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In turkey hunting, the optic you put on your beard buster—whether a red dot sight or a standard fixed or variable scope—matters. And if you don't want an optic sitting atop your shotgun receiver, you better pick a sight system that boosts low-light performance and helps you splatter a tom's cranium with a load of #5s. As a hardcore turkey hunter, I fiddle with many sights, red dots, and scopes. OK, I fiddle a lot. Given a choice, I prefer standard sights because they are lightweight and foolproof, and they let me run and gun without worrying about bumping an optic.
But I've had also remarkable success with red dots and standard scopes. Over the past few years, I've noticed my vision isn't what it once was, and in the spring of 2023, on the final day of Nebraska's turkey season, a top-tier red dot optic helped me settle a 2 MOA Dot on the head of a 58-yard tom and drop him stone dead. The recipe for repeated success, my friends, is trusting your system. What you decide to use to jelly the head of a longbeard is up to you. These are 10 of the best turkey gun optics I've found over the years.
XS Sights Universal Standard Dot Shotgun Vent Rib
Specs
.165 inch height
.165 inch width
Fits universal shotgun vent rib 5-40, M2.5X.45, M3X.5)
I don't fit my turkey slayer with an optic 9 times out of 10. I love standard sights, and they don't get any better than the XS Universal Standard Dot Shotgun. The sight duo fits top-end vent-rib turkey shotguns like those from Browning, Mossberg, Benelli, etc., and the photoluminescent glow dot sucks up ambient light like a sponge, giving the shooter a defined low-light aiming point. The sight takes minutes to install and is available in green and orange colors. When turkey season ends, try this sight on your next waterfowl adventure. You'll be impressed.
Vortex Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Red Dot
Vortex Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Red Dot Sight
Specs
1x magnification
Bright red dot color
3 MOA Dot
100 MOA elevation adjustment
2.14 ounces
Thin, small, and light, Vortex's Viper is a turkey-killing machine crafted for those who chase gobbles in far-flung locales, and it's awesome for crushing birds on the wing, too. The low-profile design allows for instinctive shooting, and its enclosed design and integrated universal mount mean operating perfection and total protection from Mother Nature's worst moods. The large viewing window means right-now target acquisition, and the red dot automatically activates with motion.
Burris SpeedBead Shotgun Sight w/FastFire 3
Specs
1x magnification
FastFire 8-MOA Dot reticle
Red dot color
Matte finish
Burris' SpeedBead Shotgun Sight has a unique mounting system that allows your natural line of sight to fall just above the vented rib to ensure accurate and instinctive aiming. This sight will help you jelly more heads whenever you enter the woods. The optic is the proven FastFire 3 with an 8 MOA dot, which operates on a single CR-1632 battery with an automatic time-out feature. The 1x magnification allows for both-eyes-open shooting, making it an excellent crossover sight that's fantastic for turkeys and sporting clays, waterfowl, and upland birds.
HIVIZ TomBuster II Sight Set
Specs
Fully adjustable rear sight
Round LitePipes
Front LitePipe: Green, Red
Rear LitePipe: Green
Have your shotgun ready to harvest two of North America's most popular game animals with a single under-$33 purchase. Enter the TomBuster II Turkey/Deer Set, which fits most vented-rib shotguns from 1/4 to 3/8 inches wide with removable front beads. The TomBuster II allows you to customize your sight picture to the environment via interchangeable round light pipes, and the rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. This sight system is deadly accurate and ensures impeccable performance no matter the conditions.
Leupold VX-Freedom 1.5-4x20 MOA-Ring Rifle Scope
Specs
Variable 1.5x4 magnification
Second focal plane reticle
Pig-Plex reticle design
9.6 ounces
125 MOA elevation adjustment range
If you don't want a red dot and iron sights aren't your thing, you can't beat this ultra-tough, wide field-of-view rifle scope ideal for close to mid-range shots. Turkey goers across the country trust this Leupold optic to their springtime success, and you can, too. The Advanced Optical System ensures maximum light delivery when you need it most and clarity and resolution that allow fast target identification. Plus, it's an excellent crossover scope that works amazing for deer.
My buddy runs a Leupold Freedom scope from spring through fall. He runs the scope on his favorite turkey shotgun when the woods erupt with gobbles. During the fall, when bucks run amuck after hot does, he swaps the scope to his favorite slug thrower and hammers big bucks. He has a system.
TRUGLO Magnum Gobble-Dot Pro
Specs
Full windage and elevation adjustment
.029-inch front diameter
.035-inch rear diameter
Shotgun compatibility chart available on the website
An all-metal construction tom-killing duo, the Magnum Gobble-Dot Pro is TRUGLO's top-tier turkey sight. All metal construction means maximum durability and season after season of no-fail use. The front and rear sights mount to your shotgun's rib without tape or magnets for ultra-secure connection, and the dual green rear sight ensures perfect alignment of the front orange sight on a longbeard's head no matter the lighting conditions.
Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight
Specs
1x28mm magnification and objective lens
100-plus MOA adjustment range
1 MOA click value
Red dot color
Popular with those who pursue spring turkeys, the Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight promises maximum field of view via the expanded red dot window. The bright and crisp 4 MOA dot has a dozen brightness settings with auto-ambient adjustments that automatically change the brightness based on environmental conditions to eliminate any glow or haloing. The sight comes with low and high Weaver mounts, which fit almost every firearm. With a battery life of up to 35,000 hours, options that let you shake the optic awake, and an auto shut-off timer, chances are good you'll never need a battery swap.
Dead Ringer Beard Buster
Specs
1.7 ounces
1 x 8 x 5-inch dimensions
It's simple: Center the turkey's head in the molded optical Lexan orange ring, place the green bead where you want it, and go boom. The low-profile mounting system and small-diameter optical locating devices ensure all-weather performance and maximum beak busting. The Beard Buster is also fully adjustable for windage and elevation and crafted from 100 percent T-6 aircraft-grade aluminum. If you want a quality, easy-to-use standard sight, this one is an excellent choice.
Aimpoint Micro T-2 MOA Red Dot
Specs
1x non-magnifying
Parallax-free
3.0 ounces
-49 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit temperature rating
If your gobbler dreams take you far from the beaten path, you'll cheer this lightweight, ultra-rugged red dot from Aimpoint. All-new lenses with reflective coatings improve the shape and clarity of the 2 MOA dot. ACET technology allows 50,000 hours (5 years) of constant operation via a single CR2032 battery, which is ridiculously impressive. I also like that Aimpoint includes recessed lenses with protective flip-up lens covers, which don't have to be flipped up to crush a head. The front cover is solid, and the rear transparent, which means the hunter can shoot with both eyes open while the lens caps are closed should the need arise. We love the special edition ultra-durable Cerakote T-Series surface coating, too.
Trijicon MRO 1x25 Red Dot
Trijicon MRO 1x25 Red Dot Sight
Specs
1x magnification
2.0 MOA Dot
Red dot color
70 MOA total travel adjustment range
4.1 ounces
When a big-timber tom is slipping along cautiously, the larger viewing area of this top-tier red dot will help you find him and make a quick, accurate shot when your window of opportunity arises. You'll love the ambidextrous light control and ease of mounting, and all MRO models feature eight brightness settings so you can easily adjust dot brightness to the current lighting conditions. The forged 7075 aluminum housing is bulletproof, and the electronics are warrantied for five years from the date of the original manufacturer.
How I Picked the Best Turkey Optics
Whether you opt for a red dot, standard variable/fixed scope, or a turkey-specific sight, pick one that's ultra-durable. Turkey hunting, especially run-and-gun public land turkey hunting, is challenging. You'll cover miles of rough terrain, and chances are you and your gun will take a tumble or two. Weak optics/sights have no place in turkey hunting. I also recommend you spend time behind each sight choice. You'll never know if a red dot sight is for you if you don't look through one mounted on a shotgun first, and, of course, it's even better if you're able to shoot that shotgun. The same holds for standard sights and scopes.
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