Thinkin About Building a turkey gun.

[gary bartlow]

I don't know if its the fact that I'm getting older,lazier,or just want to be more simple,but I packed a 12 ga 870  thru the turkey woods this past spring and it just wore me out. So that got me to thinking about building a H&R turkey gun.


Several years ago I was needing some cash so I cleaned out the gun safe and closets and sold a Topper Deluxe 3 1/2 " 12 ga. I'm here to tell you I do NOT want to fire a 3 1/2 H&R ever but having the option would be nice. I'm thinking about a 3" gun cut to 24-26" tapped for choke tubes,extend the forcing cone. Probably use a MY Cammo Kit for the barrel and receiver,and get a thumbhole stock to finish it off.


How much does a barrel threading job run on average ?I know it can be done by hand but I'm not wanting to try that . .  yet.

[Yak Angler]

The last time I had it done cost me $ 120 and it turned out perfect on my 870 supermag, money well spent as that gun now meets my needs, I think h&r makes a turkey model that comes with factory screw in choke and 3.5" chamber in 12gauge, i think the stocks are camo too, probably be cheaper and easier to locate one of those than build one up.

[celt1314]

They do in fact make them..just looked at one but can't remember the price. I think some where around 250 to 300.

[quickdtoo]

The 20ga TDC makes a fine turkey gun, sure as heck beat the heck out of packing an 835 all those years and the recoil is sweet in comparison! 

Tim

[Yak Angler]

I love my 20 gauge h&r's, I just bought probably one of the last topper youths in 20 gauge left in Canada two days ago. It has a 22" modified choke barrel and the nice youth stock with recoil pad, compared it side by side with a 20 gauge tamer but since the topper was on sale for only $ 150 brand new and I couldn't pass it up. It would make a great turkey gun just as good if not better than 3.5" 12 gauge using lead if you use federal heaveight turkey in 20 gauge. The 20 gauge has alot less recoil and is much lighter/more compact which i like in a shotgun. My new topper will probably be used the most of all my shotguns this year and if i was into turkey hunting I would use it with any of the heavier than lead shells available and forget the 12 gauge all togeather but let us know what you decide on.

[Lonegun1894]

I had a 18.5" mossberg 500 barrel threaded a few months ago and the forcing cone polished/lenghtened, and the total price was just over $100 for both services.  I know my patterns with this shotgun are great and it may actually replace my Mossberg 835 as my go to turkey gun.  Now If I could just find a turkey to make either one of them "official"...