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Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6877800
05/20/20 04:52 PM
05/20/20 04:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content OP
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content OP
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
My nephew shoots a Mossberg pump with the factory choke it throws the best pattern I have seen yet. It kicks him like a mule but his patter is unreal. I put a Carlson ported choke on mine it’s a impressive if not a amazing pattern almost fist like. I shot into some tall grass with it at a level angle and it cut a trench the size of a fist the went for 10-12 feet across the ground.

For now I’m thinking of porting the barrel, securing the rear sight better, reducing the trigger pull and removing the slack and will go from there.

Keep the ideas coming.

Last edited by Law Dog; 05/21/20 03:32 PM.

Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6877802
05/20/20 04:53 PM
05/20/20 04:53 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Nice.My versa max is still in about 15 to 20 feet of water.


Nevada bound
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Bruce T] #6877804
05/20/20 04:56 PM
05/20/20 04:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content OP
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content OP
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Originally Posted by Bruce T
Nice.My versa max is still in about 15 to 20 feet of water.



Pretty expensive boat anchor. whistle


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6877806
05/20/20 04:57 PM
05/20/20 04:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 557
WV
G
garymc Offline
trapper
garymc  Offline
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G

Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 557
WV
I have one of the first 870 Express Supermags and it shot just ok out of the box with the factory Remington tube. I sent it to Curtis Wilbanks almost 25 years ago. He performed a trigger job and put a custom choke in it. Night and day difference. It is a turkey killing machine now. I have been a fan of a shotgun scope for turkey. I started with a simple cheap Simmons Pro diamond for over 20years then a few years ago I hunted in 3 straight days of rain and it fogged on me. I replaced it with a Leupold shotgun scope, but it has a circle instead of a diamond.

I hunted with a Stevens 301 410 turkey single shot this year and was pretty impressed. I used the Apex tungsten loads. It doesn’t have the killing power of the 12 gauge but is light, handles well, and has very mild recoil. I mounted a Bushnell shotgun scope on it. I harvested one bird with it and a good friend of mine harvested his first spring gobbler with it this season.

I have a versa max and have been contemplating sending it to Curtis as well. The versa max recoil is way less with the same load as my 870.

Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6877810
05/20/20 05:06 PM
05/20/20 05:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content OP
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Law Dog  Online Content OP
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Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
I’ll watch the gun sites for a barrel, one will pop up. I already sent the trigger group to Bill Springfield in CO to get worked but the barrel will go to Wilbanks for the rest of the work.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Bruce T] #6877816
05/20/20 05:10 PM
05/20/20 05:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,472
ohio
S
skippyturtle Offline
trapper
skippyturtle  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,472
ohio
Originally Posted by Bruce T
Nice.My versa max is still in about 15 to 20 feet of water.

buy one of those fishing magnets and get that sucker back


NTA
OSTA
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6877826
05/20/20 05:33 PM
05/20/20 05:33 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,581
sometimes PA sometimes ME
E
ebsurveyor Offline
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ebsurveyor  Offline
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E

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,581
sometimes PA sometimes ME
Originally Posted by Law Dog
Have tried a lot of different types of guns, optics, barrels and chokes over the years but now I plan to build what I want just to see where it goes. I have a Remington Versa Max now that I really like but the trigger pull is that of a cheap derringer at 7-8 pounds. I added a Carlson turkey tube to the VM that throws a very tight pattern but free hand it’s tough to keep on target now with the heavy amount of trigger pull.

Just sent the trigger group to CO to get worked it sounds like they can take out the creep and cut the pounds of pull by 40-50% for $60. Briley makes a upgrade that could reduce it even more but it’s a target upgrade not sure it can take the pounding of a 3.5 turkey load over time the cost is $275.00 but they use my trigger group to do it, not wild about that. Might look into a 2nd trigger group.

Now that it shoots like a rifle almost I need better sights for it I added a Tru-Glo rear site that works well but they could be bumped when moving from set up to set up. Thinking about having a gunsmith add a screw or two to fix that issue for peace of mind.

Eyeballed a turkey barrel 22 inch to replace my 28 inch I have now but that’s $450 alone and needs to be camo dipped to match the rest of the gun so that is a $500-$600 barrel upgrade I’m to cheap for that. I cannot cut down my 28 inch barrel I’d lose the pro bore benefits of it then.

What have you guys done to your guns to make the turkey killers?



You guys kill me.

All you need to do is put in one good shot shell.

My first spring bird, 1972. A cheap Browning trap gun with a trap load got it done. No fancy gun needed just don't shoot until they are in range.

[Linked Image]

Last edited by ebsurveyor; 05/20/20 05:54 PM.
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6877864
05/20/20 06:38 PM
05/20/20 06:38 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content OP
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
What kind of car you drive I need to get one? LOL


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: ebsurveyor] #6878262
05/21/20 08:06 AM
05/21/20 08:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,472
ohio
S
skippyturtle Offline
trapper
skippyturtle  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,472
ohio
Originally Posted by ebsurveyor
Originally Posted by Law Dog
Have tried a lot of different types of guns, optics, barrels and chokes over the years but now I plan to build what I want just to see where it goes. I have a Remington Versa Max now that I really like but the trigger pull is that of a cheap derringer at 7-8 pounds. I added a Carlson turkey tube to the VM that throws a very tight pattern but free hand it’s tough to keep on target now with the heavy amount of trigger pull.

Just sent the trigger group to CO to get worked it sounds like they can take out the creep and cut the pounds of pull by 40-50% for $60. Briley makes a upgrade that could reduce it even more but it’s a target upgrade not sure it can take the pounding of a 3.5 turkey load over time the cost is $275.00 but they use my trigger group to do it, not wild about that. Might look into a 2nd trigger group.

Now that it shoots like a rifle almost I need better sights for it I added a Tru-Glo rear site that works well but they could be bumped when moving from set up to set up. Thinking about having a gunsmith add a screw or two to fix that issue for peace of mind.

Eyeballed a turkey barrel 22 inch to replace my 28 inch I have now but that’s $450 alone and needs to be camo dipped to match the rest of the gun so that is a $500-$600 barrel upgrade I’m to cheap for that. I cannot cut down my 28 inch barrel I’d lose the pro bore benefits of it then.

What have you guys done to your guns to make the turkey killers?



You guys kill me.

All you need to do is put in one good shot shell.

My first spring bird, 1972. A cheap Browning trap gun with a trap load got it done. No fancy gun needed just don't shoot until they are in range.

[Linked Image]

man 72 is a ways back. how many birds you killed?


NTA
OSTA
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878268
05/21/20 08:13 AM
05/21/20 08:13 AM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
T
Trapper Dahlgren Offline
trapper
Trapper Dahlgren  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 13,964
Michigan
I just shoot straight !!!! laugh

Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Trapper Dahlgren] #6878295
05/21/20 08:51 AM
05/21/20 08:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content OP
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content OP
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Originally Posted by Trapper Dahlgren
I just shoot straight !!!! laugh


And you wear a white hat. LOL


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878414
05/21/20 11:30 AM
05/21/20 11:30 AM
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 89
USA
C
Coyotero7 Offline
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Coyotero7  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 89
USA
So all this talk about building a turkey gun and I will let you in on my little secret. I've been turkey hunting for 27 years and a lot of thought went into it.

This past year I bought a Yildiz (Turkish-made) 20 gauge Over/Under SPZ-ME from Academy Sports for $469, tax included. I ordered a SumToy custom choke ($70) for the top barrel and am shooting a factory modified choke on the bottom. I bought a magnum barrel band set from GrovTec (for a sling) for around $25. I changed out the front sights to a HiViz CompSite ($38). I plan on having it hydrodipped this summer in Mossy Oak Original Bottomland for around $200. Total in gun when I'm done will be around $800.

The nice thing about this gun is the ability to choose between the barrels for short range and long range with the click of a button. I am shooting Apex #9 TSS in the gun and it is BAD NEWS out to about 60 yards. I killed 2 with it this year and shot one with top barrel and one with the bottom barrel.

Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878456
05/21/20 12:21 PM
05/21/20 12:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,427
Georgia
warrior Online content
trapper
warrior  Online Content
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,427
Georgia
I've often spitballed a what if on this topic.

Here's my criteria with some pros and cons.

Weight

Turkey are carried ALOT for miles at a time and shot once if you do it right.

This means singles and doubles are in consideration though some doubles can be as heavy as light pumps and some autos. Though truth be told pumps and autos are overkill considering the shot once thing.

Gauge

Pattern is everything so you want maximum payload, within reason.

12 gage hands down unless health dictates less weight/recoil. Even then I would consider the 16 before 20 with the realization the 16 will require roll your own ammo.

Now for the cartridge length and I'll tick off some but I see no gain in the 3.5 unless you like recoil, weight and potential loss of velocity and pattern. Seriously, you might as well go 10 which isn't a bad option if you care to lug it around.
Same to a much lesser extent can be said of the 3 and with modern components the 2.75 is almost indistinguishable from the 3. Pick your poison. BTW Google square load shot shells.

Trigger

Turkey guns are shot like a rifle at a stationary target. While match grade isn't required something more than mushy or heavy certainly helps.

Sights

Again rifle like use so more than a bead and rib is required. However it's still a shotgun so adding weight with scopes is moving backwards useless eyesight calls for it. Fiber optics revolutionized turkey guns but please give us something more durable than clip on plastic thingamajigs. Something like a good set of express sights with fiber optics would suffice. One area to explore is the latest crop of tiny red dot holographics.

And the "black magic" inside the bore.

Alchemy and necromancy are my strong suit so I'm still of the get out and shoot it on paper to see what works. That said I like my briley straight rifled turkey trauma choke.

All I can say is a screw in choke system is a must.

Long Toms are just extra weight so chop that barrel to a comfortable length the balances well for you without going so short as to lose velocity.

Speaking of velocity don't bother porting unless you like extra noise and got sissy shoulders.

Mine is an Ithaca 37 featherweight 2.75 12ga with 26" and fiber optics.


[Linked Image]
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878471
05/21/20 12:48 PM
05/21/20 12:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content OP
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Law Dog  Online Content OP
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Central, SD
Agree with a lot of what you said warrior many things are a personal choice or a custom handed down or taught to a person. A 2 3/4 will do the job about every time and the difference between a 3 and 3 1/2 really makes little difference in the end. Just like building your own vehicle a guy puts into it what he wants really.

If your shooting a shotgun like a rifle things can be done to Improve your shooting as nobody wants shot in their meat, I know I don’t. LOL I just put a Carlson choke on mine and the difference between a clean kill and a complete miss is inches. Pulling off target just a tad will get you the same as if you did it with a rifle hitting low destroys a lot of meat it’s a game of inches today.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878500
05/21/20 01:45 PM
05/21/20 01:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,427
Georgia
warrior Online content
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warrior  Online Content
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Georgia
The one advantage a double will always have is the option of two different load/choke choices. But only if regulation allows both barrels to hit point of aim.


[Linked Image]
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878554
05/21/20 04:07 PM
05/21/20 04:07 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
Scuba1 Offline
"color blind Kraut"
Scuba1  Offline
"color blind Kraut"

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,150
Tennessee
I screwed a full choke into the loud end of my 870. Does that count ??


Let's go Brandon

"Shall not comply" with morons who don't understand "shall not infringe."
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878560
05/21/20 04:29 PM
05/21/20 04:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content OP
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content OP
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Posts: 34,759
Central, SD
Video?


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878590
05/21/20 05:15 PM
05/21/20 05:15 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by Law Dog
Originally Posted by Bruce T
Nice.My versa max is still in about 15 to 20 feet of water.



Pretty expensive boat anchor. whistle

Yep.....lol but at least I'm still here.


Nevada bound
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: skippyturtle] #6878591
05/21/20 05:16 PM
05/21/20 05:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Bruce T Offline
trapper
Bruce T  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 41,592
Northern Maine
Originally Posted by skippyturtle
Originally Posted by Bruce T
Nice.My versa max is still in about 15 to 20 feet of water.

buy one of those fishing magnets and get that sucker back

Already tryed that


Nevada bound
Re: Building a turkey gun. [Re: Law Dog] #6878607
05/21/20 05:37 PM
05/21/20 05:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,892
eastern WV
R
Ridge Runner1960 Offline
trapper
Ridge Runner1960  Offline
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R

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Posts: 3,892
eastern WV
have a valmet 412 o/u, changed the stock to a Monte Carlo trap model in camo, had Mark Bansner cut the forcing cone out and put his turkey choke in it. It will pattern an average of 93% with federal 3" 2 oz. 6's, has a 2-8 leupold on it, has killed a pile of turkeys.
RR

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