Best Turkey Shotgun
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Go buy the shotgun you want that fits you. A couple cans of spray paint will camo anything. I've shot turkeys with everything from a cheap $50 to $1000 gun and they both killed turkeys. I would look at at a Mossberg(500) or Remington (870) for less than $300 and a couple cans of spray paint and you would be good to go. The only requirement would be that it would be a 12 gauge 3 inch chamber. It would give you the ability to use either 2 3/4 or 3 inch shells.
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If you spend some time on the old gobbler forum, you will start to see the best pattern numbers are coming from the Mossy 835.
The 835 has a bunch of things going for it,its not too expensive, you can usually find used ones real cheap, it will eat any size shells, and its overbored which is giving it its great patterns.
You can get a whole setup, choke, some kind of optic if you want, etc... for less than some people spend for bare shotguns, and the 835 more than likely will beat it out pattern wise with the right choke and load.
By the way, this is just what I see from numerous pattern pictures and other hunter's testimonies... I don't personally have an 835, but if I were to start from scratch for a turkey/predator combo it would be an 835.
The 835 has a bunch of things going for it,its not too expensive, you can usually find used ones real cheap, it will eat any size shells, and its overbored which is giving it its great patterns.
You can get a whole setup, choke, some kind of optic if you want, etc... for less than some people spend for bare shotguns, and the 835 more than likely will beat it out pattern wise with the right choke and load.
By the way, this is just what I see from numerous pattern pictures and other hunter's testimonies... I don't personally have an 835, but if I were to start from scratch for a turkey/predator combo it would be an 835.
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SgtUSMC said:
I've read and took notice to the same comments on Old Gobbler...
The only problem, I have/had with an 835 is, it knocks your fillings loose everytime, ya shoot it...
I bought a Benelli Nova 20 ga. and never looked back....12 ga. for turkey for me is history...
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Remington 870, just outta personal preference and a hard head!
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Both the remington and the mossberg are great reliable pump guns. For turkey you sometimes see the guys on tv toting a $1300 semi but the lighest semi is still heavier than most pumps and you'll appreciate that fact in Pa if you're a run and gun guy esp . I've owned both guns . Shooting an 870 now but i would shoot a Mossy again in a moment and without regret . Both great . I do like the trend toward thumb hole and pistol grip stocks . I see a niche for that in turkey hunting and i can see myself buying an aftermarket one and giving the 870 a facelift. There are alot of choices out there but the features you want to see are matte or camo finish, threaded for choke tubes (thats a whole nother topic lol), sling , adjustable fiber optic sights or drilled and tapped for scope or red dots, lightweight, ported for recoil reduction, and back bored (oversized) barrel if you can as it really does boost pattern density . Those are the features that count in a turkey gun . Turkey hunting should be a one shot game but a pump offers a quick follow up if you need it . A semi is great for duck blinds but imo, the extra cost and weight aren't needed for a turkey gun . A pump will deliver a follow up as quickly as you can get back on target if you need it . I've needed it twice in 24 years chasing turkey s but glad I had it when I needed it .
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This!beagler said:
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My winchester 1300 took several brands of shells to get a good pattern. My brother had a mossberg 500 and it patterned better no matter what brand of shell. I ended up getting a new mossberg 835 in woodland camo back when Trops had the tent sales for $199. It has performed well and only added a $20 sling to it.
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What ever mfg. chosen...and there are many good turkey guns, sight and choke combos. However selecting a gun that fits the shooter is one of the most important factors to consider.
To correct on an exiting gun spacers can be added, thicker recoil pads or slip on pads. For shorter length of pull the stock can be cut down or a thinner recoil pad or plastic plate can be installed.
The improper length of pull can hamper the line of sight causing needless misses.
Often shots are taken from a setting positing which can shorten the length of pull.
Another consideration is recoil...You can bet there are a lot of guys and gals out there shooting more recoil than they are comfortable with and needlessly impacting their accuracy.
Some say I don't even notice the shot when I am hunting and that maybe true, but flinching from recoil is done unconsciously and not noticed, but can effect good shooting skill.
To correct on an exiting gun spacers can be added, thicker recoil pads or slip on pads. For shorter length of pull the stock can be cut down or a thinner recoil pad or plastic plate can be installed.
The improper length of pull can hamper the line of sight causing needless misses.
Often shots are taken from a setting positing which can shorten the length of pull.
Another consideration is recoil...You can bet there are a lot of guys and gals out there shooting more recoil than they are comfortable with and needlessly impacting their accuracy.
Some say I don't even notice the shot when I am hunting and that maybe true, but flinching from recoil is done unconsciously and not noticed, but can effect good shooting skill.
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My personal favorite is an Encore,, You only get one shot,and you should only need one shot.. The Encore is about six or seven inches shorter than most pumps or autos,, which is nice in a blind.. It has fiber optic sites, and is a lot lighter to carry around..
Mossberg 835 with a carlson turkey choke and federal premium 3.5" 2.25 oz of 6 shot puts 200 bbs in a 10" circle at 40 yards. Carlson choke is only $25 and Federal premium shells are only $19 for 10, you can find an older model 835 cheap too. Pretty good, cheap turkey combination.
Not really sure what you're talking about Borden811 I don't follow the records, I've never even been to a shoot. I swear I'm not making it up though. I don't have a picture of when i got 200 bb's in a 10 inch circle though, that was last year, i only shoot my gun at a target one time a year before turkey season. Here's this past weekends picture at 40 yards (used range finder) with 173 bb's in the 10 inch circle (and I think i pulled a little to the right). Which, I think this pattern is great for turkey hunting. Like I said I don't know if it's great according to other guys who go to shoots and stuff but I like it and it gives me confidence when turkey hunting. I wouldn't come on here and lie I was seriously trying to help the guy out with a good cheap turkey gun.
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I've never been to a shoot either, and I also never called you a liar! 170 is extremely hard to achieve with lead, 200 is almost unheard of. I'm not saying you weren't trying to help the guy either, but no one should ever expect to get patterns like that at 40 yards with lead. If they do, 99 times out of 100, they will be disappointed. If patterns like that were common with lead, there wouldn't be much of a market for all the heavier than lead turkey shells.
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I don't think the 835 was ever supposed to be as good as it is, but I am glad. I know some of the most hardcore " Turkey Thugs" in Pa. and other places around the country, and alot of them use 835's, thats no accident. These boys could be using the most expensive guns out there, most of them for free. Moss 835 is the best bang for the buck I am aware of.
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Agreed. For pure turkey killing performance, and ease of getting a turkey killing pattern, you can't beat em. I never would have bought one, but I won one a few years back. It shot most any load decent, some spectacular. But I hated that darn gun. It and I just didn't get along. I traded it even up for a .450 Marlin and never looked back.
I wasn't bragging or anything i was just telling him my experience with the gun and what works for me. Maybe I shouldn't of went into what kind of pattern I get and just should of said what I like to use, some people when they ask what kind of gun they should buy want to hear that kind of stuff though, thats the only reason i mentioned it. I had no idea it was so uncommon to get that kind of pattern. I know 2 other people who have the same gun as me and went out and bought the same choke and same shells and get practically the same pattern as me. Either way, the point being a Mossberg 835 is a great choice like others have said.
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You definitely should have said that. It's great info to have, and the more people it helps the better. It's just not very common. If I were you, I'd stock up on that ammo, and never get rid of that gun/choke combo. Some people spend a lifetime trying and never get patterns like that with lead!
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