HOW-TO
The Ultimate Gobbler Getters
A veteran turkey hunter shares his thoughts on the top tools for the job.
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When Andy Warhol said that in the future we would all have 15 minutes of fame, I don't think he envisioned a nation of victims seeking fame through public confession. I might as well jump on the bandwagon and admit to two addictions. (There may be more, but that's all I'm claiming for now.) I'm a gun addict, and I am obsessed with turkey hunting.
For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated with firearms, and I love experimenting and exploring the boundaries of all guns. In the spring I become pretty worthless; work and just about everything else are put aside as I travel the country chasing turkeys.
As a result, I've experimented with many of the turkey guns on the market, and I have fired thousands of shots at patterning boards and through a chronograph with most of the guns, ammo and chokes used for turkey hunting. I've also been able to shoot a lot of turkeys with a lot of different guns. I don't claim to have "seen it all," but it's fair to say I've seen a lot. As a result, I've formed some strong opinions about just what makes a good turkey gun.
THE RIGHT GAUGE
Most important is the diameter of the hole in the barrel. With turkey guns, size does matter. When it comes to the "ultimate turkey gun," the 12 gauge is the clear place to start, if for no other reason than because the 12 bore has been the epicenter of all the recent technological advancements. Also, I believe that when hunting, you hit them with everything you can and remove any doubt. Other than for a kid or very recoil-shy adult, there is little reason to use a smaller gauge on turkeys. I don't believe in "proving" that turkeys can be killed with light loads, small pellets or subgauge guns.
I have patterned all the shotgun gauges legal for turkey hunting, and the 20 gauge has some serious range restrictions. On the bigger end, the 10 gauge offers nothing over the long 12 and is far more limited in ammo and gun options. The 16? When is the last time you saw a true turkey load or turkey gun in that bore size? My preference for serious hunting is the 12-gauge 3 1/2-inch gun. Why? Simple: They don't make a 4-inch 12-gauge. I once listened to and believed all the rumors and myths about the 3 1/2-inch 12 gauge. Then I shot a bunch of them at the patterning board and at turkeys. Most of the myths were false, with one notable exception. The long 12s pattern very well, and they hit very hard. On both ends. The downside is recoil--enough to cross your eyes. If that's a problem, the 3-inch 12 gauge is probably the smart choice.
THE RIGHT ACTION
Which gun? Single shots are just that, so they're out. Double barrels see some use for turkey hunting, but they have some unique problems. (Not to mention that they just don't look right in the turkey woods.) Two barrels require a pair of expensive choke tubes rather than just one, and there is often not enough room to fit both of the larger-diameter extended chokes. Also, it's difficult to ensure that both barrels hit to the exact same point of aim at all distances. Small differences are unimportant when shooting wide patterns at moving targets, but with ultratight turkey patterns they can mean a missed bird. Doubles are great for shooting at things that scurry and fly, but for turkeys, they don't trip my trigger.
Pump actions merit serious consideration. They're fast, reliable and a bit lighter to carry than semiautos. Turkey hunting often involves a lot of walking, and the weight of a turkey gun is directly correlated to how much you will hate that gun at the end of the day, so any weight reduction is a good thing. I like pumps, but in seeking the "ultimate" turkey gun, I think they merit a pass for two reasons. I contend that the hunter who claims he has never missed either doesn't hunt much or is a liar. Sometimes a missed turkey will be temporarily confused about where you are and may hesitate a second or two before fleeing, giving you another shot. The noise of working a pump action can pinpoint your location and end his confusion. Semiautos not only provide a fast follow-up shot, they do it with no additional movement or noise. It doesn't happen often, and it's a small thing, but the ideal turkey gun should address as many worst-case scenarios as possible.
