Best Turkey Hunting Shotguns of 2023

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Best Turkey Hunting Shotguns of 2023


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Updated Mar 3, 2023 6:09 PM

One of the most popular tendencies within the shotgun market is the “turkey gun.” Today, one of the best turkey shotguns are usually variants of a shotgun that was designed for waterfowl or small sport hunters with shares and barrels which might be shortened to make the weapons simpler to hold and extra maneuverable in tight cowl. Gun makers added pistol grips for a extra rifle-like taking pictures expertise and lots of turkey weapons have receivers which might be drilled and tapped for optics. They all include chokes designed particularly for printing tight, gobbler-killing patterns. 

There are as many variations of a turkey searching gun as there are variations of turkey searching types. There are hefty, lengthy vary weapons for hunters who need to sit in a blind and kill turkeys past 50 yards. There are compact, maneuverable weapons for private-land hunters who need to crawl their means by means of the season, reaping turkeys at shut vary. And there are traditional pump shotguns for traditionalists who imagine the one option to kill a turkey is within the woods together with your again resting in opposition to a tree. So our staff of editors put collectively a listing of one of the best turkey shotguns for all of the completely different types of turkey searching and kinds of turkey hunters.  

History of the Turkey Gun

Turkey-specific shotguns haven’t been round all that lengthy when you think about hunters have been taking break-actions and repeaters into the woods to chase wild sport for lots of of years.
During the Depression, the turkey inhabitants dipped to 30,000 birds, so there wasn’t a must construct a platform that catered particularly to turkey hunters. For a lot of the 20th century, your turkey gun was no matter shotgun you owned. That’s not the case anymore. With the restoration of turkey populations throughout the U.S. and Canada (there have been virtually 7 million birds between each nations by the early 2000s), the devoted turkey gun turned widespread.

Read Next: Best Camo for Turkey Hunting

Best Turkey Shotguns: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Custom Turkey Hunting Gun: Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 Turkey Performance Shop

Key Features

  • 24-inch barrel
  • Burris FastFire II red-dot
  • Mossy Oak camouflage end
  • 3½-inch chamber

Pros

  • Pistol grip provides steadiness
  • Burris optic delivers higher accuracy
  • Enlarged bolt deal with and “slammer button” bolt launch make the gun simpler to function

Cons

  • It’s gentle for a turkey gun, which implies extra recoil
  • Expensive

Rob Roberts is a grasp at getting probably the most out of shotgun sample efficiency. The Arkansas gunsmith, recognized for his aftermarket choke tubes, teamed up with Benelli on the SBE3 Turkey Performance Shop. Roberts lengthens the forcing cones contained in the 24-inch barrel and provides a customized .655 choke to ship superior sample density. The 12-gauge additionally comes with a Burris FastFire II red-dot so hunters could be extra correct with shot placement. A 3½-inch gun that solely weighs 6.8 kilos, the SBE3 is inertia-driven, so 2-ounce turkey masses will sting your shoulder a bit greater than should you had been taking pictures a gasoline gun. An prolonged pistol grip lets you higher stabilize the gun, which is vital in turkey searching since you’ll be aiming the gun prefer it’s a rifle. —Joe Genzel

Best Gas Semi-Auto Turkey Gun: Beretta A350 Xtrema Turkey

Key Features

  • 24-inch barrel
  • Aluminum Picatinny rail
  • Micro recoil pad
  • 3½-inch chamber

Pros

  • Gas-operated for softer recoil
  • Drilled and tapped for an optic

Cons

  • Expensive for a devoted turkey gun
  • At that value level, it ought to include an optic

Released in 2017, the A350 was Beretta’s first devoted 3½-inch auto-loader for turkey hunters. The A350 debuted as a waterfowl shotgun, bridging the hole in value between the A300 Outlander and A400 Xtreme. Beretta shortened the barrel to 24 inches on the turkey mannequin and added an aluminum rail on the highest of the motion—which leads right into a stepped, ventilated rib—for mounting an optic. It’s a gasoline gun, so hunters will really feel much less recoil than with an inertia-driven gun. Beretta additionally outfitted the shotgun with its Blink system, which cycles shotshells quick, although it’s not a necessity on a turkey gun until you miss and wish a fast comply with up shot. There is a Micro Core recoil pad screwed into the buttstock to assist take up the recoil of heavy turkey masses. An prolonged extra-full turkey choke comes customary. It’s an Optima-Choke system, which is utilized by lots of Beretta’s high-end weapons, just like the DT11 and DT10. The camouflage end of the A350 is in Mossy Oak Obsession. —J.G.

Best Bottom-Eject Turkey Gun: Browning BPS NWTF Turkey

Key Features

  • 24-inch barrel
  • Pump motion
  • Bottom eject
  • 3½-inch chamber
  • HiViz entrance sight

Pros

  • Pump-action reliability
  • Bottom eject retains motion clear
  • Optics prepared

Cons

  • It’s heavy (virtually 8 kilos)
  • Pricey: BPS shotguns are virtually $1,000

The BPS was made for turkey hunters. Since the load gate and ejection port are one in the identical, there’s much less of an opportunity for mud and dirt to search out their means into the chamber and gunk up your gun. That’s vital for turkey hunters, who’re largely sitting on the forest flooring. You can purchase the BPS in a 3½-inch chamber, however I just like the 3-inch mannequin for turkey searching. First, the journey on the fore-end when that you must eject a spent shotshell and cargo a brand new one is shorter, and the gun itself is 2 inches shorter than the 3½-inch 12-gauge. The receiver is drilled and tapped for an optic, plus there’s a 4-in-1 Hi-Viz fiber-optic sight system, which features a rear and entrance sight for higher accuracy. The draw back to a BPS is its weight. They are practically 8-pound weapons even within the composite mannequin (wooden and metal BPS’ are heavier). But the burden tames a lot of the felt recoil, and there are sling swivels, so you possibly can haul the gun over the shoulder should you purchase a strap. —J.G.

Best 10-Gauge Turkey Hunting Gun: Browning Gold Light

Key Features

  • Gas operated
  • Low recoil
  • 3½-inch chamber
  • Inflex recoil pad

Pros

  • Manageable recoil
  • Superior shotshell payloads
  • Well balanced

Cons

  • It’s a heavy 10-pound gun
  • Length (the Gold Light is 4-feet lengthy)

The almost-10-pound 10-gauge Gold Light is something however gentle. That mentioned, should you’re not a run-and-gun turkey hunter, a ten loaded with a 3½-inch lead or tungsten shotshell that has a shot cost of two ounces or extra is an absolute hammer on gobblers. The knock on 10 gauges is that they shoot larger shells so they need to produce extra recoil, however that’s not the case. Since the Gold Light is a heavy gas-driven gun, the recoil is similar to a 12-gauge auto. Turkey hunters ought to go for the shorter 26-inch barrel, however it is a lengthy shogun (48 inches with a 26-inch barrel and 50 inches with a 28-inch barrel), so it’s not splendid for river-bottom thickets or closely forested ridgelines. It could be exhausting to search out turkey ammo for 10s as a result of there are solely two in manufacturing (the BPS is the opposite), but it surely’s a super gauge for powerful previous toms due to the elevated payload functionality of its shotshells. The Gold Light is a well-balanced gun, and although it’s practically 10 kilos, that weight is evenly distributed, which makes it simpler to hold. —J.G.

Best Youth Turkey Hunting Shotgun: CVA Scout Compact

Key Features

  • Scope rail
  • Jebs X-Full Turkey choke
  • 22-inches lengthy complete

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Virtually no recoil
  • Aftermarket choke comes customary
  • Price
  • Lifetime guarantee

Cons

  • Hammer gun, so you have to cock it
  • Not authorized in each state

Single-shots are making a comeback within the turkey woods and .410s (the place authorized) have carved out a distinct segment amongst turkey hunters keen to pay the value for TSS shotshells. If you want each these components in a shotgun, the Scout is a perfect platform. The scope rail lets you mount virtually any optic to it (you’ll want one taking pictures a .410). Plus, the comb of the inventory is raised such as you would discover on a rifle to make it simpler to see by means of a mounted scope or pink dot. It’s solely a 6-pound gun, and simply 22 inches lengthy with out the included Jebs X-Full choke. Length of pull could be adjusted from 13 to 14 inches, so though the Scout is “compact” it’s nonetheless a snug gun to shoot no matter your measurement. There is a thick recoil pad affixed to the buttstock, however with the dainty cost weights of .410 ammo, recoil is a non-issue. It is a hammer gun, so you’ll have to cock it earlier than taking pictures, which does take additional time you could not have if a longbeard provides you a good shot window. —J.G.

Best Classic Turkey Hunting Gun: Ithaca Model 37 Turkey Slayer

Key Features

  • Bottom eject
  • 24-inch barrel
  • Rifle sights

Pros

  • Reliability of a pump shotgun
  • Better accuracy with rifle sights
  • Manageable weight for a pump

Cons

  • Pricey for a pump
  • No wooden and metal choice
  • Cross-bolt security on a backside eject

The 37 has loved one of many longest runs in pump shotgun historical past. Based on a John Browning design, the Ithaca Model 37 was initially set to debut in 1933 after the Browning patents expired. But it was found that gunmaker John Pederson additionally held a few of the design patents, and so Ithaca needed to wait 4 extra years for these to run out. The 37 Turkey Slayer continues to be being made and accessible in a 12- and 20-gauge mannequin with a 24-inch barrel. There are raised rifle sights simply ahead of the receiver and on the muzzle for higher accuracy, and the Turkey Slayer is available in a black artificial end for added sturdiness. It’s not a very heavy turkey gun in 20-gauge at 7.2 kilos however the 12 is over 8 kilos. A bottom-eject pump, the Turkey Slayer will hold the weather away out of your shotshell, which is crucial should you’re sitting by means of a spring rain or freak snow bathe. It’s not remarkable for moisture to make its means into the motion of facet eject shotguns and contaminate a shell’s gunpowder, rendering it ineffective. Or the water can work its means into the firing pin, inflicting a lightweight strike of the shotshell’s primer. —J.G.

Best Budget Pump: Mossberg 500 Turkey

Key Features

  • 20-inch barrel
  • Tang-mounted security
  • X-Factor choke
  • 3-inch chamber

Pros

  • Long historical past of reliability
  • Ambidextrous security
  • Short barrel

Cons

  • Heavy recoil
  • Has a plastic exterior really feel

There’s most likely no different shotgun producer extra devoted to turkey searching than Mossberg. Just about each time Mossberg comes out with a brand new shotgun, it will definitely is made accessible in a turkey platform. Its most iconic pump is the five hundred, and the turkey mannequin is a perfect gobbler gun. Just 40 inches lengthy—the barrel is 20 inches—the five hundred is nice for searching tight cowl. The X-Factor choke comes customary, and a tang-mounted security is ideal if that you must kill a longbeard together with your off-hand. The size of pull is just 13.875 inches, and the journey of the fore-end is brief in case that you must get a second shot off shortly. There is a entrance fiber-optic sight for faster goal acquisition, and the 7-pound 12-gauge (prepare for some critical recoil) is completed in Mossy Oak Obsession. The 500 can be accessible in a .410-bore and 20-gauge. —J.G.

Best 3.5-Inch Pump: Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey

Key Features

  • 3.5-inch chamber
  • 24-inch barrel
  • Tang-mounted security

Pros

  • 3.5-inch succesful
  • Super sturdy

Cons

  • Heavier than the five hundred
  • More costly than the five hundred
  • Cheap, flimsy sights

If you just like the Mossberg 500 options however you’re a maniac and need to shoot 3.5-inch turkey masses, then the Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey is the shotgun for you. It has an extended 24-inch barrel and weighs a half pound greater than the five hundred, which is welcome weight to assist absorb all that recoil. 

I’ve hunted throughout the nation with my 835 over the past seven turkey seasons and what I really like most about it’s that it’s a beater shotgun. It at all times cycles and at all times goes bang after I squeeze the set off. It will get splashed with snow, rain, mud, and turkey blood each season and simply retains working (now that I give it some thought, I’m unsure that I’ve truly ever cleaned the gun). 

A turkey next to a camo best turkey hunting shotgun
Robinson used foam and duct tape to lift the comb top on the Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag. Alex Robinson

It got here with a full (.695) choke that I’ve by no means seen a must swap out, which is sweet as a result of it’s most likely rusted in there by now. With top-end TSS masses it shoots killer patterns at 60 yards—and possibly farther however I’ve by no means tried it. The solely actual draw back of the 835 Turkey is that my model got here with low cost, flimsy sights. My rear sight fell off sooner or later throughout its first season. I solved this by including a Leupold Freedom red-dot optic. To get the correct comb top so as to see by means of my new sight, I stole a trick from Dave Petzal and taped a couple of strips of froth to the inventory utilizing inexperienced duct tape. It works splendidly, and actually provides to the aesthetic of my beater gun. But wait, you would possibly say. Do you actually need 3.5-inch TSS masses to kill a turkey? To that I’d reply, want has nothing to do with it. —Alex Robinson 

Best Sub-Gauge Semi-Auto .410: Mossberg SA-410 Turkey

Key Features

  • 3-inch chamber
  • .410-bore
  • Semi computerized

Pros

  • XX-Full turkey choke
  • Gas operated
  • Mossy Oak camo

Cons

  • Not authorized in each state for turkey searching
  • It’s lengthy for a .410 turkey gun

There aren’t too many .410 auto-loaders on the market, however the platform is turning into widespread with turkey and flooded timber duck hunters as extra TSS shotshell choices are made accessible. Mossberg was one of many first producers to supply the .410 auto in a turkey gun. The SA-410 is outfitted with a high rail for mounting and optic, which is sort of a necessity should you’re going to shoot a gobbler with a .410. As you journey additional down the 26-inch barrel there’s a ghost ring sight adopted by a raised fiber-optic simply earlier than the muzzle. 

Ghost ring sights permit you to put a bead on an incoming tom with higher precision. If you possibly can line up the dot with the bottom of the loingbeard’s neck, it’s a executed deal. The SA-410 had a set 13¾-inch size of pull, however you can purchase an aftermarket recoil pad and slide it over the inventory to extend that. Chambered for 3-inch masses, an XX-Full turkey choke is included with the .410. It weighs 6½ kilos, and has a 26-inch barrel, however is 46 inches in complete size, just a little lengthy for a sub-gauge turkey gun. The gas-operated Mossberg is completed in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. —J.G.

Best Patterning Pump: Remington 870 Turkey Camo

Key Features

  • 21-inch barrel
  • X-Full Rem turkey choke
  • HiViz entrance sight
  • 3-inch chamber
  • 7.25 kilos

Pros

  • Steel receiver
  • Recoil higher than most
  • Durable end

Cons

Turkey hunters will respect the 21-inch barrel of the 870 Turkey, which makes it simple to reposition for a greater shot if a gobbler is available in from an sudden course. The shorter barrel cuts a few of the weight from conventional 26- and 28-inch barrels, and it balances properly for these instances when that you must make an off-hand or awkward shot. 

Like most turkey weapons, this one has every little thing that you must begin turkey searching with out shopping for further equipment. The additional full choke patterns effectively relying on the ammo you utilize, and hunters who need to dial of their patterns can discover an assortment of aftermarket chokes for the 870. Similarly, the HiViz single bead traces up nice however doesn’t really feel as sturdy as the remainder of the gun, however you possibly can simply change them for affordable. The gun has a matte end on the metal receiver and barrel, plus Mossy Oak Break-Up on the inventory and fore-end. 

If you’re additionally in search of a finances gun that may take a licking and carry on ticking, look no additional. By the tip of each turkey season, I’m at all times amazed at how a lot grime and particles I clear off this gun, and I’ve by no means had a misfire or biking problem. It’s crawled by means of mud, reduce hay fields with standing water, and even bounced on concrete a time or two.

Unlike different turkey weapons (I gained’t point out), the 870 doesn’t punish you once you shoot it. The weight absorbs many of the recoil, and it’s by no means given me a shiner even when I had my cheek to shut to the inventory.   

I’ve used 870s virtually completely since I began turkey searching, and my first one got here from my grandfather who discovered it on a used gun rack. The worn end across the receiver is from the place me and the earlier proprietor(s) gripped and toted it by means of the woods, they usually additionally swapped the camo inventory and forend for shiny Wingmaster furnishings. But I by no means bothered to vary it as a result of there’s nothing fallacious with having a cultured turkey killer. It will not be a real Wingmaster, however this gun’s no pretender on the subject of dropping toms. Besides, it’s a wingmaster in its personal proper. For years, particularly in school, I ran it with a Primos Tight Wad choke and no matter turkey ammo I might discover. Sure, I might most likely shoot tighter patterns with TSS masses or blends, however this finances gun loves finances ammo. And there hasn’t been a gobbler strut inside 40 yards of this gun to vary that but.—Adam Moore

Best Single-Shot .410: Stevens 301 Turkey Obsession .410

Key Features

  • 26-inch barrel
  • 5.07 kilos
  • 3-inch chamber
  • Removable one-piece rail
  • Extra-full choke tube

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Easily fitted with optics
  • Matte end

Cons

  • Single shot
  • Less room for error with a .410
  • .410s aren’t authorized to turkey hunt with in all states

Advanced turkey masses and chokes have turned the .410 from a small sport gun to a lethal correct turkey slayer. The Stevens 310 Turkey Obsession makes an amazing, light-weight choice—even with its 26-inch barrel—should you are likely to put dozens of miles underneath your boots each turkey season. And your arms shouldn’t shake after holding your gun on the prepared for a number of minutes once you’re ready for a shot alternative.

The Stevens 310 comes with a rail that you may simply take away with two screws or equip with an optic. I shot a Truglo red-dot on this gun and it produced lethal patterns at 30 yards with the inventory choke. But after I switched to a Carlson’s TSS choke and Apex Ninja 3-inch masses, I used to be capable of get loads of pellets on paper at 40 yards. Even although it’s a single shot when you have a shell holder on the inventory you possibly can shortly reload due to the quick ejector that doesn’t stick just like the previous Stevens mannequin. —A.M.

Best Classic Semi-Auto: Remington 1100 Turkey

Key Features

  • Gas pushed
  • Thumbhole inventory
  • 12-gauge

Pros

  • Thumbhole inventory presents higher accuracy
  • Rubber grip inlays
  • Rem turkey choke

Cons

  • No longer in manufacturing
  • Notoriously loud with heavy recoil

Introduced within the Sixties, the primary 12-gauge 1100s might solely shoot 2¾-inch shotshells, however there have been quickly 3-inch magnum variants, and ultimately the gasoline weapons had been constructed for turkey hunters. The 1100 turkey gun is definitely an 11-87. The platform was up to date in 1987 to incorporate a strain compensation valve that allowed the shotgun to shoot gentle goal masses on as much as heavy 2-ounce turkey shells. It has a thumbhole inventory, which is utilized by rifle shooters for higher accuracy. The comb of the inventory can be barely raised, making it simpler to get a greater cheek weld as you look down the sight aircraft of the barrel. Rubber inlays on the pistol grip and fore-end will provide you with a greater grip on the 11-87 in inclement climate, or when it will get scorching and your palms get sweaty. There can be an adjustable rear sight, and a raised entrance fiber-optic to make precision photographs on hung up toms. This shotgun is not in manufacturing, however can nonetheless be discovered on the used market. —J.G.

Most Underrated Turkey Gun: TriStar Viper G2 Turkey

Key Features

  • 3-inch chamber
  • Pistol grip
  • Picatinny rail
  • Gas operated

Pros

  • Price
  • Gas pushed
  • Molded pistol grip

Cons

  • TriStar shotguns could be exhausting to search out regionally 

TriStar doesn’t get sufficient credit score for the performance and reliability of its gas-operated shotguns. They are modeled after Berettas, and I might argue you get extra for much less cash within the G2 Turkey than you’ll within the A350. The G2 comes with a molded pistol grip, which helps hold the gun regular but additionally assists in mitigating recoil as a result of all that power induced from the heavy shot cost isn’t going solely into your shoulder. A 3-inch gun, the G2 features a detachable Picatinny rail, so you should use an optic, and a fiber-optic sight is mounted on the muzzle. A Beretta-style prolonged turkey choke comes customary, and there may be additionally a thick recoil pad affixed to the buttstock to assist tame recoil. A five-year guarantee is included. —J.G.

Best Affordable Semi-Auto Turkey Gun: Winchester SX4 NWTF Cantilever Turkey

Key Features

  • Available in 12- (3½-inch) or 20-gauge (3-inch)
  • 24-inch barrel
  • Invector-Plus prolonged choke system, contains additional full turkey
  • Adjustable rear sight
  • Weaver-style cantilever rail design for attaching an optic
  • $1,150 MSRP

Pros

  • 24-inch barrel is handy for working and gunning and tight hides
  • Semi-auto motion runs and not using a hitch
  • A portion of gross sales goes to NWTF to help wild turkey conservation

Cons

  • The match and end falls wanting what you’ll count on for the value—ran out of adjustment on the rear sight, which might’ve been solved by mounting an optic

If you need a devoted turkey gun constructed round a dependable autoloader, it’s a must to take into account the SX4 NWTF Cantilever Turkey. Winchester up to date the SX3’s ergonomics by together with a rounder pistol grip and a textured grip, which makes this shotgun simple to deal with even should you’re sweating or sitting within the rain. The chrome-plated chamber and bore hold the motion working easily, and when the solar does begin shining, the flat-finish camo doesn’t glare in any respect. Without the plug (you have to have one in to legally turkey hunt), the journal can maintain 4 2 3/4-inch shells, and the 12-gauge will accommodate as much as a 3½-inch load. You can mount a standard scope or a red-dot on the rail, or just use the open fiber-optic sights. —Natalie Krebs

Best Bolt-Action Turkey Gun: Savage 212 Turkey

Key Features

  • Bolt-action constructed off the 110
  • 3-inch chamber
  • User-adjustable AccuTrigger
  • 22-inch barrel

Pros

  • 110 platform is iconic
  • Adjustable set off
  • Optics prepared

Cons

  • Hefty (8.25 kilos with out optic)
  • Doesn’t run as easily as a rifle

This shotgun brings rifle marksmanship to the turkey woods. It’s constructed off Savage’s iconic 110 rifle platform, contains the wonderful AccuTrigger (Savage’s adjustable, two-stage set off), and options the modular AccuFit inventory so you possibly can modify length-of-pull and comb top, which is very helpful when including an optic. Speaking of optics, you’ll have to purchase one for this rig because it comes with no sights. The shotgun does embody a two-round field journal. 

I hunted with the 212 Turkey a couple of years in the past for Gould’s turkeys in Mexico, and located that it dealt with similar to a magnum-caliber rifle would. If you plan to mount a scope on this gun, like one of many stylish new LPVOs, mount it as far ahead as the attention reduction will enable. You don’t need the scope crashing into your eyebrow with 12-gauge, turkey load power. Or simply reduce down on the recoil altogether and go together with the 20-gauge model. The solely draw back of Savage’s turkey gun is that it didn’t run as easily as I’d hoped. It takes a great quantity of power to rack the bolt again and run a shell from the journal into the chamber. It’s not the graceful, quick expertise of working the bolt on a 110 rifle. And this actually is the one reminder that this shotgun is, afterall, a shotgun. —A.R.    

How to Choose a Turkey Shotgun

With the precise choke and cargo mixture, any turkey gun on this record will shoot glorious patterns at reasonable searching ranges. So in case your main curiosity is to purchase a turkey shotgun for reliability, you possibly can’t beat a pump-action. But that platform can be more likely to produce probably the most recoil (together with break-action choices) until the gun has extra weight to it. Gas-driven autoloaders are gentle shooters, however are additionally usually the most costly. Inertia shotguns are gentle —and cheaper than gasoline weapons—however they don’t deal with recoil as effectively. And if the gun has a rotating bolt head, it might not ship the shotshell into battery should you ease the motion ahead like so many turkey hunters do to load their shotguns (it retains noise at a minimal). If you’re shopping for a devoted turkey gun for the primary time, it’s good to start out with an reasonably priced mannequin, and work your means up. 

Read Next: The Best Turkey Loads

A shotgun pattern
A superb turkey gun with fashionable TSS masses shoots tight patterns past 40 yards. Alex Robinson

FAQs

Q: What’s one of the best turkey shotgun platform?

Most turkey hunters prefer to shoot a 12- or 20-gauge pump-action shotgun. The commonest fashions are a Remington 870 Express or the Mossberg 500 or 835. The 870s are pretty gentle and like with any pump gun, you may as well simply take away a shell from the chamber if that you must make a transfer. With the rise in reputation of TSS shotshells, many hardcore turkey hunters are choosing 28-gauge and even .410 shotguns as a result of they’re so gentle and manuverable—they usually’re lighter on recoil. These days you’ll discover loads of sub-gauge weapons in pump, semi-auto, and brake-action platforms.

Q: Do you want an optic?

I shot “open sights” on my turkey shotgun for a very long time, and nonetheless do. But I’ve additionally shot turkey weapons with a red-dot reflex sight and they’ll tremendously enhance your accuracy. Red-dot sights additionally make it easier to get heading in the right direction extra shortly as a result of there’s just one level of alignment in comparison with an open sight (or iron sight) which has two—rear sight to entrance sight to focus on (although some hunters, myself included, shoot turkeys like they might a duck and don’t use a sight to line up the shot in any respect). 

This idea additionally helps if it’s a must to take a shot from a clumsy place. For instance if the turkey is available in behind and it’s a must to twist round to shoot. Even in case your head isn’t completely mounted on the gun and also you’re not trying straight down the barrel, put the pink dot heading in the right direction and also you’ll drop the chicken. Lastly, new turkey hunters—similar to a brand new handgun shooter—will profit from a red-dot, as a result of all they should do is put that ball of fireside on the turkey’s neck and squeeze the set off.

Q: What’s one of the best turkey shotshell choice?

If you possibly can afford TSS, I might suggest shopping for it. You don’t want tungsten to kill a turkey, however I’ve shot most of mine with straight TSS or tungsten-iron shotshells within the final 10 years and they’re absolute hammers. I’ve executed some penetration testing with TSS, and it’ll undergo two sheets of ½-inch drywall with ease at 40 yards. Lead can even make it by means of, however with far fewer pellets. 

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Final Thoughts

Many hunters will put a turkey choke on a shotgun they already personal and take it turkey searching. That actually works, however devoted turkey shotguns are available in all sizes and shapes with all kinds of options. When you’re taking pictures a shotgun like a rifle from the bottom amongst the bushes, it’s higher to have a raised comb and shorter barrel. You don’t want a turkey gun to kill a longbeard, however fashionable turkey-specific shotguns have earned such reputation as a result of they’re simpler.

Read Next: Best Turkey Vests

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