Which shotgun for turkey?

[SunnySlopes]

This is my project.



To make it field ready it needs a full/xtra full choke barrel w/rifle sights. That's a barrel ~$270. But the only such barrel is polished blue. I'd probably have to have it hard chromed, along w/the receiver since that would look so cool. Lesse, the gun was $300, Knoxx stock $135, barrel $270, hard chroming + shipping what, $300?

Or, I should just buy one of these for $523? It's a 870 already set up for turkey.

This would then double as a coyote gun, turkey gun and HD gun.

Are these turkey guns the same quality as the 870 Express HD guns?

Economically I guess I should sell the first and buy the second, but a hard chromed pump w/the Knoxx stock just looks .... cool.

Thoughts?

 

[eastbank]

most shotguns will be ok for turkeys,it how they pattern that counts. i use a number of shotguns for turkey,here is one of my favorites a win 1300 turkey special,D&T from the factory(i helped the cammo alittle)and light weight,you will carry it more than you shoot it. a sight,red dot or scope will help,i find a good 2-3x scope best for me. and a good shell,for me it has been the federal flite control wad 2 ozs of #6 copperplated shells,my longest shot was at 59yds on a already wounded bird and he dropped like a stone. eastbank.

 

[PabloJ]

LGS had used Ithaca 87 'Turkeyslayer' for $399. While not cheap it was nice light gun that lasted for only couple of days in used gun rack. What was unusual is the stock was wood with factory camo coating on it and the barrel was ribless with just Raybar sight at the muzzle end.

 

[SunnySlopes]

it was nice light gun that lasted for only couple of days in used gun rack

What does that mean? It lasted for only a couple of days?

 

[oneounceload]

Why a new barrel instead of a turkey choke?

There is a guy on SGW who uses his 28 gauge for turkey, no optics, etc, and does well with it

Point is, it is about the operator, not the gun. Any gauge, properly choked with you doing your part to call him in, will kill a turkey. Folks have been killing them for over 200 years with plain shotguns quite nicely and easily - in short, don't overthink it.
Practice, practice, practice

 

[huntershooter]

I've used a Beretta O/U, a Benneli autoloader and an A. H. Fox SXS (mfg. 1908) all in 12 ga.
None had optics, they all worked great.
The Fox is my current "Turkey Gun"; I had Briley install their thin wall choke tubes so the gun was more versatile.
Guess you can be as specialized as you like. In reality, an H&R single shot would be a perfectly adequate "Turkey Gun".
Whatever floats your boat.

 

[Hit_Factor]

What does that mean? It lasted for only a couple of days?

It sold quickly, someone recognized it as meeting their needs.

 

[Sav .250]

Choke and the selected load is most important. Looks don`t do squat!

 

[Tom Held]

turkey hunter

My 84 year old uncle has probably killed 100 or more turkey with a beat up old 1940s era Model 12, 30" full choke plain barrel, 2 3/4 inch shells. I've taken quite a few turkey and just don't seen the need for sights, scopes, special choke tubes, etc. Any off the rack 870 with a full choke will kill turkey out to 50 yards.

 

[eastbank]

the scope or red dots,help these old eye,s put the pattern where it needs to be to kill the turkey cleanly.when you aim right at the head half of your pattern goes above the head,i try aim at the lower neck,so more of the shot hits the turkey. eastbank.

 

[MCgunner]

I'd use this. I think I might have turkey at our new house. I'll probably hunt 'em with a .22 mag if I hunt specifically for 'em, though. Rifles are legal here.

This thing shoots great patterns with a number 6 shot handload in 3.5" 10 gauge. I actually bought it for geese, though.