The gun posts about autos vs pumps and short stocks got me thinking about all the different guns that I've used to kill turkeys over the several decades of turkey hunting. Gonna take a trip down memory lane and try to list them along with the approximate year. Would love to hear about yours.
Model 12 - 1975? first turkey, 32" barrel 12 gauge
Mossberg 835 - Late 80's model
Winchester 1300 - Mid 90's 12 gauge
Winchester 1300 - 2014? 20 gauge
ATI Cavalry O/U - 2018 20 gauge
Model 12 - same gun barrel reduced from 32" to 26"
Mossberg SA-28 - 28 gauge, last 2 turkeys
This list should be fairly accurate.
1968 - 2005 Remington 870 12 gauge 30" fixed full choke
2006- 2020 Benelli SBE 12 gauge and Benelli Cordoba 20 gauge
2021- 2021 Beretta A400 28 gauge
2022 - .410 ??
A few seasons hunted with a Winchester Model 42 .410 , a Browning Gold 10 gauge , a Remington SP10 and various recurve bows.
The shotguns I've used over the years to bag at least one gobbler have included, in no particular order, the following:
Remington 870 12 gauge
Remington 870 20 gauge
Winchester Model 12 in 12 gauge (Grandpa's shotgun)
Remington double barrel hammer 12 gauge (blackpowder)
Fusil flintlock 20 gauge
Single-barrel 12 gauge flintlock shotgun
First bird and many others Mossberg 835
Beretta xtrema(original one)
H&R single shot, inherited from my grandpa, one and done, point of aim was way off.
Benelli SBE2
Browning Gold 3" NWTF model.
Navy Arms 20ga O/U fixed chokes. (uncles old favorite)
Currently Mossberg sa-20 turkey thug.
1st few where shot with a 20 ga double barrel .
Then a rem mod 1100 12 ga
Then I got a 12 ga O/U for high school grad .
Hunted with it the longest.
Then a O/u 20 ga to now a 20 ga auto .
Also mixed in a 410 double barrel , a 16 ga single barrel that where passed kin folks guns that I killed gobblers with then retired them .
First bird was with an 870 Express with 28" barrel. Wood and matte barrel, my all round pump gun.
Bought a Mossberg 835 for the next year. 24" ported barrel. A real slobber knocker.
Shot that for years and found a CVA 20 gauge single shot and carried it some and still have and carry it some.
Bought a Winchester SX3 26" barrel Universal Hunter a few years ago. It currently occupies the #1 carry spot.
I came into possession of my father's old Remington Model 11 (Remington produced A5). I'm trying to find a good 2 3/4" shell for turkey that can be shot out of the old gun. Probably from the 40's, modified fixed I think.
Mossberg 835 12 ga
Maverick youth 20 ga
JC Higgins model 20 3/4" 12 ga
Remington 870 12 Ga 3"
Remington 870 3.5"
Remington 870 20 Ga
Winchester sxp 20 Ga
Benelli M2 12 ga
Rem 1187 89? stock full choke for first 10 years.
Stoeger 3500 14 til present. Stock turkey choke.
Both have doubled as my waterfowl gun
11-87 bought in '88
870 bottom land bought in '94
11-87 green leaf
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1979 - Winchester Model 12 30" Full Trap
1985? - Remington 870 26" fixed Full (first year of the SP)
2020 - Remington V3 22" "Turkey Pro" haven't used this much....still mostly use the 870
I have only taken birds with the gun my dad handed down to me.
2007-2020
1972 Remington Wingmaster LW 20ga with a fixed modified barrel shootin either 5s or 6s of 2 3/4" pheasant loads.
Went a little overboard from Dec 2020 until now and have added:
Mossberg 835
Stoeger M3000
Stoeger M3020
Stevens 301 20ga
Stevens 320 20ga turkey thumbhole
Hoping to take a bird with each over the next few years.
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Started with Remington 1100 Magnum in 1982. Enjoyed trying different guns throughout my years through today. Enjoy the Old School Remi's, will tote one out this season for sure. I love to mix it up, kind of like changing calls. Be safe, good luck this spring...
1988 to present: Rem 870 3" Express Mag 12
Winchester 1400 32" fixed full choke 2 3/4" 12ga
Remington 870 Mad turkey choke 3" 12ga
Winchester 1300 NWTF 12ga
Weatherby sa459 20ga turkey choke
I killed my first turkey with my best friends dads Remington 1100 12ga with some kind of 2 3/4" shell. Next guns were:
An old Mossberg 835 old camo 12ga
Remington 870 Express Super-magnum 12 ga from the early 2000's. I killed most of my turkeys with this gun.
Now I'm shooting a Remington 870 20 ga youth model. I've added a Burris FF3 and a Sumtoy choke. I really like toting this smaller gun around.
I had a couple other shotguns in the mix through the years but they didn't hang around for very long.
I'd really like to have a nice short over/under set up 20 ga or a smaller sized semi auto next.
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2005 - Mossberg 500 12ga. 24" barrel 1st turkey
2007-2008 - Beretta 3901 12 ga. 26" barrel 3 turkeys
2013-present - Remington 870 Express 12ga. 21" barrel with Magpul stock
1972- First shotgun H&R 20 ga. "Topper" Modifed choke.
Early 1980's- Browning BPS Upland Field 12 ga. 22" barrel
Late 1990's- Rem. 870 Super Magnum 3.5" 12 ga. 23" barrel
Early 2000's- Rem. 870 Super Magnum 3.5" 26" barrel (extra barrel 20" Rifle sight with Rem choke)
Ithaca/Tikka O/U Turkey Gun 222/12 ga.
New England Arms 10 ga.
Browning BPS Stalker 10 ga. 24" barrel
Benelli SBE 1 12 ga. 24" barrel
Knight TK 2000 12 ga. ML shotgun
Benelli Nova 20 ga. 24" barrel
Mossberg 835 12 ga. 24" barrel
and my most recent a Mossberg Model 500 Turkey .410 26" barrel.
EXCELLENT thread, Mike !!!
I'm gonna be really foggy on the years. So I'll only post the ones I'm relatively sure of, but........
Winchester 1200 in 12 gauge 1978
Remington 870 Turkey in 12 gauge
Browning BPS Stalker in 10 gauge 1990-91
Winchester Super X2 3.5" 12 gauge 2000
Winchester Super X3 3.5" 12 gauge 2012-ish
NEF Pardner 3" 20 gauge 2018
Along the way, I've also taken some days with:
Grandpa's 1929 Iver Johnson Champion 12 gauge single
My 1933 Winchester Model 21 in 12 gauge
My 1948 Winchester Model 21 in 16 gauge
And on deck is a NEF Pardner .410
Maverick 88
Browning Gold Hunter
Mossberg 835
Remington 870 Supermag
Weatherby SA-08 compact
First few were with a h&r 20 gauge single shot
Next several were with a Remington 870 20 gauge
After that it was an h&r excell auto 12 gauge
Then back to the 870 20 gauge for a few years
1 with the stevens 301 .410
Now a stoeger 3020 for the last 2 or 3 years
Also have a tristar viper g2 .410 that will probably see some woods time this year
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First turkey was with a maverick 88 my dad bought in the early 90's, I killed it when I 11 years old in 06. From 2007 until 2016 I used a mossberg 500 my dad bought in 2003, and from 2017 to present I've used a mossberg 835 with no plans to change.
I've also killed a handful with a bow but I prefer the shotgun
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First turkey was with my Rem 870 Wingmaster and 30" full choke. I also had a 20" slug barrel. I sent that to Briley and had them install their choke system. I used that for several years before purchasing a Moss 835, and subsequently, a Moss 930.
H&R 10 gauge single shot
Browning BPS 10 gauge cut and choked by Mark Bansner
Remington sp-10 22inch rifle sight barrel
11-87 Greenleaf
11-87 20 gauge youth
Benelli M2 21 inch barrel
Remington 870 12 gauge
Franchi affinity 3 12 gauge
My favorite and go to is my sp-10.
The benelli is gonna get some action this spring.
I started big and got smarter.
12 ga Browning Gold 3.5"
20 ga SKB 7300 pump
20ga Stoeger 3200 with TSS
28 ga Mossberg SA-28 with TSS handloads
I think I will stay right here. Crushing power with a 1.25 oz load and manageable recoil in a 5 pound gun. God Bless, Al Baker
Put many stocks under the chop saw and never thought twice about value or appearance. A gun is a tool. If it doesn't fit, no need to have it.
Remington 870 Magnum 3" 12ga with Special Purpose barrel - 2007-2010
Remington 870 Express 3" 12ga- 2010-2014
Browning BPS NWTF 3" 12ga- 2014-2021
The BPS will probably get another season under its belt, depending on when the Mag-10 I bought gets set up. I still use that 870 Magnum of my Dad's every now and again when he's not using it - it's an infinitely nicer gun to carry all day, and to shoot, especially, compared to my BPS.
H&R Topper Model 158, 20 ga 28" fixed full - first gun back in the 80's
Rem 870 special field straight English stock 20 ga, 23"
Rem 870 special field straight English stock 12 ga, 23"
Rem 870 super magnum, 23"
Rem 870 express, 20 ga with 26" barrel, then a 21" barrel
Rem 1100, 2 3/4" chamber 12 ga. with 26" barrel
I' ve killed multiple birds with each and all are still in the rotation (just depends on whether I'm feeling more nostalgic or more high end on a particular day) with the exception of the two special field versions of 870's. Wish I had hung on to them...
ODT
Hmm
Mossberg 500 youth model 20 gauge
Remington 870
Mossberg 935 (junk)
Mossberg 835
Benelli m2 20 gauge
I rotate the 835 and the benelli now depending on where I'm hunting. Love them both.
Coast to Coast 20ga (mossberg 500)
Browning A5 12
Mossberg 500 12ga
Knight TK2000
Escort mag 12ga
A decent gun well cared for lasts a lifetime or maybe two. And look at all of us listing several turkey guns over the last 30 years or less. :laugh: Yeh, I'm guilty too.
Rem 870 12ga.
36" barrel single shot 12ga.
Browning bps 10 26" wood&blue
All used 80's mid 90's time frame, then the following,
Browning bps upland special 12 gauge ; mid 90's to present
Benelli vinci ; 2011 to present
Browning bps 10 synthetic ; 2014? to present
Hope to eventually add a new A5 16 gauge to the list someday.
I've think many of us followed the same path.
Beginning - 2-3/4" shotgun duck & pheasant loads
Followed by - 3-1/2" shotgun lead
Followed by - 3" 12 gauge Hevishot
Followed by - 3" 20 gauge HEAVYWEIGHT
Followed by - 20, 28 and 410 gauge TSS
First turkey was with a Revelation 410 bolt action 1965 (still have it)
Last one was with a Weatherby SA459 20 gauge 2021 (yep, have it too)
No way I could fill in all the blanks from 65 to 2021.
1987 Winchester Model 12 (Borrowed from my dad)
1991-95 Mossberg 500 Woodland Camo
1996- present Remington 870 special purpose Mag Mossy Oak bottomland
This year just for the heck of it i am going to try and take a bird with my SP-10.
Maverick 88 12ga with a 28" barrel
Winchester SXP Turkey 12ga with a 24" barrel
Browning Maxus Bottomland 12ga with a 26" barrel
Remington 870 Youth 20ga with a 21" barrel and shurshot stock :z-flirtysmile3:
The only way I will ever tote a 12ga again is if my wife or kids are carrying the 20ga..
I am currently in the process of turning my first ever gun (NEF Pardner .410 FULL) into a little turkey gun, so I will have a back up if the 20ga is taken..
Ithaca model 37 featherweight 20ga fixed full
Beretta 370 12 ga
SBE3 12ga turkey pistol grip
Yildiz youth 20ga O/U
Probably hunt Yildiz 28ga O/U this year
Or may get out dads old Ithaca
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2001 to 2021 has been a mossberg 835. This year I will be using it as well as a mossberg 20 gauge.
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First bird with a borrowed Winchester 1300 NWTF
Then it was a 1989 Remington Express for a few years
Then an early 11-87...killed many turkeys but it was a chunk to tote around.
Currently using a 1992 870 Remington SP Greenleaf
2009 I killed my first turkey with my uncle's 1300 NWTF Winchester.
2010-2012 a Remington 870 3.5" 12 ga
2013-2020 my 1988 1300 NWTF. I bought this used in perfect condition in 2013. I liked my uncles so much that I had to get one!
2021 Cz 1012 12ga bottomland camo.
I'll probably use the Cz for traveling and use my 1300 around home this year.
1980- Ithaca mag 10 The path of feathers that this left convinced me that I was over gunned. :o
1981-2010 Remington 870 12 ga
2011 Parker Reproduction 28 ga
2015 Benelli M1S90 20 ga
2021 Franchi 48 AL. 28 ga
I still carry the 870 if I'm in a place that requires larger than TSS size shot.
2003: killed my first turkey with my uncles ithaca 37 16ga
2004: I got an 870 youth 20 ga for my 14th birthday, and turkey hunted with it exclusively until 09
2008: bought a used 835, but it shot a foot low
2009: Traded in the 835 for a 935
2012: added a Baikal MP-18 youth 20 ga
2013: H&R Topper youth 20 ga
2018: Remington 870 16 ga youth
Probably going to start 2022 hunting with the single shot 20's... i just got them back from Mike Orlen, he threaded them for chokes. The 16 has been my go to gun for the last couple years.
1980 - Browning BPS 12ga 28" barrel First Turkey
2019 - Benelli SBE2 12ga 26" barrel
I've ordered a Benelli SBE3 20ga with a 26" barrel to carry this year
This is a neat thread. I have taken turkeys with the following, in order...
870 SM 12 ga 28" barrel
835 20" barrel
Browning Maxus 12 ga 26" barrel
870 SM 12 ga 23" barrel (still use this one the most)
500 20 ga 22" barrel
Retay Masai Mara 12 ga 26" barrel
All of these have some birds on them.
Rem 870 20ga
Rem 870 28ga
Rem 870 SM 12 ga
Browning BPS
TC 209x12
Mossberg 835
Lefever double 12
Model 12 12ga
In rotation, some new/old
Model 42 410
Model 1200 12ga
Huntsman BP 12ga
probably some more I can't think of right this second.
1976 870 Wingmaster 12 ga.
870 Express Turkey 12 ga.
870 Express Youth 20 ga.
1187 SP 12 ga. ( My Personal Favorite ) Some might consider her heavy but she feels good in my hands.
Early 870 Express Super Magnum in the Skyline Excel camo.
SP-10 in still near mint condition with a 26 inch barrel and a new in the box 30 inch barrel I have never had on the gun. Have hunted geese with it but tempted to try her this year for turkey.
I have been full circle with TSS and Red Dots and I'm back to bare guns with a Truglo beads.
Ohio allows us one bird this year and it's a big decision. Lol
The ones I used to take turkeys with:
My trusty tried and true REM 870 12ga 3 inch for over 30 years. Rattle can camo every few years.
When I want to be abused I'll break out the NEF Pardner 10ga bottomland camo.
Best of luck to all of you as you prepare for the upcoming seasons!
Well....... 1st one I believe was with a borrowed 20 gauge
Killed a truck load or so with my . 270
Bought a 1st gen 835 in 88-89 and killed a pile with that. Sold it
and got a 2nd gen 835 "still wasn't ported" give that to my mom for home protection. "I was thoughtful of her and only purchased 2 3/4", 2/0 buck shot for it."
Bought a BPS stalker in 10 gauge and have hunted with it for close to 20 years now. Spray canned it for years, then had it dipped, people did a good job and made it look real nice.
I have a Viper 410 I have packed a little for the fun of it and my son's gun is a M2 which I have packed once.
By far, my favorite for now is the 10g.
I see a new gun in my future, just not sure what it will be. One just hasn't caught my eye yet I guess!
Winchester model 12 1984 first bird
Winchester 1300 x2
870 express 22 inch
870 express threaded deer barrel rifle sights (many birds)
Benelli sbe
Benelli M2
Benelli m2 first 20 ga
Beretta A400
H&R topper 88 20 ga current
Benelli Nova 20 ga current
Stevens 410 current
Sure I missed a few :)
Well, I started off at age 12 with a 2 3/4" chamber Beretta A303 12 ga I used to hunt quail and pheasants with. Never killed one with it and after getting the turkey bug I bought a Mossberg 835 with my summer job money. Killed my first bird with it. Loaned it to a buddy who's house caught on fire and his parents insurance bought me a new one. We traded that new 835 in towards a new 11-87 3" special purpose. Hunted with that gun for 10 years or so, took several birds with it. Got the bug for a Benelli and bought a super black eagle 2. Hunted with it a couple years and killed a couple, then relegated her to waterfowl only (tired or taking the sights off on on every year between waterfowl and turkey seasons). Bought my current killer, a used 870 supermag which I continue to use to this day. Although, my Dad's 20 ga Benelli is going to get setup for my son to use this spring, and I may take it for a hunt or two when he's not with me.
First was a
Mossberg 835 in mossy break up. Shooting Remington nitros. Kills on both ends.
Benelli SBE 3.5
NWTF 1300 12
Remington 870 sure shot stock when I started loading TSS in an around 2012ish
Stoeger SXS 20ga. Love that little gun. Killed single season slam last year with it.
Benelli M2 12ga new for this year.
Still own them all except the SBE. Sold it to my cousin and regret it.
Only gun I've turkey hunted with since I started hunting in 1997 is a Mossberg 835. Started by borrowing one from my uncle as a kid, then received another for Christmas when I was 16 or 17.
870 sm
Versamax
Model 37 red letter 410 2nd edition small hammer.
early 80s model 870 wingmaster 2&3/4 only. Not threaded for a choke. 28" barrel. It was either modified or improved. My fathers gun. first turkey only. year 2000
the rest of my childhood, i hunted with a H&R parder 12 single shot, and my dad carried the wingmaster. killed a few with the H&R. Killed my first turkey completely by myself with the H&R as a early teenager. I bought myself a used 870 express magnum 12 guage at 19 years old, and have hunted with it ever since...im 32 now. I hunted with it stock for a couple years, had the barrel cut down from 28 to 21" and have done several modifications to it over the years. they are in my signature below. I bought a second used 870 express mag, and older one like the one i have, and rigged it out identically to my main gun as a back up. luckily i have never had to use it as a back up. All the turkeys from my adult life have been killed by the same gun.
Mossberg 500 12 ga since the beginning. Started out with the standard 28" barrel, took my first couple of birds with it. Decided I wouldn't hunt deer in the woods with a 28" barrel rifle, so I got a 20" Mossberg barrel with internal Mossberg Xfull choke tube. Later got a Star Dot. Took a lot of birds with that combo.
I was looking for a 500 for a slug project and I came across a deal too good to pass up on a factory camo 500. So I got that for turkeys and used my original 500 for slugs.
(https://i.imgur.com/YvTJviP.jpg)
870 supermagnum 12 ga Mossyoak breakup
870 20 ga mossyoak breakup
870 12 ga magnum greenleaf
browning 12 ga A5 3 in mag
mossberg 835 original realtree camo
870 12 ga 3 in magnum bottomland
20 gauge 870 with high brass #6 lead. First turkey was fall hen
Then on to 870 12 gauge with #4 comp n choke. Then to 10 gauge browning with nitros. Then to 12 gauge benelli with mag blends. The affinity 20 gauge 6-8 years ago with TSS
870 12ga express (sold)
870 12ga supermag camo
Mossberg 930 turkey
Stevens 410
Escort turkey 20ga
Browning Maxus 12ga
12 ga 870 wingmaster
12 ga Beretta A400
20 ga BPS (gun that my best man had engraved and gave me for my wedding, killed 1 turkey with it and will likely not hunt with it much more)
20 ga Franchi affinity 3
Won't ever carry that heavy beretta again!