Help me pick the right barrel for turkey hunting.

[bigdave1121]

I'm about ready to send in my receiver to get a couple of rifle barrels slapped on, and I figured I would have them fit a shotty barrel too. I want something I can do some turkey hunting with, but I'm new to turkey hunting (and shotguns to a certain extent) so I was hoping you guys coupld help me make my selection. Would my best bet be to get the 28" Vent Rib, Screw-In Choke (Mod) barrel, and then just buy a turkey choke too (total cost $81 for barrel + $30 for the choke)? Or should I buy the 24" or 28" Turkey Extra Full barrel (for $63) and just forego the screw-in chokes altogether?

Does the ability to be able to swap out chokes justify the added cost?

Thanks for the help.

[Markus]

I'd go with the vent rib barrel and get a choke tube from another source. The reports on the nef choke tubes have been less than stellar. Another option would be a 20ga TDC barrel or one of the other screww in choke barrels. The fixed choke barrels are fine as well but the screw in chokes add versatility.

[bigdave1121]

Yeah I was leaning towards the vent rib barrel now too. I figure it would be easier to upgrade from a bead sight that way, seeing as how so many companies sell fiber-optic sights that fit right onto the vent ribs.

I've never seen H&R/NEF as an option when ordering those sights though. It's always just Remington, Mossberg, etc. Are the H&R's similar enough to any of the other manufacturers barrels so I know which sight to order?

[Doublebass73]

Due to a shoulder injury I now use a 20 gauge Pardner with screw in choke. The factory MOD choke patterns well out to 30 yards.

Before the injury I was using a Pardner Turkey with 24" barrel and factory extra full screw in choke. It threw an amazing pattern at 40 yards using Remington Nitro 3 1/2" turkey loads. I was very happy with that barrel.