The Ultimate Turkey Gun – Gobble, Gobble – BANG
Turkey Season is approaching fast and many of us are itching to start chasing longbeards and busting beaks. As fun as turkey hunting can be, sometimes tinkering with new gear, calls, guns, and ammo combinations can but as entertaining. However, experimenting with new equipment can be quite expensive, especially with ammo prices skyrocketing. In order to save you time and money, I’m going to share the ultimate beak-busting, neck-breaking, turkey killing machine that accompanies me in the turkey woods each spring.
Thompson Center Encore Pro Hunter Turkey
My favorite turkey hunting gun is a Thompson Center Pro Hunter with a 12-gauge Turkey Barrel. This single shot, 24” barrel, break action shotgun is lightweight and maneuverable, making it perfect for a run-and-gun turkey gun. This gun is only chambered in 3” and initially I was in the market for a 3.5” chambered shotgun but unfortunately that isn’t an option from T/C. I took the chance and my shoulder thanks me for it! This gun weighs only 6.25 pounds! Thanks to this lightweight, well-balanced gun, I was able to pull off a one-handed shot while reaping a gobbler and self-filming the kill with my cell phone last season.
This gun isn’t easy to find in-stock. Here are a few places to check out:
- Optics Planet – Barrel Only
- Palmetto State Armory – Barrel Only
- Sportsman’s Warehouse
- eBay – Barrel and Forend
Quick Tip: If you already own the Thompson Center Encore Pro Hunter and want to convert your current gun over to a turkey barrel, don’t forget to pick-up the appropriately sized forend. The shotgun barrel is much larger in diameter and doesn’t fit the rifle barrel forend.
SumToy Custom Choke
Even though the T/C Turkey Barrel is equipped with a good turkey choke, I wanted the best. I’ve found that Sumtoy Custom Chokes outperforms most of the competition and it’s a perfect combination for this gun and ammo combination. Just do me a favor and tell him where you heard about them when you buy.
Winchester Longbeard XR
There are several different options on the market, including the high-end TSS options that outperform anything else on the market. TSS ammo comes at a price, and you’ll pay upwards of $12 OR MORE per shell. The higher density of the tungsten shot allows you to shoot a smaller shot size with more energy at further distances. I don’t run TSS due to the higher cost but Federal Longbeard XR’s are a great alternative. Longbeard XR’s are probably the most popular shell on the market right now because they shoot so well and they’re priced much cheaper than TSS. With this gun, ammo, and choke combo, I’m comfortable breaking necks to 60 yards without hesitation.
Vortex Venom 3 MOA
Optics are optional because the T/C Turkey barrel is equipped with excellent fiber-optic sights but I fell in love with the Vortex Viper Red Dot 3 MOA. It’s lightweight and extremely accurate. I haven’t had an issue with battery life but I’m smart enough to change the batteries out at the start of the season each year. If your shotgun doesn’t have the capabilities to mount a red dot sight on it, then check out the Meadow Creek Universal Red Dot Mount. This NO drilling, NO tapping option to mount a red dot optic to your favorite shotgun is quick, easy, and reliable. Head over to our friends at TurkeySeason.com to learn more!
Another great option that provides up to 4x magnification is the Hawke Vantage IR 1-4×20 Turkey Dot Reticle shotgun scope.
Regardless of your turkey gun of choice, I wish you the best of luck this spring, and be sure to tag Hunting Gear Deals on our social media pages with your photos from the field. Also, if you’re looking for a lightweight turkey hunting gear list, check out our blog post: Run-and-Gun Turkey Hunting Gear List
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