Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips
Turkey Guns & Shooting => Turkey Guns => Topic started by: sswv on July 28, 2022, 03:24:05 PM
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Hello All. Everyone that's ever dealt with me knows I am an 870 guy but, I'm wanting to get a single shot for next season. I'm getting pretty worn down and one area I hunt involves a LOT of walking so I thought I'd cut down on weight a bit. My choices are a brand new Stevens 301 in 12ga or, a used NEF in 12ga and cut it down to 25"s and thread it for RemChokes. Money wise it's about the same. I thought I'd throw it out there and get some opinions from the fine folks on here. Oh yeah, if I go the NEF route it'll be a wood stock & forend.
thanks in advance
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My first thought is a 3" turkey load out of single shot 12ga. is going to hurt...it will have some very serious recoil. If your main goal is to cut the carrying weight of the gun, I would look at something is a 20ga or even a lighter weight 12ga.pump. Those 870 12ga. guns are tanks...I know mine is.
Of the 2 choices you mentioned, it really is a toss up. The Stevens you would need to buy different chokes to pattern. The cut down NEF you would have the cost of cutting & threading, but you already have the chokes to try. I guess it would probably come down to what feels the best in your hands and what is the most available.
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Agreed. In a lightweight single shot I would definitely go with a 20, not a 12, and shoot TSS.
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I'm going to give you a different opinion, i would look at buying a CZ pump in 28 gauge... or like others have said 20 gauge and TSS
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Used N.e.f. would be my choice of the 2. Also i would stick to a 12 gauge, much more choices in ammo
and the weight difference between the 20 and 12 in a short single shot is hardly noticeable. Nef's or H&R
made a lot of different variations, you could probably find a screw in choke 26" barrel with wood stocks with a little searching. Add a good recoil pad and cheek pad and it should be ok recoil wise for the low volume shooting involved with turkey hunting. Sounds like a fun project.
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hey Ward. a 26" screw in choke NEF/H&R in 12ga would make me the happiest guy in town. if anyone has a lead on one I'd sure appreciate it.
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I will keep an eye out for one. My son won one like that in a raffle years ago, but it had synthetic stocks
though. It was a great patterning gun from what i remember. He traded it off
a little while back. Thought I read somewhere that some company had acquired the rights to nef
after the remington bankrupcy and were going to make them again? That would be great if true!
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thank you Ward. I have been doing a lot of looking and reading and the #1 complaint about the 301 is they seem to shoot low when sighting off the bead. I've noticed that the plain all black 301 has the traditional front sight bead that sits directly on the barrel and it is not drilled and tapped for optics while the 301T has a ramp on the front with a bead sitting on it and is drilled and tapped and comes with a base. I'm guessing the extra height of that ramp on the 301T's are causing the guns to shoot low when sighting off the bead. If I don't come across a NEF/H&R pretty soon I can get the plain black 301 pretty cheap. I don't need one drilled and tapped and the traditional bead is fine with me. Just an observation I thought I'd share.
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Yeah man, I say 20 gauge also. I was not quick to get on the 20 gauge train until a guy I know sold me a brand new in the box Stevens 301 Turkey 20 gauge with a Jebs
.565 headhunter for $250.00. To good of. A deal to pass up ( he said he sucks has a turkey hunter and is going to concentrate on Bass fishing). That little gun throws some really good patterns. I bought a red dot sight with a Bass Pro gift card and got it dialed in with some light target loads at 15 yards. I knew it would need adjusting with the TSS, but I wanted to see what it could do with several different shells. At 40 yards I tried a hand rolled first fired 2 shots and adjusted after the first to center it up for the second, also shot Apex, Federal and Foxtrot. They all shot really good patterns. It was like carrying a Red Ryder
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thank you Ward. I have been doing a lot of looking and reading and the #1 complaint about the 301 is they seem to shoot low when sighting off the bead. I've noticed that the plain all black 301 has the traditional front sight bead that sits directly on the barrel and it is not drilled and tapped for optics while the 301T has a ramp on the front with a bead sitting on it and is drilled and tapped and comes with a base. I'm guessing the extra height of that ramp on the 301T's are causing the guns to shoot low when sighting off the bead. If I don't come across a NEF/H&R pretty soon I can get the plain black 301 pretty cheap. I don't need one drilled and tapped and the traditional bead is fine with me. Just an observation I thought I'd share.
no problem sswv :icon_thumright:
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I also hunt the steep mountains of WV and the same reasons lead me down a path years ago to this. Set up to shoot Hevi 13 before TSS was the rage. 20 guage modified H&R. 18.5" barrel w/ screw in choke. Fiber optic adjustable sights. Collapsible stock. Pleasure to carry and kills them way dead at 40+ with Hevi 1 #6.
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hey firedup. that is an awesome set-up. what choke is in it? and, I sure hope that water dosen't get any higher. we're getting poured on here again but no chance of any flood danger where I live.
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My nef. It does not hurt to shoot it.
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hey jerf. that is an awesome turkey gun. where did you get that stock and how long is the barrel?
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24 inch, and it's a handi stock for nef. They don't make them anymore.
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that is one fine shotgun jerf.
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Thank you.
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FWIW............ The NEF is built like the proverbial brick outhouse. They've been around forever. Parts are everywhere. They just WORK.
Between me and my kids, we have 4 of them set up in 20 gauge. Had William at SumToy run them through his shop and they are BAD TO THE BONE. We shoot the old skool Federal Heavy 7's. But the TSS stuff is a step up from that. There are at leats 5 other dedicated and tricked out turkey guns sitting in the same safe as my NEF 20..............3", 3.5" 12 gauges in pump and semi and a 10 gauge pump. They sit. The NEF goes hunting. I also have a 22" NEF 12 gauge barrel with factory sights. It would drop right on to any of our receivers. It sits on the shelf.
If I were bent on a 12 gauge NEF.......... I'd send it to SumToy and have him set it up to shoot 2.75" Longbeard XR's.
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Thanks for sharing pics of your turkey guns. Those are some nice, well thought out hunting rigs!
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first off...thanks everyone for the pictures and the opinions. today I scored an H&R Pardner 12ga with a 27.5" modified barrel that looks like you just took it out of the box brand spanking new. earlier today I bought a Winchester 370 in 12ga with a 30" full choke barrel for $100 and a game camera which I had $20.00 invested in. I then stopped by a local gun shop and swapped the Winchester (heads up) for the H&R. I'm guessing they're really impressed with the Winchesters anyway, I can't find as much as a fingerprint on the H&R. Now, here's where it gets better. the local gun shop actually has a gunsmith shop with a very well seasoned gunsmith that I've known for nearly 50 years. He's gonna cut it down to 24"s and thread it for RemChokes for $60.00. to say I'm excited is an understatement. here's the gun today. when it's all done I'll post the after picture. I'll be in the market for a few more RemChoke turkey tubes for getting it figured out. again, thank everyone for taking part in this venture with me
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You will love it.
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I'm sure I will jerf. I'm looking high and low for a stock exactly like the one on jerf's gun. if anyone has one or a lead on one please let me know. it looks exactly like the stocks on my 870's and I really like them.
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Nice gun and good pickup,
I would rather have this gun than the 301
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Congrats on the find sswv, looks like a great gun. Looking forward to seeing how your
project turns out.
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Great find and sounds like you got a pretty good deal! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
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well...phase 1 is complete. barrel cut to 24's and threaded for Remington choke tubes. next phase is a new stock & forearm.
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well...phase 1 is complete. barrel cut to 24's and threaded for Remington choke tubes. next phase is a new stock & forearm.
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:z-guntootsmiley: Awesome!
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got the new (to me) stock & forearm mounted today 'phase 2' and it's pretty awesome but I'm kinda leaning towards the traditional polk stock look with the factory wood set. anyway, it's something to kick around while I'm thinking about what type sight(s) and camo.
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I like the looks of the wood stocks better, but those synthetics might be more functional for your use.
Only you will be able to decide that. Really cool project, thanks for posting and sharing it with us!
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Oh the horror, the horror.
I like the wood stocks better also, much better,
they are a nice looking set from what your picture shows.
maybe add a limb saver pad to the wood if recoil is an issue, but that wood stock will disappear sitting in the shade up against a tree
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I just couldn't stand that hammer sticking up like a roosters head so...I bobbed it.
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I just put an extension on mine. Have one on my 10 also,
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so, to bring things up to date. I bought an H&R Pardner 12ga with a 27.5" modified barrel. Had the barrel cut to 24"s and threaded for Remington chokes. Bobbed the hammer. Cut the stock down and added a neoprene slip on that I stripped the insides out of and replaced with a Limbsaver screw on that just wouldn't line up for a perfect fit directly on the wood. LOP is now 13.5"s which is my perfect fit. I then added sling studs and an ammo sleeve. I'm going to stick with the bead cause that's how it was done back when I was a kid. Now, the last thing is camo. I have lot's of options but I'm thinking I'll just do No-Mar camo tape on the barrel and be done with it but.....I sure do like spraying stuff. It might be a while but I will definitely add a picture of the finished product. Thanks everyone for going along with me on this journey.
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Looks great!
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with deer gun season around the corner I went to our range to check the rifles and took the project H&R along. this pattern is at 40 yards with LB #6's. the wind was howling but even at 12 yards it was a little low and a little to the right. I tried four different chokes and three different brands of ammo and the results were the same, low and right. I like the pattern but need the POA-POI adjusted. I know how I have done it many years ago but any "modern" ideas will be appreciated.
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Love those NEF/H&R's! Make great turkey guns. Had my 20 ga topper threaded last winter. As far as your poi issue. I'd have gunsmith install adjustable rifle sights or mount a small red dot. Id skip camo and keep the original finish I think it looks good as is.
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Great looking pattern. Depending how hard the wind was blowing, I would try shooting again on
a calm day to see where it's going. Wind can sometimes play havoc, especially with lighter bb's
like 6's. If it's still off, you could always use some different thickness of Cheekeze pad, which should
raise the impact up and left. A nice set of older metal 870 adjustable sights like they used on slug
gun barrels would work good too, and look perfect on it, I think.
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well I'm back on the project H&R. other than some camo on the barrel I'm ready to head back to the bench. looking for a .670 choke tube. anyone know where I might find one?
thanks in advance
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Hello All! I'm back with another update on the H&R build. The gun is ready to go to the range again with another pile of 3" Longbeard #6's and 5 choke tubes later this week. I have these to try... a .660, .662, .664, .665 and a .667 all cleaned and ready. My buddy said our bench was falling apart so Saturday with a bunch of used scraps I put a new one together. Hopefully by this weekend I'll have pattern pics along with the woods ready partially camo H&R. This has been a long process and a lot of fun sharing the different steps with y'all. Just wouldn't be right not to show the new (made from scraps) shooting bench.
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Nice work :icon_thumright:
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You should definitely find a choke it likes with all the ones you have to try. The pattern you posted looked fine and will easily kill a turkey but I can’t blame you wanting to upgrade. If you haven’t put the camo on it yet, consider a vinyl wrap. There are lots of different patterns you can buy. I just did my Mossberg 500 in Mossy Oak Greenleaf and it turned out great.
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I’d go Stevens 301 COMPACT
Have it drilled and tapped for a fastfire 3
Remove the safety and plug the hole somehow
Rattle can paint job
All you’d ever need. I’m seriously considering this myself even though I love my tricked out Benelli M2
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hey ShortMagFan. that's actually my next project. have a guy with the 26" 301T in 20ga with a Red Dot pretty reasonable but I'm wanting that compact.
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I’m a short armed guy but once I started hunting with “compact” shotguns I can’t imagine going back to a full stocked gun.
And with the way regulations and bag limits are heading there isn’t much need for more than a single shot. If I miss him somehow that just means I get to keep hunting
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I agree SMF. all my long guns have the LOP shortened to my liking.
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spent some time today on the new bench with the H&R. with the POA/POI dialed in close up with light loads I did some shooting. I shot at 40 yards (checked with a Leupold rangefinder), all ammo was Winchester LB XR #6s in 3". I tried 5 different chokes and can honestly say all were plenty good enough to hunt with but, two stood out in the H&R over the rest. all patterns looked pretty much the same but here are a few I really liked. the LEFT and RIGHT patterns were with a brand new Carlson's Longbeard choke and the one in the MIDDLE was an Undertaker XT. pellets in the 10" circle averaged 200 and seem to be pretty even. I'm leaning towards the Undertaker XT myself.
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I'll get a pic or two of my re-built H&R up in a day or two.
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the 'ol H&R 12ga is finally ready for the woods with it's new modifications. the question now is....how should I dull that gloss black choke tube? I was thinking camo tape and cutting out the holes or just paint it. here's a look along with my new Stevens 301 20ga compact. need to try a couple more chokes in it but so far it's pretty good with the LB #6's.
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They look great.Good luck!
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well, my H&R project turkey gun has come full circle. I'm very happy with the end result (I don't think the gobbler is). I don't keep the sling on when hunting but it's sure handy when it comes to toting out a dead bird. now it's time to focus on the next project. a Stevens 301 20ga compact. so far the front bead has been replaced with a white ivory Bradly and it's been drilled and tapped for a scope base.
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well, my H&R project turkey gun has come full circle. I'm very happy with the end result (I don't think the gobbler is). I don't keep the sling on when hunting but it's sure handy when it comes to toting out a dead bird. now it's time to focus on the next project. a Stevens 301 20ga compact. so far the front bead has been replaced with a white ivory Bradly and it's been drilled and tapped for a scope base.
Where did you get the strap? I recently refurbished an old NEF Pardner 20 ga I’m wanting to add a strap like this to.
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hey LSE. a good friend gave me that strap a while back. only one I've ever seen like it. it's as handy as a pocket on a shirt.
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I’ve never been a fan of single shots. When everything goes right, they’re perfect. When everything goes wrong, not so much! Sooner or later if you hunt enough things are going to happen that you can’t explain or control. I feel an extra little bit of weight is worth it for an extra round or two in the gun. A miss sucks, but I can shake it off pretty easily. A crippled animal that gets away because I chose light weight over having a back up shot, that’s the kind of thing that would haunt me! In my years of hunting turkey it has only happened a few times. But I was mighty happy for the second shot when it did!!
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I understand what you're saying Farmboy27 but, I've been doing this close to 50 years and I don't shoot unless I know it's a done deal. I've killed plenty gobblers in my time and I have no interest in just letting pellets fly in hopes that one hits a sweet spot for the sake of saying I killed one. I do not have to carry a gobbler out to say I've had a good day. Heck, last season I never fired a shot and had one of the best seasons I'd ever had. You get them inside 30 yards and you've won whether you shoot or not.
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I understand what you're saying Farmboy27 but, I've been doing this close to 50 years and I don't shoot unless I know it's a done deal. I've killed plenty gobblers in my time and I have no interest in just letting pellets fly in hopes that one hits a sweet spot for the sake of saying I killed one. I do not have to carry a gobbler out to say I've had a good day. Heck, last season I never fired a shot and had one of the best seasons I'd ever had. You get them inside 30 yards and you've won whether you shoot or not.
Good post.