New Gun?

[anamod]

I got drawn for the first time for Spring Turkey. So now I'm in the market for a new gun and scope. What's is everyone's recommendation for guns and scopes? Cost is not a concern I like to buy things once and not have to upgrade later.

[leechlake]

skip the scope and buy whatever type Benelli auto you like.

Or just use a shotgun you already have.

[PurpleFloyd]

Maybe an SX3 or a Beretta A400. two different price points but both superior guns and way less felt recoil than the inertia guns.

[bobbymalone]

Personally, I would get a pump. Or I would use the pump you already have.

I'm not sure I'd drop $1500 on one of these fancy italian autos. Autos, which one cycles fastest, felt recoil, etc etc etc is more important for hunting birds out of the air where you might go through a box of shells in a day. If you do it right, you'll pull the trigger one time this season (plus a handful more patterning it). Granted a 3.5" turkey load out of a pump might kick like a mule, but again - one shot. Might be worth a fancy auto if you plan on using it for more than turkeys.

I use a benelli supernova, but all my friends have 870s or mossy 500s.

Also, skip the scope and slap on a $40 rifle sight on the vent rib. I believe any sort of magnified optic is illegal anyway.

Save some money on the gun and get yourself some camo, turkey calls, etc

[anamod]

I would like a gun that I will only use for turkeys so dual use is not important to me. I have a couple Benellis and love those but am open to suggestions. I see most say skip the scope ( red dot Eotech). Is that due to cost or accuracy? Thanks for all the swift responses.

[bobbymalone]

I see most say skip the scope ( red dot Eotech). Is that due to cost or accuracy? Thanks for all the swift responses.

Cost is a factor, but I just don't think its at all necessary for the sort of shots you'll take turkey hunting. Iron sights work fine and are foolproof.

[Powerstroke]

There are no laws against scopes, magnified or otherwise in MN. Most people rarely use a magnified scope because turkeys are a games of less than 60yds. The last thing you want to deal with is trying to shoot a bird at 10yds when your scope is set to 4x.

If you're looking to purchase a dedicated turkey gun, I would look into a 20ga or a 12ga, camoed with a pistol grip and a quality turkey choke. I would use iron sights with fiber optic accents or a reflex sight similar to an EOTech. Something with a large 3-5 MOA dot, because that is what your pattern will look like past 25yds. Make sure you can put a sling on that gun.

As far as guns, I wouldn't waste the money on a high end auto. They are nice guns, but spring turkeys is a one shot game and the likelihood of rain is high. I prefer something that's easy to disassemble and maintain. Something in a solid pump action with a nice pistol grip and 20-24" barrel.

Mine is a Rem 870 with all of that but the pistol grip. I'll upgrade that soon. It does the job and I have no thoughts about dropping it in the mud, puddles, or belly crawling with it through farm fields.

[PurpleFloyd]

If it is single purpose then yeah, a pump will do. I really like the fit,function and feel of the SXP.

[bobbymalone]

There are no laws against scopes, magnified or otherwise in MN.

[Hoyt4]

870/mossy are two great guns for turkeys. I would at least at 3.5 chamber pattern in 3 and 3.5 see what shoots best for you. After market turkey choke also.

My 870 shoots 3 inch better but my mossy shoots 3.5 better and is like a cannon no bird is safe with that gun.

Ghost site works great on a turkey gun .

[Archerysniper]

Mossberg makes a great line of dedicated turkey guns,savage 210 12ga bolt turkey throw impressive patterns as well.

[Borch]

The sights are a hunter preference thing. I prefer open adjustable rifle sight like Williams fire sight. But several of my buddies like using red dots or low magnification scopes.

Guns again is preference. I worry more about getting the right choke/turkey load combo to give me a great pattern.

[minky]

Sounds like lots of good setups out there!

[Wallydog]

It should be a one shot gun, so eliminate the need for spendy semi autos as far as I'm concerned. I have several of them and use them on waterfowl. My gun of choice is a Mossberg 835 ultimag, ported, backbored, functional and dependable. Put some fiber optic sights on, put it on paper and find a choke (mine is a Kicks .675) and load it likes to digest and you are totally set.

my 2 cents.

WD

[DonBo]

Yep, the choke and shot load are WAY more important than the gun.

There are plenty of short barreled camo'd shotguns out there that are perfect for turkey. Buy the one you like, purchase a couple different aftermarket chokes and find the choke/shell combo that works best, and you've got a kickass turkey gun.

[Mcfin]

Shot my turkey with my Browning Pump Shotgun with 3 1/2" chamber. Turkey choke and 3 1/2" turkey load. Kicks like a mule but does the job beautifully. Open sights.

[minky]

Sounds like a good set up!