April 20, 2015
By Brad Fitzpatrick
The wild turkey is a species worth celebrating. Efforts from hunter-driven organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation have helped restore turkey populations across the U.S. Not only is this good for turkeys, it means that more and more hunters have an opportunity to head out into the woods each spring in search of a big gobbler.
The rise in turkey populations has resulted in a new subcategory of shotguns. Thirty years ago there were very few dedicated turkey guns, and even those only offered a camo exterior and perhaps a larger chamber for more powerful loads. Things have changed since then.
Today, there are dozens of hardcore turkey guns that are purpose-built for putting that tom on the ground. Is it absolutely necessary to have one of these specialized guns to kill a turkey? No, but it certainly makes things easier, more comfortable and, in some cases, it increases your odds of success.
Many of today's turkey guns have pistol grips for maximum stability, high-visibility fiber optic sights or optics, cavernous chambers that can accommodate even the heaviest magnum loads, and choke tubes that wring every usable yard out of your shot string.
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There are a lot of guns from which to choose with a $700 budget, but these gobbler guns are our favorites if you're on a budget.
Browning | BPS Stalker
The Stalker 12 gauge, 3-inch just slips in under the $700 mark (the 3 ½-inch gun costs around $800). Even though it's more expensive than the other guns listed here, it's still a great value for a hardworking and time-tested shotgun.
The forged and machined steel receiver adds a bit of weight, but it helps tame heavy loads, and with its bottom feeding/ejection design the
BPS is truly an ambidextrous shotgun. Twin steel action bars offer smooth, secure cycling and the BPS comes with three Invector choke tunes, a vent rib and single bead.
If you're looking for a do-all shotgun in this price range, the Stalker is a great choice. The 26-inch barrel version is maneuverable enough for turkey hunting but will also serve well in the upland fields or a duck blind.
MSRP: $700
Stoeger | M3000 SteadyGrip
Stoeger is one of the leaders in budget shotgun design and development, and their semi-auto
M3000 uses an inertia system for years of reliable service.
The beauty of the inertia system is a reduction in the number of moving parts, a simple operating platform that vents gasses out of the barrel for easy maintenance. It's covered in Realtree's APG camo so birds won't be able pick you out. The M3000 also comes with stock shims, which allow you to adjust fit and point of impact.
The SteadyGrip design allows for one-handed manipulation of the gun and provides a secure hold when firing heavy loads. With a 24-inch barrel the M3000 weighs 7.3 pounds, which nicely balances recoil control and heft. This is a gun you can carry on long hikes in search of gobblers but it isn't abusive to shoot.
The M3000 has a 3-inch chamber, plenty for most turkey hunts, and it comes with interchangeable chokes.
MSRP: $599
Remington | Express 870 Turkey Camo
Remington's classic 870 has been a do-all shotgun for decades, but specialized versions like the
Express Turkey Camo make the venerable 870 even more versatile.
The 870 Express Turkey has a steel receiver, matte finish, Mossy Oak Break-Up camo stock and forearm, and a 21 inch vent rib barrel with Extra Full Rem Choke included. For about an additional forty dollars you can step up to the Express ShurShot, which features a synthetic pistol grip stock for proper eye alignment and maximum stability.
The ShurShot version comes with Mossy Oak Obsession camo and the same 21 inch barrel, matte finish and Extra Full Turkey Rem Choke that are included on the Express Turkey model. Both guns are drilled for attaching optic mounts.
MSRP: $492 (Express Turkey);
$536 (ShurShot Turkey)
Tristar | Cobra Turkey
Tristar offers two versions of their Cobra pump shotguns designed with turkey hunters in mind. The black version, which comes with a pistol grip, extended forearm, black matte finish and interchangeable chokes is only $339, which means you can buy a few boxes of shells, a couple decoys, and your tags and you'll still be under $700.
There's also a camo version as well. Both guns comes with a picatinny rail for mounting optics. These guns both have a 3-inch chamber, and they are both very light at 6.5 pounds with a 24-inch barrel.
That light weight can add to recoil, but the Tristar guns have thick waffle-style pads which help mitigate kick. If you like a light, easy-to-carry gun and don't have a lot to spend this is a great buy.
MSRP: $399
Weatherby | PA-459
Think Weatherby is just a rifle company? Think again. The truth is that Weatherby has been selling shotguns for fifty years, and during that time they've learned how to give hunters what they want at an affordable price.
Their newest turkey gun, the
PA-459 is a purpose-built gobbler gun with a list of features that make it a great value. For starters, it comes with a wide, soft pistol grip that makes it easy to control and maneuver the gun with the shooting hand.
The extended forearm offers plenty of space to get a secure grip on the gun, and there's even a rail for mounting accessories. The PA-459 is chambered for 2 ¾- and 3-inch shells, and the entire exterior surface is dipped with Realtree Xtra Green camo, so the turkeys will never see you coming.
An extra full choke tube, top rail for mounting optics, an easy-to-find action release in front of the trigger guard and fiber optic sights round out this turkey-slaying package.
MSRP: $599
Winchester | SXP Turkey Hunter
Winchester calls it the 'Shotgun that points like a rifle, ' and I don't doubt their claim. The
SXP utilizes an inertia-assisted pump action, and that makes it extremely fast cycling, especially with powerful turkey loads.
Key interior parts are black chromed rather than blued, which adds natural lubricity and makes cleaning easier. The recoil from those heavy turkey loads is mitigated by the Inflex recoil pad, which works to prevent recoil from slapping the gun up and into your face.
The entire exterior of the SXP Turkey Hunter is dipped in new Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo, and it comes with a pair of fiber optic front and rear sights that help you get on target quickly. The extended fore end is easy to hold and manipulate, and the SXP Turkey is available in both 12- and 20-gauge versions.
The 12-gauge version comes with a 3 ½-inch chamber, the 20-gauge version a 3-inch chamber.
MSRP: $519 (12 gauge);
$549 (20 gauge)
Mossberg | FLEX 500 All- Purpose
If you're not sold on buying a turkey-specific shotgun, consider the
FLEX. It has the same vaunted slide action design that made the Model 500 famous, so it's a safe bet that this shotgun will withstand decades of abuse.
It comes with interchangeable choke tubes and a convenient tang-mounted safety that works equally well for right and left-handed shooters. In its most basic form, the FLEX All-Purpose is a fine turkey gun, but the beauty of the FLEX system is that you can customize it in dozens of different ways.
The stock, forearm, and barrel are all interchangeable, so one FLEX platform can serve multiple functions. That means your turkey gun can moonlight as a home-defense and slug hunting shotgun with little effort. Talk about bang for your buck.
MSRP: $649
