870 Special Field

[swamppirate]

Anybody use one of these 870's with the English stock to turkey hunt with? If so what shot choke combo?

[deadbuck]

My dad has one he bought new in 1984. Killed my first turkey with it then, but it is a fixed modified choke. A very pretty gun but nobody wants to thread it for chokes because the barrel is too thin.

[allaboutshooting]

Anybody use one of these 870's with the English stock to turkey hunt with? If so what shot choke combo?

I shot one of those for years as my dedicated turkey gun. It was light, easy to carry but it was pretty punishing to shoot due to the cheek slap I experienced every time I shot a 3" turkey shell through it.

I had that gun before the I knew about the SSX but that's what I'd shoot in it if I had it today. The geometry of that choke works well with a number of guns but it's especially good with the shorter barreled guns like your Special field.

I'd also put a neoprene sleeve over the stock to help with cheek slap so that you can keep your cheek down on the comb without the pain that's normal when shooting full power turkey loads through that gun.

As far as shells, I'd recommend the 3" Hevi-13 "Bronze" shells with 2 oz. of #6 or #7 shot. They'll do everything you need done to help you cleanly kill turkeys at up to 40 yards with that gun.

Thanks,
Clark

[wmd]

I gave my dad one for Father's day in 1988.  I got it back when he died in 2005.  In between those years, he killed a bunch of turkeys and deer with it.    His hunting years predated the HTL breakthroughs; he shot Remington 3" duplex 2x6 with the factory full choke, but I would like to see what it would do with some of the modern loads and an aftermarket choke - because it is a sweet gun to carry.

[Mr16Gauge]

Any of the "modern" turkey loads and current choke will work well with the gun.  As Clark mentioned, the shorted barrel may take a bit more work to "shott tight", but the results are worth the errort.

Good Luck