[OldSchooler]

I confess to being a nimrod when it comes to turkey hunting, but Ive noticed one thing - most turkey guns are autoloaders. Why?

[30-06 lover]

I don't know for certain, but my guess is the recoil reduction an auto gives. A 3.5 in 2 oz load out of an auto is going to be less than out of a pump or others.
-Mike

[Blacklabman]

Cheaper than buying a new shotgun.

I goose and duck hunt with a 24" camo SBE 1(H&K model), and a 26" camo SBE II.

These same shotguns with a choke change to something like SRM Terror .655, work great on Turley.

Another bounus
If I want to change the stock of the SBE II to Benelli's Steady Grip, it take two seconds to make the swap.

[OldSchooler]

I think the recoil reduction could be a possible answer. Those big 3.5 MAGS gotta pack a whollop.

Another friend who does lots of turkey hunting opines that it is because where there is one tom, there is often others and the chance at a quick second shot is likely.

[ArmedBear]

We have low limits on turkey here. While they're becoming prolific, they were locally extinct until a few years ago.

Next year, I'll go for turkey, but I wince at the thought of buying the extra choke, to say nothing of an extra gun, just because I'll probably get one turkey. So I'll hunt with what I've got.:)

[Kahr T9]

I killed my first turkey (17.5 lbs, 9 in beard) with a 20 gauge single shot. The next one with a double barreled 12 guage, modified choke. Each and every turkey I've taken have been with one shot. A lot of "turkey guns" are autoloaders because most hunters want a quick follow up shot but it's seldom required. As for choke, full is more common and just as efficient as any special "turkey choke" and it's easier to hit with due to it's larger pattern. Take head shots and use #4 or larger shot, you'll have no problems.

[JohnBT]

Old, old story, one more time. Many years ago my father shot 2 big toms out of the air with 2 shots from a Model 12 20 ga. This was in the days of fixed full chokes and paper shells full of #6. You just have to learn to keep swinging and pump.

I don't know why so many people use the big guns for turkeys.

John

[OldSchooler]

So far there isnt much "popular support" for the auto's as turkey gun's. Let's try this another way, then. Doesn't it make you wonder why gun writers, manufacturers and others in the biz seem to promote the autos with "Super Duper" chokes and "NoSeeMe" camo paint as the right tool for the job?

[ArmedBear]

I don't wonder at all.

They're the most expensive mass-market gun available for the job.:p

[OldSchooler]

They're the most expensive mass-market gun available for the job.
I suspected it was something like that...

[redneck2]

I think the "old schoolers" used to spend lots of time hunting. With all the crap people have going on today, they don't spend so much time. With less time, you have to take what's available.

On my first hunt, I had 2 toms at maybe 45 yards. I waited for them to come into less than 40 yards. They turned around and walked away and I ended up "birdless".

This year I hunted with an SP-10. Good for maybe 50 yards with Hevi-Shot. Now, this year I got my bird at 12 paces. Let's just say a 10 gauge at 12 paces is "adequate". Thing is, you never know what your shot will be until you get it.

If you want to shoot a 10 gauge single shot with turkey loads, be my guest. My gun kills quite well at 12 yards or 50 yards. Being an auto, the recoil is suprisingly mild. Last year, I got my bird at 24 yards with an 12 gauge 870 pump with Winchester 3 1/2" turkey loads. The recoil was not mild.

[ArmedBear]

Well, if you bought the SP-10 to get one bird, that's one expensive turkey!:D

If I had one, I'd use it. But, given that I have a limited budget, I wouldn't buy it unless I had some additional use for the beast.:)

[JohnBT]

Sure it's an expensive turkey. OTOH, I never make fun of people who buy a gun to get just one animal a year, or maybe one animal period. I own guns that I have no practical use for at all, so I can't be criticizing people about what they buy or how they use it. I'd rather argue about which 10 ga. to buy. :)

If I had to calculate the expense involved I'd have to give up duck hunting, wouldn't I?

John