I'm in the market for a turkey gun and wanted some advice on the best set up. I've hunted with a Berretta 390 with a turkey choke for the past 10 years, but want to get something that will shoot 3 1/2's, camo, sights, etc. just for turkey hunting.

thanks

Depends on what you want to spend and if you want to stay with a semi-auto. Dollar for dollar it's hard to beat a Remington 870 Super Mag.

$500 price range. I prefer a semi-auto b/c I've never liked the way a pump rests on my knee.

I was in your same boat as you. I too shot a 390. I wanted something camo in 3 and a half for a true turkey gun. I searched for months trying to find the 'perfect' gun. I ended up with a Benelli SuperNova with the pistol grip. it ain't perfect but I really like it.

Only semi you will find in the $500 range will be the Mossberg 935.

Reb, How do you feel about the pistol grip? You bought it so I know you like it...what are the advantages...I am looking at turkey guns myself.

The pistol grip is nice. It just feels natural. Ask me again in a few months and I'll know for sure.

just get the 390 dipped in whatever camo you want and buy some 3"nitros and you will save money and have a turkey killing machine

I could save money and would like to, but I hunt fields a pretty good amount and would like to be able to have the extra power and pellets that are in a 3 1/2 to be able to consistently drop a bird at 40 yds.

I hunted with a pistol grip one morning last year (was my brother in law's gun). I had a bird with in 70 yds for half hour or so and for some reason the pistol grip made my hand cramp up really bad.

You really dont get extra power and pellets in the 3.5 unless you are shooting the 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 ounce loads.

Im not trying to persuade you either way, just stating facts. I shoot alot of 3.5s, but the loads I have been using are the 3 inch 2 oz loads.

If I was wanting a 3.5 inch autoloader I would get a SBE II.

Just my opinion.

just about any gun made with the right choke and Nitro Co shells will kill every bird at 40 yards...and further.

I've heard a lot of guys say they get just as good of a patter with a 3", so what is the advantage of a 3 1/2". I know it has more pellets and more brass, so how does that not equate to giving a least a small advantage at longer ranges? I honestly don't know the answer as I've always shot 3" shells, so would appreciate any input.

I've shot a 3 1/2 gun a total of two times(I'm a slow learner) and it kicked the crap out of me. Never again. If ya get a gun light enough to tote it will kick your azz.

My wifes twenty gauge Beretta will kill any turkey every time at forty yards with Nitro 4-5-7s.

My 3" 12 ga Benelli will kill every time at 50 yards with the Nitro 4-5-7s.

I just don't see the need for a 12ga 3 1/2 or 10ga gun to shoot turkeys.

If I had to start over again I'd get a 20ga Benelli with Nitros or TSS and be done with it.

You have to increase your payload or your speed to increase the damage.

If I was you I would check out the 3 inch Nitros and go from there. They really will turn about any gun into a legit fifty yard killer.

There are other options also. Hevi 13 makes some good loads that compete with the Nitros IMO.


Now if your just wanting another gun, the 935 will be your best bet for the money you want to spend. If you do go the 3.5 inch route. Look at the hevi 13 loads with the 2.25 oz loads. Either the mag blends or the 7s.

The 3.5" equalled quite a bit more pellets on target (240 in a 10" circle on average vs. 180 at 40 yards) for me personally over the 3" gun I used last year with the exact same load (Hevi Mag Blends). If your main goal is extending your range and you don't like the feel of a pump gun (i.e. the 835), you're not gonna beat the 935's overbored barrel for pattern density, regardless of which load you choose assuming that you choke it properly. You're more than welcome to check mine out if you would like. I guess time will tell how well it holds up, but it will cycle everything from dove loads to 3.5" turkey loads just as quick as I can pull the trigger and the recoil is CONSIDERABLY less than a 3.5" pump gun considering it is a gas gun.

Unless you just want a new gun, the one you have with the right choke and some nitros or tss would be the way to go.

You do gain a extra 1/4 ounce of shot in the 3.5s with that load.

I hate this turned into a 3 vs 3.5 thread. Since it did I'll add...There is no scientific ballistic data that suggest that 3" throws a better pattern than 3.5". Actually just the contrary. A .410 will kill a turkey as will a 20 gauge yet there are far less snobbish people who shoot them that suggest anything more is unnecessary. I chose a 3.5" gun so I can have the option. I may not ever shoot a turkey with a 3.5 but I will if I want to and I will not apologize for it.

The ammo you use is far more important than the gun. If you just want more range, get the right choke for the gun you have now and hand load some tss. Hawglips has 3" loads that will easily kill a turkey at 60 yds and further. There is no such thing as a "best turkey gun;" there is only "best turkey shells."

The reason I like a 3 1/2 is that you can jump up a shot size and still have just about as much shot as you would in a 3". I shot the 3-2-6 hevi 13's for a long time and loved them but then I discovered that at could shoot the 3 1/2" 5's and throw the exact same pattern that I could with the 3" 6's, so it was a no brainer for me. Recoil isn't a factor in my opinion, you'll never feel it shooting at a turkey even out of a pump.

That being said, If I had a 3" gun I really loved there is no way I'd trade if off for a 3 1/2 just to have one. Shells and chokes are so advanced now that you really don't have to have one.

I don't think we're talking about getting rid of a Beretta 390 just to get a 3.5. If we are, I'm gonna change my opinion. My personal opinion is the more guns the merrier.

Like my father always says, "How do you know when you have enough guns? When you don't know how many you have."

I like my Winchester SX3. It will shoot 31/2" but I shoot 3" in it. With an Indian Creek choke Im getting 223 average at 40 yds with Magnum Blend. It's the smoothest shotgun I ever shot and it's not heavy to tote. I'm sure I could improve that pattern. It's the only choke I ever tried.
I'm not debating the Benelli vs Winchester guys.














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i hunted with a 3.5in BPS for 4yrs. It patterned really good but the thing was like toating a log around. And when it came to holding it up for an hour waiting on a bird to close in it would just about kill you. A guy on here went with me and brought a 870 pistol grip. He killed a bird that day and I had to have one. The one I bought is the 870 SPS turkey predator. To me the pistol grip just gives you a more comfortable hold on it given things take a while to develope and it is much lighter than the BPS. I added an Indian Creek Black Diamond and Mag Blend 5,6,7's and it will be a killer at 60yds. I had a bird at 60yds the first time I took it before I pattered it and passed on it due to the distance. Not next time. For the money the 870 pistol grip is the way to go.

Yep I think the Rem SM is the best pump out now. It weights 7.25 lbs. I had to go to an auto to try and tame recoil. Im 54 yrs. old and need neck surgery so every little bit of recoil I can reduce sure saves my neck. SX3 weights 7 lbs. so its about the same weight as your SM. If a surgeon can fix my neck a SM will be on my list.

My SBE 2 with jellyhead has been stellar, on the other hand my dad hates his extrema 2 and switched back to his moss berg 835. For some reason he is way more comfortable with it.

thanks for all the input guys. I looked at the Mossberg 935 with pistol grip, sights, etc. and liked it, especially for the money.

No, I'm not getting rid of my Beretta, never would. I love it for shooting other birds but I've really been wanting to get a gun set up for turkey hunting (camo, sights, short barrel, etc.). If I can kill at 50 yds consistently I will be very happy.

That shouldn't be a problem.

Rossi 410

Yildiz .410 stock choke no9&10 tss blend knock off Burris fast fire made by crimson trace
Talkin bout a turkey killing machine brother..

This thread started back in 2012

I bought a 225$ stevens 20 and w 9 tss - put around 85 pellets in a turkey head and neck at 42 yards - low kick and weight of a bb-gun - awesome in performance and value

Wrong. You can get a Yildiz auto for under 500

I've never seen any 3.5 pattern as well as a good 3".

any decent 3" gun with TSS will kill any gobbler within 80 yards....just what kind of birds are ya'll hunting.

I at one time thought a 3 in / 12 ga was the best to hunt with. About 10 years ago I changed over to 20 ga using the new TSS shot. Man what a difference it makes to your shoulder. Not afraid to shot 40/50 yard shots. Every bird I have shot at this distance is dead. Last 2 years have been hunting with a Charles Daily 410 bore, longest shot was 38 yards but stone dead. TSS is about the only way for me to go from now own, plus with the smaller /lighter shotgun it helps on a long walk hunt day , plus saves your shoulder. The price for TSS is high but you are not dove hunting shooting box fulls of shot .ONE WILL DO THE TRICK

My son carries a Benelli .20 and shoots TSS and has no trouble killing one at 40-50 yards. I still carry my original SBE and shoot 3 1/2” just because I want as many pellets in the air as possible.

Any of em do just fine. A 12 or 20 ga with #6 bird shot has killed a million turkeys I suspect. Dont make it complicated

Facts^

A lot of talk about size of shell and type of gun. Done of that means anything if you can't find shells. That is the big problem unless money is absolutely no problem and even then you have to find them.

A zebco 33 has caught millions of fish to but I bet that ain’t all you got in the boat 😀

By the way I was shooting #9s in the 410 #8 in 20 gauge

My 870 3 1/2" has knocked a couple folks off their feet. Better have a hold on it when it's fired

Benelli M2 20 gauge with tss 9's, no need for anything more!

40 yds? Heck, I killed a bird this year with a full choked Remington 870 .410 using #9 TSS. I also killed one at 40 yards this year with a 20 ga, Primos tight wad choke, and Longbeard XR #5. No need for a 12 ga to kill a bird at 40 yds. Open up your options with more gauges.

I hope you have a gun by now thread has dust on it.

^^^^
Relic

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