What is the Top Shotgun for Turkey Hunting?

When it comes to turkey hunting, not all states endorse the use of guns.

That’s a fact.

But there are exceptions. While only a small fraction allows the use of rifles, a majority of the states are quite okay with the idea of using shotguns and bows.

Now, every turkey hunter can attest to the fact that turkey hunting is easier when done using a shotgun as opposed to a bow. Generally, any shotgun can be used for turkey hunting provided it kills the gobbler.

However, your success or failure entirely depends on it. It is wise to go for specific shotguns that have features well suited to the cause. It makes a difference.

For instance, it is more effective to use a gun with a shorter barrel to hunt the gobblers than a longer one. It is also important to use colors that have a certain finishing, as some colors might scare away the game. Did you know that?

If not, then it is time to learn the basics. In this article, we outline some of the features that make up a good ‘turkey gun’. In fact, we have done the research and compiled a list of the 5 best turkey hunting shotguns.

1. Browning Cynergy

For a turkey hunting beast, this shotgun from the Browning Company is an excellent buy. Hunting means that you will be moving around with your gear for long hours on end. You don’t want to buy a shotgun that will weigh you down.

The Cynergy product features a lightweight design, meaning that you can carry the shotgun on your shoulders for as long as it takes.

This shotgun also has a matte finishing. Wondering how this helps with your turkey hunting? Well, durability is one of the advantages as it means the gun can serve you for days. 

But even more important is the role the blued matt finishing plays in giving you a low-profile while in the woods. Gobblers have very sharp eyesight, and it is no doubt that they can spot a gun that is too bright.

Besides, accuracy and high-speed shots are guaranteed when using this gun. Adding to its ability to produce minimum kickback, this becomes a good turkey hunter choice.

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2. Benelli M2

If you can manage to go around the hefty pricing of this shotgun, it is an awesome turkey hunting gear that you should add to your arsenal.

Starting from its construction, the product boasts an excellent finishing that is perfect for someone who wants to stay away from the limelight (obviously, a turkey hunter wants to go unnoticed as he moves about the woods).

Its loading system is also automatic, making your cycling very easy and dependable. The fact that the system entirely depends on inertia to operate makes the product versatile and durable.

Put differently, the shotgun can be used in any prevailing weather condition. Things such a mud that may render other guns useless don’t affect this particular product.

Thanks to its recoil pad, you can shoot at the gobblers for long hours without exhaustion. The gel pad effectively minimizes the recoil and kickbacks, giving you smooth shots.

Plus, the lightweight design of this product makes it comfortable to use.

It wouldn’t be fair if we fail to comment about how fast and accurate this shotgun is.

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3. H & R Centerfire

In the third place, we have this single-shot turkey hunting firearm. 

It is the perfect choice for any hunter who is looking for a shotgun that is easy to use. Loading does not require any complex procedures and can be used even by first-time hunters.

The lightweight features make it suitable for use by any person, regardless of your upper body strength and build. You could walk around with it for an entire day and feel nothing.

How about its performance? Excellent. That is the single word that can be used to define it. It produces very smooth shots, just what every turkey hunter wants. Also, it boasts a fast and strong action, favorable for your hunting expedition.

Let’s look at its construction. H & R features a nice design with a touch of durable blue-coated finishing. You will not be investing your money in any sub-standard product that won’t serve the purpose.

However, the recoil system of this shotgun may not be the best out there.

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4.Weatherby Inc. Pa-08

Do you want to get yourself a shotgun from a long-term reputable company? While it may not be wise to invest your money in a brand, this one right here is a worthy shot.

Weatherby Inc. has been giving you quality firearms since its inception in 1945. As such, you have no reason to doubt the quality of their Pa-08 turkey hunting shotgun. You can be sure that it will stand the test of time.

The 20-gauge hunting beast has low recoil, and thus smooth shots are a guarantee. This would work best with shooters who are not heavily built.

The shotgun’s magazine has a nice capacity, large enough to support the best turkey hunting shells (their dimension is usually about 3 inches).

Pa-08 has a long barrel (28 inches). For effectiveness, the barrel has some top rails onto which you can attach sights that suit your preference. 

Finally, the shotgun has a blue finishing. This is a good color for a turkey hunter who does not want to attract the attention of wild gobblers.

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5. Mossberg 835 Ulti-mag

Just like the previous pick, this is also a pump action designed shotgun ideal for turkey hunting.

The 835 Mossberg model supports 3.5 inches rounds of shots, the perfect size recommended for use when turkey hunting. 

Further, it is meticulously designed such that it minimizes the knockback produced when you are trying to discharge the gun. In effect, you are guaranteed of smooth repetitive shots just in case the first shot misses.

This makes it a good option, given that turkeys are swift and have great hearing and sight.

Also, the product comes with several chokes upon purchase. This proves to be economical, as it means you don’t have to go out looking for turkey chokes for your gun’s muzzle end.

To make your hunting experience even more pleasant, Mossberg 835 comes with some rear and front sight to help in spotting and tracking your target. 

The tang safeties designed as trigger guards will go a long way in preventing accidental shots.

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Selecting a Gun for Turkey Hunting; Buyer’s Guide

The importance of taking the right shotgun into the woods cannot be overstated. Averagely, you might lose 1 out of every 3 gobblers you attempt to kill. This is because bad shots are a common thing among many hunters.

The only solution seems to be finding a perfect gunshot with which you can make quick follow up shots, among other important considerations. In this section, we highlight some of the key features that make up a good turkey gun.

Just hang in there!

The Type of Choke Tubes

Usually, shot pellets spread out leaving some gaps between them the moment they leave your gun barrel. The further the distance they cover, the wider the gaps become. It is therefore very easy for your target gobbler to get away unharmed.

This is usually where a choke comes in handy.

From basics, a choke is a condensed channel that screws into the end of your shotgun’s barrel, usually at the muzzle.

Choke tubes play an important role when it comes to determining how your shot pattern spreads out. Thus, it indirectly determines how accurate your shot will be. Will it actually wound the gobbler or it will end up as a bad shot?

Just so you know, there are several types of choke tubes, usually depending on the degree of constriction exhibited. As to which one is perfect for turkey hunting, it is arguable that it is a matter of preference. 

What shooting range do you prefer? 10 meters, 60 meters, or more? There is no one-size- fits-all solution, although a tight choke might give a better pattern.

Nonetheless, we discuss the options that are open so that you walk into that gun shop knowing what to ask for.

• Fixed chokes

This chokes are permanently attached to the barrel’s end, at the muzzle. They are built at the time of the gunshot’s construction and are very common in side by side rifles and single barrels. 

For the former, one barrel can be fixed with say a cylinder choke while the other barrel can be fitted with a full choke. In case you shoot using the cylinder choke and you miss, you can near in on the running bird using the second full-choke.

Depending on the gunshot, the combinations will always vary from each other.

• Interchangeable chokes

With technology and innovation, interchangeable chokes came into being. This are simply some short tubes made from metal. They have a shorter diameter than that of your gun’s barrel.

To use one, you just have to screw it in and voila, you are good to go.

Recently, these are the most common types of chokes that you will find in the market. They are also popular among turkey hunters due to the versatility they offer.

• Cylinder Chokes

This type of choke is the most open and has the widest diameter. In fact, this type of choke is not constricted whatsoever as it is the same size as your barrel.

When is it useful? If you are shooting a gobbler from a close range, this type of choke will work perfectly. However, a long range of say 30 meters will result in inefficiency. The pellet shots leave huge spaces between them, and targets can easily escape.

Although not ideal for turkey hunting, it is a good choke if you use buckshot. It is also a nice option for those using shotguns for self-defense purposes.

• Half-chokes 

From cylinder chokes, we have improved versions that feature a level of constriction. Some chokes offer a barrel bore reduction of up to 0.010 inches while others provide a constriction of up to 0.020 inches. 

With half-chokes, you don’t want to shoot at a range that is too close, say 10 meters. This is because the shot pellets become too dense in one area. If a bird is agile enough, it can get past the shots unharmed.

For distances of about 30 to 45 yards, half-chokes work excellently. The shot pattern is close enough and not too wide to give the target a chance to escape. 

As such, this type is perfect for clay and skeet targets executed at a moderate shooting range. 

They may however turn out ineffective for long ranges of say 60 meters as the pellets become too far from each other. In any case, long ranges don’t tend to give results when it comes to turkey hunting.

• Full-chokes

This type of chokes offers a tighter constriction that the rest, usually about 0.035 inches.

Like the half-choke, a full-choke might prove to be very unreliable when it comes to close-in shots. The shot pellets become too concentrated in one place. The result of this is that you will miss a gobbler that is running away at a fast speed.

Also, there is a chance that you will harm the game in case you shot miss the shot, as too many pellets will be landing on its body.

For distances of about 40 to 5o yards, this is an excellent choke as it will keep the pattern tight enough but spread out to bust a flashing bird like a turkey.

For distances longer than 50 yards, just forget about this full-choke. It will not guarantee you successful hunting, as the pellets will be too spread out to kill a gobbler!

You might find chokes with tighter constrictions than this one.

• Others 

Having looked at the main types of chokes, you will find others that have constrictions falling in between the ones described above.

You just have to practice with each and find out which one works with you. This, of course, also depends on the shooting range you prefer when turkey hunting. 

However, the general rule of thumb is that the tighter the choke, the better.

Length of Barrel

The shorter the barrel, the better. Long barrels that measure say 24 inches may inconvenience you when turkey hunting.

It will be hard to change your position or move within the woods without the barrel clashing with some tree branches and twigs. 

However, both are just as effective when it comes to killing the gobblers. 

There are other assertions from shotgun experts to the effect that long barrel shotguns give better shot patterns.

Weight 

How well is your body built? How much weight are you able to support over long periods?

You might want to go for a shotgun that is made from lightweight materials. This will not weigh you down. You will remain comfortable through-out the hunting period, especially if you move with your gun a lot.

This may not be a consideration for turkey hunters who do their thing from a blind.

Sights 

Guns that have front and rear sights give a hunter an added advantage. You may not miss many targets as you could if the sights were not there. 

Always check the gun for red dots, iron sights, scopes, or anything that serves the purpose.

You don’t have to leave things to chances.

The Gauge of the gun

What is the right gauge of a turkey hunting shotgun? 12 gauge or 20 gauge? This is a debate that has existed for many years now, with each hunter giving their preference.

Ideally, the 12-gauge shotgun is by far considered to be the best gun when it comes to turkey hunting. This is because the gun can shoot a target that is far away more effectively than a 20-gauge gun.

On the other side, however, the 12 gauge shotgun has more recoil. This might not sound well with some turkey hunters.

With the 20-gauge shotgun, you get less recoil and more comfort.

It all boils down to what you are comfortable shooting shots with. If it is the 20 gauge, go for it!

Price

The cost of a shotgun is an essential consideration when it comes to purchasing one. Some come with hefty price tags, while others come at cheaper prices.

The ultimate question is, does it serve the purpose well?

While it is essential to work within your budget, it is even more important to consider the quality of the product. You should never compromise on quality when looking at how cheap the item is.

Therefore, always draw a budget. Proceed to consider the individual features of each shotgun. Finalize by buying the one with the best functionality, falling between your budget.

Customer reviews

Perhaps, one of the best ways to find out if a product is of good quality is to analyze customer reviews. This is especially important if you are buying the product online, where you can’t personally inspect its features.

The rule applies to shotgun buying as well. Since the customer spent a reasonable amount of money, they are less likely to lie about the condition of the product.

Don’t fork out those hundreds of dollars to purchase a shotgun before checking out what previous purchasers are saying about it.

Camouflaging 

Turkeys have sharp eyesight and hearing. Therefore, they are always wary and will take off whenever they don’t think they are safe.

It is important, therefore, to go for a shotgun that is designed to blend with the surrounding environment. For instance, a gun that has a camo or matte finishing would be a good buy.

Others have a mossy oak finishing, which works just fine.

Tip 

You should practice shooting your shotgun using your left hand. This may be difficult but hey! Practice makes perfect. 

If a gobbler approaches you from behind, it is much easier and faster to change hands then shoot than to make a complete 360 degrees rotation of your body.

Conclusion 

To be certain that a given product is the best turkey gun, you have to go an extra step to find out what its features are then compare them. While any shotgun can kill a turkey when you are lucky, it doesn’t mean that every shotgun is great for turkey hunting.

We sought to make your work easier and embarked on an in-depth review to find out the best picks available on the market. After the analysis, we recommend the Cynergy shotgun made by the Browning Company.

The shotgun features a lightweight design which is very vital when it comes to long periods of hunting. A 3-hour adventure in the woods might feel like an entire day if your hunting gear is too heavy.

Also, Cinergy features a matte finishing which is ideal if you don’t want to spook off the gobblers-and you obviously don’t want to do that. Besides, the finishing is also durable and thus you have the confidence that the shotgun won’t break down soon.

The recoil pad has been designed to minimize the kickback. This gives smooth and fast follow-up shots whenever the first misses.

You should add this deadly beast to your turkey hunting arsenal.