Picking a shotgun is like picking out your next hunting dog. It is a loyal, faithful companion who will travel with you through thick and thin, rain, mud and always has a good attitude. If guns could talk, shotguns across the country would have some of the most incredible stories. Turkey shotguns in particular have taken on a life of their own over the past 20 or so years. The accessories, stock styles and chokes have become specialized for the pursuit of placing 40 or so pellets into a baseball sized target. So let’s break down five great turkey shotgun options for 2024.
CVA Scout 410
The spike in interest in the .410 single shot from CVA has been a fun one to watch. Perfect for carrying long distances, the .410 forces you to pull birds in tight. The Scout comes standard with a DuraSight® scope rail, which will accept most any standard scope rings found on the market today. Many of the users of the Scout for turkey hunting prefer to use scopes since it requires extreme precision due to the reduced number of pellets as opposed to larger gauges. The Scout comes in Blued/Realtree Timber and features a JEBS XX-Full Turkey Choke. For $470, this is a gun that can be passed down through the generations.
Browning Maxus 2
Browning Maxus II semi-auto turkey shotgun has been described as a soft shooter. The limited-time run on this gun comes with a 26-inch barrel, and extended choke. It features a rail for scope attachments and features the ever so popular Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. The gun is built on a synthetic stock featuring rubber grips and a soft comb insert. The Inflex butt pad helps you endure those magnum turkey shells. The gun clocks in at around 7 pounds. Not a featherweight but easy for carrying and enough to handle the powder from turkey rounds. This gun can chamber 3.5-inch shells for turkeys and waterfowl. This gun has a retail price around $2,049.
Weatherby Element Turkey Gun
The Element Turkey sports a 22” barrel making it perfect for the cut-n-run style of turkey hunting. An inertia driven semi-auto; this gun delivers a punch. It can chamber up to 3-inch shells. The Element line of shotguns use an inertia operating system. Since no powder gets rerouted into the gun, the result is a cleaner-running, low-maintenance gun. The gun comes with a factory-equipped choke and is an extended full that is fluted. It also includes three flush chokes, and a choke tube wrench. The Element series of turkey guns come in 12ga. And 20ga and clocks in just over 6lbs. This gun has a retail price around $749.
Mossberg 940
I’d be willing to bet more birds have fallen to Mossberg brand shotguns over the past 100 years than any other. Mossberg improved the 930 series to create the 940 Pro series with dual 12-gauge turkey guns. Mossberg upgraded the gas system parts, corrosion-resistant internals, and stainless-steel return spring. Both guns feature cuts in the receiver for an RMR-footprint reflex sight. The stocks adjust with spacers to as short as 13 inches which is great for folks of all ages and skill levels. Both guns are covered in the famous Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo. The big difference between the two are the barrel lengths. One has a 24-inch barrel, while the other tapes out at 18 ½ inches. Both guns weigh in a hair over 7 lbs. These guns retail for around $1200.
Winchester SXP Turkey Gun
The Winchester SXP Turkey gun gives you the maneuverability of having a 24-inch barrel that chambers up to a 3.5-inch shell in the 12ga option. Available in both 12 and 20 ga. This pump action turkey gun features fiber optic sights, the Invector-Plus X-Full Turkey choke tube, weighs 6 lbs., and retails for around $450. The stock is black matte and is composite material.
Turkey season is upon us. Finding the right turkey shotgun for you and your needs has never been easier.
