Good Shotgun for Turkeys ?

[turkeydancer]

I hear ya ...   most of my birds have been taken at 20 yards or under (as I like the show) usually with my Mossberg 835 shooting 2-1/4 oz # 6 in a 3-1/2.  Longest shot was 35 yards although effective to at least 45 yards.   Have shot them as close as 10 feet. 

Main thing no matter what shotgun and choke you have is to pattern your setup with #4, 5, or 6's at different ranges ... and try different manufacturers also ... to find your effective harvesting range.  NWTF says minimum of 6 hits in the brain pan ... I prefer a minimum of 10 hits as I don't believe in the magic BB or depend on the BB gods.

[follow maggie]

My turkey gun is my old 870 express 12 ga, shooting 2-3/4" #4s with a super full turkey choke. Can't remember th real name for the choke, hats just what I call it.  Kills 'em dead very time.

[scottcrb]

this is my benelli supernova with a Carlson turkey choke and the hevi shot magnum blend (#4,#5,#6 combined )@ 30 yards.  all you need is a turkey choke and some good shells.

[lokidog]

this is my benelli supernova with a Carlson turkey choke and the hevi shot magnum blend (#4,#5,#6 combined )@ 30 yards.  all you need is a turkey choke and some good shells.

Nice pattern, but many turkeys dropped to my old 870 fixed choke full 2 3/4"  shells through the years.  I only ever missed one and that was a squib round from a friend's reloads.

I think the answer to the OP is whatever shotgun is in your hands when a turkey comes into range, if you know what your killing range is.      

[kevinlisa06]

I shoot a Mossberg 835 12ga and haven't had any problems with being a lefty shooter. My wife shoots a Mossberg 500 in 12ga aswell. We both shoot Remington 4x6 3" shells. Just pattern whatever you get to the load and gun and choke you choose. What I tell people you are essentially shooting your shotgun as if it were a rifle.


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[irishevox]

REMINGTON 870 with superfull turkey choke!

[rittem1]

Winchester 1300 with Primos Tight Wad choke and Winchester XX High Velocity #5 3 inch 2 ounce. Late in the fall Winchester came out with a new shell called Long Beard XR. Essentially, the shot is packed in a resin which disintegrates when you pull the trigger. This is supposed to keep more of the shot intact and headed down range. Interested to try it out and curious if anyone on here has gotten their hands on some. Tests have shown a fair amount of shot making it out to 60 yards.

[HuntandFish]

Any shotgun 20g or better with a full choke.  #6 to #4 lead shot.  They aren’t as hard to kill as many like to make them out to be.

I 100% agree at 25 yards or less. But until you have had a bird or two run/fly off at 35 yards, you might not agree. There is a certain element of chance when pulling the trigger on a Longbeard, I prefer to make sure I stack the deck.

Agreed, they drop like a sack of potatoes under 25-35yrds with a good head shot. But take a long and or running flying shot and your in trouble. Unfortunately I have shot a few turkeys that I never did find..... The more gun the better, these birds can seem like they are wearing a flack jacket if you don't get a well placed head shot!!

I use an 870 mag. the 3.5" really helps you reach out in touch them in a spot and stalk situation.

Regards,
H&F

[lokidog]

... a spot and stalk situation.

Regards,
H&F

Oh no you didn't....              

[PA BEN]

Lots of fun using my smokepole

[turkeydancer]

   Very cool PaBen .... beats my TK2000 smoke pole .....