Turkey gun for my wife

[cdb1]

So I don’t think recoil should be as big a concern in a turkey gun to justify the expense of a semi auto over a pump. You only fire one shot maybe two on a turkey hunt so it’s not like a dove gun you may fire 50-100 times in a day. Holding the shotgun on target is the bigger limitation. I’d start looking at a 12 ga pump and if it’s too heavy for her to hold for long look at 3 in capable 20 gauges. Then fit the load to her recoil tolerance testing patterns. 12 gauge gives more load options but a 3 in 20 can match a 12 but is harder to find.

I do believe it’s concern enough to get a gas semi over a pump for turkey. Certainly not due to volume but because as a rule a shot shells for turkey generate much more recoil than say dove loads, which can lead to a flinch pretty quick. And all the turkey hunters I know shoot from a sitting position which also increases felt recoil over shooting from a standing position.

3” 20 gauge shells can have some pretty harsh recoil, as much as a 12 gauge due to lighter weight.

 

[Virginian]

I am just amazed someone hasn't suggested a 12 gauge pump in riot configuration with an extended magazine, because many feel it is just perfect for everything. I'm sure she would be smoking all the guys on the Sporting Clays course in no time.

 

[Olympus]

I am just amazed someone hasn't suggested a 12 gauge pump in riot configuration with an extended magazine, because many feel it is just perfect for everything. I'm sure she would be smoking all the guys on the Sporting Clays course in no time.

Extended mag would be pointless. My state limits mag capacity to 2 shells.

 

[Olympus]

And there’s no argument for gas recoil semi-auto that will hold any weight for me. My wife hunts one, maybe two weekends of turkey season each year. Not enough to justify the additional cost. And she has yet to fire a single shell while hunting, so she’s definitely not a high volume shooter. And I’m not too concerned about flinch. Flinch on a shotgun is a little different than flinch on a deer rifle. More room for error to still make a kill.

Any further talk of a semi-auto isn’t doing much for me. Maybe there are lurkers here reading who are in a similar situation. If so, feel free to keep making your case for them.

 

[Olympus]

So I don’t think recoil should be as big a concern in a turkey gun to justify the expense of a semi auto over a pump. You only fire one shot maybe two on a turkey hunt so it’s not like a dove gun you may fire 50-100 times in a day. Holding the shotgun on target is the bigger limitation. I’d start looking at a 12 ga pump and if it’s too heavy for her to hold for long look at 3 in capable 20 gauges. Then fit the load to her recoil tolerance testing patterns. 12 gauge gives more load options but a 3 in 20 can match a 12 but is harder to find.

I would be looking at 3” capable 20 ga. I shoot Longbeard XR shells in my gun and Winchester only makes the Longbeard 20ga shells in 3”.

 

[kscharlie]

Take a look at the Mossberg 500 Turkey Tactical...https://www.mossberg.com/product/500-turkey-53265/
12 ga, 20" barrel, 3" chamber, adjustable stock, FO sights. MSRP is $643, but I see them on GB for $439 with free shipping...https://www.gunbroker.com/item/852496598
I bought a new Mossberg 9200 turkey way back in 1994 and have killed dozens of turkeys with it. 2 years ago, I obtained a very nice (used) 835 NWTF gun from my best friend. With 3" turkey loads, it shoots softer than my old semi-auto 9200. Have killed 4 gobblers in the past two years with this and I really like it. If I were in the market for a new turkey gun, I would take a serious look at the Turkey Tactical.