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?

At $10 a shot I’ll stick with lead shot for now It kills them just as dead at 40 and under, I like the edge of thick cover when I set up so lead works just fine for me. LOL

28 gauge 2-3/4" 1-5/16oz tss9 at 40 yds full choke



10 gauge h&r 2-1/4oz copper plated 4s full choke 40yds


these were shot at the same time from the same rest. i wouldnt use that 10gauge as a boat anchor let alone to wound a turkey. the 28 weighs less has less recoil and out preforms by a wide margin. i could fire both barrels and still not be kicked as hard.

At $10 a shot I’ll stick with lead shot for now It kills them just as dead at 40 and under, I like the edge of thick cover when I set up so lead works just fine for me. LOL

Obviously you’re a state hopping turkey hunter. Tags, (especially nonresident) fuel, time, and everything else that goes into an out of state hunt, $10 a shell is a small part of the equation. How much you reckon avid bow hunters have in an arrow and broadhead ?

Obviously you’re a state hopping turkey hunter. Tags, (especially nonresident) fuel, time, and everything else that goes into an out of state hunt, $10 a shell is a small part of the equation. How much you reckon avid bow hunters have in an arrow and broadhead ?


Old school I guess just not going to shoot that far anyways, it’s more about calling them into 30-35 yards then taking long shots.

Did you try those shells in your ten?

My tens won't shoot a full choke worth crap either. I use from a modified to imp. Cyl. For nice tight patterns.

Did you try those shells in your ten?

My tens won't shoot a full choke worth crap either. I use from a modified to imp. Cyl. For nice tight patterns.
yes sir it is an h&r 10 with a fixed full choke. it has never shot great with any load. i dont need to shoot it and get beat up. i will shoot a small gauge and produce more than enough pattern to kill a turkey at 40. my point was bigger at always better