I agree on the tss…I've killed birds at a lasered 55 yds and seen one killed at 60 with my gun. I use a Stoeger M3020 with factory Turkey tube with 3" #9 Federal heavyweight. As far as a dedicated Turkey gun, I say just get yourself a good reliable shotgun that fits you. If it fits you right, you'll enjoy shooting it. Shotguns are more about fit than a rifle is. Below is a spring morning I shared my gun with a buddy and my son…we all killed a gobbler and the heads were leaking the good stuff.
Which turkey gun?
- Thread starter JD-ODINSON
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James DeTorre
Well-Known Member
Magic stuff,TSS, however, a Turkey gun is a rifle at 40 plus yards and benefits from tweaking. Why else would we comb the internet for tips and tricks.
I know , a lot of you guys are gonna think I am a communist infiltrator, but now that the word "rifle" has been mentioned—my favorite turkey gun is my Marlin .17 HMR. 100 yard shots are nothing to fear, unless you are a turkey!
Well I would have to agree that at times a rifle would make a lot of sense. Unfortunately in some places like Wisconsin it's illegal.
ridgewalker
Well-Known Member
I spent a lot of years in Texas where rifle hunting was legal. Typically I got 3 turkeys every year using a variety of loads. 30-06 with 110 fmj running about 1,900 fps. 22-250 55 grain at 2,000 fps. Never had to shoot over 25 steps. My bud used a Winny lever gun in 22 Win mag. Hunting there was a piece of cake due to flocks of as many as 200 birds during the fall season! Only long legged Rio Grandes there.
Moved to Colorado where in most areas a shotgun was required. Most shots have been over 35 yards. I mainly have used Federal 3" #6 and #5 copper plated. Works OK, but my patterns really start opening too much beyond 35 yards.
I use a shorter 20" barrel with a full choke insert on my old 870. I also have an old Bushnell Holosight mounted on it. Center their head in the circle and slam the trigger. Seems to do the job on our handsome Merriams in the mountains and Rio Grandes on the plains.
Oh and a decoy can make a world of difference in how close they come! Made my first from papermache before they were ever in production.
Moved to Colorado where in most areas a shotgun was required. Most shots have been over 35 yards. I mainly have used Federal 3" #6 and #5 copper plated. Works OK, but my patterns really start opening too much beyond 35 yards.
I use a shorter 20" barrel with a full choke insert on my old 870. I also have an old Bushnell Holosight mounted on it. Center their head in the circle and slam the trigger. Seems to do the job on our handsome Merriams in the mountains and Rio Grandes on the plains.
Oh and a decoy can make a world of difference in how close they come! Made my first from papermache before they were ever in production.
Turkeytider
Well-Known Member
It wouldn`t surprise me if over the years more turkeys have been taken with Mossberg 835 Ulti Mags and Remington 870 variants than everything else combined.
Turkeytider
Well-Known Member
For me, turkey hunting is the art of calling a bird ( inside of 40 yards is my self imposed limit for a shot ) in and learning the situational and environmental nuances of doing that. Even if it was legal, I wouldn`t have the slightest desire to snipe one at rifle ranges. BUT to each his own ( as long as it`s legal ! ).
I whoosh I could call turkeys. If I was trying to call turkeys and you were close, you would walk over and smack me a good one!
Don't worry, I never hunt exclusively for turkey. When I go turkey hunting I go for the food and fun. I haven't killed a turkey in an unknown number of years. But I do like to watch 'em strut their stuff.
birddog 68
Well-Known Member
Not sure if you will believe me but some of the weirdest sounding turkey calls I ever heard actually came from turkeys.
Usually when calling, less is best.
GSP814
Well-Known Member
I use a Remington 11-87 12 ga. 3 1/2" turkey gun with the Shur-Shot stock with an EO Tech scope and Hevi-Shot Mag Blend and a .665 Primos JellyHead. I have killed 4 turkeys over 50 yards. It doesn't hurt when I shoot one round to kill a turkey, sighting in day is another story.
coyote wacker
Well-Known Member
I've been turkey hunting since back in 1976 when there were few in Michigan and very short 4 day season if you could get a permit....I was very lucky and got a permit every year....
Started with a Browning A5 3" for a couple years then picked up a custom Ithaca Mag 10 with a 24" barrel used that until 5 years ago and went with a Benelli M2 12 ga 3"with a pistol grip and a 18" barrel with sights it kicked just as hard as the Ithaca maybe a little more.....
This year I just ordered a Mossberg 500 410 Turkey Gun....camo with a 24" barrel Ex-Full choke....also several boxes of 3" #9 TSS shot....should be interesting seeing the pattern board....
Started with a Browning A5 3" for a couple years then picked up a custom Ithaca Mag 10 with a 24" barrel used that until 5 years ago and went with a Benelli M2 12 ga 3"with a pistol grip and a 18" barrel with sights it kicked just as hard as the Ithaca maybe a little more.....
This year I just ordered a Mossberg 500 410 Turkey Gun....camo with a 24" barrel Ex-Full choke....also several boxes of 3" #9 TSS shot....should be interesting seeing the pattern board....
birddog 68
Well-Known Member
From what I have heard you won't be disappointed with the 410 and #9 tss. If I didn't just purchase a Franchi 20 gauge I would be going the 410 route
Rick Richard
Well-Known Member
I think the 20 gauge is a happy compromise between the 12 and 410.
I would love to see the pattern boards for the 410 shooting #9 TSS at 40, 50, 60 and 70 yards. I gave away my last 410, a Mossberg to my local gun club and their youth trap shooting program. There are several 10 year olds, some of them find the 410 to big for them but despite everything the 10 year olds shooting the 410 with #8 or #9 shot are pretty deadly on clay birds. I do however wonder how many #9 pellets will be in a 410 pastern beyond 40 yards. I have shot turkeys over the years with both 20 and 12 ga shotguns. They have done the job with #4 shot some lead some steel. Longest shot 65 yards using Federal Black Cloud #4 steel out of my Remington 11-87 3 inch. For anyone that hasn't tried them, they are one shot, one turkey loads. Try them, you will like them available in both 3 and 3 1/2 inch loads.
