Turkey gun ponderings

[Southern Sportsman]

For the last several years i have shot my SBE turkey hunting. I love it because it's not as heavy as must pump guns, and i shoot it for everything so im used to it. However, its got a 28" barrel + 2 inches of turkey choke so its long. It usually doesnt bother me when im sitting with it, but when carrying it slung, it sticks well above my head and catches branches, etc. plus im adding about an inch to my length of pull so it will be even longer over all. Thus, im thinking about relegating the SBE to ducks only and getting a dedicated turkey gun.

I already have a 26" 870 that is my back-up/guest/home protection gun which i could turn into a turkey gun. Or, i may look into getting a mossy 835. Your opinions?

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I wish i could find a reasonably priced 24" barrel for the SBE, but those dont come up for sale often.

 

[REN]

yeah i would find a 24" barrel before buying a whole new gun...that SBE will be more fun to shoot then an 835 without question!

I personally wouldnt own an 835 if you gave me one but thats just my opinion...they are turkey killing machines but just not something i like to carry or shoot.

if you cant or dont want to wait then the 870 build could be fun depending on what all you had or wanted to do with it.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

The only problem with that is that the SBE barrels i have found are notably more expensive than most pump guns

 

[deerhunter10]

I love my 835 also may wanna look at a stoeger m2000 very light and nice.

 

[infoman jr.]

I've got an 835 I'm looking to sell. It's the older blotchy style camo, but it served as a turkey gun during it's tour in active duty. It has since been a demoted to safe queen. Let me know if you're interested.

 

[Setterman]

yeah i would find a 24" barrel before buying a whole new gun...that SBE will be more fun to shoot then an 835 without question!

I personally wouldnt own an 835 if you gave me one but thats just my opinion...they are turkey killing machines but just not something i like to carry or shoot.

if you cant or dont want to wait then the 870 build could be fun depending on what all you had or wanted to do with it.

I'm with you REN on the 835. I wouldn't take one if given it, and would charge someone to throw it away after they gave it to me.

One option if you are looking for a shorter barrel and don't want to shell out a fortune is to comb the auction sites, a lot of times you can pick up a barrel around 50% off if you keep your eyes open. If I see one while looking myself I will certainly send you a link

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Thanks Setter,

I've looked off and on for a while and haven't stumbled on what I'm looking for yet. The SBE and SBE II barrels are interchangeable, but I would have to buy new turkey chokes if I got II barrel, which wouldn't be a big deal, but I would still rather have the I.

 

[Spurhunter]

If you find a longer barrel send it to Sumtoy and have it cut to the length you want and rethreaded. It's like $50 plus return shipping.

 

[deerhunter10]

I use the 835 because its free but ive put a lot of money into it. if I was going to get another pump which I probably wont itll be the super nova. my next will be the sbeII !

 

[Uncle Jesse]

The reason the barrel sticks up so high above your head when it's on your shoulder is because of the short forearm, of course, the 28" barrel ain't helping the situation. That's one thing that annoys me about some Benellis. Also, the SBE has a long receiver. I used a SBE for 6 years chasing turkeys and I know what you're talking about. In 08 I went to a NEF single shot with a 24" barrel for turkeys. Best decision I've ever made. The SBE/SBEII will work for turkeys but, they would be dead last on my list for a dedicated turkey gun.

You could buy a new Stoeger for what another barrel would cost for the SBE. It would also use the same chokes.

A 24" barrel on a SBE will be the same overall length as say a 3" chamber Beretta 391 with with a 26" barrel. Figure in the difference in forearm length and the 24" barrel on the SBE will stick up about 3 inches higher than the Beretta with a 26" when slung on the shoulder.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

What do you like so well about the NEF Uncle Jesse? Ive always said that i wouldn't want a single shot turkey gun mainly because I've killed more than 1 turkey on my second shot (and 1 on my third - not my most graceful kill). But i like the idea in theory.

 

[Boll Weevil]

With the improvements in shells, shot, and chokes seems like more and more folks are carrying single shot or O/U 20ga guns these days too. Short, light, and the patterns they can throw are flat murderous.

Just another thought you might consider.

 

[Spurhunter]

if I was going to get another pump which I probably wont itll be the super nova.

I would shoot one first. I was going to buy one until I took it on a 2 day duck hunt. It was the biggest rattle trap POS I ever tried to hunt with. Give me an 870 anyday.

 

[Andy S.]

It was the biggest rattle trap POS I ever tried to hunt with.

I have heard this numerous times from a couple of my hunting buds who wanted to experience the Nova. They all eventually sold their Novas and washed their hands clean.

Give me an 870 anyday.

Same here.

 

[Uncle Jesse]

As just mentioned, short and light and because of that, they are very easy to hold steady. I can shoot mine one handed, no problem. The lack of a second shot is the bad part but, hasn't been much of an issue as I've only missed once with it, that I can remember anyway. I don't want a super tight pattern and mine doesn't produce one with a fixed full choke. I originally got the gun to carry in my farm truck and never considered turkey hunting with it at first.

I'm thinking a double barrel might be the ultimate turkey gun. Having one barrel set up for close range and the other for long range.

 

[REN]

yeah i have a buddy that has a Nova and i make him put rubber bands on it if he goes with me....while i LOVE benelli products, that one leaves some to be desired compared to an 870.

Im not much of a pump fan and dont really care to ever own another one but if i did it would be an 870.

 

[Andy S.]

...that one leaves some to be desired ....

I've always been somewhat shocked that Benelli put their name on the Nova, and furthermore, that they kept producing them. I know it is their way of offering a competitive priced shotgun, but I have yet to hear positive feedback from anyone who has owned or shot a Nova.

 

[deerhunter10]

if I was going to get another pump which I probably wont itll be the super nova.

I would shoot one first. I was going to buy one until I took it on a 2 day duck hunt. It was the biggest rattle trap POS I ever tried to hunt with. Give me an 870 anyday.

I know a few people that have them never had any trouble. but that's good to know. ill never buy another pump unless its just a great deal. but ill remember that if one ever comes up.

 

[deerhunter10]

I am very happy with my mossbergs though have a 835 and 500. and I have a stoger m2000 that I absolutely love! I think they are a outstanding value! but I want a sbeII for my next one.

 

[BigRod]

I had one and hunted with it last year, I hated it for turkey hunting. I'm still kicking my self in the rear for trading my stoger 2000.

I'm really wanting to try this single shot nef pardner out. i'm stuck on what to get 12ga or 10 ga. I'm leaning more towards a 12.

 

[REN]

but I want a sbeII for my next one.

Yup I've already started to save and will prob sell my M3500 to get there quicker! I will have one before next season without question! Maybe by this season if I sell a few other guns.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

I'm thinking a double barrel might be the ultimate turkey gun. Having one barrel set up for close range and the other for long range.

I've always though this as well. If you had an over under you could set your bottom barrel up for long range and shoot an extra-full with a load of 5s and the top barrel could be set with standard full or even modified with a load of 6s or 7s for when you let them get too close. Get it camo dipped and put fiber optic steel sights on it and it would be a turkey machine.

But what kind of over under, I ponder aloud.

 

[Boll Weevil]

If you had an over under you could set your bottom barrel up for long range and shoot an extra-full with a load of 5s and the top barrel could be set with standard full or even modified with a load of 6s or 7s for when you let them get too close. Get it camo dipped and put fiber optic steel sights on it and it would be a turkey machine.

Maybe...ummmm...something like this perhaps? Absoulute poison.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

If you had an over under you could set your bottom barrel up for long range and shoot an extra-full with a load of 5s and the top barrel could be set with standard full or even modified with a load of 6s or 7s for when you let them get too close. Get it camo dipped and put fiber optic steel sights on it and it would be a turkey machine.

Maybe...ummmm...something like this perhaps? Absoulute poison.

:o ! Boll just read my mind, years in advance, and did exactly what I want to do before I even knew I wanted to do it. Now I have someone to ask questions when I'm making mine.

Pondering over, decision made . . . Tell me everything.

 

[Boll Weevil]

SS,

- This one is a Heckler & Koch; not sure if they still make the model but at the time was one of the few I could find w/3.5" chambers and super-tight fit tolerances. I'm sure there are others on the market by now.
- With the loads available these days I'd almost start considering shell options the same time I looked at gun/choke options. Hevi, TSS, WinXtended, 6, 7, 8, even 9s...with the right combo are all able to deliver sick patterns that will flat smack a bird dead.
- Since this ain't wingshooting, accurate point of impact (POI) is really important. Top and bottom barrels hit EXACTLY the same on mine but have heard of sloppy fit or imprecise barrel alignment that drives folks nuts. Choose a reputable manufacturer with good selectable barrels.
- Polish the bores, try a number of loads, get custom chokes, and when you find something that works...look out.

Pracitcal versatility in the turkey woods is more than I could ever ask for and it's lighter and shorter than 99% of pumps and autos.

 

[Spurhunter]

Boll, You got me wanting one now! With my Leupold NWTF sitting on top of it. Of course, point of impact would have to be exactly the same. Why did you choose duck hunter camo?

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Do you know which model H&K it is? In the last two hour I've done some research, and it seems that several people are using Stoeger Condors for this, but those are just 3" guns. With some of the shells out there, I bet you can get outstanding patterns even out of a 3" -- Now I'm back to pondering.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Why did you choose duck hunter camo?

That's all that was available at the time and figured I'd eventually redip it (just haven't gotten around to it yet) :)

 

[Boll Weevil]

Do you know which model H&K it is?

Took me a minute to find but you can take a look at this link and can also Google "H&K Fabarm Ultra Camo Mag Lion"

I average 220ish pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yards with 3" straight copper Nitro 5x6x7s which is plenty for any gobbler on the planet. I bought the gun almost 10 years ago (sheesh...can't believe it's been that long) and decided on this load back when Nitros were a whole lot more affordable. Bought two boxes of 25 and been killin'birds dead as an anvil ever since. I stuck with the 3" mostly because of recoil; even though the gun has 28" barrels it barely weighs 8 lbs and is shorter than most pumps/autos. An absolute joy to carry but pulling the trigger on a 3.5" shell ain't all that much fun without a good recoil pad. :crazy:

I'd been kind of "rationing" those 3" shells and last year used the final one so gotta settle on something before springtime. I've experimented with several of the 3" and 3.5" heavier-than-lead offerings and some of the patterns are just insane...I honestly believe it could behead a bird at 30 yards.

I've wondered many times over the years if somehow I lucked into one of those 1-in-a-million guns that everyone should be blessed to own at some point in their hunting life. For me, it's the perfect turkey killer. Except for the duck blind camo I wouldn't change a single thing...and generally by the time a tom could ever pick up on the bulrushes and cattails on the stock its waaaaaay too late.