Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey
The first gun I ever bought was a turkey shotgun. It was a Remington 870 Express Turkey, with a 21-inch barrel and an extra-full choke. I then purchased an additional modified Rem choke and proceeded to shoot everything from doves to snow geese with that stubby shotgun, as well as turkeys, which were my main focus at the time. It got the job done on those other game birds, too, until I could afford more suitable shotguns for upland and waterfowl hunting.
I bought that gun from a small farm supply retailer in my hometown which, at the time, had a pretty well-stocked sporting goods department filled with guns, decoys and other various hunting equipment. Never assume that customers are going to buy all their firearms from the big-box stores. The smaller retailer that’s willing to carry a selection of guns at a competitive price, guns that the name-brand stores may not offer, can cash in on additional sales. Here are some top turkey shotguns to consider stocking this spring. (Keep in mind that manufacturer’s suggested retail prices are subject to change.)
Remington 870 SPS Turkey
This model has the same 21-inch barrel as my old 870 turkey gun, but that’s about where the similarities end. The 3-inch 12-gauge 870 SPS Turkey has upgrades that include a synthetic stock and extended forearm covered in versatile Kryptek Obskura Transitional camo, while the receiver and barrel have a durable Patriot Brown Cerakote finish. At the muzzle is a bead sight and Truglo Headbanger turkey choke. A HiViz sight kit is also included. The stock’s soft cheek insert and Remington’s excellent SuperCell recoil pad effectively tame magnum turkey load recoil. MSRP is $735.
The 870 SPS Super Magnum Turkey/Waterfowl is identical, except it has a more versatile 3½-inch chamber and 26-inch barrel, plus an additional Over Decoys (improved cylinder) choke tube for duck hunting. In areas where waterfowling is just as popular as turkey hunting, this may be the shotgun to stock. MSRP is $820.
Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey
I had the opportunity to hunt with Mossberg’s 940 Pro Turkey a few seasons ago, and it was absolute death on gobblers. This 3-inch 12-gauge semiauto is powered by a fast and reliable gas operating system. Most of the internal components have been given a corrosion-resistant coating that also aids dependability. The receiver is optics ready, the stock is adjustable, and a standard HiViz Compsight and Mossberg X-Factor XX-Full turkey choke adorn the muzzle. The entire gun is covered in retro Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo. My test gun had a 24-inch barrel, but an 18.5-inch barrel is also available. MSRP for either is $1,260.
There’s also a 940 Pro Turkey combo model that comes with a Holosun Micro Dot installed, an 18.5-inch barrel, and all of the above features. MSRP is $1,441.
Franchi Affinity 3.5 Turkey Elite
One of my current go-to turkey guns is a basic black Affinity 3.5 with a longer 28-inch barrel. It works well out of a ground blind and is responsible for the demise of many gobblers. However, Franchi’s Affinity 3.5 Turkey Elite has been vastly upgraded over standard models. This 3½-inch 12-gauge inertia-operated semiauto has a synthetic Steadygrip stock, 24-inch barrel with a lengthened forcing cone and Rhino turkey choke for improved patterns, and protected front sight. There’s also a Picatinny rail for mounting optics. The stock and forearm are concealed by Optifade Subalpine camo, while the receiver and barrel have a Midnight Bronze Cerakote finish. This is the turkey gun die-hard hunters will want. MSRP is $1,649.
Winchester SX4 Universal Hunter
The new SX4 Universal Hunter in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo is the one to stock for customers who want one shotgun that will do it all. This soft-shooting semi-auto will reliably handle a wide range of loads, making it suitable for shooting everything from doves to geese to turkeys, thanks to the included extra-full choke tube. It’s available in 3½-inch 12-gauge and 3-inch 20-gauge. Barrel length options for both gauges are 28, 26, or 24 inches, the latter being most suitable for turkeys. Other features include a fiber optic front sight, Picatinny rail for mounting optics, and the excellent recoil-absorbing Inflex 2 recoil pad. MSRP is $1,270 for 12-gauge, $1,340 for 20-gauge.
Winchester SXP Turkey Hunter
Another worthy Winchester option is the SXP Turkey Hunter. Concealed by full-coverage Mossy Oak Obsession camo, perfect for blending into the spring woods, this fast-cycling, inertia-assisted pump-action scattergun comes with adjustable fiber-optic rifle sights to put the tight patterns produced by the back-bored barrel and extra-full choke on target. A four-lug rotary bolt ensures secure bolt-to-barrel lock-up, while black chrome plating on the bolt and other key components provides lubricity to enhance cycling speed and reliability. An Inflex 1 recoil pad manages magnum turkey load kick. The SXP Turkey Hunter is available in 3½-inch 12-gauge and 3-inch 20-gauge, both with 24-inch barrels. MSRP for either is an affordable $580.
Retay GPS-XL Turkey
Retay has built a reputation in recent years for making innovative and reliable inertia-powered autoloaders. However, many may not be aware that Retay also makes pump shotguns. For gobbler chasers, there is the GPS-XL Turkey. The GPS stands for Geometric Pump System consisting of an extended, floating forearm, dual slide, and dual latch action, all of which combine to create fast, dependable cycling. The XL stands for the 3½-inch chamber in this 12-gauge. A TruGlo fiber optic front sight sits atop the 24-inch barrel, which has a lengthened forcing cone for improved patterns. Camouflage is courtesy of Mossy Oak Bottomland (shown) or Realtree Timber. MSRP is $479 for pistol grip (shown), $459 for non-pistol grip.
Spandau Arms S2
The Spandau S2 is one of the latest offerings to emerge from Turkey in what has become a rapidly expanding market of affordable inertia-operated semiautos based on Benelli’s proven design. It’s available in both 3-inch 12- and 20-gauge with either a 28- or 24-inch barrel, but turkey hunters will be most interested in the shorter 24-inch model. Other features include a fiber optic front sight and Mobile-style choke tubes, three of which are provided. Camo options include Mossy Oak Bottomland, Mossy Oak Obsession, and Realtree APX (shown). (20-gauge offered only in Bottomland.) MSRP is just $583. There’s also a budget-friendly black synthetic 12-gauge model available for only $465.
Savage 212/220 Turkey
The Savage 212 (12-gauge) and 220 (20-gauge) bolt-action shotguns are based on Savage’s 110 rifle platform. The AccuStock internal chassis, free-floating 22-inch carbon steel barrel, and crisp, adjustable AccuTrigger all combine to offer rifle-like accuracy with tight-patterning turkey loads. Capacity is one round in the chamber plus two in the detachable box magazine. Concealment is provided by Mossy Oak Obsession camo on the synthetic stock, which can be customized for length of pull and comb height. A rail atop the receiver makes mounting a scope or other optic simple. For those customers looking for something different, this is it. MSRP is $889 for the 212 and $799 for the 220.
Four Sub-gauge Turkey Slayers
While the 12-gauge has been the top turkey gun forever, more and more hunters are discovering the merits of sub-gauges. First, it was the 20-gauge, a perfect choice for kids, the elderly, and anyone else who didn’t want to subject themselves to needless recoil. However, with the development of Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) loads, which allowed smaller pellets to hit just as hard as larger pellets while also creating incredibly dense patterns, smaller scatterguns like the .410 bore and 28-gauge suddenly became legitimate gobbler getters. Whether or not this is just a fad remains to be seen, but it may not hurt to stock a few sub-gauge models for hunters looking to downsize. Here are four smallbores designed specifically for taking turkeys.
Mossberg 500 Turkey
With over 12 million Model 500s sold, the 500 Turkey pump is sure to be a hit with hunters looking to hop on the sub-gauge bandwagon. This 3-inch .410 bore has a 24-inch barrel with an extra-full extended choke and a fiber optic front sight, although it’s also optics ready. Full-coverage Mossy Oak Greenleaf keeps the gun hidden in the spring woods. With a more open accessory or aftermarket choke tube installed (not included), this little pump would also make a nifty dove gun come fall. MSRP is $683.
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
Besides 12- and 20-gauge, Benelli’s popular SBE 3 is also available in 28-gauge. This inertia-driven sub-gauge semiauto was one of the first 28-gauges to be offered with a 3-inch chamber, allowing hunters to take advantage of new magnum 28-gauge loads. The model with a 24-inch barrel would be perfect for turkeys. It has Mossy Oak Original Bottomland on the Comfort Tech 3 stock and forearm and Patriot Brown Cerakote on the barrel and receiver. MSRP is $2,149.
Retay Masai Mara Turkey
At the heart of the Masai Mara is Retay’s Inertia Plus Rotating Bolt. which ensures positive bolt-to-barrel lockup every time. For gobbler hunters, there is the Masai Mara Turkey. This 3-inch 20-gauge semiauto is available in three different camo patterns — Bottomland, Obsession and Realtree Timber (shown). All models come with a 22-inch barrel and TruGlo fiber optic front sight, plus a rail for mounting optics to the receiver. MSRP is $1,265.
Savage 301 Turkey
Also referred to as the Stevens by Savage 301 Turkey, this .410 break-action single-shot has a 3-inch chamber, 26-inch barrel, extra-full Win-style choke, and synthetic stock and forearm covered in Mossy Oak Bottomland or Obsession camo. There is a bead front sight, but a removable rail is included for mounting optics. MSRP is $269. There is also the 301 Turkey XP, which comes with a red-dot optic already pre-mounted and sighted in. MSRP is $319.
