I didn't have a lot when I was young but 50 some years ago somebody gave me a Marlin Model 55 Goose Gun 12 Gauge which was a bolt action and had a 36" barrel. That was my first turkey gun.
L.C. Smith , 12ga ,24'' , full/ mod., Rem, high brass 7 !/2 shot.....1970
I killed my first gobbler with a borrowed Browning A5 with a smooth bore short slug barrel. Close range gun and he was 20 yards. Think after that first year I had a Mossberg 500 12 ga with a 28 inch barrel. First one I bought specifically for turkeys was a Mossberg 9200 auto in Mossy Oak Original Treestamd camo. Bought that one in the early 90s.
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I killed my first turkey in Florida in 1966 with a Revelation bolt action 410, still have it. Killed my first long beard the following year with a Winchester model 37 in a 20 gauge. Still have it as well as a feather from that gobbler under the butt plate. I killed my first one this year with that same gun. Like hunting with an old friend.
Remington 870 bought it in 1994 killed my first bird with it same year.
An old single shot 12 gauge ... long time ago... LOL
Winchester 1200 2 3/4" 12 gauge 28" plain barrel with an Xtra full factory Winchoke tube.
1979
bolt action sears roebuck 20g with fixed full choke, then a mossberg 500 20g fixed choke. I also used those for hunting hogs and birds growing up so they weren't dedicated turkey guns, just what my dad gave me to use (he still has both). First dedicated turkey gun was a mossberg 500 12g in woodland came (I still have it)
1997 - Mossberg 835 ulti-mag
rem 11-87 12ga 2006
Benelli Super 90 Black Eagle in 1999 (can't remember exact year). Comp n Choke XXX Full choke.
This was first gun I set up for turkey specifically. Before that I used an old A5 modified choke 12 gauge and a borrowed Mossberg 835.
Guesswho I believe the Revelation Brand was sold at Western Auto back in the day.
870 Express 12ga with a 28" barrel, Hastings .660 choke shooting Federal 3" 1 7/8 oz #6's. Killed my first few birds with that setup in the early 90's then switched to the Rem Duplex 4x6 loads for a bit. Lopped the original barrel off to 24" several years back and still break it out for a bird from time to time for old times sake.
1980. Remington 1100 12 gauge Magnum. Purchased it at Herman's Sporting Goods...
Started with a 20ga Win model 12 with mod choke, but never actually shot one with it. Hunted all sorts of small game, ducks, dove, etc with that gun and realized it might not be the best turkey gun. Probably a good thing I never got a shot at one that first or 2nd season. Then got a little older and moved up to a 12ga 870 with a full rem choke which became my turkey gun. Hunted ducks, deer, hogs and everything with that.
Then in early 1990 something, I bought my first real dedicated turkey gun, an 870 special purpose in bottomland. Still have all those which don't come out the safe much anymore, but I have added several others in various gauges and configurations to the collection over the years.
Remington 870 3" Express turkey. Dad gave me a choice between a class ring and a turkey gun. I've always said that my class ring was a trigger guard.
Although it's no longer my primary gun since I've went to using an auto, I do still hunt with it. Changed out the wood stock for a black tupperware set, added a better choke, a set of Trueglo sights, a sling swivel set and sling. I wouldn't change anything about it.
Hunted with my all purpose Beretta Xtrema with a factory full choke for years. Eventually got a dedicated turkey gun that kicked like a rented mule...870 Super Mag. Got tired of being punished when pulling the trigger so I went with a youth model 870 20ga and have been using it exclusively for over 10 years now.
Harrington & Richardson Model 158 "Topper" 20 Ga.- 1972
Quote from: J-Shaped on May 13, 2022, 11:44:06 AM
870 Express 12ga with a 28" barrel, Hastings .660 choke shooting Federal 3" 1 7/8 oz #6's. Killed my first few birds with that setup in the early 90's then switched to the Rem Duplex 4x6 loads for a bit. Lopped the original barrel off to 24" several years back and still break it out for a bird from time to time for old times sake.
Those Remington 4x6 loads were the best patterning load I ever tried until longbeard XR came out. I still have half a box that I wouldn't hesitate to use in my mossberg 500
870
A Beretta 390 in all black synthetic; some called it the "Walmart Beretta" because I believe it was the only Beretta ever sold in Walmart stores. It is an Italian made Beretta and it is one heck of a gun for Walmart to have carried for just $500.
A little background. I had always used my dad's shotguns until I was a couple years out of college. Shortly after college and at my first job, I was asked to shoot in a sporting clay fundraiser down in south Florida. Excited about the opportunity but hesitant to lug the ol' Remington 1100 of my dad's down there (it feels like holding a 4x4 lumber to me), I asked my uncle (big time skeet shooter) if he had a gun that I could take down there. He has all kinds of fancy over/unders but he bought this Beretta because it was too good of a deal to pass up and he never uses it, so he let me borrow the Beretta.
Long story short, I am in south Florida with a couple of my bosses and I am a little nervous because I want to shoot well in front of them. The very first station of the sporting clay course is setup to shoot 3-pairs where the clays shoot up into the air at about 70-degree angles and at the apex, they cross each other. Well, I end up breaking all six clays with only 3 shots. My bosses were stunned and there was definitely some luck involved because I shot average the remainder of the day. Anyways, I went home and told my uncle about it when I handed him back the gun and he was happy for me. A couple of weeks later for my birthday dinner at my folk's house, he brings me out to his car to give me my gift. There she was, the Walmart Beretta and it was all mine.
I killed my first dozen turkeys with that gun, and i called in my dad's first-ever turkey and he killed it with that gun as well. She has been retired to a wing-shooter these days but she is priceless to me. Sorry for the longwinded story, its just a nice memory for me.
PS - SD_Smith killed one in Kansas with the her as well.
Remington 870 Express 12 gauge in 26" barrel. Was my duck gun and a buddy talked me into spring turkey hunting (I had killed 2 gobblers in the fall as a kid with a Model 94 30-30). I had it dialed in and used it for years until I lost it. To my son. He killed his first mature gobbler with that gun as well. I finally just gave it to him (he won an 870 at a DU clay event - but it was 28" and he liked mine better). I am proud he is now hunting with it.
Some of you might be old enough to remember but for you younger people here's a little history.
Back in the day you could buy a gun from Sears & Roebuck, JC Penney's, Spiegel, Woolworth's, Cotter & Company (which later became True Value) Wards etc. You could walk into a Western Auto or Pep Boys to buy a gun over the counter!
I remember barrels filled with WWII surplus rifles when I was a kid. I knew a few guys who were using some of those guns out of the barrel that their uncle or dad bought and made into deer rifles. They ran from $9.95 to about $24.00.
Even today some are still in the field being used!
Killed my 1st few with a Coast to Coast master mag 20ga.(mossberg 500). It was my 1st shotgun. I was then told that you couldn't kill turkeys with a 20ga so I bought a Mossberg 500 12ga....what a gullible kid I was. I had witnessed down the barrel of 3 toms getting killed and some guy told me that a 20ga wasn't up to the task and I bought in hook, line, sinker. LOL. That fella must have never tried the Activ turkey loads.
Winchester Model 12 with a full choke barrel, April 1987.
Stevens double barrel 20 ga was my lst turkey gun .
Been many since ! I swap guns and bows often .... I'm that guy . :z-guntootsmiley: :z-guntootsmiley:
1978. Wilkes County, GA
My Grandpa's old Model 12 Heavy Duck. 30" Full. Hand load of 1.5 oz of chilled lead #5s. Same load we shot ducks with.
870.....them Moss 835 for the last 30+ years
model 37 red letter Winchester 16ga...1974
First and only a Remington 11-87 that I got back in the early to mid 90's. I had loaned the money to a friend so he could buy the gun and he got it and it ended up being to much gun for him (He has been though a LOT with cancer) so instead of having him pay me back I just took over the gun. Have gotten deer, turkey and woodchuck with the gun, hoping to get a coyote or fox with it sometime too.
1991 I believe, 835, never forget the first turkey target I shot with it, after resetting my jaw I looked at that target and was like really!
Pathetic pattern compared to stuff now!
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LC smith 16 gauge ideal grade that was my grandfather's gun. Still have the gun. Shot first turkey 1972 in fall.
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I shot my first turkey with an 870 Express with a 28" barrel.
I wanted something shorter and with more range so I bought a Mossberg 835 turkey gun before season two.
I haven't carried a 12 gauge in a few years now.
Started off in 1999 or so with my bird gun, which was a Beretta A303 12 ga with a 2.75" chamber. Used the factory full with winny XX #6s. Never shot anything those 2 seasons with it, but got the bug bad. Bought a used Mossberg 835 in 2001 and used the old federal premium 3.5" #4s to kill my first turkey.
Belgium made Browning "Sweet 16" humpback
15 yrs old. Remington 1100 2 3/4" with a load of high brass 4's. Killed my first that had 11 3/4" beard and 1" spurs. Dad created a monster that day.
1187 bought with money from my part time job in high school circa 98ish. I used that an old Hastings turkey choke and federal gold box 5s to terrorize the turkey woods
Quote from: St. Augustine Strutter on May 13, 2022, 02:59:24 PM
A Beretta 390 in all black synthetic; some called it the "Walmart Beretta" because I believe it was the only Beretta ever sold in Walmart stores. It is an Italian made Beretta and it is one heck of a gun for Walmart to have carried for just $500.
I too bought a Beretta from Walmart. It was a 686 over and under double 20 gauge. I think it was in '92 or '93 and that gun has many, many thousands of rounds through it, many grouse,woodcock, ducks,pheasants (no turkeys :camohat:) and it is still as tight as the day I bought it...AWESOME Italian shotgun, and best bargain ever.
My parents bought me an 870 Express SP Turkey (black synthetic) in the mid 90's. I killed my first 2 turkeys with it but then started carrying a SuperMag. Prior to this season, I got the SP set up for TSS 8's and killed my first gobbler with it in 20+ years. I plan to try to kill one with it every season from now on.
Remington 1187 1995, shot 26" bbl with Remington Super Full and Federal 2oz of 6's.
Mann some of you guys are Old! :funnyturkey:
88' Ol mossy in green leaf. She was a shooter. The Ol shoulder breaker was retired a few years back when I discovered what the 20 can do.
1988, model 1300 winchester turkey gun with laminated stock and forearm.
1978 - A borrowed Remington 1100 12ga..
I shot my first turkey with my grandson's Mossberg 510 Youth Mini Super Bantam 20 Gauge.
I was watching my grandsons the spring of 2020 because of Covid concerns at school. My 11 year old grandson asked me to take him turkey hunting. We ended up both getting our first turkey that spring. He was 11 and I was 61 years old.
Since then we have used the Mossberg 510 Youth, a Maverick 88 20 ga Youth and a Tri Star Raptor 20 ga Youth.
Single shot Stevens smooth bore in 1978.
Quote from: hawk1958 on May 18, 2022, 08:39:16 AM
I shot my first turkey with my grandson's Mossberg 510 Youth Mini Super Bantam 20 Gauge.
I was watching my grandsons the spring of 2020 because of Covid concerns at school. My 11 year old grandson asked me to take him turkey hunting. We ended up both getting our first turkey that spring. He was 11 and I was 61 years old.
Since then we have used the Mossberg 510 Youth, a Maverick 88 20 ga Youth and a Tri Star Raptor 20 ga Youth.
That's pretty cool! Congrats.
I shot my first turkey with my grandson's Mossberg 510 Youth Mini Super Bantam 20 Gauge.
I was watching my grandsons the spring of 2020 because of Covid concerns at school. My 11 year old grandson asked me to take him turkey hunting. We ended up both getting our first turkey that spring. He was 11 and I was 61 years old.
Since then we have used the Mossberg 510 Youth, a Maverick 88 20 ga Youth and a Tri Star Raptor 20 ga Youth.
Hawk Wow congratulations to you and your grandson!
I take it since you picked up a Maverick 88 and the Tri Star you and the grandson's are hooked.
Never too late nor too early to start something. Good for you!
46 years ago my Dad got me a Remington 870 Wingmaster. I still have that gun, and have killed many ducks, turkeys, deer, hogs and assorted small game with it.
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Quote from: guesswho on May 13, 2022, 09:31:50 AM
I killed my first turkey in Florida in 1966 with a Revelation bolt action 410, still have it. Killed my first long beard the following year with a Winchester model 37 in a 20 gauge. Still have it as well as a feather from that gobbler under the butt plate. I killed my first one this year with that same gun. Like hunting with an old friend.
Thats the year I was born :OGturkeyhead:
Mine was a Browning Gold 3.5" in 2001. 3.5" Winchester supreme #4's
1990 I got a jake in the fall season with my Ithaca 37 with fixed full choke and 2 3/4 inch #4's. I think they were magnums that 3 of us split a box of. I was hooked and my wife got me an 870 SPS Turkey in Mossy Oak green leaf for spring gobbler. Still have both guns and took the 870 for a walk last week. Made me appreciate how light my 20 gauge is.
Mossberg 500, 30" full choke barrel, 2x6 loads. 1982.
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Mossberg 835, bought new in 1999. Patterned nice, but 8 inches high and right, sold it after using it for 3 years
Quote from: Turkeybutt on May 13, 2022, 08:43:20 AM
I didn't have a lot when I was young but 50 some years ago somebody gave me a Marlin Model 55 Goose Gun 12 Gauge which was a bolt action and had a 36" barrel. That was my first turkey gun.
Wow, this was my first turkey gun as well! It belonged to my dad before cancer took him at age 49. He had killed several toms with it, before I got interested in turkey hunting.
I killed my first Tom with it, then retired it.
Killed my first gobbler in 1975 fresh out of the USAF in Dec. 1974. The gun was my brother's Revelation 20 ga. over a 22lr. and was the only thing we had that shot 3" shells which I thought was a must. Neither of us owned a bigger gun. I knew nothing of turkeys but did have an old lynch box call. The turkey came without gobbling and walked right by me on a deer trail at 20 yds. I didn't know they were black. He ducked over a steep back that led to the river and gobbled. I knew no better so I sneaked up to the edge and we saw each other at the same instant. He ran to my right and maybe at 50 yds. I shot and he rolled backwards. I ran to him and shot him in the head with the .22. I was sure proud. A lot has changed since then.
Winchester model 97,16 guage, 30 inch full. 1987.
Winchester Model 370 20 gauge full choke, 1968.
TonyTurk
So you had a Mod 55 as well.... LOL
If you remember you couldn't sling it on your shoulder while walking through the woods because with that 36" barrel ya hit every low hanging limb in the woods!
Mossberg 835 bought around 2000 or 2001. Carried it exclusively up until this spring. Pulled it out once this year and hunted with it. It still works.
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Remington 870 Wingmaster with 30" full choke barrel. Bought it in 1970 but didn't start turkey hunting until 1976.
1963 - Savage side by side 12
I used a Savage Side by Side 12 gauge sometime after my goose gun.
A girlfriend bought it for $50.00 and gave it to me.
Never did kill a turkey with it. Girlfriend is long gone but i still have the side by side!