Home Forums Birds & Dogs Turkey Hunting Best turkey gun under $500?

Thinking of picking up another turkey gun but don't feel like taking a 2nd mortgage. Any of you guys have an opinion. Thanks

870,rhino choke,nitros = dead turkey

Thanks tb. I've always been a fan of the 870 too. I had been thinking about the Browning BPS. Any thoughts?

My dedicated turkey shotgun is a BPS NWTF version - well built shotgun, but heavy to lug all day while run and gun hunting. You won't find a new one under $500.00, I would imagine used ones should be around for that price or under.

Thanks Odessa. I hear ya on the price issue with the bps. Cheapest I've seen is 6-650. They seem to be a little more friendly to a lefty and I've shot almost as many birds with the off hand. What length brl are you using?

With your budget in mind, my vote goes to the 870.

As stated above, the BPS is nice, but too heavy.

Best of luck with your purchase.

Thanks for the BPS info. The last thing I need is a third leg to haul up and down the hills.

socko1, my turkey hunting shotgun is the camo NWTF edition of the 12ga BPS shown on the right - it has a 24" barrel and an extended Pure Gold choke tube on it - it has been a very dependable shotgun. As I prefer to run and gun a lot when turkey hunting, I have decided that I am going to try my 12ga Benelli M-2 duck gun for turkey this season; it's got a flat camo finish and a 26" barrel - I think it is going to be fine as a turkey gun too and is much lighter. If I like using it I may just get rid of the BPS (I'm getting where I HATE to carry any more weight than I have to). Odessa

I second the BPS. Get a BPS and a 670 Pure Gold that will shot anything you run thru it.

If you buy a Browning you wont have to polish the bore the factory does that for you...

In my opinion the finest turkey gun ever made is the 870 compact in 20 gauge. It weighs just over 5 pounds and has a 21" barrel. With federal HWT #7's mine will kill a turkey stone dead every time out to 40 yards with ease.
I think brand new ones cost $365 when I picked mine up a couple years ago

Mine has been tricked out a little but it was a stone cold killer right out of the box. $500 will almost get you an 870 compact and a Burris fastfire to put on top of it.

They might be heavy but I'll never own another turkey gun. BPS with 21" "Game Gun" barrel with Hevi #6

Mossberg's are usually found pretty cheap.

Looks like you shot that one's head clean off
That's a pretty shotgun

Great info guys. For the last bunch of years I've been running my 870 wingmaster with 28" tube. It'll only take 2 3/4s but patterns #5s really well at 40 yds with the full choke. The downside is that the finish is real glossy and am convinced the shine has cost me a couple of real dandys. Love the gun, but these NY easterns are spooky enough without me giving them more advantage.

Benelli Nova with an Indian Creek Black Diamond Strike choke tube, Hevi-Shot Hevi 13 no. 6 shot. That being said the 870, Mossberg 835, or Browning BPS would all work great. You should have no trouble finding a used shotgun with enough left over to send it away to get hydro printed and pick up a choke for well under 500$.

Or why not just send your shotgun away to get hydro printed. Turkey's can be killed with 2 3/4 shells plenty easy.

I've kicked the idea around LazyV. I'm just thinking it may be time to let her rest and only bring her out for special occasions. Figured it was time to catch up with the rest of the gang and get one of them newfangled things. Grin

Gotcha. I've gotta couple guns like that. Always fun to buy a new gun though...

Lazy, you out in Washington, state of? Got a close friend who's a pro fireman in the Seattle/Everett area. He's always complaining that the hunting is sub-par out there. I think he's just gotten soft and lost his ambition. What's the real scoop?

If a guy works for it there is plenty of good hunting in this state. Trophy quality yada yada yada isn't as good as other states, but there is all kinds of good hunting to be had. This states around 50% public land so if a guy wants to hunt there's room to do it.