Looking to buy me a new automatic turkey gun for this spring I was just wondering what you guys think the best automatic gun is. I'm looking to keep it under $1000
I like Beretta. Not sure what their entry level synthetic stocked auto is now, but a 390 is what I shoot. Bought mine for $500 and change years ago and it has been flawless. Easy to clean and reassemble and it's reliable.
Quote from: kyturkeyhunter4 on November 19, 2016, 11:57:54 AM
Looking to buy me a new automatic turkey gun for this spring I was just wondering what you guys think the best automatic gun is. I'm looking to keep it under $1000
There are several very good self-loaders out there. There are always trade-offs of course, price, weight, fit...
I'd look very hard at the Mossberg 930. The others that I like are the Winchester SX3 and the Benelli Vinci. I own all these guns and have taken each of them to the turkey woods and fields. They all work well, are very reliable and do what's needed to be done. While they are quite different, they also fit me well but can be adjusted to fit most shooters.
Thanks,
Clark
Thanks for the info guys
I'll give another nod to the Winchester. While I don't have the sx3, I've had an sx2 for several years. It's been great and can be found used for much less than the sx3. It's a touch heavier as the receiver is made of a different metal but it's still a great gun.
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Older Remington 1187. Not necessarily "old school" but something in that early year range. New ones aren't built like the old ones. All mine are from the early 90's. You can't beat them
SEMI-automatic, I bought a Winchester SX3 in 20 gauge this year and found it to be a very nice and easy shooting gun. I took a nice hen this fall with it.
Topped off with a TRUGLO TRU·TEC, Federal Heavyweights 7's and a Sumtoy choke. Good performer.
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh98/Caninester/IMG_0697.jpg) (http://s254.photobucket.com/user/Caninester/media/IMG_0697.jpg.html)
I have had them all... Weatherby SA-459 hands down for a turkey semi auto
For reliability and all-around use, I would lean towards the SX-3 in your price range. Almost everyone I know of that shoots one likes it, with few mechanical issues. I have had the pleasure of shooting them, and for wing-shooting they are a soft shooting gun. I would lean towards the SX-3 over the lower level Beretta's just due to my own personal experiences (I currently shoot a Beretta, and it is a bit fickle at times).
For heavy use, the only people I know with the Weatherby for waterfowl have had nothing but issues. For light use such as turkey hunting, I would think it would be a fine choice.
I owned a couple of 1187's, and a good friend and my father all owned them as well... Most awful pieces of junk ever. Very good pointing guns, but rarely worked and all of us had mechanical issues with any type of heavy use (clays or duck shooting). If you get one, make sure you bring plenty of spare parts and extra O-rings.
The Vinci (or SBE-2 or M-2) is a great gun, and everyone I know that has them likes them. I have had the opportunity to shoot them as well, and there is not a more reliable gun that is easier to clean... But they are a bit past your price-range. Not a good choice if you like to fiddle with your gun though, as you will likely hear that "Benelli-Click" if you mess with the action. The bolt has to snap shut, and if you pull it out just a bit, it will NOT re-engage without pulling the bolt all the way back again.
Quote from: lmbhngr on November 20, 2016, 07:49:48 AM
Older Remington 1187. Not necessarily "old school" but something in that early year range. New ones aren't built like the old ones. All mine are from the early 90's. You can't beat them
Yep. Even get a 11-87 Super Magnum. Don't have to shoot 3.5" shells in it.
Quote from: Gamblinman on November 20, 2016, 10:05:09 PM
Quote from: lmbhngr on November 20, 2016, 07:49:48 AM
Older Remington 1187. Not necessarily "old school" but something in that early year range. New ones aren't built like the old ones. All mine are from the early 90's. You can't beat them
Yep. Even get a 11-87 Super Magnum. Don't have to shoot 3.5" shells in it.
:agreed:
With the improvement in turkey loads, you can get a fine 40 yard pattern out of a 3" gun and not punish yourself so much.
I have a 20 gauge SX3 and it is the softest shooter I've even fired. It does have a heavy trigger. It's at the gunsmith's right now having that lightened. The gun is a simple to take down and clean as any shotgun I've handled, as easy as an 870 I think.
I really appreciate all the information, has any one had any experience with the Mossberg 935. I've also heard that there a great gun.
Quote from: kyturkeyhunter4 on November 23, 2016, 09:42:28 AM
I really appreciate all the information, has any one had any experience with the Mossberg 935. I've also heard that there a great gun.
The 935 is another excellent shotgun. It's a bit heavy, muzzle heavy, but otherwise just fine. I put a very thin Cheek EEZ pad on the comb of mine and it allowed me to shoot it without the cheek slap that I experienced before doing that.
Mine was very reliable in 3-4 seasons of turkey hunting and a lot of use in evaluating chokes and shells. It would keep on going even when quite dirty.
A friend of mine wanted a 935, so I let him have it and he seems very happy with it.
Thanks,
Clark
Our local Bass Pro flyer says they're selling synthetic Benelli Montefeltros for $799 on sale this week.
Mossberg = brutal recoil, whether its an auto or a pump. I can't explain why they have more recoil than other brands, but there is a definite increase when shooting Mossbergs.
Quote from: kyturkeyhunter4 on November 23, 2016, 09:42:28 AM
I really appreciate all the information, has any one had any experience with the Mossberg 935. I've also heard that there a great gun.
My good friend has one. I have shot it a few times, mostly at clay pigeons, but it is a surprisingly soft shooter and I liked it.
Quote from: lmbhngr on November 20, 2016, 07:49:48 AM
Older Remington 1187. Not necessarily "old school" but something in that early year range. New ones aren't built like the old ones. All mine are from the early 90's. You can't beat them
I agree w this, while I'm primarily a pump guy for turkeys I do still have a bunch of older turkey guns(just in case). 2 are 11/87s. One is a SP10. The older quality is better imo n you'd not go wrong finding an 11-87 made in the later 80s early 90s.
To be fair there are very few to almost no guns being built better than they used to be. It's all plastic parts, things breaking, recalls, etc etc etc and they're being made in some country we prob shouldn't buy anything from
I have a 935 and I like it, BUT I would be willing to bet POI will be 10 to 12" above POA. Burris fixed that for me.
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I've been a 12 ga Benelli man for many, many years but then I started loading TSS and now I'm a 20 ga man. After doing a lot of research on this site and others I bought a Weatherby SA459.
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I too recently purchase a couple of the Weatherby SA459's in 20 ga. I haven't got to hunt with it yet but based on my experience on the range with it I think I'm going to be very pleased. Prior to that I used a Benellt SBE in a 12 and it made for a fine turkey gun.
I HAVE TOOOOOO MANY , FOR A 12 GA.
Remington Versa Max Sportsman Turkey Shotgun 81028, 12 Gauge, 22 in, 3.5 in Chmbr, Semi-Auto, Syn Stock, Mossy Oak Obsession Finish, 3+1
Quote from: kyturkeyhunter4 on November 23, 2016, 09:42:28 AM
I really appreciate all the information, has any one had any experience with the Mossberg 935. I've also heard that there a great gun.
I really like my 935 kyturkeyhunter....I've used it for the past 6 seasons. Killed a bunch with it ...a tad heavy in the world of autonloaders but it also didn't break the bank for me which was big priority for me at the time! I have it paired with a truglo SSX choke and use long beard XRs with great results! God bless
I use a Benelli Super Nova (not semi) and here is why..
https://youtu.be/JD-Ug4bAWLE (https://youtu.be/JD-Ug4bAWLE)
Quote from: allaboutshooting on November 23, 2016, 01:17:02 PM
Quote from: kyturkeyhunter4 on November 23, 2016, 09:42:28 AM
I really appreciate all the information, has any one had any experience with the Mossberg 935. I've also heard that there a great gun.
The 935 is another excellent shotgun. It's a bit heavy, muzzle heavy, but otherwise just fine. I put a very thin Cheek EEZ pad on the comb of mine and it allowed me to shoot it without the cheek slap that I experienced before doing that.
Mine was very reliable in 3-4 seasons of turkey hunting and a lot of use in evaluating chokes and shells. It would keep on going even when quite dirty.
A friend of mine wanted a 935, so I let him have it and he seems very happy with it.
Thanks,
Clark
Thanks Clark I Appreciate That
Quote from: VA_Birdhunter on November 24, 2016, 11:19:13 PM
Quote from: kyturkeyhunter4 on November 23, 2016, 09:42:28 AM
I really appreciate all the information, has any one had any experience with the Mossberg 935. I've also heard that there a great gun.
I really like my 935 kyturkeyhunter....I've used it for the past 6 seasons. Killed a bunch with it ...a tad heavy in the world of autonloaders but it also didn't break the bank for me which was big priority for me at the time! I have it paired with a truglo SSX choke and use long beard XRs with great results! God bless
Thanks I appreciate the info, actually that's what I'm leaning toward now.