All, looking for insight on a good 20 gauge semiautomatic turkey gun that won't cost a fortune but will still perform very well. Like the looks of the TriStar Vipers. That's about the most I'd like to spend but would prefer to spend less. How are the Raptors and any others in the under $500 price range?
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I've been shooting a stoeger 3020 and have had pretty good luck with. The factory turkey choke it came with throws a nice pattern also.
Just purchased a 3020. The stoeger is a little more than your stated price range and almost 1.5lbs lighter than the tri star viper. I was looking at both and went with the stoeger because of the weight.
I have two Stoeger 3020 great turkey guns! Mossberg SA 20 turkey thug is a dandy. If your looking to stay at a less price than those I had a Tri Star raptor youth that I bought at Walmart that was a killing machine ! A guy talked me into selling it to him. Those are 299 at Walmart if I remember correctly 24 inch chrome lined barrel and gas operated. I had a Carlson 575 no ported extended turkey choke in it as well as the other guns I mentioned. The gun has a camo stock and forearm. All of those are great patterning guns!
It is more than you mentioned, but the Franchi Affinity 3 is a great gun. Buy once and cry once. Still cheaper than the Benelli.
I just got the Tristar viper g2 in 20ga
Shot it the other day with a pattermaster choke and hand loaded 9 tss and the pattern was almost unfair!
I have the same gun in 410 that is my primary....just got the 20 just to have a "long range" option. ????
I've been happy with the tristar so far.
For a gun you may only really shoot a handful of times a year, it's just fine!
Look at the Escort shotguns. 350-400 camo'ed. My 20 auto has worked flawlessly. Has a great pattern with factory choke using Apex 9's.
Thanks for the input fellas
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We picked up a Tristar Raptor Turkey in 20 gauge a few weeks back. For the money I think it's a fair value. Does it have the fit and finish of higher priced firearms, no way. Although for no more that it cost, we'll see if it holds up. It's the 24" model. I've shot lots of various loads through it, everything but the lightest clay/target load has performed flawlessly.
Remington 1187 youth model with a shurshot stock.
The lightest one you can get for your price! When I was looking at 20s for a turkey specific gun I was surprised at how many weighed as much as my SBE2, no point in owning one as heavy as a 12 in my opinion.
I have a regular black viper g2 youth I set up 3 years ago for my son. Ive now killed more birds with it than him. If I was going to the woods and he wasn't with me, I was taking it. I just picked up the viper g2 turkey last month for my primary. I love it so far. I don't think you can go wrong with the Tristar for the price.
I dunno, I'm in the boat of American made guns. Tough with that price range. Save up or look to buy used. Pawn and Mom/pop gun shops would be a good way with your budget.
My daughter has used the Stoeger 3020 for the past 4 years duck hunting. The only time it failed was when some marsh grass got in the chamber on a hunt and the bolt couldn't rotate into battery. Cleaned it out, and has worked fine since. She is 25 with a job and in grad school, so I assume her sole method of cleaning it is running a bore snake through the barrel. Gonna try to get her on a turkey this spring.
another vote for the Stoeger 3020, very light and shoots great
Mossberg SA-20. Changed the choke out for a Carlson Long Beard XR and put a Vortex Venom red dot on top. Shoots both long beard #5 and federal 3rd degree great out to 40-45 yards. Didn't test it any further.
Gun was around $500, from a local gun shop, I believe.
https://www.mossberg.com/product/mossberg-international-sa-20-turkey-75790/
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Increase your budget by 250-300 and get the Franchi Affinity.
I don't own one but I have several friends who do and they are very, very good shotguns.