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#4288066 02/18/25 09:49 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
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Booner
Booner
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,134
Likes: 41
What do you consider to be your ideal turkey gun?

Would it be a factory gun or one you built or one you would build and customize?

Is there one out on the market either new or old that you are looking to buy?

I have toted an 21” bbl 870 20ga for 10 years, but I have picked up a few I’m going to be piddling with this season.

One gun is a little 28ga O/u, a couple semi automatics an 18” bbl mossberg, a 21” bbl benelli M2, and a 24”bbl M2 compact.

What do you have your eye on or what have you considered is your perfect turkey gun?


Originally Posted by Wiley Coyote
Well, the way I see it is there's just too many assholes
On a good day there's a bunch of assholes in here.
On a bad day there's too many assholes in here.
Joined: Mar 2018
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R
Booner
Booner
R Offline
Joined: Mar 2018
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Likes: 26
When I was coming up, everything was big bang, dead turkey… but seems TSS has changed the game. Everyone wants smaller, shorter, lighter.. and I totally understand that! I purchased a heavy used 1187 20ga mossy oak green that has made it to its 3rd Aldeer member. I’d shoot a 410 if I had one… bought my 8 yr old a 28ga for his birthday. Gonna give it a go this year some..
But if I bought a gun off the shelf, the first thing I’d do would be drill/tap for a dot, dot, then choke, then pattern..
perfect turkey gun to me would be a good pattern thrower, not really heavy, no mule kicking…
Sounds like you got a nice lineup if’n you get some birds to play

Joined: Feb 2005
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BC Offline
Freak of Nature
Freak of Nature
Joined: Feb 2005
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I've been carrying a Browning Cynergy 3.5 12 ga for over 20 years. I guess that gun has close to 250 under it's belt from Alabama and from out of state hunting. It's really been the perfect turkey gun for me for a long time.


"Some men are mere hunters; others are turkey hunters."

-- Archibald Rutledge
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 14
14 point
14 point
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 14
i’m superstitious & don’t believe in experimenting - if i’ve got a gun i’m 100% confident in, i’m done & just focus all my energy on hunting & don’t second guess my weapon - for me that’s a bone stock Stoeger 2000 semi-auto 12ga (outside a Primos TightWad choke tube) … i’ve had it so long now that the factory camo paint has worn off on the fore-end where i rest it again my knee setting up … to me, it’s not a heavy gun - everything about it just “works” …

i’m the same with deer hunting - i’ve had my Remington SPS .308 for a while now - don’t ever really plan on changing that ever … i’ve learned to not fix what’s not broken …

BUT i do enjoy hearing y’all’s stories 🤣🤷🏻‍♂️


ALDeer physics: for every opinion, there's an equal & opposite opinion

A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Joined: Aug 2016
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S
4 point
4 point
S Offline
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Likes: 7
I will probably hunt with the M2 compact 20ga until I’m unable to hunt any more. It has a pistol grip, dipped and coated (by gun doc), a trijicon red dot, and factory full choke. The only way I could see a better option, for me, would be a side by side or over / under with converging poi barrels (unusual), a decent trigger and a pistol grip. I have never seen one of these guns 😜.
I spent unreasonable money on a 20ga side by side coach gun (36” total length). I couldn’t get the barrels to shoot any closer together than 16” at 40 yards. I have a 12ga Remington over/under that the barrels shoot well together at 40 yards. I mounted a red dot on it, but the trigger pull was pretty bad and the recoil was as bad as anything I’ve ever shot. They sit in my safe collecting dust still.

Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 135
Likes: 1
3 point
3 point
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 135
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Bustinbeards
What do you consider to be your ideal turkey gun?

Would it be a factory gun or one you built or one you would build and customize?

Is there one out on the market either new or old that you are looking to buy?

I have toted an 21” bbl 870 20ga for 10 years, but I have picked up a few I’m going to be piddling with this season.

One gun is a little 28ga O/u, a couple semi automatics an 18” bbl mossberg, a 21” bbl benelli M2, and a 24”bbl M2 compact.

What do you have your eye on or what have you considered is your perfect turkey gun?



I too have an 21” 870 20 gauge that I built up right and have hunted with for about 10 years. If I were going to buy a factory gun and call it as close to perfect as it gets, it would be the Mossberg 500 20 gauge turkey gun in greenleaf. It’s a perfect set up factory gun with only one flaw. The trigger spring sucks. It’s got like an 9 lb trigger. I put a mcarbo spring in mine and got it down to 3 lbs. That’s all that needed to be done.

Joined: Dec 2010
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B
12 point
12 point
B Offline
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,076
Likes: 19
A compact 11-87 20 gauge with 21" barrel, venom red dot and a timney trigger kit is currently the perfect turkey gun. Sorry I didn't post this sooner so all others could be in their rightful spot of second, haha.I do really like it.

BC #4288219 02/18/25 06:33 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,575
T
8 point
8 point
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,575
Originally Posted by BC
I've been carrying a Browning Cynergy 3.5 12 ga for over 20 years. I guess that gun has close to 250 under it's belt from Alabama and from out of state hunting. It's really been the perfect turkey gun for me for a long time.


I’d say that’s a tried and true killer.


My go to is a Benelli M-1 Super 90 with a 28 inch barrel. (12 gauge, 3 inch)

Last edited by Turkey Petter; 02/18/25 06:33 PM.
Joined: Mar 2016
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Likes: 32
10 point
10 point
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 32
My favorite turkey gun is a single shot 20 gauge H&R topper Junior that I had cut to 18 inches and threaded


Micah 6:8
Joined: Jul 2021
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P
12 point
12 point
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25 year old Remington 870 compnchoke I think what the choke is called. Gun is a Warrior kicked rain on muddied dropped broke ice in the swamp and still shots very good. Belly craw and never think about scratching the gun.

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 995
G
6 point
6 point
G Offline
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 995
I shot a 870 with XX comp n choke and leads 4’s in the late 90’s. Still shooting the affinity 20 gauge since 2014-15

Joined: Dec 2016
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Likes: 116
Booner
Booner
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 12,677
Likes: 116
I’ve used a SX3 20ga for years now and have loved it but I’m considering using my A300 patrol 12ga this time
It’s short maneuverable and is equipped with a ghost ring sight with a 19” barrel and I think it will make a dandy turkey gun


When I need expert advice I tend to talk to myself
The older I get the better I used to be
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,559
Likes: 166
Freak of Nature
Freak of Nature
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,559
Likes: 166
SBE H&K forcing cone lengthened and angle ported. Rhino 650 choke hand loaded 3” 2oz tss 7x8x9

[Linked Image]


“Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it.” ― Ronald Reagan
cartervj #4288295 02/18/25 09:12 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,575
T
8 point
8 point
T Offline
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,575
Originally Posted by cartervj
SBE H&K forcing cone lengthened and angle ported. Rhino 650 choke hand loaded 3” 2oz tss 7x8x9

[Linked Image]


Very nice!

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,111
Likes: 35
14 point
14 point
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,111
Likes: 35
Dis my whumpin jumpin turkey thumpin mojo magnum craw stompin waddle wackin snoot pooter longbeard shooter…

[Linked Image]


"I dont quit.. And ill fight alone if i have to"
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,111
Likes: 35
14 point
14 point
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 9,111
Likes: 35
Aka…20ga 870…boy it whopsem downz…id like ti have me a nice semi auto..really like to have a weatherby element with the 22in barrel

Last edited by CarbonClimber1; 02/18/25 10:57 PM.

"I dont quit.. And ill fight alone if i have to"
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,559
Likes: 166
Freak of Nature
Freak of Nature
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 26,559
Likes: 166
Nice setup


“Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it.” ― Ronald Reagan
Joined: Mar 2015
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G
12 point
12 point
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Originally Posted by CarbonClimber1
Aka…20ga 870…boy it whopsem downz…id like ti have me a nice semi auto..really like to have a weatherby element with the 22in barrel


Have the element 22” as my backup gun…it’s a fun thing to tote


2017 Team Aldeer Turkey Contest Champion
2018 Team Aldeer Turkey Contest Champion
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 11,195
Likes: 138
M
Booner
Booner
M Offline
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 11,195
Likes: 138
.243!!! Some of us really suck at turkey hunting and can’t get them in close. Someone told me one time that you have have to do whatever it takes to kill the turkey and the number one rule of turkey hunting is DONT SCARE THE TURKEY!!


It's hard to kiss the lips at night that chews your a$$ all day long.


Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,356
Likes: 75
Old Mossy Horns
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 18,356
Likes: 75
Winchester 1300 NWTF youth 20ga
[Linked Image]

Last edited by bamaeyedoc; 02/19/25 02:07 PM.

AKA: “Dr. B”
Aldeer #121
8-3-2000
Proud alum of AUM, UAB, and UA
2023-2024 ALdeer Deer Contest Champions
2024-2025 ALdeer Deer Contest Champions



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