Dedicated Turkey Gun

[DMP25-06]

I have a weatherby SA-459 turkey (im pretty sure it's the 459 model) and it was everything I wanted in a dedicated turkey gun and more for about 650 bucks out the door. It's only a 3 inch gun but in all seriousness unless you're looking too shoot birds at 70-80+ yards you don't need anything more. Big boomers are cool but on a perfect Crisp spring morning listening to birds gobble the last thing I would want is to get rattled by a 3.5 12 gauge turkey load. Like many others have suggested a 20 is more than enough with load technology and availability nowadays.

Also the 459 also had a 20 gauge model. I'm not sure if they make them anymore though, might be worth looking into though

I am in agreement with Groot . I also have a Weatherby SA-459 shotgun , in 12 guage that has a 22" barrel , pistol grip, fitted with a picatinny rail for optics , and equiped with a red fiber-optic front sight bead .
Mine is black , not the camo pattern on the Weatherby SA-459 Turkey models . It shoots great , and will run light or heavy field loads as well as 3" magnum shells . Mine came with a compensated Extra-Full choke tube , as well as being able to use standard Browning Invector choke tubes .
Palmettostatearmory.com has the black 12 guage model , in stock for $419.99 .
Model : SA459SY1222PGM

Palmetto also shows the Weatherby Turkey SA-459 Camo , in 12 or 20 guage , but both are out of stock .

DMP25-06

 

[BuddyGeorge]

Been a die hard #5 shot on turkeys for years until 2 years ago. My son shoots the 3.5 TSS (7,9 blend) loads in 12 gauge. Watching the birds drop and not move at distances out past 65 yards got my attention. However, the recoil from that set up got my attention also. I'm 67 and though I can handle that set up, I'm not. So, when I started experimenting I found that the 7-9 blend TSS in the Federal Turkey loads , in 20 gauge will do the trick. Appox. 10 bucks a shot. It's high, but worth it.!

 

[Coyote Shadow Tracker]

I can understand someone thinking this situation dependant. You will just have to take my word I never will pay that amount for a round to shoot something I could hunt. I would be happy to take you up on the bet....I probably wont be around long enough for us to settle it. I took some quick picks of my bird shot shelves. Quick math shows right about 3000 loaded rounds not counting my slugs and buckshot stash. I still have about 200 rounds of bird loads from what my grandma gave me of grandpas supply after he went hunting in the stars in 1994. Quick check....and I can load another 3-4K off my supplies. Turkey between me and others.....hunting....shoot 4-5 shots. My buddies 11yoa borrowed one of my 12ga gas guns after shooting several including a 20ga gas a few weeks ago. Yep shot himself a hen at 40yds with good old 2.75" 1.25oz #5 reloads with a standard old full choke, no pistol grip, no red dot, just a plain old bead on a

Very nice looking wall!

You should see the other three sides!

 

[BuddyGeorge]

Just curious after reading about this TSS #9 shot. I looked at some videos online and yes the patterns are impressive but my concern is how is the penetration out at the 60-70 yard mark? The pellet energy at that distance can't be that great. Seems to me you would get a lot of crippled birds.

The steel doesn't flatten out like the lead. Therefore, at the longer distances, the TSS will slice though the bird's neck and downing the bird quickly.

 

[Litehiker]

I dunno about "dedicated" turkey gun but decades ago I bought my Benelli M1 with two barrels and two stocks.
Duck and upland game-> long barrel, standard stock
Turkey hunting/home defense-> short barrel, pistol grip stock

One receiver with two configurations.

 

[HunterMann]

I gave up on the dedicated turkey shotgun years ago, as I did not see the need for a few days of hunting each year. I have shot the big Benelli Super Nova and it is impressive out to 60-80 yards. But I don't really need one. If I were starting over I would probably go with a some of the twenty gauges for everything, but I don't shoot a lot of waterfowl either. I'll stick with my classic 16 gauge SxS and the two 12 gauges I have now. I only reload with #5 and #7.5 because they handle 95% of my needs, even turkeys. I purchase non-toxics for my waterfowl escapades, and slugs or buckshot as needed. I do pick up discounted 12 gauge turkey loads (that other people don't like to shoot) because my ZOMBIE gun just loves them... just in case...

 

[HunterMann]

I dunno about "dedicated" turkey gun but decades ago I bought my Benelli M1 with two barrels and two stocks.
Duck and upland game-> long barrel, standard stock
Turkey hunting/home defense-> short barrel, pistol grip stock

One receiver with two configurations.

I have shot skeet and trap with a pistol grip stock to make the point that it does work. Starting with the right shotgun you can literally have it transforming into several different tools....

 

[Oldtime Shooter13]

I purchased a Beretta AL391 26" camo back several years ago and do not regret it. It is 3" chambered and I use #5 Turkey loads with Extra Full Turkey Choke. This shotgun has never disappointed me and is very easy on the shoulder. That is why I purchased this particular shotgun due to reconstructed shoulder. Keep it clean and it will function everything from #8 target loads to 3" Magnum loads. I have tested using assorted magnum loads and target loads and you can hardly tell the difference from on to the other when firing in succession. I have had magnum shotguns that would only function magnum loads or heavy shot. The Beretta AL 391 will function anything you feed it. I have never had a jam or non function in all the years I have owned it. It is my only Semi Auto in my safe! I see them for sale all the time and don't understand why or people just need that 3.5" shoulder killer? If I was goi g to go 3.5" 12 Ga. I think I would move up to a 10 Ga. But, I wouldn't trade my AL 391 for any of the new frilly stuff out there and it there was one thing I would change on the shotgun would be a 24" barrel.

 

[Ninering62]

I have decided that it's either going to be the CZ 612 Turkey or Benelli Nova. I have found a Nova in 20ga that I like a lot. Does anyone know of options to mount optics on the CZ or Nova? I am really curious about the Burris speed bead set up.

I put a Benelli Super Black Eagle 12ga 3.5 mag on layaway when they came out. A bro of mine lent me his new Benelli Nove 12e for Turkey hunting that year. Both are awesome guns. Worth every dime. I only hunt with muzzleloaders now. I'm havin a 30" .410 full choke barrel made for a TC sidelock in a modern sporter stock as my new dedicated Turkey gun. I live in the middle of Osceola territory. I just got a ROA .45 BP pistol that I'm going to use for my 2 fall birds this year. That will be a first for me.

 

[GSPRunner]

Stay away from the Mossberg, I've started several young people with an Rem870, but now with TSS ammo I've found the Savage 301 a good choice. Just keep your shots inside 40 yards.

Why stay away from mossberg? I have friends and family that have been using mossbergs for a long time with out issue.

 

[GUNNNN]

I have a gold 10ga, 2- 3 1/2 12ga semi autos and a 3" 12ga in a remington 870 and when I get ready to go kill a Turkey I grab my 870 I shoot 1and 5/8 oz loads of #5 heavy shot at 1300 fps, a ported choke tube will take a lot of the sting out of the kick, I like the kicks chokes best .665 diameter this load and choke will easily kill a bird at 50 yards but that takes the fun out of getting a bird in to 30 yards jmho

 

[Plowboy85]

It's been a while since I ran calculations but since the TSS is more dense than lead it carries sufficient energy further. Haven't bothered with calculating it but the smaller diameter pellets will have less drag. I am not an advocate of 70yd shots, I prefer the up close and personal experience but I have gotten mad and rolled one at 60+ with no issue. The pellet count with #9 2.5oz is impressive and that can't be denied but I do think if I man was getting a dedicated turkey gun it'll be hard to beat a 20 for weight and killing ability. With that said I do shoot 3.5" 2.5oz because l am a little off like that lol and it's a dedicated gun so I'm not messing with it every spring.

 

[Eddiejoe12]

Here is my Turkey gun. TC encore 20 gauge 28" Turkey barrel, Carlson's TSS tube, and 30 and 40 yard patterns with federal TSS 3" 7/9 duplex. The black is a 12" diameter target so you get an idea of how tight it patterns. lightweight and compact. I killed my bird last year at 46 yards and it crushed him. As was mentioned tungsten is a game changer. A lot of the reading I did showed #9 TSS with the penetration and energy of #5 lead but with 3X the pellets per ounce.

 

[Eddiejoe12]

Here is my Turkey gun. TC encore 20 gauge 28" Turkey barrel, Carlson's TSS tube, and 30 and 40 yard patterns with federal TSS 3" 7/9 duplex. The black is a 12" diameter target so you get an idea of how tight it patterns. lightweight and compact. I killed my bird last year at 46 yards and it crushed him. As was mentioned tungsten is a game changer. A lot of the reading I did showed #9 TSS with the penetration and energy of #5 lead but with 3X the pellets per ounce.

You guys age making me feel like a Hobo, I have one shotgun (old Mossberg 500) that I bought off a kid for $65 18 years ago. He needed his deer tag and it was getting late on the day before opening of season. I've shot a few duck, doves, grouse, and a Turkey or two.