Looking for a first turkey gun for my kids. My oldest is 10 and has killed deer with her 243, but is just starting into turkey hunting. I am trying to decide between these two shotguns. I'm looking for something that they could use for turkey hunting as well as squirrel hunting. Anyone have any experience/opinions on these two shotguns? Thanks!
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I have had both. The Mossberg optics ready gun is top notch, the TriStar is very good also. I prefer the Mossberg as I have let a kid shoot my TriStar equipped with a Sumtoy Base and Burris FF3 and the sight sits just a little high, for this particular youngan, to get a good solid cheek weld. The Optics ready Mossberg Holosun, that came on the gun, sits perfect for a kid. For an adult, with a fat head like me, the TriStar cheek weld is not an issue.
Ridge Rooster
Quote from: Ridge Rooster on April 07, 2025, 04:35:31 AMI have had both. The Mossberg optics ready gun is top notch, the TriStar is very good also. I prefer the Mossberg as I have let a kid shoot my TriStar equipped with a Sumtoy Base and Burris FF3 and the sight sits just a little high, for this particular youngan, to get a good solid cheek weld. The Optics ready Mossberg Holosun, that came on the gun, sits perfect for a kid. For an adult, with a fat head like me, the TriStar cheek weld is not an issue.
Ridge Rooster
I hadn't actually thought about that little bit lower sight being better for a kid.. I use sumtoy bases on my other guns. Are you getting pretty good patterns out of the 500?
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I have a Tristar Viper G2 Turkey in .410, another one in 20 gauge and a Mossberg SA-28. I also have a Mossberg 500 in 20 gauge. All are good guns and I don't think you can make a bad choice with any of these. It comes down to do you want a semi auto or pump. The SA-28 that I have is the Tactical Turkey model. It's got a 13" length of pull that would be good for a youth. You can get low recoil 28 gauge TSS turkey loads if you want to look into one.
Get a youth 20ga.. shoot lighter 2.3/4 shells. More room to grow in future with 20ga for waterfowl, deer and everything else..
Quote from: FL-Boss on April 07, 2025, 10:04:11 AMGet a youth 20ga.. shoot lighter 2.3/4 shells. More room to grow in future with 20ga for waterfowl, deer and everything else..
I actually have a youth 20 gauge already for them to use as they get older. My 10-year-old is a small framed girl and right now. The recoil is just a little too much. I'm wanting to get something that she can shoot a little more and get comfortable with. She will shoot my 20 and smile but I can tell that it's a little too much for her. I would rather buy something smaller she can get really comfortable with and not develop a flinch. She is a crack shot with a rifle and I do not want to mess up her confidence by shooting a gun that is just a little too much for her.
I actually bought a Beretta AL391 youth for me to turn into a turkey gun, and after getting one I bought another one for my kids to shoot as they get older. I'm looking for something they can use when they're small and get comfortable with shooting it and then grow into the 20 gauge.
That all being said, I'm heading to go look at both of the shotguns right now and I'm going to pick one. I was just curious of who all had any experience with these two shotguns.
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