Best dedicated turkey gun for $500

[owlhoot]

Are those 1300s better than the current SXP?

The 1300 is a much better gun. I was disappointed in the SXP.

The SXP diffidently leaves something to be desired.

[Ozark870Hunter]

Pre 2005 870 turkey model w/ 21" barrel. 3" or 3.5" I got 3" 
Pawn shops, gun shows, you will find one for around $300-350.
Every turkey I've squeezed on has hit the dirt.

[mikejd]

Mike if you want to shoot my 1300 let me know. I love my 1300's

[foxred1962]

If you are used to a Benelli I would look into the Franchi Affinity. I do not own one but after holding them they come up as good if not better than my SBE II. They do not have a 24" barrel 26" is the shortest but if you get a carlsons or Trulock choke they do not extend the barrel near as far.

I like them for the same reason I carry my SBE over my short barreled 870 which is that they are the same width from the sling attachment to the receiver. Often times I like to hold the gun just in front of the receiver when chasing turkeys and not reach all the way out to a pump. The black one is $599 at bass pro. The weight is also only 6.5 lbs....

[sierra6]

I'd look for a gently used Mossberg 835.  We see them in our shop from time to time and they usually sell well below the $500 mark as used guns.  You'd be hard pressed to find a better patterning dedicated turkey gun at any price!

[Longshanks]

Buying a used gun you can buy a Remington without having to worry about buying someone else's problems. Now that we have moved you into the 600+ range..easy spending someone else's money.. you can buy great guns in that price range. Beretta or Franchi have some great guns. Affinity like has been mentioned. That gun feels like a Benelli. Sort of interesting that Benelli and Beretta are basically the same company. If I am going to spend over $450 it would be for a gun under the umbrella of the parent holding company Beretta. (Benelli, Beretta, Franchi, Stoeger, etc)

[lowoctane]

 
Dedicated, hmmmm....lightweight, 3", rifle optic sights(no batteries), good choke. Sounds like my NEF single shot! Realizing I carry it a WHOLE LOT MORE than I shoot it, 6 lbs or under was a must. Patterned it with a Lead Sled, so recoil was minimal. When I actually pull the trigger, don't feel it at all! Never have needed a second shot. Even with the forcing cone work and tube threading and sights, it was under $300.00. Have pics later on here somewhere...

[turkey buster]

I know you said you wanted a 12ga but if I was going to dedicate me a single turkey gun and had $500 I'd go with the youth 870 20ga.
I have two dedicated turkey guns
1) Rem 870 21in 12ga in original bottomland with a .665 JH shooting 3in win super-x 6's (red shells)
2) Rem 870 youth 21in 20ga with TG adjustable sights and a SSX choke shooting HW 3in 7's

I've killed turkeys with some of my other guns but I built these two for just turkey season. If it wasn't for the fact I love my original bottomland 12ga I'd carry the 20ga every hunt. The 20 is light, no recoil, and patterns exceptional with my SSX and tightwad chokes. I just bought the Carlson non ported to try also

[grousec]

I would look at pawn shops and used rack at gun shops.  Sometimes you can find a Mossy 935 or 930 for less than that if you are like me and prefer a semi-auto.

[MikeStaten]

Thanks all.  I bought my nephew a Mossberg 500 youth a few years ago.  Now he's 18 so I bought him a semi auto Beretta A300 so I'm going to turn his Mossberg into a turkey gun and see how it works out.  Only time he goes turkey hunting is with me so if he goes, I'll use my Benelli and have him use the Mossberg.  I also have a single shot H&R 20 gauge that I may send to sumtoy to have threaded for his choke and tapped for a scope mount.

[Sealbilly]

I know it's not in your budget, unless you trade or sell the M2 but a SBE1 or 2 is about a versitile gun as is made.  The top of the reciever is built onto the barrel so with three barrels you could go from a slug barrel with scope to a turkey barrel with red dot and a plain vent rib barrel for wing shooting, because the optics come off with the barrel.  I have a SBE1 and I was looking to get a slug barrel for it for the reason I listed above. 

Good luck in whatever you end up with, just food for thought.

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[Spring Creek Calls]

I would look for a used 1300 Winchester with a 22" choke tube barrel.