What Gun to Take?

[lunghit]

I have one dedicated turkey gun (SX3) and another (Benelli M1) being put together right now. The SX3 has an Aimpont red dot that I love so I will probably use the Benelli with Tru Glo sights if the weather is bad. I would prefer to keep that $400 scope from getting too wet. Other than that I will flip a coin and pick the gun for the day.

[HookedonHooks]

Depends how much walking I'm doing and my set ups I plan on using. The majority of the time I have the 887 Nitro Mag, but up in Nebraska I used the shorty 870 Special Purposes.... Shot a ton of turkeys with a Escort semi auto, stock full choke, 3" only, in both 12 and 20 ga. All guns other than the 870 SP are crossover guns.

[PEHunter]

I have 2 dedicated to turkeys setup and ready.  An old woodlands camo 835 that I started out with in the '90s.  I changed the 28" tube for a 24" and rattle can camo'd her and added a Knoxx stock and a fiber optic site.  She isn't the prettiest thing, but I had her so long she's like that old pocket knife you leave laying on the dresser just in case you need even though you have a new one.

I have a 20ga 870 that I setup a couple years ago.  I carry it most of the time, but do on occasion carry the old 835 for old time sake.  No real reason why I switch, just an urge.

I did buy a 20ga Super Bantam for my son a couple months ago that I'm setting up now.  I haven't shot it yet, but the more it look at the more I like it.  If it wants to be shooter, I may have a real dilemma on my hands.

[TauntoHawk]

two. a 12 and 20 use both almost equally. Killed 3 with the 20 and two with the 12 this year

[Tail Feathers]

So...back to part of the original question for those of you who have multiple turkey guns?  How do you decide which one you're going to take???

I usually carry the SX3 20 ga.  If I think I may need a few extra yards I carry the 835.  If I expect to be real mobile, I carry the single shot 20.

[yelpaholic]

 5, one of each camo of the original old school camos. killed a few birds with each. a 3.5 inch 11-87  that i haved toted 10 years. and this year all i used was my little 459 20 guage..

[falltoms]

835. Lightweight, good mountain gun. I have backups also

[29810434]

Only have one,870 remington with a 26" barrei

[decoykrvr]

Current dedicated turkey guns : 2- 10 gauges / Stevens and NEF
                                               1- 12 gauge, 31/2" BPS
                                               2- 12 gauge, 3" Ithaca Model 37's / Turkeyslayer & customized 37 w/ 25"
                                                    Bansner .665 sleeved barrel
                                               1- 20 gauge Weatherby TR-459 pump , 181/2" w/ Sumtoy .562-5
Half of the guns have red-dot scopes which I don't like to carry in the rain.  I reload and shoot TSS in the 20 gauge which will just about out shoot the 10's and 12's, but the two Ithaca's have killed over 150 gobblers, so they are usually the first I grab.  Several years ago I hunted with and kllled gobblers w/ 5 different guns representing 3 gauges / 4 different shotshells until I started having nightmares that I got out of the vehicle w/ a gun and shells which wouldn't work in the gun due to gauge or shell length.  It's something of a pain to have to swap shells for the gun and backups in the vest especially after a bunch of 4 am mornings, but it must be done to justify keeping different guns and gauges.
                                                                                           

[Tomcat655]

BPS 10 gauge.  If you don't mind the weight its a good feeling lol.  Ghost ring sight.  It is ultimate for a well distributed pattern. IMO.  Rock on

[SteelerFan]

2 1/2...

Win NWTF 1300
Benelli M2 (multi-purpose)
Rem Youth 20 ga build

Built / carried Rem 20 this past season. The other guns will never hear another gobble...

[mrlongbeard]

7 Remington 11/87's
8 Remington 870's
3 Benelli's
1 Thompson center muzzleloading shotgun

[diyj98]

It has been by old 26" barreled 12 gauge 11-87, but this year I picked up a 21" barrel  with rifle sights for it for dedicated turkey use.  A couple weeks ago I picked up several guns from an estate.  One was a 21" 12 gauge 11-87 with full camo.  I can't find the exact model online, so I need to take some pics and figure out what I have.

[mtns2hunt]

It used to amaze me just how many turkey hunters had multiple--often several--guns dedicated to turkey hunting.  For years, I had and used only one.  As far as my wife knows, I still have only one. Truth is I now have a few that are set up exclusively for spring turkeys and few "crossover" guns as well.

How many do you have that you use only for turkey hunting and, more importantly, how do you decide which one goes with you to the woods on any given day?  Is your decision based on weather? Terrain? Probable shot distance?  Shot patterns and confidence? Need for variety? Superstition?...

How many do you generally use during the course of a season?

One very old BPS 12 gauge with tru glow sights and a sling. I have upgraded to a kicks .655 choke and 4 through 6 LB. Have killed out to 47 yards twice in New Mexico although most shots are around 30 in woods and 40-45 in fields. I am very comfortable with this shotgun. Feel same with my rifles burn out the barrels and replace is my motto. Old can be better.

[LaLongbeard]

When I rifle hunted deer I switched rifles and caliber a few times with bows it was worse I'd hunt one or two seasons then change bows recurves longbows different styles grips etc. The year I started Turkeyhunting I bought a new 870 and have used nothing else spent a lot of time and $$ on testing chokes/ shells. The old 870 has seen a lot of miles but it fits and is 100% reliable. I'm not overly superstitious but I'd feel jinxed if I changed now never been skunked on home season or out of state hunt.