Dedicated Turkey Hunting Shotgun

[Olympus]

I'm looking for advice on a dedicated shotgun to use for turkey season. This has been my first time turkey hunting and I was able to take a very nice gobbler on the second day of season. I used my old Mossberg 835 and it got the job done, but wasn't ideal to use. I have no idea how long the barrel is, but it is LONG for woods hunting. I'd like something with a shorter barrel. It's also blued and wood stock, which I don't mind, but I notice a lot of people using camo models for their turkey guns. The other thing I don't like is the gun only has a front sight bead. I'd like something with a fiber optic sight, maybe with a front and rear sight set that can be adjusted when patterning. Having something that can attach a sling to would also be nice since I've been carrying decoys in and out each day.

I don't want to drop $1000 on a gun to be beat around in the woods, but anything $800 or less would be great. I'm not picky as to pump or auto, either would be fine. Any advice and recommendations would be appreciated!

 

[cdb1]

I have a Weatherby SA-459 Turkey that I'm very pleased with.
http://s1246.photobucket.com/user/cdbeagle/media/image_7.jpeg.html][/URL]

 

[zb338]

My Granddaughter shot her first turkey with a Browning BT-99 single shot trap gun.
That Weatherby looks like a perfect Turkey gun. Especially with the pistol grip which
leaves your other hand free to hold the Turkey call.

Zeke

 

[Armored farmer]

My Granddaughter shot her first turkey with a Browning BT-99 single shot trap gun.
That Weatherby looks like a perfect Turkey gun. Especially with the pistol grip which
leaves your other hand free to hold the Turkey call.

Zeke

I don't remember the BT99 having a safety?
Not judging, just curious.

#1 son bought a dedicated turkey gun. A 3.5" 870 express camo. I might consider the same for myself next year.

He got his bird too.

 

[Olympus]

I'm not sure what to think about the pistol grip models. I use a slate call so it takes two hands. I can't see the pistol grip giving me any advantage. But I could be overlooking something.

 

[Gordon]

I use a 10 ga. Ithaca Pump with 28" barrel with chokes the steel shot tube is a loose modified constriction which is a real full steel pattern and very useable for lead. Yes it is pretty long. I also have a Remington 1100 3" 12ga with 21" rifle sight barrel with chokes that works well too. .

 

[natman]

Far be it from me to discourage buying a new gun, but the OP already owns one of the best turkey guns around. Mossberg 835s have a well deserved reputation for outstanding patterns, the OP just needs to set his up as a dedicated turkey gun. Get a 20" barrel from Mossberg or get the original barrel shortened & tapped for choke tubes. Get the gun dipped or taped for camo. An 835 should already have sling swivels.

Here's some inspiration:
http://www.mossberg.com/product/835-ulti-mag-turkey-62420/

 

[RPRNY]

Again, I'm not saying don't buy another gun but you have a good one and for $50 bucks it can be all you want for turkey season and back on the sporting clays course after a 5 min transformation.

I use these sights on my Weatherby SAS for turkey:

http://m.basspro.com/Dead-Ringer-Beard-Buster-Shotgun-Sight/product/1506251206/

And wrap a bit of this around it:

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro..._campaign=CI&gclid=CJnLwfGes9MCFUKewAodzPUP2A

I wouldn't mess with the barrel. It may be long but if you're reaching out to Tom, it's a keeper!

 

[DDDWho]

I tend to use what I've got. This is an inherited Model 12 30" full choke 12 gauge, it was my Dad's. I've killed turkeys with it, number 4 shot to the base of the neck does it. I'm not going to camo paint or drill holes in an heirloom shotgun and ruin the memories.

I'm sorry for the quality of the pic, its all I had

 

[Duster340]

After years of hunting gobblers with my old 28" mossy 500, camo taped stock, barrel and receiver, which got the job done, I recently switched to a short 20" barrel with an extra full choke tube. Love it!

 

[22250Rem]

I've seen plenty of turkey guns that were just a 12 ga. pump with screw-in chokes and a provision for scope mounting. Mount a low power scope or red dot or just some fiber optic sights, screw in an extra full choke tube and it's a turkey gun without spending too much. Camo finish optional but easy to do if desired.. My old Mossberg 500A with a 2.5x-20mm Leupold scope with Turkey Ranger reticle fits that criteria and patterns great with an extra full tube.

 

[Sunray]

Unless you're looking for a reason to buy another shotgun("I want one." is the best reason.), buying another barrel with changeable chokes is your best option. Or this, direct from Mossberg, for $150. http://www.mossberg.com/store/12105obfop.html
Doesn't take much work or money to camouflage anything. Least of all a shotgun. Doesn't have to be permanent either. duster340's tape runs $6.82 for 120" in Wally World. High priced Remington brand stuff too. $4.99 in Cabela's for Hunter's Specialties' Realtree tape.

 

[kscharlie]

You can have a sling swivel stud installed in the butt, replace the magazine tube cap with one that has a swivel on the end, and replace the barrel with one from Mossberg that already has FO sights installed. Right now, barrels from Mossberg are on sale for $150 (very reasonable).
http://www.mossberg.com/store/12105obfop.html Total cost for all mods around $200.

My turkey gun is a Mossberg 9200 Turkey model that I bought new back around 1995. Just got through killing two gobblers with it a week ago. I have also successfully used one of my Winchester Model 12s that someone sawed the barrel off and put on a Polychoke. With 2 3/4" turkey loads, it works quite well. No sights, just the bead.

Edit: I see that Sunray was saying much the same while I was working on my reply. Amazing how "great minds" think alike!

 

[Olympus]

I'd be fine without camo. But I can't find a blued barrel for the 835 that is 24" or shorter and has regular sights instead of just a bead.

Apparently there are some aftermarket sights that somehow fit to the vent rib on the 835. Maybe I could use those if I could find a barrel.

 

[hdbiker]

Mine is a Mossburg 500, 24 inch ported barrel, Woodlands camo, turkey choke, pump gun. hdbiker

 

[kscharlie]

I'd be fine without camo. But I can't find a blued barrel for the 835 that is 24" or shorter and has regular sights instead of just a bead.

Apparently there are some aftermarket sights that somehow fit to the vent rib on the 835. Maybe I could use those if I could find a barrel.

For the money, I would still get the camo barrel from Mossberg. I doubt that any turkeys will ever notice that you have a blued receiver with a camo barrel. If you wish to stay with your longer barrel and add sights, I would recommend Pro Series Magnum Gobble Dot sights from Truglo. I have a set of these on an 870 and the work just fine. They are adjustable. You have to order whichever set matches the width of your rib. I think they run about $40. I seriously doubt you would ever find a blued 24" field barrel for an 835 as I also doubt they were ever made.

 

[Big7]

H&R/NEF is where you need to look..

Short, light and very accurate. A 3 1/2 # 4 LEAD will get it done,
I've killed a lot with mine.

I have a BUNCH of shotguns,

That's my go to. It hurts BAD on paper, but with a shot at a big Tom, you won's even feel it.

Trust me on that one. You can sit and call or run and gun. You will appreciate the light weight.

 

[zb338]

You are right Armored Farmer the BT-99 doesn't have a safety as far as I know. As we
all know, the safety is in your head. She insisted on using the only gun she had. She
walked out to the woods with an empty gun. Sat down loaded one round and waited.
Shot the turkey, ejected the empty and went home. Her dad carried the turkey home
for her. She has since upgraded to a hunting shotgun.
Zeke

 

[Armored farmer]

H&R/NEF is where you need to look..

Short, light and very accurate. A 3 1/2 # 4 LEAD will get it done,
I've killed a lot with mine.

I have a BUNCH of shotguns,

That's my go to. It hurts BAD on paper, but with a shot at a big Tom, you won's even feel it.

Trust me on that one. You can sit and call or run and gun. You will appreciate the light weight.

Many of my turkey hunts turn into mushroom hunts. 5 3"mag shells in an ammo sleeve of a NEF, and a turkey permit, and a mouth call.

 

[natman]

After years of hunting gobblers with my old 28" mossy 500, camo taped stock, barrel and receiver, which got the job done, I recently switched to a short 20" barrel with an extra full choke tube. Love it!

I did the same. I shot my first turkey with the 28" barrel my Mossberg 500 came with. After a while I got tired of having the long barrel hang up on brush when carrying on a sling, so I got a 20" barrel and I'm not going back. It's funny, nobody would question hunting deer with a 20" carbine instead of a 28" barreled rifle in the same woods.

A 20" barrel gives up maybe 70 fps total compared to a 28". Patterning is virtually indistinguishable. A 20" barrel is louder, but that's a moot point because I wear electronic muffs and would with either length. They do a great job of turning a shotgun's BOOM into a faraway boom.

 

[bannockburn]

kscharlie

My dedicated turkey gun is also a Mossberg Model 9200 with a 22" vent rib barrel and camo finish. Incredibly reliable and durable shotgun and great for turkey hunting.

 

[SwampWolf]

My turkey gun is a camouflaged Browning BPS that I got new, at a very good price, from Bass Pro several years ago. It has a 26" barrel and I've found it to be very reliable and tight shooting with an after-market Carlson choke tube made with killing turkeys in mind. I like the tang-mounted safety and the bottom ejection features. The all steel receiver makes it heavy enough to make shooting 3 1/2" Magnum shells more bearable.

 

[bannockburn]

Thought I would add a couple of photos of my Mossberg Model 9200. Never a problem handling anything from light target loads to heavy turkey loads and everything in between. Have also been impressed at how well the camo finish has held up over the years.

 

[kscharlie]

Olympus>>>

Don't know if you have made any decisions or not, but, holy crap, I just got through doing a quick check on Gunbroker and there are a good number of turkey shotguns listed for ridiculously low prices. As an example, there are two 835s showing up for $250. One of them has only 2 days left on the auction and no bids. So for the price of a new barrel and some accessories, you can get a whole "new" gun!!! At least it is something you might want to take a look at.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Walmart has a full camo 870 supermag 26in barrel or a full camo 835 24in barrel(I think?)---both are less than $400 and come with provisions for mounting a sling------you might need to get a different choke tube with either.

Take your pick.