Turkey shotguns- let's see 'em!

[FL-NC]

Turkeys are the only critter I hunt with a shotgun that I put any thought into. What do you use? This is a Mossberg 930, with compensated barrel and XX full choke and F-O sights, camo'd with the mossy oak stuff that shrinks with a hair dryer, and a Rem 870 with a 21" barrel and a X-full Remchoke, the barrel has 2 beads- one on the muzzle end, another halfway down the rib. The barrel was camo hydro dipped by a friend, and I ordered camo furniture from Brownells for it. Both guns pattern good enough to kill one out to 50 yards. I use Remington nitro turkey 3" #4 lead shot. The 870 patterns a bit tighter, but the 930 doesn't beat me like the trombone gun.

 

[tarosean]

Benelli M2 Field...
Only problem, is I am 0-2 Turkey hunting. All I've managed to call in is one lousy Jake. So I dont think I qualify as a "hunter" of em yet...

 

[gspn]

870 pump for just about everything. Here's the story behind the hunt:

http://southernoutdoorsman.blogspot.com/2014/04/turkey-in-moonshine-country.html

IMG_2702 by scarfam, on Flickr

 

[horsey300]

Benelli M2 Field...
Only problem, is I am 0-2 Turkey hunting. All I've managed to call in is one lousy Jake. So I dont think I qualify as a "hunter" of em yet...

A vegetarian can still be a hunter, the carnivores are just successful hunters

 

[gspn]

Benelli M2 Field...
Only problem, is I am 0-2 Turkey hunting. All I've managed to call in is one lousy Jake. So I dont think I qualify as a "hunter" of em yet...

"Hunting" implies a probability of failure. If it was guaranteed every time it would be called "killing". Keep at it!!!

 

[Duster340]

Here's my trusty old fugly 500. 20" barrel XX full choke tube.

 

[22250Rem]

Mossberg 500A with screw-in chokes so an extra full choke can be left in there as it's a dedicated turkey gun. Leupold 2.5x compact scope with a "Turkey Ranger" reticle, ( I don't think Leupold offers that reticle any more). Bought it used 18 years ago from a guy who no longer turkey hunted and was moving out of state. Only thing I ever did to it was adding the optics.

 

[Armored farmer]

I usually use my trusty 12ga 1100 , but in 2016 i took this jake with my 12 ga sxs bp percussion.

 

[SoonerMedic]

I don't have a full picture of mine for whatever reason lol. I just have a Remmington 870 Express magnum with a super full choke and wrapped in camoform. I think it's a super full, I can't remember. I just know that it shoots a super tight group.
I'll take a picture and post it later.

 

[DannyLandrum]

Top one is dedicated turkey rig. It's a Turkish-made "NEF Excel Auto 5". LER Scope is mounted using a rail for a Taurus raging bull, attached to the vent rib. Probably just a matter of time before the aluminum vent rib breaks under recoil, though, so I need to find a better way to attach the scope. I usually throw a 3.0", 2 oz, 5 or 6 shot at them.

 

[SoonerMedic]

Top one is dedicated turkey rig. It's a Turkish-made "NEF Excel Auto 5". LER Scope is mounted using a rail for a Taurus raging bull, attached to the vent rib. Probably just a matter of time before the aluminum vent rib breaks under recoil, though, so I need to find a better way to attach the scope. I usually throw a 3.0", 2 oz, 5 or 6 shot at them.
View attachment 781689

Can you or somebody else explain to me why a scope would be mounted on a shotgun? I mean I understand if you have a rifled barrel and are shooting a slug up to 100 yds or so and needed precision (as much as a shotgun could offer. But why have it on a bird gun?

 

[Hanshi]

The only smoothbore I actually use. I do have a very nice SKB 20ga auto but don't really shoot it that much.

 

[eastbank]

older Winchester 1300 turkey 12ga 3" mag with a 2.5x leupold and a 640 choke, sure death with Winchester longbeard # 5,s

 

[Axis II]

Can you or somebody else explain to me why a scope would be mounted on a shotgun? I mean I understand if you have a rifled barrel and are shooting a slug up to 100 yds or so and needed precision (as much as a shotgun could offer. But why have it on a bird gun?

Some of these turkey guns, chokes and ammo can blow a toms head clean off at 50yards. If you hunt in thick woods it will also help pick out the head for a clean shot.

 

[eastbank]

I don,t know about blowing a turkeys heads off at 50 yards, as my limite is about 35-40 yards and I make range markers to that range. I think they are a fantastic game bird and I don,t want to just wound one. the scope allows me make a good shot in low light and thick brush on the head-neck area.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

My fowler looks a lot like the picture Hanshi posted above except mine doesn't have a rear sight or that nice sling.

 

[MCgunner]

Uh, lessee.....




It's a .22 magnum. I don't do shotguns anymore.

 

[MCgunner]

I don,t know about blowing a turkeys heads off at 50 yards, as my limite is about 35-40 yards and I make range markers to that range. I think they are a fantastic game bird and I don,t want to just wound one. the scope allows me make a good shot in low light and thick brush on the head-neck area.

Me, too. That's why I use a rifle. This season I'll be using my M4, a little more juice and just as accurate at 100 yards.

 

[SoonerMedic]

I don,t know about blowing a turkeys heads off at 50 yards, as my limite is about 35-40 yards and I make range markers to that range. I think they are a fantastic game bird and I don,t want to just wound one. the scope allows me make a good shot in low light and thick brush on the head-neck area.

Gotcha. That makes sense. I hope my question didn't come off as being assish, I was genuinely wanting to know.

As promised, here's my 870 Express mag


Edit: This is the only shotgun I use and I will use it for any type of animal that flies or runs faster than an armadillo. I own a .410 but that is an inherited gun and I just leave it locked up. Plus it's a bolt action and the magazine needs to be fixed.

 

[eastbank]

in our spring gloobler only season(bearded birds only) we have to use a shotgun, in the fall season hens-glooblers are legal with rifles-shotguns. I use a tikka .t3 in .223 then.

 

[DM~]

I don't need a special made "turkey" gun,



My 16ga., using #6 hi-brass loads works just fine...

DM

 

[MCgunner]

I do have a turkey shotgun. I actually use it for geese, patterns are amazing. I get over 90 percent patterns with a modified choke at 40 yards with steel T shot, what I use on geese. It came with an extra full turkey choke. I handloaded (have a 10 gauge MEC reloader) some 6 shot and patterns were equally tight. I don't know about turkey, will use my rifle, but I'm sold on 10 gauge for tossing big steel shot in tight patterns at geese. If Texas law forced me to use a shotgun on Turkey, this would be the beast I'd put into action.

 

[FL-NC]

I do have a turkey shotgun. I actually use it for geese, patterns are amazing. I get over 90 percent patterns with a modified choke at 40 yards with steel T shot, what I use on geese. It came with an extra full turkey choke. I handloaded (have a 10 gauge MEC reloader) some 6 shot and patterns were equally tight. I don't know about turkey, will use my rifle, but I'm sold on 10 gauge for tossing big steel shot in tight patterns at geese. If Texas law forced me to use a shotgun on Turkey, this would be the beast I'd put into action.

View attachment 781797

That makes my shoulder and ears hurt just looking at it!

 

[MCgunner]

That makes my shoulder and ears hurt just looking at it!

It's 9 lbs, ain't THAT bad, though it does rock ya. I fired 23 rounds out of it one good goose hunt. My shoulder was sore for a day or two. My Mossberg 535 with 3.5" 12 gauge HURTS. It's only a little over 7 lbs and it doesn't pattern near as well as this 10. The ten can knock 'em down from way out there.

 

[jmr40]

Basically my do everything shotgun. An older Benelli M-1 with H&K markings. It has a 24" barrel and weighs just a bit over 7 lbs making it easier to carry. I don't use any special choke, just the factory full choke.

This is the only photo I have of it. Several years ago a tornado touched down about 50 miles to the west of us. I found the remains of a metal storage building in the woods where I hunt. I placed the shotgun in this photo for perspective. I've found 3-4 other pieces of similar size within about 1/2 mile from this piece.