Turkey Gun – Scope/No Scope?

I’m sure you already know this, but just a reminder to go out on Minnetonka during the week and not the weekends. I was out there yesterday (Sunday) for the first time ever and the boat traffic was unreal. I have never seen anything like it in my life. Granted it was a beautiful day yesterday, but I’m guessing the boat traffic is only going to get worse from here on out with the temperatures starting to rise. If you do fish weekends, get up very early. We got out at 5am and the traffic wasn’t too bad until about noon. We were muskie fishing, so I am of no help as I’m guessing you’re looking for bass. I will tell you this, I’m done fishing Tonka until the fall, that was just too much to handle for me. Good luck!

I was also out there, I think that the fish are scattered, couldn’t find some decent numbers or even sizes together, alot of cruzers in shallow sandy areas. as soon as I popped my biggest fish for the day, there where 2 other boats in where I was fishing because I moved out. they worked that area hard with me just laughing, because when i continued with my trolling motor casting around, I kept on settin the hook on weed snags and also sunny hits on my texas rigged worm. so they where working that area hard, and I kept on going to my better fish catching spot.

I tried a few new places with ending up at a few of my better places.

shane

here are a few pics from yesterday

shane

I was on Minnetonka last Tuesday, pre fishing for the Wednesday Nighter that got cancelled. Caught about a dozen dinks, with the largest being 2-1/2lbs. Couldn’t find any groups at all. Just 1 here then 1 there.

I’m not satisfied with my current turkey setup. Check that, I’m very satisfied, but I think I can do better.

I currently shoot a Browning Gold Hunter (auto) 3.5″ 12 gauge NWTF model. The gun has a shorter barrel at 24″es (awesome), and has “fine” fiber optic rifle sights. It’s also factory Mossy Oak camo. In its heyday, it was as good as it got. Longer forcing cone than most scatterguns at the time, backbored, and with the 3.5″ chamber for maximum (and accurate) payload delivery on target. After some serious patterning sessions with different shell/choke combinations, I’m still happy with what I’ve got in terms of a pattern. The only way I can do better in terms of pattern is by going to the Nitro handloads with custom fitted chokes.

That said, the gun is starting to show its age/use. It’s a bit heavy for this day and age. It’s a stickler for needing to be clean. Belly crawl one day with it, and you better clean it that night. First shot is not a problem, but if you’d need a followup it will often jam. I’ll bring this to the shooters test-bench section too to see if I really need to just clean it better/different.

On top of that comes the sighting issue. “Fine” rifle sights are much better than a bead IMO, but probably not the pinnacle from what I can tell. I’ve looked at the Burris Speedbead and other holographic sights, Red dots, scopes, etc. I like the FastFire from Burris and Leupold’s NWTF model with the turkey plex reticle so far.

I guess I’m willing to sink a few hundred into the project, but I’m looking for advice as to which direction(s) to take. Trade in the gun for the newest/latest/greatest? If so, which sighting system? Other general advice?

Joel

Joel, I was also thinking about what to use this year, bow or gun? I have a Browning 10 gauge that is gas operated for less kick, but I also have a Benneli SBE in 12 gauge, too. I’d be interested as well to see what is available in sights or optics.

How about an 870 Express Magnum 20ga, 21″ barrel, Rem Super Full choke, lengthened forcing cone and barrel polished. ATI colapesable stock, Tru Glo red dot on a B square saddle mount with a tri viz fiber under it for backup, and feed it 3″ Federal Heavy Weight in 6’s or 7’s.

Thats my little guys gun, and on of these days I’m going to do one for myself. I’m thinking I either want an auto in 20 or an over/under with one barrel set up for close rang and one to reach out and touch them.

CW

Now that is a bad turkey gun right there. You wouldn’t even have to shoot it…they would just surrender upon seeing it.

I’d have to say scope. On a 223 On Mikes deck

No scope for me,I’m flinging arrows til one walks in front of one

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How about an 870 Express Magnum 20ga, 21″ barrel, Rem Super Full choke, lengthened forcing cone and barrel polished. ATI colapesable stock, Tru Glo red dot on a B square saddle mount with a tri viz fiber under it for backup, and feed it 3″ Federal Heavy Weight in 6’s or 7’s.

Do you really shoot shot as light as 7’s That seems really small to me for turkey’s

Thats my little guys gun, and on of these days I’m going to do one for myself. I’m thinking I either want an auto in 20 or an over/under with one barrel set up for close rang and one to reach out and touch them.

CW

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How about an 870 Express Magnum 20ga, 21″ barrel, Rem Super Full choke, lengthened forcing cone and barrel polished. ATI colapesable stock, Tru Glo red dot on a B square saddle mount with a tri viz fiber under it for backup, and feed it 3″ Federal Heavy Weight in 6’s or 7’s.

Thats my little guys gun, and on of these days I’m going to do one for myself. I’m thinking I either want an auto in 20 or an over/under with one barrel set up for close rang and one to reach out and touch them.

CW

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Lets try this again – do you really shoot 7’s? that seems really lite to me for turkeys

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Lets try this again – do you really shoot 7’s? that seems really lite to me for turkeys

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Not lead #7, but the Fed. HW #7’s, or even nitro 8 and 9’s are pretty common HTL loads for turkeys.

CW

interesting post, joel; i have been thinking about upgrading my 20-year-old turkey slayer, which is a mossberg 500.

my only looking has been online, but i have liked what i saw and read about mossberg’s turkey model and ithaca’s m37 turkey gun. i only looked at those two because of the success i have had with the mossberg and ithaca i have.

next time i am in ptown i plan to check out a couple gun stores to see what they got.

just my personal preference, but i would never put a scope on a turkey gun. i dont think its needed if you have good fiber optic sights, and i want to see “the whole picture” when a tom is closing in.

good luck in your search. it’s always fun shopping for new “toys.”

I too am very close to retiring my 1993 Remington 870. I believe my next turkey gun will have a scope

I am just not sure which one

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just my personal preference, but i would never put a scope on a turkey gun. i dont think its needed if you have good fiber optic sights, and i want to see “the whole picture” when a tom is closing in.

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The Red Dots like what we are using are not a powered scope, and are the same as Military and Police use for close quarter battles. You keep both eyes open compared to a Fiber where you need to close an eye and sight down low. It also raises your head up more and allows a better overall picture. I think that one has a 3 moa dot so even at 50 it won’t cover that much of the bird.

CW