the 870 would have a better action and smoother stroke.

[KYhunter]

Or you can buy and old 12 ga. with 3" chamber and have it customized for turkeys. Shorten the barrel with screw-in chokes, force-coned if you want, vent rib, sights, sling etc. Best lightweight turkey gun you could ever want and half the price. What else could a fella want?

[gates]

You may want to check out the Benneli NOVA. I bought one last year and is is a good gun. Matched with a XXX comp-n-choke all camo for under $400. My mossburg always shot low so I had to put the turkey's head behind the sight bead. I missed 2 birds because they bent down right when I shot(same hunting partner saw both misses). The NOVA at 40 yds the bead is on the waddles with the head showing above the bead. 2 shots this spring and 2 turkeys, 35 yds and 45 yds both droped instantly with 3.5" Win #6 HV shells.

James

[duckbuster]

The 835 is a good gun for the price. I know because I've owned one for about 10 years now. It's been through hell and back and has never let me down. On the other hand, if it is an auto loader that you desire, the Winchester Super X2 is a fine gun. It's simple to breakdown and clean and I've never had the first problem with it. I've shot 2 3/4", 1oz dove loads all the way to 3 1/2", 1 9/16oz waterfowl loads without a jam one. I usually go through a case or more of 3 1/2" shells per waterfowl season, so that should tell you something about the X2's reliability. X2's sell for around $625 for the black and $725 for the camo version. Just my $.02

whack 'em and stack 'em

[Mudhole]

Well, here's my turkey gun...Remington 11-87 SPS-T, 21 inch barrel with a Hasting Super Full turkey tube in the end on that. On the reciever there's a B-Square scope mount and on top of that sits a Tasco turkey scope, all this is dressed out on Mossy Oak Bottom Land camo! The last bird I dropped clean at 42 steps shooting Winchester Supreme #5's!

Mudhole
www.OutdoorsLouisiana.com

[schuyler olt]

I use a Winchester 1300 with a Rhino tube and tru-glo sights. Winchester Supremes in #5 are my drug of choice, although this gun patterns just about any 3" shell I try. I use a pump primarily for safety. When I shoot, I'm on a dead run to the bird, and I love the idea of a dead round in the chamber while I'm moving.

[BuckBuster]

I have the Remington 870, which is very reasonably priced.I like the fact just change the choke for the occasion. My slug rifle choke does a good job too. No need for a slug barrel. It works for me.

[.300Savage]

I use a Mossburg 500 turkey gun with factory XX-Full choke (.67). I seem to pattern best with Federal 3" in 4's.

Rocco

[deadaim]

i use the same gun and choke and ammo as .300 savage I killed my turkey last year at about 35 yards clean.

[Blevins Gap Outdoors]

I have been using a Remington 870 SP with a slug barrel and a super full turkey choke in the end. I installed fiber optic sights on it for low light shooting off the roost. I use 3" Federal premium magnum turkey loads in #6 shot. I have been using this set up for 10 years or so with great results.

[KYhunter]

Shooting off the roost?!?!???? When did that become legal?

[Multidigits]

I've got three turkey guns-an 835, a 3" 870 SP, and a Browning Gold 3 1/2". I've been using the Gold of late. It's a fine shotgun and shoots smooth and easy compared to the 835.

I use either 4s or 5s depending on what mood I'm in. This past year, it was Heavy-shot. Either works good. I normally aim for the base of the neck instead of the center of the head. Turkeys seldom make a quiver after recieving a load. You don't need to run after them/

[Blevins Gap Outdoors]

KYhunter,

Point well taken, what I mean by that is when calling in birds from the roost. I have had birds come straight in while the light is still dim. I assumed everyone knew what I meant but I forget about new hunters. [:)]

[INKYHUNTER]

I use a 870SP 3" with #6 and you don't have to run to pick one up. I use a scope and it works well.

[darin]

I have the 835. Reliable gun. At around 30 yrds. w/xx choke you'll get about a 10-12 pattern. And like Hammer said with the safety on top, you get a lot less movement at the time of shot.

Darin

[Valley Station]

In recent seasons , I've been shooting a Remington Model 870 SP turkey gun, with super full turkey choke, sight is bead on barrel.
Stuff it with , Federal - 12 ga., 3" , 2 oz. of copper coated 6's.
I notice, some of the "Old guys" are using scopes and fiber optics.[:I] [:D]

[D.W.P.]

870 Remington 3 1/2 " Super Mag with a Kicks 655 ported choke, 3 inch Winchester Supremes # 5's. Hank Patton with the NWTF gave me the choke when we were in Maryland turkey hunting. You talk about slapping one in the face, this set-up will do it. [;)]

[kygobbler]

I just bought me a Remington 11-87 SPS Super Magnum in Mossy Oak Camo for Christmas. Can't wait till Christmas morning.[:D]

[Blevins Gap Outdoors]

Valley,

You know how bad I am, getting old sucks..

[INKYHUNTER]

You got that right Valley the old eyes play tricks. However since I changed to no line instead of bifocals I can see the front and back sight again. Took a doe yesterday at about 85 yards with open sights, so I guess all is not lost. However I still like the scope on the old turkey gun.

[massive horns]

Go with the 835 Awesome Gun for the price. I have three. Also have four Browning's and two remington's. You can't tear the mossberg up. My favorite is 12 gauge with 28" inch barrel non-ported. 3 1/2" federal premium 6 shot I can shoot 70 yards and put 23 pellets in the head and neck. Using the factory turkey choke that came with it.
You can't go wrong I've shot all of them.

[NYHunter]

I used to be a die-hard Remington fan until I gave the 835 Ulti-mag a try. I topped it with a Simmons Pro-Diamond scope for quick sighting.
With the 3 1/2" capability and x-full choke tube, I use Federal Premium copper plated, buffered #5's.
I get excellent patterns out to 40 yards, but try to limit shooting at this distance to wide open situations. This gun and load performs best from 15-40 yd's. The pattern is real tight... any closer and your aim must be perfect or you may miss the shot.

[johnboy]

be fore warned.. the 835 with 3 1/2 kicks like a mule..
i love my 835.. but my shoulder sure doesnt. so far i have not shot a gun that kicks harder than 835 with 3 1/2 if your worried about recoil, shoot 3inch shells.. and dont waste your money on the limb saver recoil pad.. it didnt help a bit (awesome on my bow though, just no good on my shotgun)

[smokensomewigz]

I had to jump in here and give my two cents. I'll say this, giving my present job I sale a bunch of guns during the year. I get to talk with a bunch of folks from all over the state and several out of state. More importantly, I get to see what comes back for repair. Now I'm not gonna say what gun comes back the most but I will say THEY ALL DO!! Now every day I'm asked "What's the best choke out there?" Folks it's what ever choke your gun likes the most! Just because Uncle Joe's 835 puts 42 pellets in the kill zone at 40 yards does'nt meen yours will with the same choke/shell combination. Uncle Joe just found the right combination gun, choke, and shell (length, shot size, ....). Somewhere out there is the perfect choke and shell combination for your gun. Period. You just have to find it. Read back through the posts and you'll see tons of guns and tons of chokes all doing a good job. Your gun might be getting 20 pellets in the kill zone at 40 yards right now. That aint bad but I'll bet you there's something else out there that would do a better job. What it boils down to is this. Try as many choke and shell combos as you can afford. Remington, Benelli, Winchester, even New England, they're all good guns. Comp-N-Choke, Rhino, Kicks, and yes even good old Hastings, they're all good chokes. They will all do the job on Mr. Turkey givin the fact that you've done your homework, patterned your gun, and found the perfect match to that favorite gun.[;)]

[biggamehunter]

someone was talking about a cheap, nice single shot 12 gauge for cheap....i just bought me a new 12 gauge single shot at Galyans for 90.00 dollars...it shoots pretty smooth and i even tried to shoot slugs and they shot better then my Moseberg 12 gauge

[schuyler olt]

The best turkey gun is the one you shoot the best. I've killed turkeys with probably ten different guns. I personally use a Winchester 1300. I prefer pumps to autos solely for safety reasons. When I shoot a bird, I'm up after it immediately. The pump gives me a dead round in the chamber until I choose for it to be reloaded, and I don't have that option with an auto loader. Other than that, they're all capable, and the most important thing is for the hunter to know exactly what the limitations are of the particular gun being used.

[B.G.O. of Kentucky]

I owned a Mossberg 500 Turkey Special many years ago (first year they came out to be exact) OK gun for the price, but the fore grip rattled. Installed some O Rings to fix it. Then, I bought an 870 Express and used it for about 4 years. Better overall workmanship, good price too. ~$220 with the turkey choke, no rattling. Then, I upgraded to a Remington 1187SP Walnut. Bought an Rem-Choked Rifle sighted barrel, installed fiber optic sights, Tru-Glo Strut stopper choke, and wouldn't trade it for any gun out there!

[perrymax]

I have a $200 Walmart Rem 870,mat finish with birch stock.I bought a 20"smooth bore slug barrel with rem-choke.I bought a Comp-n-choke,ported turkey choke and a pachmyer slip on recoil pad.I painted it camo myself.I put Williams,fiber optic rifle sights on it.It doesn't get caught on tree limbs,it doesn't hurt and it's deadly out to 40 yards,which is all I need.

[Redeye]

John Wayne always said "break out the WINCHESTERS!!"
If its good enough for JW its good enough for me. HEHE!
I shoot the 1300 NWTF lamo stock turkey gun, I've killed 20+ birds with Ol Chester and she works fine for me.
All kiddin aside I wish people would quit worrying about there shotguns shooting 40+ yards and concentrate more on callin turkeys in close.....

Hunt Safe
REDEYE