Author Topic: Turkey gun (Read 2345 times)

ocxgeno · « **on:** February 01, 2014, 01:57:42 AM »

If you could only choose between the three for turkey which would it be and why?
The 10 gauge pardner with screw in choke and 24" barrel
The 12 gauge pardner with fixed full choke and 24" barrel or
12 topper deluxe with screw in choke and 28" barrel?

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a4beltfed2000 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2014, 02:34:21 AM »

topper deluxe only has a 3 inch chamber. the 12 ga turkey gun has the 3.5 inch chamber and the 10 is kind of over kill. (I own one) The 12 ga gives you the ability to use 2-3/4, 3, or 3.5 inch shells. Depending on price of ammo and availability it seems like the most diverse tool for not only turkey hunting but as a all around hunting gun.just my two cents and you'd have change coming

ocxgeno · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2014, 03:58:04 AM »

I didn't look into chambering... the ability to use 3.5" shells if I need is a plus... but this is strictly for Turkey hunting. I like having a gun for every type of hunting I do... allows me to have more guns!

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Specklebelly · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2014, 01:18:32 PM »

10 gauge all the way for me. I do not think it is overkill because dead is dead and there is nothing like throwing 2 1/4 or 2 3/8 of shot at a gobbler. You will not notice any recoil as you will be to focused on the bird.

In reality all you "need" for turkey's is a 20 gauge. However I still vote for the 10 partner.

bikerbeans · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2014, 02:17:17 PM »

I'd go with the 10ga because it is a much heavier gun and will limit the damage to your shoulder.

In reality, either 12 is probably a better choice just based upon availability of ammo as it is hard in my area to find any 10ga ammo.

BB

cwlongshot · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2014, 02:48:17 PM »

For me I would choose:

1) 12g Screw in choke

2) 10G Screw in choke

3) 12 Fixed full choke.

The ONLY reason the 10 takes second is ammo availability. IF ammo was readily available, TAKE THAT TEN AND RUN!!!

Its been LONG ago proven barrel length has nothing to do with tightness of patterns. Swing/ Tracking YES, but tighter patterns, NO.

CW

ocxgeno · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2014, 03:20:06 PM »

Sounds like the 10 is favored... I like how it's drilled and tapped as well.

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45-70.gov · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2014, 03:45:13 PM »

my 10 weighs a ton and kicks like a mule...mine is 36inches

but you got twice as much woods covered

ammo cost twice as much......so less practice and familiarity with the 10

jpshaw · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2014, 01:12:59 AM »

If it's solely for Turkey I would use the fixed full choke 12 gauge with the 24 inch barrel. You won't be changing it anyway.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2014, 01:22:12 AM »

The 12 gauge pardner with fixed full choke and 24" barrel.

ocxgeno · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2014, 01:39:05 AM »

The fixed full choke pattern good enough?

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ocxgeno · « **Reply #11 on:** February 02, 2014, 01:46:26 AM »

I dont wuite understand why they didn't thread the 12 gauge version... the 10 has the extras going for it... threaded, xfull choke, and drilled and tapped for scope... I realize it's tricky to d&t the 12 gauges but I'm sure they could have done something

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stewmagoo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 02, 2014, 02:17:14 AM »

Well I have a discontinued black turkey edition 12 ga with the 24" threaded choke barrel. I had a 10 gauge with the 24" threaded choke that was drilled and tapped and was chambered for 3.5. It was a mule but just too much. I think any one of the 12s are the way to go especially if you run and gun for birds and have to carry it much.

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ocxgeno · « **Reply #13 on:** February 02, 2014, 02:18:36 AM »

I wish I could come across one of those on gunbroker or come up used somewhere

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ocxgeno · « **Reply #14 on:** February 02, 2014, 02:19:13 AM »

What was the model number of that discontinued 12?

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stewmagoo · « **Reply #15 on:** February 02, 2014, 02:32:35 AM »

PM sent

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Doublebass73 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2014, 03:37:08 AM »

Quote from: ocxgeno on February 02, 2014, 01:39:05 AM

The fixed full choke pattern good enough?

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Absolutely, I hunt turkeys with a modified choke 16 gauge. A fixed full choke will be plenty in a 12 gauge. The whiz-bang turkey choke manufacturers will tell you otherwise because they want to sell you one of their chokes.

a4beltfed2000 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2014, 04:25:35 AM »

They make two different barrels a (24 inch and a 28inch) barrel with threaded chokes in 12 ga. They also make the 12 ga barrels with 24 and 28 inch barrels with fixed chokes. Biggest difference is the one set has 3.5 inch chambers and threaded chokes, others do not have the screw in chokes and 3 inch chambers. Price difference is around 20-30 dollars from the factory.

As it was pointed out the 10Ga, is a more costly and ammo is not a easy to come by at least here. 10Ga turkey loads isnt something that you are going to find a walmart (no gun shops within 30 miles of me/us) and last time I looked at 10ga turkey loads they are 35.00 for 10 shells. the 12 ga 3 or 3.5 inch shells are about half of that. Like I said just my two cents....

cwlongshot · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2014, 04:26:35 AM »

ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!

Just think these so called ''wizzbang'' super chokes are new comers...arriving around the early 1990s right after the beginnings of the ''super'' camo patterns in the late 1980's. No one really thinks any one hunted birds BEFORE that do you??

NO CAMO, NO SCREW IN CHOKES AND perish the thought.. REGULAR 20,16 & 12g shells where used too!! LOL

Saying that, my go to turkey gun is my Remington Super mag 870 3.5'' 12g with a special super full choke shooting 3.5'' 2oz loads of Federal Premium #5's.

I have almost bought 10's two or three times...last time I convinced myself was about 4 months ago... I went back and they had been sold.

Back in my youth duck and Goose hunting my friend had a Ithaca auto in 10 ga for high flying geese. It did knock them down as I took a few with it myself.

CW

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2014, 04:49:35 AM »

Oh yeah, I forgot about how we're led to believe that we need the latest super duper camo pattern in order to fool the turkeys.

Somehow I've managed to kill a turkey every year with this non-camo, wooden stocked, fixed modified 16 gauge with regular 1 oz. field loads:

A fixed full 12 gauge will do you proud, that would be my recommendation.

Specklebelly · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2014, 07:36:36 AM »

For what it's worth you can get 10 gauge turkey loads from Rogers for something like $8 a box. I bought about five boxes from them last year so I am set for a few seasons.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2014, 09:47:29 AM »

Quote from: Doublebass73 on February 02, 2014, 04:49:35 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot about how we're led to believe that we need the latest super duper camo pattern in order to fool the turkeys.

Somehow I've managed to kill a turkey every year with this non-camo, wooden stocked, fixed modified 16 gauge with regular 1 oz. field loads:

A fixed full 12 gauge will do you proud, that would be my recommendation.

doublebass
i like that concept.....
your stock is made out of a tree
so it blends into the woods

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2014, 10:27:24 AM »

Quote

doublebass
i like that concept.....
your stock is made out of a tree
so it blends into the woods

Yes, it's birch stained to look like walnut so as long as I'm near one of those two trees the turkeys can't see me.

stewmagoo · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2014, 10:37:48 AM »

I agree with you guys but... Buying a 12 ga factory threaded choke will give the op more options for different hunting senerios. Screw in a different choke for different game.

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Doublebass73 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 02, 2014, 11:23:45 AM »

Quote from: stewmagoo on February 02, 2014, 10:37:48 AM

I agree with you guys but... Buying a 12 ga factory threaded choke will give the op more options for different hunting senerios. Screw in a different choke for different game.

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I have no doubt that multiple chokes work well for some people but in my own personal experience that wasn't so much the case. I've had two H&R's with screw in chokes, a 12 gauge 24" turkey barrel with 3 1/2" chamber and a 20 gauge. I played around a lot with different load/choke combos. I tested the same loads with different chokes to see how much effect the chokes had. I also tested different loads through the same choke. In some cases I saw no improvement in pattern going from a mod to an x-full turkey choke using the same loads. Other times there was an improvement but only slight. The one thing I did notice is that changing ammo has a lot more effect on patterns than changing chokes does.

I came to the conclusion that it wasn't worth the effort (to me) to mess around with multiple chokes in the same gun. I ended up settling on the 16 gauge with a fixed modified choke, keep it simple. It shoots everything well - slugs, buckshot, low brass and high brass birdshot. It even does well with steel and Hevishot, I killed a Canadian goose at 45 yards with it. I spent some time in the beginning trying different ammo to see what the gun liked. It did well with just about everything but for some reason it really likes anything with a purple Federal hull whether it's birdshot, buckshot or slugs.

The screw in choke 12 gauge I had was a beast for long range turkeys with 3 1/2" loads but the recoil was brutal. I got rid of it because my shoulder didn't like it and also because it didn't shoot Foster slugs well at all no matter what choke I had in it. I'm guessing it was because of the long chamber and Foster slugs generally only come in 2 3/4" shells so the slugs had a long jump through open space.

Markus · « **Reply #25 on:** February 02, 2014, 11:25:50 AM »

12,16 or 20 will do just fine. The topper deluxe had a 3 1/2" chamber. The topper deluxe classic ha one too the 1st year. I've got both. That said I bought a box of 5 3.5" heavy shot and I think I still have 2 left.

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perrytrails · « **Reply #26 on:** February 03, 2014, 01:51:11 AM »

3.5 inch isn't needed.

2 3/4 Winchester # 6 throws a great pattern out of a .660 (Pretty much standard for 12ga) turkey choke.

Camo isn't needed.

Sit still, let em get close.

jpshaw · « **Reply #27 on:** February 04, 2014, 06:53:38 AM »

Quote from: Doublebass73 on February 02, 2014, 04:49:35 AM

Somehow I've managed to kill a turkey every year with this non-camo, wooden stocked, fixed modified 16 gauge with regular 1 oz. field loads

I've been looking at the picture of your 16 gauge Doublebass73 and have to ask; How long is that barrel anyway? It looks longer then my 27.5 inch 12 gauge.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 04, 2014, 07:28:58 AM »

Quote from: jpshaw on February 04, 2014, 06:53:38 AM

Quote from: Doublebass73 on February 02, 2014, 04:49:35 AM
Somehow I've managed to kill a turkey every year with this non-camo, wooden stocked, fixed modified 16 gauge with regular 1 oz. field loads

I've been looking at the picture of your 16 gauge Doublebass73 and have to ask; How long is that barrel anyway? It looks longer then my 27.5 inch 12 gauge.

I measured it when I first got it, I believe it was exactly 28" but I'll have to check when I get home.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #29 on:** February 04, 2014, 07:35:21 AM »

The 10 ga is to heavy and the topper to long. I don't want to tote a heavy gun running after turkeys . Here the brush and briers make a longer gun hard to get through the thick stuff.