How to Set up the Perfect Turkey Shotgun as well as a list of our favorites:
Turkey hunting is a tradition that dates back generations, combining skill, patience, and the right equipment to successfully harvest these elusive birds. Among the most critical pieces of gear for any turkey hunter is the firearm. Choosing the best gun for turkey hunting can make a significant difference in your hunting success and overall experience in the field. This article aims to guide both novice and seasoned hunters through the selection of the ideal gun for turkey hunting, taking into account factors such as range, firepower, maneuverability, and the nuances of turkey behavior. Furthermore, we’ll delve into how to set up the perfect gun for turkey hunting, discussing the importance of choke selection, shot size, and sighting options to enhance your accuracy and effectiveness. Whether you’re looking to make your first turkey hunting gun purchase or fine-tune your existing setup, this article will provide valuable insights and tips to ensure you’re well-prepared for your next turkey hunting adventure.
Most Economical Turkey Gun Setup:
Best Overall Turkey Gun Setup:
Best Rests for your Turkey Gun:
As I headed into the last week of turkey season a few years ago I was worn down both mentally and physically. If you hunt turkeys long enough you will find that one bird that gets under your skin and has you second guessing every decision you make. I often wonder how a bird with a brain the size of a pea can seem so smart. Regardless, here I am at 430AM in the morning dressed head to toe in my camo debating on where I want to sit that morning. I have been after this bird since opening day, but he always seems a couple of steps ahead of me.
With the sun rising over the horizon, I hear a tom fire off a gobble in the distance. I have never found a way to identify a tom by his gobble, but when it comes to looks, this one stands out. He has either been in a few good fights, had a close call with a predator, or been shot at before. I know this because he is missing 4 of his tail feathers right in the middle of his fan.
Staring at my decoys, I hear a few more toms fire off around me. It wasn’t till around 930 that I started to see some birds. First it was a lone hen, then a group of rowdy jake’s harassing another hen, but no toms. I didn’t dare to do any calling. The last time I attempted to give that wily tom my best impersonation of a lonely hen he sprinted off in the opposite direction. I didn’t think I was that bad of a caller, and I have fooled plenty of toms in the past, but not this old bird.
Around 1015AM, I catch movement in the timber off to my right. As I raise up my Hawke binoculars, I can see a beard but until he breaks out in full strut there is no telling if it’s my target bird. He casually takes his time strolling around the woods like he has nothing better to do, and all I can do is wait and watch. About 15 minutes elapses before he notices my jake decoy standing over a lay down hen. That’s when he decides to step out of the timber at 50 yards in full strut. It’s him! The tom I have been after the last 4 weeks. The moment of truth is here, and this is my one shot. I have to have complete trust in my gear and skills. I raise up my Stoeger shotgun, place the red dot of my crimson trace sight on his head and apply pressure to the trigger. The firing pin strikes the Remington primer sending a bunch of number 7 TSS shot at his jelly head.
At that moment I had complete confidence in all my gear
because I feel I can built a superior turkey gun from the ground up. I’ll discuss how I did that and built my favorite setup, and my most economical setup. You choose which one is best for you.
Pump shotgun or Semi auto shotgun.
While each gun has advantages and disadvantages the question of a pump or semi auto shotgun comes down to personal preference. With that said let’s cover why you might prefer one over the other. For starters, price can be a big factor when deciding what type of shotgun to buy. With semi autos being about 2 times as much as a pump, that can be a big factor for some people. The next deciding factor would be the action of the shotgun. While a pump shotgun can jam up, they are a lot more reliable when cycling rounds than a semi auto. But a semi auto with the right ammunition can cycle a lot faster than a pump shotgun. That split second it takes to cycle the next round can allow you to get that second shot off before it’s too late. Lastly, a semi auto shotgun doesn’t require nearly as much movement to cycle the next round. This can be the key to not giving up your location if a second bird is in the area, or a follow up shot is needed.
Select the right choke and barrel size
Having the right choke and barrel for your turkey gun is a must. Let’s start with the barrel. The ideal barrel for a turkey shotgun is between 22 and 24 inches. This allows you to still get good groups when paired with the right choke while still being able to move through brush and cover without getting hung up. The shorter you go on barrel length the more you sacrifice on distance in your patterns. A longer barrel like the 28-inch barrel is harder to move through brush and conceal especially when ground hunting but keeps your pattern tighter at farther distances.
When it comes to chokes, I believe they make or break a turkey gun regardless of brand. With a quick google search of the best turkey chokes you will quickly find many people recommend a full choke to give you accuracy out to 50 yards. I agree with that especially if you are running stock chokes from your gun manufacturer. Upgrading your chokes should be one of the first things you should get in my opinion.
The reason being is that they can make or break a pattern especially when you are shooting at the longer distances. I have had the opportunity to try several different chokes in my time turkey hunting and there is one that reigns supreme no matter what ammunition you put through it. That is Muller chokes. They only offer 3 different chokes for every gun manufacturer. They are the decoy choke good out to 35 yards, the passing choke good out to 50 yards, and the ufo/turkey for anything out past 50 yards. Unlike many chokes you must match your ammo to the choke for the best pattern. These chokes are designed to shoot any round of ammo from steel, lead, and even TSS. They can also be used for waterfowl and other game hunting this prevents you from needing to own several differ chokes for your different hunting endeavors.
Red dot or scope
Just like a pump or semi auto shotgun comes down to preference, the same goes with a red dot or scope. While it’s hard to compare each of these since they are completely different types of optics, we can cover the benefits of each one. I have tried each type and don’t have preference over one or the other. I keep a Crimson Trace red dot mounted atop my Stoeger M3500 and a Hawke Optics Vantage IR turkey scope atop my Mossberg 500. Let’s start with the red dot. When it comes to getting on a big gobbler fast to make a shot, I prefer the red dot. It has great eye relief and is fast to get on target. I take this set up for more of a run and gun type hunting and hunting from the ground. I feel this is the perfect setup for ground hunting gobblers. When I am setting up in the ground blind or at a distance, I prefer to have the Hawke optics scope on top of my gun. It too has great eye relief and is easy to get on target. It just feels right especially at longer distances. Either optic is a great choice for turkey hunting, and it really comes down to personal preference.
The right ammo
With all the different ammo options on the market it really comes down to what your gun patterns best with. You have several different shot sizes as well as 2¾ to 3½ inch shells. Keep in mind the larger the shell the more punch the shot will pack and the more kick the gun will have. You also have several different shot materials available to shoot: steel, lead, or tungsten (also known as TSS ammo). While TSS ammo is considered superior to the other two types of ammo the price reflects it.
Credit- Working class hunter.
Regardless of the ammo you choose, matching your ammo to your choke will guarantee that you have the best pattering gun for the turkey season. With all the manufacture’s their catchy names for ammo that are geared toward turkey hunting, it’s hard to figure out what’s what, you just need to shoot a lot and see what works for your gun. I have had the best results with Remington’s Nitro Turkey ammo and their TSS ammo. They have both patterned well in every gun I have put them through without breaking the bank. They also come in every shot size and shell length you might need.
All the extra accessories
When it comes to turkey hunting there are several ways we can customize our guns. From slings to pistol grips and everything in between. The sky’s the limit. There are a few things I would suggest when building a turkey hunting gun, especially if you’re not on a tight budget. Let’s start with the gun itself. For my turkey guns, I like to have a camo pattern on the gun and barrel to help me blend in with my natural environment. This is vital when you’re out in the open, say sitting in a fence row. Blending into your environment is a must. Most gun manufacturers offer guns dipped in a camo pattern, but if not there are several companies that can hydro dip or cerakote a gun and barrel for you. Google this to find a local vendor.
Next up is a good tripod or shooting rest. When it comes to tripods, I have found that BOG hunting products makes a rock solid, light weight, fully adjustable tripod. This tripod can be used in not only a blind but on the ground itself with the ability to adjust to several different heights. I have also had good luck with Swagger Bipods. They can mount to the barrel of your gun and give you a solid rest to shoot from. The only downfall to Swagger Bipods are the fact they are made for ground hunting heights and not necessarily from a ground blind.
Lastly, you can have the best gun on the market for turkey hunting, but nothing ruins a hunt faster than getting uncomfortable. With that said don’t skimp on your camo, chair, turkey vest, and even turkey calls. They are all just as important as your gun itself.
Most Economical Turkey Gun Setup:
Best Overall Turkey Gun Setup:
Accessories for your Turkey Gun:
- BOG DeathGrip CAMO Tripod from $219.99
- BOG DeathGrip Black Tripod from $199.99
- Swagger Bipods from $118.12
Read More: The Small Bore Turkey Gun Debate
Read More: Pros and Cons of Every Turkey Shotgun Gauge
