Hi all,
As I get older the weight of my turkey equipment is starting to be noticeable both from an energy perspective as well as knee issues. I'm starting to think about paring down what I carry. A 1/4lb here, a 1/2lb there, it all adds up. I have a Benelli Super Nova with pistol grip that has served me fairly well. You can see it in my profile pic. It's got a 26" barrel and according to specs weighs around 8lbs. My 16 year old son has outgrown his youth model 20g and wants to go to a 12g. I'm thinking it's time to hand mine down and get something new for me. My wishes, which may not all be aligned - 12g, shorter, lighter, maybe a semi-auto, and if it isn't contrary to the weight goal still have a pistol grip of some sort.
Any thoughts and recommendations?
I found this today which seemed interesting
https://www.mossberg.com/product/500-turkey-53265/ (https://www.mossberg.com/product/500-turkey-53265/)
I have the Winchester Sx3 Longbeard edition in 12 ga. I absolutely love the gun. ITS THE BEST TURKEY GUN EVER MADE IN MY OPINION!!!! The gun comes in 12 or 20 gauge, has a pistol grip with interchange cheek and butt stock size pads for customizing the fit. Gun comes with a cantilever mounted to the barrel and ready to go for any optic you choose and also have moveable rifle sights already on the gun if you prefer that which the rear sight will flip down flat if you put an optic on there so you don't see it in your optic view. Gun has a 24" barrel and holds like a dream with the pistol grip! Not exactly sure of the weight of the 12 but it's somewhere in the 7lb range I believe. Trigger sucks but that's the only flaw to it. Everybody that is shooting one is getting incredible patterns out of them.
I've got a benelli m2 12 gauge with a 21" barrel, pistol grip stock. It weighs just a tad over 6.5lbs
If you're open to smaller gauges(you can get excellent patterns with the use of tss shot) you can get close to 5.5lbs.
Quote from: Borden811 on April 02, 2020, 03:12:56 PM
I've got a benelli m2 12 gauge with a 21" barrel, pistol grip stock. It weighs just a tad over 6.5lbs
If you're open to smaller gauges(you can get excellent patterns with the use of tss shot) you can get close to 5.5lbs.
Did you purchase the gun that way or customize it?
Benelli is my vote if you want light weight. I have a Steady Grip SBE in advantage camo. Great gun, shoots fantastic patterns. Good luck....
Benelli Super Vinci...
Amen, another beauty
If it were me, I would grab that youth model 20 and turn it into a 40 yard killer. Check out the 20 gauge section for some nice builds. My grown daughter's youth model 20 will put 167 in the 10" at 40 yards - nice even pattern. And that is the Fed HW #7. TSS would be even better.
My son in law has that 500 and loves it so far. First season hunting it.
I won my Nova at a DU event. I gave it to a guy who's house burnt down and he lost all his firearms. I was not sad when that heavy thing was someone else's to tote. I killed plenty of ducks and a few turkey with it.
I was in the same boat I wanted to get something that was lighter
So I went with a benelli M2 20 gauge 24 in barrel
Especially with today's chokes and TSS it's a deadly gun at 40 and even a little further
And I shaved probably 3 pounds from my 870 I had been carrying for years
Look at Stoeger M3020 (20 ga.) Or the Retay 20 gauge that's comin out soon. Once I switched to 20 with the right choke and TSS load I'm liable to never tote my SBE 2 again!!!
Quote from: BINK McCARTY on April 03, 2020, 12:16:57 AM
Look at Stoeger M3020 (20 ga.) Or the Retay 20 gauge that's comin out soon. Once I switched to 20 with the right choke and TSS load I'm liable to never tote my SBE 2 again!!!
Retay has been taking the market by storm I never heard of them till the NWTF convention
And now everyone is talking about them the small town hunting show all shoot custom edition
Retay I would like to get my hands on one of their guns and shoot one
Benelli m2 12 gauge. Drilled and tapped from the factory, steady grip style stocks available, good choke selection,lightweight for gauge. Cons are they are not cheap, but will last a lifetime of turkey hunting. I had seriously considered the idea of a 20 gauge myself. We had converted my son's first shotgun, a rem 870 youth to a turkey gun by adding the shureshot stocks to it with truglo sights and an indian creek choke. It shoots great and he loves it, but we can't really tell the difference in weight between it and my 28" barrel Vinci. So that and relying on expensive ammo that may have availability issues in the future was the deciding factor for me. I am going to try and find a 24" barrel vinci or super vinci for my dedicated turkey gun, wish i would have bought one when they were available new!
I have 2 SBE's. Great, lightweight. My Turkey gun is the camo 24 inch steady grip. Love it, very light. I also have the original Walnut Heckler % Koch Benelli when they first came out. 28 inch barrel, still lightweight gun. Love them both, they function flawlessly....
PS, did not pay the crazy prices that they get now, my 1998 Walnut stock cost 900 new, and I bought my steady grip Turkey model used from Gander Mountain, someone bought it, and returned it so I bought it cheap. The pricing now is crazy, but they are great guns......
I would say Benelli M2, but if recoil is an issue go for a gas gun, the Remington V3 would be a nice choice at about 7 pounds or the Winchester SX3 or SX4. Good luck with your gun hunting!
Good call Long Island, about those v3's. I think they have a turkey specific model out now too.
And that Remington is USA :funnyturkey:
Quote from: Timmer on April 02, 2020, 03:58:02 PM
Quote from: Borden811 on April 02, 2020, 03:12:56 PM
I've got a benelli m2 12 gauge with a 21" barrel, pistol grip stock. It weighs just a tad over 6.5lbs
If you're open to smaller gauges(you can get excellent patterns with the use of tss shot) you can get close to 5.5lbs.
Did you purchase the gun that way or customize it?
I tend to never do things the easy way. It was a benelli tactical model I picked up cheap. Then I found a 21" field barrel, and a steadygrip stock. Put it all together, added an aimpoint, and a god-a-grip cheek pad, and started killing stuff.
This year I picked up an 870, and pretty much customized it myself, including paint, some hacksaw and dremel work, some stippling, and barrel polishing. Hopefully I get to pattern it this weekend. I guess you could say I have a problem, lol.
Quote from: the Ward on April 03, 2020, 03:02:08 PM
Good call Long Island, about those v3's. I think they have a turkey specific model out now too.
Indeed so, the V3 Turkey Pro. Comes with a Truglo red dot. I have a standard walnut field V3. Terrific gas system, hardly kicks, great trigger. Recommend them highly.