Mossberg International SA-28 Tactical Turkey: Light, Affordable, and Awesome

As high-density non-toxic shot—especially Tungsten Super Shot (TSS)—has become more common in recent years, with more ammo manufacturers creating loads featuring it, there’s also been a shift toward sub-gauge shotguns in the turkey world. This makes perfect sense of course. If you can get similar terminal performance from a gun that’s lighter and from a load that produces less recoil yet delivers more pellets, and these denser pellets provide more energy downrange, well, who wouldn’t opt for that?

Highly mobile turkey hunters who cover lots of ground don’t love heavy guns. Lighter, more compact guns are certainly easier to carry across any terrain, and they’re more maneuverable and versatile in a wider range of situations.

However, most (sane) people also don’t particularly like getting rocked by a lightweight gun/heavyweight turkey load combination either. If you doubt that, try putting a few 2-ounce lead or TSS turkey loads through a sub-7-pound 12-gauge. Unless the experience ends with a dead gobbler on the ground, there are probably more enjoyable ways to spend your time. Also, a lighter, more compact gun with less recoil is a no-brainer for youth hunters or those of smaller stature.

For these reasons, lighter sub-gauge shotguns firing similarly lighter payloads have become increasingly popular, and desired (some have even suggested the 28-gauge, when using TSS, could be the ideal one for turkeys). And this is why more shotgun manufacturers have been creating new sub-gauge turkey guns or expanding existing lines to include new sub-gauge models.

One of the more interesting of these is the Mossberg International SA-28 Tactical Turkey, first introduced about three years ago. It’s unique in that there still aren’t a ton of dedicated 28-gauge semi-auto turkey guns out there (at least in terms of purpose-built factory guns). Luckily for me, I got the opportunity to hunt with one this past spring while pursuing Osceola turkeys with Tall Tine Outfitters in central Florida.

LIGHTWEIGHT, LITHE, AND LOVELY

The SA-28 Tactical Turkey is designed to be a lightweight, compact, relatively soft-shooting turkey gun. To my mind, it hits on all three.

The gun weighs 6 pounds, sports a 22-inch barrel, has a 12 3/4-inch fixed length of pull, and is 41 3/4 inches long overall. Most standard 12-gauge field guns with a 26- or 28-inch barrel (which many hunters press into service come turkey season) will be about 6 to 8 inches longer and about 1 to 2 pounds heavier on average. That may not sound like much, but for serious turkey hunters who log miles in and over tough terrain or pack into cramped ground blinds, ounces and inches matter. Even most purpose-built 12- or 20-gauge turkey guns will be heavier and at least a few inches longer than the SA-28 Tactical Turkey, unless they’re sporting a very short (18- to 20-inch) barrel. 

On my own hunt in central Florida, we packed three people into a popup blind, which meant space was fairly limited. Despite this, I had no issues whatsoever maneuvering the gun. 

Being relatively lightweight, the SA-28 Tactical Turkey can also be held at the ready longer, sometimes necessary when turkey hunting. At one point in Florida, a gobbler appeared on the opposite edge of a field, and while it flirted with (and ultimately abandoned) a long, drawn-out approach, I kept the gun up and ready to fire the entire time. A pistol-gripped stock, which the gun has, also helps with this, and for those who rest the forend on their knee, it can even permit one-handed operation if needed. (A standard, non-pistol grip configuration, the SA-28 Turkey, is also available).

The gun’s 28-gauge chambering (2 3/4-inch shells only) and gas operating system, meanwhile, help on the recoil front. Most 28-gauge tungsten and TSS loads feature 1- to 1 1/2-ounce payloads, which naturally means less recoil than heavier 12- and 20-gauge turkey loads. And, with some gas being vented to the piston to cycle the action, recoil, while not absent, is noticeably softer, or smoother, than on inertia guns, pump-actions, or over/unders. It’s worth noting that the gas system reliably cycled every shell with no malfunctions as I sighted the gun in and hunted with it.

OTHER TURKEY-GUN TRAITS

I’ve already mentioned the shotgun’s shorter barrel and pistol grip (which, incidentally, is rubberized and features comfortable, grippy finger grooves), but several other characteristics also make this gun ideal for the turkey woods. For starters, the SA-28 Tactical Turkey comes fully decked out in Mossy Oak Greenleaf. The barrel, receiver, stock, and forend all sport the classic camo. In fact, the only parts of the gun that don’t are the black rubber pistol grip, the trigger and trigger guard, and the bolt and bolt handle. 

More critically, the SA-28 Tactical Turkey comes from the factory with an extended Turkey choke and, for aiming purposes, a vent rib with fiber optic sights (fixed green front post and orange ghost ring rear). However, it’s also drilled and tapped and comes with a rail, to which hunters can attach an optic of their choice. Those who prefer a more forward-mounted low-profile red dot can remove the ghost ring and utilize their preferred vent rib mount (I’ve used and really like Warne’s Red-dot Shotgun Rib Mounts, but there are several other options, too). 

On my hunt in Florida, I had a German Precision Optics (GPO) SPECTRA Dot red dot sight mounted on the included picatinny rail. It’s a solid 3 MOA red dot that weighs 6.6 ounces, has adjustable brightness settings, features a 50,000-hour runtime on a CR2032 battery, and has a robust build with an IPX-7 waterproof rating. It was easy to dial in at the pattern board and performed just fine during my hunt, pairing nicely with the SA-28 Tactical Turkey.

The included extended Turkey choke also served admirably. When sighting in, the gun was printing lethal patterns at 40 yards with Apex Ammunition’s 2 3/4-inch 1 1/2-ounce No. 9/10 blended Mossy Oak Greenleaf TSS turkey loads. I’d seen some devastating patterns in the past while testing the 12-gauge version of this load (which contains more than 1,000 pellets) with a different gun, so I wasn’t surprised that this one (665 pellets) also performed well. I didn’t get the opportunity to stretch the distance any farther with this load, but I had hoped to keep any shots within 40 yards anyway. 

The gun’s controls are straightforward and prominent, even oversized in some cases. It has a simple cross-bolt safety, the bolt release button isn’t enlarged but of decent size, and the bolt handle is bigger than average and easy to grasp and operate. As all turkey guns should, it also features attachment points for a sling. The recoil pad isn’t anything exceptional, but it doesn’t really need to be and works just fine. The trigger, likewise, is serviceable. 

It’s worth acknowledging that the SA-28 Tactical Turkey has a 4+1 capacity. In states that limit turkey hunters to a gun capable of holding a maximum of three shells (one in the chamber and two in the magazine), it will need to be plugged to comply with regulations. Beyond the 28-gauge version I hunted with, the gun is also available in 20 gauge and .410 bore (and, as previously stated, with or without the pistol grip). 

One other thing I’ll mention is that this gun is part of the “Mossberg International” line. All guns bearing that name are produced in Turkey, whereas other Mossberg firearms are made in the U.S. While this may have been cause for concern some years ago, many Turkish factories are now putting out solid guns. I’ve tested several in recent years, including another Mossberg International gun in the Silver Reserve Eventide Turkey, and all have performed quite well. Manufacturing in Turkey helps reduce costs, and the result winds up being a very affordable shotgun—$991 in the case of the SA-28 Tactical Turkey, though prices out in the real world may even be lower.

ON THE HUNT 

After a few uneventful hours in central Florida sitting in a popup blind at the edge of a clearing overlooking a larger field, our hunting group did eventually see some action. First, it was that gobbler that hung up at about 90 yards, but not long after, in response to some casual calling, we heard a bird behind us gobble. More calling, more gobbling, each time closer, sometimes cutting off our own calls. 

The approach was slow but consistent, and eventually we saw not one bird but a trio of them through a small slit in the blind’s back window. It had been a while since I’d heard a bird spitting and drumming, but when one of them did so less than 10 yards behind us, I was buzzing with anticipation. Moments later, a bird ripped off a thunderous gobble mere feet from the blind’s right side. 

Oddly enough, all three, as the gobbler earlier had done, held up and actually backed off a bit. But, after a little time and some more aggressive calling, the birds got really fired up and returned our way. This time there was no coyness, or hesitation. The trio approached from behind and left of our blind, and I watched, dead still, as they passed a few yards to the side before walking directly in front of us. I picked out a bird, centered my red dot just below his head, and gently pressed the trigger. 

The bird dropped about 6 yards away, one of the closest shots I’d ever had while turkey hunting. Moments later, Linda Powell, one of two hunting companions, dropped a second bird at about 12 yards. Obviously, I didn’t get the chance to see what the SA-28 Tactical Turkey and Apex Ammunition loads could do at distance, but it was still an exciting and fun way to end a great hunt.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Mossberg International SA-28 Tactical Turkey excels at its intended purpose. It’s a lightweight, nimble, and reliable shotgun that is a certified turkey slayer when paired with appropriate TSS loads. The sub-gauge scattergun is a great spring companion, whether you’re running-and-gunning across rolling prairies, summiting ridges in the hills, winding your way through thick bottomland hardwoods, or camping out in a ground blind. It perfectly embodies the evolution of the turkey gun following the rise of TSS and similar high-density pellets. 

The only thing on the gun I might change—and this isn’t strictly essential—would be the chamber. Some of the more recently introduced 28-gauge shotguns feature a 3-inch rather than a 2 3/4-inch chamber. While there isn’t an abundance of 3-inch 28-gauge turkey loads out there, they do exist, and the SA-28 Tactical Turkey can’t use them. In truth, there aren’t all that many 28-gauge turkey loads, period, and those TSS or tungsten loads that are around are pricey. 

In fact, all TSS loads are costly right now due to a compounding combination of import tariffs on Chinese-sourced tungsten, reduced availability of raw tungsten powder, and increased demand from other industries. Currently, 28-gauge TSS turkey loads range anywhere from about $62 to $89 for a box of five shells (or between roughly $12 and $18 per shell). Some 12-gauge TSS loads may run as much as $132 a box (or about $26 per shell).

This may be the only caveat with the Mossberg International SA-28 Tactical Turkey and similar sub-gauge turkey guns. If TSS loads become prohibitively expensive—this is quite subjective, and for some, they may already qualify—then sub-gauge guns could once again take a back seat to 12-gauges and traditional lead loads in the turkey woods. 

However, turkey hunting isn’t typically a high-volume affair, and for those willing to stomach the current high cost of TSS and tungsten loads, the SA-28 Tactical Turkey may be the perfect spring solution. And, if the price of TSS does drop again in the future, whether due to increased domestic tungsten production or the removal of tariffs on foreign tungsten, then sub-gauge turkey guns like this one will only become more attractive. If you’re looking to step down from a 12-gauge for turkeys, this gun is a joy to carry, hunt with, and shoot.

SPECIFICATIONS: MOSSBERG INTERNATIONAL SA-28 TACTICAL TURKEY

• Type: Gas-operated semi-auto shotgun
• Gauge: 28
• Chamber: 2 3/4 in.
• Capacity: 4+1
• Overall Length: 41.75 in.
• Length of Pull: 12.75 in. (fixed)
• Weight: 6 lbs.
• Barrel: 22 in.
• Choke: Extended turkey
• Safety: Cross-bolt
• Sights: Fiber optic front and ghost ring rear
• Metal Finish: Mossy Oak Greenleaf
• Stock: Synthetic pistol grip; Mossy Oak Greenleaf
• MSRP: $991

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