What would u get for the best 20 gauge turkey gun? Earning a lot of bucks on my bass pro credit card - in several more months should hav lot more. Was gonna get like a varmit gun (223 or 22-250) or excellent 20 gauge Turkey gun. Think turkey wins out. What would u get?

I shoot a Winchester SX3 in the nwtf edition and its a proven turkey killer
Recoil is moderate but tolerable and that coming from a man that doesnt like recoil

The lightest, shortest barreled, truest shooting one you like. Quite a few nice ones out there. That said Ive toted a 21” barrel 870 youth for years, always does what it should if I do.

I did pick up a weatherby element Turkey recently and it’s really nice toting and pointing but has a 24” barrel.

I don't think there is a "best" turkey gun. With the tss shells, most any gun can throw a good pattern. So it comes down to weight, fit, and the reliability to shoot as many times as it is supposed to shoot.

I will say that I much prefer a break action gun to a SA or pump for turkey hunting. Not only is it lighter and shorter, but it's much easier to load in the dark and to quickly unload when the time comes. And the simplicity makes it safer and more reliable. You don't have to be concerned with the Benelli click if you are using a SxS or O/U. My cousin has experienced the Mossberg click; it can happen to any of them if you don't close the bolt and keep it closed.

And in a state like AL with a one per day limit, 2 shots should be enough. Good luck deciding.

I have several but my favorite is my M2

Like Mr. Steve said, it really comes down to what you prefer. If you want a semi-auto, I’d go with a spring gun like a Benelli or Retay. The gas guns don’t hold up as well with heavy tss loads. If you want a pump, a 21” 870 is hard to beat. My personal favorite turkey gun, if I’m hunting a state where I can only shoot one at a time, is an HR topper youth single shot that I had cut to 18.5” and threaded. Good luck with your search, trying to figure it out is a big part of the fun.

I love my M2 but setting this ATI up for a few hunts this coming season!

Thanks - interesting perspectives - some i would not hav thought of. Always heard good about 870 and hav been interested in M2 and retay also and thought of sbe2

What pcp mentions is interesting

Thanks - good stuff guys - got some time to think on it

I had a great shootin cheap 20 single shot i sold (had not found the best shell for it until after i told him i would sell it) to best friend. Lov sbe 12 but want to go to 20 and hav more than one shot capability over the single barrel i sold (301
Stevens)

Like PCP said, just about any ol shotgun can be a superstar with tss shells. So it just comes down to personal preference in what you like to tote. Red dot sights like FFs or Venoms help with tight tss patterns. Rifle sights would be my next choice over a bead. I’ve got a couple youth model 870s and an ATI like Bailey posted above, and they are all killers. We had a Franchi youth model stolen out of my truck that would out shoot any of our current guns if autos are your thing.

I use a Remington 870 youth model, because that's what I have. If you use the Remington turkey choke and some specific tss shot it's supposed to be a legit 40 yars gun. I killed one pretty close to that and have to say, it peppered it good.

Word of caution on the M2:

If you lightly close the bolt and dont let it slam shut it may not fire. That has happened at least 3 or 4 times while Ive been on hunts. They have sort of a two piece bolt that may be the issue.

I dont know what "the best" gun is, but I would probably vote for a 3" 870 with a 24-26 inch barrel. I dont like the real short guns.


That being said, my son's SX3 is a shooter and it has killed 5 turkeys in the last 2 seasons. So, it is off to a good start. I like it a lot. Glad I suckered, I mean convinced, my wife I needed to buy that for him.

Been shooting a 870 20 ga for several years and have rolled quite a few field birds over into their graves at 45-55 yards. With TSS it’s a bad little machine. I shoot it because it’s what I had and what I’m familiar with.

As with any good deer rifle……spend your money on the sight.

The Winchester pump is a good one. 870 got to be at the top of the list.
Semi auto - for me it’s the older benelli models. They don’t click if you shut the bolt. The bolt don’t come loose if you put a strong wolf spring in it, or if you reach your finger up there and make sure it is closed when you sit down, but it is an issue when walking or crawling and you can bump the gun on the butt and cause the bolt to come loose.

I’ve had a few instances that required more than one shot, so a single shot wouldn’t be my go to. I’ve had single shots and totes single shots, and they are fine, but just saying they are a single shot.

Double barrels come with their own pia to set up issues u less you get lucky and both sides shoot to point of aim.

About the most fool proof proven gun of the tss era is an 870 youth with a Carlsons 575 choke. Pretty much the closest guarantee you can get to having gone to the store, purchased the gun, screw in the choke, and go to shoot it and it being a 40 yard gun with 1 5/8 loads of 9’s. Lots of available stocks, triggers, and accessories.

For the money it's hard to beat a 21" barrel Remington 870. Mine,however,would not shoot true to the bead.I put rifle sights on it and later a burris fastfire III (old eyes). TSS handloads with a .572 Primos tightwad choke. I killed one in Nebraska at 62 steps stone dead ( and I did misjudge the distance, wouldn't have shot if I knew it was that far).

My regular turkey gun 870 in 20 ga has a 21" barrel. However I bought the barrel a few years ago. I swapped it from the 26" it came with. I really like it. However I'm really thinking hard about buying the mossberg 28ga tactical turkey in semi auto.

Ive got a compact 870 and a compact 11-87 set up in 20 ga. Both are killers way past old 12 ga range, both are good handlers and easy to tote. I much prefer the 11-87, tho.

I would go with the Browning Citori High Grade Side Plate 4 Gauge Combo. That way you can shoot the .410 if you felt the need to. But that’s just my opinion.

I like the feel of my m2, but I would like to try the a400 lite compact

CZ reduced length 20 ga O/U is what I tote. Carlson extended chokes , full/ improved modified . Man, that thing throws a sweet pattern with #9 TSS.

28 gauge and shoot tss. According to apex it’ is the best performing when all things are considered.