Shotgun advice

[ffbowhunter]

Looking to pick up a new shotgun for the upcoming turkey season. I would prefer it to be under 500 because I will only use it for turkey season. I currently have an old Winchester model 120 12 gauge. Or would you just keep the Winchester and ad a better sight. That would me I would have to spend 500 elsewhere...

[Badhabit]

Shoot the 120 if you can shoot it. Add a turkey choke and you're good to go.

[CP]

Your Win 120 will do the job.

[ffbowhunter]

It has a winchoke extra full, keep that or find another choke? I’m new to turkey hunting if you can’t tell.

[wadu1]

It has a winchoke extra full, keep that or find another choke? I’m new to turkey hunting if you can’t tell.

Perfect, no need to change unless you want a new gun 

[lokidog]

 

Practice with your bead, I think you'll find that it is accurate enough out to your max effective range.

[ctwiggs1]

Put a piece of plywood against a fence

Nail a beer/soda can to it

Shoot it from 30 yards away with your turkey choke/turkey ammo. 

Ask yourself “if that can was a turkey head, would that be a dead turkey?”

Make adjustments from there.  If it’s good, shoot again at 40 yards and ask yourself the same question.

It’s really that simple.  And you don’t need a new gun. 

[h2ofowlr]

I killed my first turkey with a Browning BPS modified choke.  Throw a full choke or use a gun with a full choke and your good to go.  Could do it with a single shot if you can work the birds into your decoys or close range.

[biggfish]

I would start by patterning. I use a cardboard box and a turkey target. If you don't like the pattern you can change chokes or ammo. If your point of aim isn't hitting good on the target you can adjust your aim or find a low or no magnification sight. I don't see a reason to get a new gun unless you're really just wanting to get a new gun. If you're going to hunt in a nontoxic shot area I would avoid your full choke of shooting steel. Save your money for ammo is my suggestion.

Sent from my LG-K425 using Tapatalk

[Cab]

I've killed all of my turkeys using a 1956 Mossberg 95A bolt action 12ga. honestly sights and getting special turkey guns are overrated IMHO. Now if turkey hunting if your "thing" like that is what you focus on hunting wise then sure it's worth it but for someone like me who does a variety of hunting it's not. All of my birds were shot at 20 yards or less and if you aim below the head you should be fine. This year I'm going to try my 870 20ga purely because the Mossberg is heavy and not fun to hike with. Save your money on new guns and sights and spend it on quality turkey ammo is what I would do.

[BPturkeys]

Cab hit it right on the head.
Spend the money on good ammo. Hevi-Shot turkey loads #5 or #6 are great and even better are the new Federal TSS turkey loads #7 or #9...this stuff is KILLER!

One more thing, aim point on turkeys. Now you might get a lot of argument on this subject, but I believe I am correct in this advise and will stick with it 'till I can't walk the turkey hills any more.
Aim for the base of that old boy's neck, you kill more birds and you'll wound less birds...period!

[Evil_EdwardO]

Like what the others  have said. Buy good ammo and pattern it.

I use and have been successful with a junior H&R Pardner pump 20 gauge. It has a 21 inch barrel and all I added was a cheap Turkey Choke. It has been my only shotgun for the past 20 years and I hunt everything with it.

[kevinlisa06]

Cab hit it right on the head.
Spend the money on good ammo. Hevi-Shot turkey loads #5 or #6 are great and even better are the new Federal TSS turkey loads #7 or #9...this stuff is KILLER!

One more thing, aim point on turkeys. Now you might get a lot of argument on this subject, but I believe I am correct in this advise and will stick with it 'till I can't walk the turkey hills any more.
Aim for the base of that old boy's neck, you kill more birds and you'll wound less birds...period!

Which 9 shot you shooting? I’m shooting Apex TSS 9’s in the 20ga.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kevinlisa06]

Personally your Winchester will do the job. If you have the money get some fiber optic sights, I love mine. Pattern your gun with the current set up, if your happy with it at 30 yards and it will kill a bird great. If you are not happy with it then you need to change shells and or your choke tube.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CaNINE]

When I first started chasing turkeys I used my duck gun. After a few years I grew tired of lugging the long gun through the timber and up and over ridges. I do a lot of mountain hunting for turkeys in the SE corner.

I picked up a Rem 870 tactical, screwed in a primos turkey choke and put an aimpoint micro on top. Even with the 16.5" barrel it hammers birds to 40 yards plus. Heck of lot easier to pack around and doubles duty for home defense. 

You can go this route for under 500 bucks if you skip the aimpoint.