When I’m headed into the woods chasing turkeys in the spring or fall, I want to know that I possess the best tools to give an Ole ’Tom turkey a dirt nap. I need camo that makes me disappear, calls and decoys to make ’em believe a hen is ready to mate, and the best turkey shotguns to put ’em down when they come into range. I’ve hunted with many shotguns, spoken with other turkey hunters, and read reviews to help me determine the top five best turkey shotguns.
Turkey Hunting Coverage on AllOutdoor
- How to Pattern a Shotgun for Turkey Hunting: A Complete Guide
- AllOutdoor Review – HS Strut Double Deuce Box Call for Turkey Hunting
- Mossy Oak Announces their NEW Woodsman Strap Turkey Vest
- How to Pattern a Shotgun for Turkey Hunting: A Complete Guide
5 Best Turkey Shotguns
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 Turkey Performance Shop – Best Overall
Specifications
- Gauge: 12-gauge
- Barrel Length: 24”
- Grip: Pistol Grip
- Action: Semi-Auto
- Chamber: 3 ½”
- Finish: Mossy Oak BottomLand
Pros
- Trusted brand
- Utilizes the latest firearms technologies
- Designed for turkey hunting
- Comes with Burris FastFire sight
Cons
- Expensive
- Semi-auto is rarely the first choice of many turkey hunters
- Has heavier felt recoil
Why I Chose It
For years, Benelli has been considered one of the top hunting shotgun manufacturers, and the Super Black Eagle 3 Turkey Performance Shop is no exception. This top-of-the-line turkey gun, designed for turkey hunters, features all the latest technologies developed by Benelli. The Inertia-Driven System is clean, reliable, and doesn’t require adjustments to ensure reliability, but you’ll notice it has a little more recoil than a gas-driven system. So, if you’re recoil-sensitive, you will probably want to choose another shotgun from this list.
One of Benelli’s latest advancements is the Crio System. This system relieves the stresses caused by hammer forging, making the barrel and chokes smoother and more uniform. Thus, these Benelli chokes and barrels create a uniform shot pattern and stay cleaner longer. The SBE3 Turkey was designed for the turkey woods. It has a pistol grip, a 24” ported barrel and is wrapped in Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. The pistol grip and ported barrel help you manage the increased recoil of turkey load, and Mossy Oak Bottomland ensures you’ll blend into most environments. However, just because the Benelli SBE3 is the best overall doesn’t mean it is flawless.
My biggest frustration with the Super Black Eagle 3 Turkey is its price tag. I have difficulty justifying spending thousands of dollars on a shotgun that I use only one or two months out of the year. I also know many turkey hunters who prefer a pump-action shotgun instead of a semi-auto; that’s more of a personal choice, as I’ve killed turkeys with both. The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 Turkey Performance Shop is the best choice for serious turkey hunters because it takes advantage of the latest firearms technologies by a trusted brand. As long as you’re willing to spend the money, you won’t be disappointed with this turkey shotgun.
Winchester SX4 Long Beard – Runner-Up
Specifications
- Gauge: 12-gauge
- Barrel Length: 24”
- Grip: Pistol grip
- Action: Semi-auto
- Chamber: 3 ½”
- Finish: Mossy Oak Obsession
Pros
- Trusted brand
- Reasonably priced
- Designed for turkey hunting
Cons
- Many turkey hunters prefer pump-action over semi-automatic
Why I Chose It
I’ve been a fan of the Winchester SX4 after hunting with a buddy’s gun. It fit me like a glove, and I loved nearly everything about it. The Winchester SX4 Long Beard was designed for turkey hunting with a pistol, Mossy Oak Obsession finish, and drop-out trigger group. The self-adjusting Active Valve Gas System ensures reliable cycling if you need to take a follow-up shot (I’ve been there, too). I love the drop-out trigger group because it makes cleaning your shotgun very simple, even in the woods, if some debris gets in.
The biggest downside is that most turkey hunters still prefer a pump-action shotgun to a semi-auto. It’s not a deal breaker for me, but I know nostalgia is why many people hunt. If you’re not looking to spend thousands of dollars on a high-end turkey hunting shotgun, then the Winchester SX4 Long Beard is the perfect option to bring to the woods this season.
Mossberg 500 Turkey – Budget-Friendly
Specifications
- Gauge: 12-guage
- Barrel Length: 20”
- Action: Pump-action
- Chamber: 3”
- Finish: Mossy Oak Obsession
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Trusted brand
- Safety location
Cons
- Not the smoothest pump-action
- Regular shotgun with camo and a turkey choke
Why I Chose It
The Mossberg 500 is one of the most prolifically sold firearms because it is inexpensive but reliable. If you’re turkey hunting on a budget, the Mossberg 500 Turkey is the shotgun for you. Mossberg is a trusted manufacturer by countless hunters and shooters because it’s proven effective at the range and field. The safety position is a uniquely Mossberg feature I love because it’s easy to see and operate with little movement. It takes some time to get used to if you’re accustomed to a traditional shotgun safety, so be sure to practice before heading to the woods.
However, since the Mossberg 500 is inexpensive, I must admit it has some drawbacks. The first is the roughness of the action. All the Mossberg 500s I’ve fired were a little rough (gritty feeling) compared to the higher-end pump-actions I’ve fired, but still cycled well. The other downside is that Mossberg covered the original 500 in a turkey camo pattern and added a turkey-extended choke to make it a turkey shotgun. It’s not explicitly designed for turkey hunting, but it gets the job done. Still, the Mossberg 500 Turkey is the perfect choice for turkey hunters on a tight budget because it’s reliable and inexpensive.
Remington 870 SPS Super Magnum Turkey/Predator – Honorable Mention
Specifications
- Gauge: 12-gauge
- Barrel Length: 20”
- Action: Pump-action
- Chamber: 3 ½”
- Finish: Patriot Brown Cerakote and Kryptek Obskura Transitiional
Pros
- Versatile, yet designed for turkey hunting
- Trusted by hunters for generations
Cons
- Bad press over the last couple of decades
- Difficult to find
Why I Chose It
The Remington 870 SPS Super Magnum Turkey/Predator is worth mentioning because hunters have used the Remington 870 for decades to harvest Tom’s and other fowl successfully. An old 870 was what I harvested my first turkey with in high school. The 870 is one of the most versatile shotguns on the planet, but the 870 SPS Super Magnum was designed for turkey and predator hunting. It has a ShurShot pistol grip stock and SuperCell recoil pad to help reduce felt recoil and muzzle lift.
However, Remington is still trying to recover from disappointing customers in recent decades with lower-quality firearms (including the 870 at times). It does seem that RemArms is making a comeback and producing better products. Another downside is that this shotgun is difficult to find, so I didn’t want to list it as the best overall. If you find one, the Remington 870 SPS Super Magnum Turkey/Predator is well worth taking to the woods this spring or fall in pursuit of a Tom.
Stoeger M3500 Predator/Turkey – Honorable Mention
Specifications
- Gauge: 12-gauge
- Barrel Length: 24”
- Action: Semi-auto
- Chamber: 3 ½”
- Finish: Mossy Oak Overwatch
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Designed for turkey hunting*
- Optic ready
Cons
- Slightly heavier felt recoil
Why I Chose It
The Stoeger M3500 has been on my radar after I’ve had multiple buddies rant and rave about how much they love theirs. I’m impressed with the Stoeger M3500 Predator/Turkey shotgun because it’s reasonably priced and designed for turkey (and predator hunting). The M3500 is optic-ready, so you can quickly mount your favorite before heading to the woods. The ported barrel and pistol grip help you stay on target, just in case you need a follow-up shot. It also comes with two MOJO extended chokes (one for predator hunting and the other for turkey hunting).
The biggest drawback is the slightly heavier felt recoil from the Inertia Driven System, but that’s to be expected when firing turkey loads from a semi-auto inertia shotgun. Don’t be afraid to try the Stoeger M3500 Predator/Turkey if it catches your eye. I know my buddies still love hunting with theirs.
Parting Shots
Heading to the turkey woods with the best turkey shotgun this season will only boost your confidence and likely lead to you filling your tag faster than you ever thought possible (within legal reason). While I’m a big fan of the turkey hunting shotguns listed above, I didn’t have time or room to list every single one, so be sure to let me know what you think are the best turkey shotguns in the comments.
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