which shotgun to go with?

[matt_3479]

I just got my turkey licence today and the season will be opening shortly. I hunted all my waterfowl, rabbit, and others with my brothers winchester 1200 but he finally got his licence and will be taking it back. The only other shotgun i have is a remington model 812 single shot full choke barrel without any sights at all. Im just going to throw it out there and say it would work, but there is an excuse to get out and get a new shotgun.

So heres the thing, i am undecided if i want pump action or semi first. Either way i will be buying both in the next few years. If i dont have the money then pump will be first compared to semi unless the money comes through.

I would like to know from experience which one should i take a look at.

Pump:

- Winchester SXP. Haven't heard too much on this one
- Browning BPS. Nice looking, okay price
- Benelli Supernova, nicest camo and the company has a great reputation
- or the standard Remington 870. I dont like the look of most 870's but i know there good guns

Semi:

-Beretta xtrema 2
-Benelli SBE II
-Winchester SX3
-Browning Maxus.

This shot gun will be used for trap, goose and duck, rabbit, and what im most excited for is TURKEY. I originally wanted the Benelli supernova but there is such mixed reviews on it. People told me to stick with the Remington or even the Browning BPS which surprisingly had fantastic reviews. As for semi I was originally stuck between the Benelli SBE II or Beretta extrema 2 and then i realized that the Browning was awesome. Great reviews, feels great, looks good. I have never seen or shot the winchester but read some awesome things. What do you think!

 

[J E Custom]

I just got my turkey licence today and the season will be opening shortly. I hunted all my waterfowl, rabbit, and others with my brothers winchester 1200 but he finally got his licence and will be taking it back. The only other shotgun i have is a remington model 812 single shot full choke barrel without any sights at all. Im just going to throw it out there and say it would work, but there is an excuse to get out and get a new shotgun.

So heres the thing, i am undecided if i want pump action or semi first. Either way i will be buying both in the next few years. If i dont have the money then pump will be first compared to semi unless the money comes through.

I would like to know from experience which one should i take a look at.

Pump:

- Winchester SXP. Haven't heard too much on this one
- Browning BPS. Nice looking, okay price
- Benelli Supernova, nicest camo and the company has a great reputation
- or the standard Remington 870. I dont like the look of most 870's but i know there good guns

Semi:

-Beretta xtrema 2
-Benelli SBE II
-Winchester SX3
-Browning Maxus.

This shot gun will be used for trap, goose and duck, rabbit, and what im most excited for is TURKEY. I originally wanted the Benelli supernova but there is such mixed reviews on it. People told me to stick with the Remington or even the Browning BPS which surprisingly had fantastic reviews. As for semi I was originally stuck between the Benelli SBE II or Beretta extrema 2 and then i realized that the Browning was awesome. Great reviews, feels great, looks good. I have never seen or shot the winchester but read some awesome things. What do you think!

For cost. the 870 is one of the best and most dependable.

For an all round Semi Auto the Beretta extrema will do it all.

I am an over and under fan but the Xtrema will shoot every thing you throw at it from 2 3/4" 1 oz light Trap/dove loads to the 3 1/2" 2 1/4 oz #2 turkey loads with out any cycling problems and
changing springs or gas ports.

Just my opinion

J E CUSTOM

 

[264junkie]

First real shotgun I would make sure to get your $$ worth and get a Remington 870 or 887 magnum. Don't worry about the bottom of the pile "express" models at Walmart...Go to a local shop, tell them it's your first shotgun...Pick out a middle of the road model (maybe 26" barrel) and know you'll have it for a long, long time.
Good luck

 

[HighKnob]

I'd agree with 264 and go with the middle grade 870, but any of those choices would be fine. Find something you like and go with it. Another option is the stoeger auto, a pretty nice auto for the price of a pump.

 

[saj]

Benelli SBE II you will be happy that you did

 

[SOUTHPAWSHOOTER10]

Personally i use a remington 870 express turkey for turkey huntin'. Great price, patterns great, using a tru glo strut stopper with win. Supremes with no. 5 shot. I also have benelli's , beretta's and a browning but the 870 gets the nod everytime for turkeys. You don't typically need a quick follow up shot when turkey hunting (though a guy can pump pretty fast with an 870). And if you hunt with a buddy your not throwin' your empty hulls at him everytime you fire. Short barrels are pretty handy in the turkey woods. Honestly though anything will work for turkeys. Buy whatever you like best and fits your budget but would suggest you stay with the popular brands as parts are usually hard to find for the 'off brands'.

P.s. You might consider a stoeger, they use the same operating system as a benelli for around $500.00. Though i don't think the stock has any adjustment to it. And they are owned by beretta so i would think you would be able to get repairs if needed.

 

[TerryLamb]

Good choices all. The only thing I might suggest after having taken some 70+ turkeys is to select chambering and loads that will throw all the lead that can be stuffed in them. I started out with my old Browing Light-12 12ga 2 3/4" modified choke.

It didn't take long to realize (regrettably, because of some lost birds) that I needed both more pellets and more choke. Way back then, I upgraded to a 12ga 3" and utilize the xtra-full choke tube. Now I would select a 3 1/2" model, though I have never lost a bird since going to the 3". My favorite shot size is #5 or the 4-6 duplex loads.

The head and neck of a wild turkey present a surprisingly small kill zone, and you want a dense pattern and heavy load to increase strikes in that zone.

Good Hunting! Nothing quite matches the thrill of a gobbling tom on a beautiful spring morning!

 

[SOUTHPAWSHOOTER10]

Be aware in some shotguns the 3 1/2 " loads have a brutal kick, but the good news is if you buy the big 12 you can still shoot 3" through it , pattern density is where it's at whether you shoot 2 oz. Or 2 1/4 oz. Lately around here some guys are making the move to 20 ga. And shooting hevi-shot and the like and gettin the job done with a gun that's a full pound less. Keeps an old guy more mobile to to make the move on old tom.

 

[TerryLamb]

Be aware in some shotguns the 3 1/2 " loads have a brutal kick, but the good news is if you buy the big 12 you can still shoot 3" through it , pattern density is where it's at whether you shoot 2 oz. Or 2 1/4 oz. Lately around here some guys are making the move to 20 ga. And shooting hevi-shot and the like and gettin the job done with a gun that's a full pound less. Keeps an old guy more mobile to to make the move on old tom.

Boy, Southpaw is right about the recoil. Even my 3" is most unpleasant to shoot when magnumned-up. I got my grandson a 20-ga 3-inch in Mossberg pump and it is unpleasant as well. To keep him from developing recoil-reflex, I did not have him practice with turkey loads at all, but did the pattern shots myself.

He of course was amazed that there was no perceived recoil whatever when shooting the birds. He took tom #14 last spring.

 

[J E Custom]

Be aware in some shotguns the 3 1/2 " loads have a brutal kick, but the good news is if you buy the big 12 you can still shoot 3" through it , pattern density is where it's at whether you shoot 2 oz. Or 2 1/4 oz. Lately around here some guys are making the move to 20 ga. And shooting hevi-shot and the like and gettin the job done with a gun that's a full pound less. Keeps an old guy more mobile to to make the move on old tom.

There is nothing like 2&1/4 oz of #2 shot from a 3 1/2" in a pump or over and under.

But the big semi autos are not bad at all.

That is the reason I recommend the Beretta xtrema is it will Handel the 3 1/2" shells
easily and with the shot count, shots to 65+yards are possible. recoil is very manageable.

Where I hunt turkeys get smart quick and hold up around 60 to 70 yards. and the 3 1/2 "
2s will solve that problem.

J E CUSTOM

 

[HighKnob]

A lot of states, my home state of Tn. for one, don't allow shot sizes larger than #4 for turkeys.

 

[J E Custom]

A lot of states, my home state of Tn. for one, don't allow shot sizes larger than #4 for turkeys.

Wow !!
Thats a new one. I can see the reasoning for 4s or smaller in a 2 3/4 shot gun because of
shot count, but the 3 1/2 " can through lots of 2s and is devastating on Turkeys and Geese.

Just more regs from the feds that don't have a good reason or make a lot of sense.

Some prefer to keep there shots under 30 yards and so do I if I can, but I do like to get my
4 turkeys every year and the 3 1/2" 2 1/4 oz #2s will fill the bag.

I have had # 4s fail to penatrate completly at 40 to 45 yards but the #2 are a different story.

I always follow the rules and if it were that way hear I would just have to pass on some
shots that are very possible with #2s.

J E CUSTOM

 

[HighKnob]

Some of the thinking leans toward safety. Less fatal with 4 than 2. Also most purist believe you gotta get em under 40 yds and with small shot taking head and neck shots you don't have cripples. It has some heated discussion on the turkey forums, alone with rifle hunting turkeys.

I've taken several at 40ish with 6's and in a 20 gauge. Lots are going to hevi shot 7 these days, but i've never tried them.

Sorry for stealing the tread.....i'll hush now.

 

[J E Custom]

Some of the thinking leans toward safety. Less fatal with 4 than 2. Also most purist believe you gotta get em under 40 yds and with small shot taking head and neck shots you don't have cripples. It has some heated discussion on the turkey forums, alone with rifle hunting turkeys.

I've taken several at 40ish with 6's and in a 20 gauge. Lots are going to hevi shot 7 these days, but i've never tried them.

Sorry for stealing the tread.....i'll hush now.

Don't get me wrong but (Less fatal with 4s than 2s ?) I though the object was to be very Fatal.

And as far as the "Purist" I think we have heard the same thing from people not wanting long
range hunting.

I would not recommend anything that would be marginal for hunting any game and to date I
have not lost a single Turkey with the #2s and I head shoot every one to avoid pellets in the
breast.

I prefer close shots but you can't always depend on that so I like to go prepared for worst
case scenarios in case that's all that presents it's self.

As to rifle hunting Turkeys. I think a 200 yard+ head shot is very sporting and fatal.

Not trying to start an argument just recommending the best IMO for the task at hand.

J E CUSTOM