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After years of getting bigger, turkey shotguns are now shrinking as small-gauge options attract interest among hunters. This year, there aren’t as many new guns, but we do have more smallbore options and more optic-ready guns. While you can still find new 3½-inch 12-gauges decked out for the spring woods, they are now joined by more 20s, 28s, and .410 turkey guns. You can credit TSS ammo and improved lead loads like Winchester Long Beard for the switch, and it might also be true that more hunters realize the real fun of turkey hunting is bringing birds in close. Small-gauge guns fit in perfectly with that philosophy. They’re also easy to carry and handle, and a lot less of a chore to pattern, too.
Below are my picks for the best turkey guns, big and small, including some exciting new models for this spring. There are 18 guns in total, running pretty much the gamut in gauge, action, and price point, which means your perfect new turkey gun is probably on the list. Here we go, starting with the newest.
- Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
- Winchester SX4 Universal Hunter
- Winchester SXP Universal Hunter
- Tristar Thumbhole Upland
- Thompson/Center Encore Prohunter Turkey Shotgun
- Weatherby Sorix Turkey
- Mossberg 500 Turkey w/ .410 Holosun Micro Dot Sight
- Stoeger M3000 and M3020 Turkey
- Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey w/ Holosun Micro Dot
- Mossberg Silver Reserve Eventide Turkey
- Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey
- Mossberg SA-28 Tactical Turkey
- Browning Maxus II
- Henry Single-Shot Turkey
- Savage 320 Turkey Thumbhole
- Franchi Affinity 3 Turkey Elite
- TriStar Viper G2 Turkey
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
Pros
- Lightweight
- Recoil-reducing stock
- Easy-Locking bolt
Cons
- Expensive
- Cons2
- Cons3
Specs
- Gauge: 3-inch 20 gauge
- Barrel Length: 24″
- Weight: 5.7 pounds
This new variant of the 20-gauge SBE3 makes it a big brother to the 24-inch, 28-gauge turkey models Benelli offered last year. It’s every bit as light as the 28, and, as a 20-gauge, it packs a harder punch. It features Benelli’s ComforTech 3/Combtech recoil-and-vibration mitigating stock and the Easy-Locking bolt, which means you can ease the bolt shut first thing in the morning without fearing a “click” when you want to hear “bang.” The furniture is Original Bottomland, the metal is Patriot Brown, and the receiver is tapped for a red dot. Mount an optic on this, and it’s tough to beat as a dedicated turkey rig.
Winchester SX4 Universal Hunter
Winchester SX4 Universal Hunter
Pros
- Picatinny rail for optics
- Soft recoil
- Proven gas system
Cons
- No rear iron sights
Specs
- Gauge: 3 ½-inch 12-gauge, 3-inch 20-gauge
- Barrel length: 24 inches, 26- and 28-inch also available
- Weight: 6 pounds 14 ounces, (12/24”), 6 pounds, 8 ounces (20/24”)
Winchester calls this variant of the SX4 “Universal,” but the version with the 24-inch barrel looks like a turkey gun to me. Plus, it has plenty of features that make it a gobbler gun. The gas system and Inflex pad eat up recoil. The SX gas system has been around for 30-some years and is time-tested. The stock can be altered for length with the included spacers. The safety reverses easily for left-handed use, the controls are enlarged, and the Picatinny rail comes off easily, so you can use this gun in both the spring and fall.
Winchester SXP Universal Hunter
Winchester SXP Universal Hunter
Pros
- Slick, fast action
- Picatinny rail
- “Inflex” recoil pad works
Cons
- Trigger pull isn’t great
- Reversing the safety is a chore
- Cons3
Specs
- Gauge: 3 ½-inch 12-gauge, 3-inch 20-gauge
- Barrel length: 24 inches (26- and 28-inch barrels available)
- Weight: 6 pounds, 12 ounces (12/24”), 6 pounds 6 ounces (20/24”)
Winchester applies the “Universal Hunter” template to the SXP, adding it alongside the Long Beard as another SXP turkey option. The SXP has long been one of the fastest pump actions around, which helps when your first shot goes astray. It’s a lightweight gun, too, especially in 12-gauge, and you’ll definitely know it went off if you choose to shoot 3 ½-inch shells in it, despite the very real benefit of the Inflex pad. Mossy Oak’s new Bottomland makes for an effective all-around camo pattern for turkey hunting and for waterfowling once you remove the rail. The trigger pull on these guns can be heavy and mushy, but overall they are an excellent, affordable choice for the woods.
Tristar Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock
Tristar Upland Hunter
Pros
- Compact action
- Choice of two chokes
- Thumbhole stock offers control
Cons
- Thumbhole stock limits versatility
- Does not come with a true XFull turkey choke
Specs
- Gauge: 3-inch 20-gauge
- Barrel length: 26 inches
- Weight: 6 pounds
Tristar calls this an upland gun, but it looks like a dedicated turkey gun. There’s lots to like about an open choke for shots inside 30 yards, and a tight one for 30 to 60 yards with TSS. Even with 26-inch barrels—which is long for a turkey gun—the Thumbhole Upland is compact, comes in Mossy Oak Greenleaf (with choke tubes to match), and is Cerakoted. It’s light, too, at 6 pounds. The thumbhole stock gives you great control as you hold the gun waiting for a bird to come into range. It’s not practical for general bird hunting, though, as you have to take your hand out of the thumbhole to release the safety. This gun belongs in the turkey woods, with a red dot sight mounted on the rib.
Thompson/Center Encore Prohunter Turkey Shotgun
Thompson/Center Encore Prohunter
Pros
- Extremely compact
- 3 to 5 pound trigger
- Extra barrels let you switch gauges or calibers
Cons
- Single shot only
Specs
- Gauge: 3-inch 12- and 20-gauge, .410
- Barrel length: 24 inches
- Weight: 6 ¼ pounds
The Encore Prohunter Turkey Gun comes dressed in the popular old school Bottomland camo, with an olive-green frame and barrel. You can choose among 12- or 20-gauge, .410, or buy interchangeable barrels and have one frame and all the gauges. The compact, single-shot break-action measures just 39 ½ inches overall, making it easy to handle in the woods. The barrels have adjustable iron sights and are drilled and tapped for optics-mounting. The guns come with Xtra-Full extended turkey chokes. Once turkey season ends, you can switch to any one of a number of rifle calibers and be ready for deer and other game.
Weatherby Sorix Turkey
Weatherby Sorix Turkey
Pros
- Well-made Italian inertia gun
- Flip-up rear sight, fiber-optic front sight
- Drilled and tapped receiver
Cons
- Bolt can be bumped out of battery
Specs
- Gauge: 3 ½-inch 12-gauge, 3-inch 20-gauge
- Barrel Length: 24 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds, 12-gauge, 6.4 pounds, 20-gauge
The Weatherby Sorix features a unique reversible bolt-handle, intended for left-handed shooters who dislike the sight of a bolt slamming back in their faces. While that may be the most notable feature, it should not blind you to the fact that this is, overall, a well-made Italian inertia semiauto. The new turkey version features original Bottomland furniture and brown Cerakote metal. The 12-gauge has a rubber comb insert. Both gauges feature 24-inch barrels (optimal length for good patterns), drilled-and-tapped receivers, and a flip-up rear sight for use with the fiber-optic bead.
Mossberg 500 Turkey w/ .410 Holosun Micro Dot
Mossberg 500 Turkey w/ .410 Holosun Micro Dot
Pros
- Low-mounted optic included
- Ambidextrous safety
Cons
- 20-gauge on the heavy side
Specs
- Gauge: 3-inch 20-gauge, 3-inch .410
- Barrel length: 20 inches
- Weight: 6.75 pounds (20-gauge) 6.25 (.410)
Last year, Mossberg released a pair of Model 500s in 20-gauge and .410, both of which come with a Holosun red dot sight pre-mounted in special receiver cuts for a low-profile mount. The guns are also drilled and tapped in case you’d like to use some other sight system. Both come with a 20-inch barrel, a bright fiber-optic bead, and an extended turkey choke. They are dipped in Mossy Oak Greenleaf and have the top safety that is accessible to right- and left-handers alike. They retail for $863, including sight, but you can find them for less.
Stoeger M3000 and M3020 Turkey Edition
Stoeger M3020 Turkey Edition
Pros
- Optic-ready
- Lightweight
- Sling and turkey choke included
Cons
- Small safety button, not reversible for LH
Specs
- Gauge: 3-inch 12-gauge (3000), 3-inch 20-gauge (3020)
- Barrel length: 22 inches
- Weight: 6.9 pounds (30000), 5.4 pounds (3020)
Stoeger’s Model 3000 3-inch 12-gauge inertia gun and the scaled-down 20-gauge 3020 get the full turkey treatment. The guns have 22-inch barrels with extended turkey chokes. Along with bright, Hi-Viz beads, both guns are optic-ready. The 12-gauge has a receiver cut for RMR or Burris sights, while the 20 sports a Picatinny rail. Both wear Mossy Oak Bottomland and come with paracord slings. Light, compact, and ready to hunt out of the box, these are a good deal in a dedicated turkey gun, with a retail price of $669.
Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey w/ Holosun Micro Dot
Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey
Pros
- Excellent optic mounted in receiver cut
- Compact
- Reliable
Cons
- 20-inch barrel can be tough to pattern well
Specs
- Gauge: 3 ½-inch 12 gauge
- Barrel Length: 20″
- Weight: 7 lbs
As a longtime 835 user and fan, I love the combination of a slide cut into the top of the receiver for mounting an optic and the Holosun’s nifty 407 Microdot sight, which lets the shooter keep their head firmly on the stock while using the optic. In all other ways, this is the great 835, with 10-gauge dimensions to help it handle large loads of big shot. It has the top safety that left-handers like, too, and a long track record of reliability. The action is smooth and fast. I have found that 20-inch barrels (in this gun and others) can be finicky in terms of what ammo they like, but once you find the right load, this gun will deliver.
Mossberg Silver Reserve Eventide Turkey
Mossberg Silver Reserve Eventide Turkey
Pros
- Extremely compact
- Choice of chokes
- Good patterns
Cons
- Mushy, heavy trigger
Specs
- Gauge: 3-inch 20-gauge, 3-inch 28-gauge, 3-inch .410
- Barrel Length: 20″
- Weight: 6.5 lbs
Turkey O/Us have two major advantages over other types of shotguns. First, they are more compact because they have an action that’s about 3 inches shorter than a repeater’s, and second, they give you the choice of two chokes. Mossberg supplies this gun with two XX-Full turkey chokes and one IC choke. You can either set it up conventionally with two tight chokes or put the IC in the gun for a wider pattern at close range. The safety is also the barrel selector, so you can make your choice easily. The gun also comes with sling-swivel studs, and its super-compact overall length means no more snagging the barrel in overhanging branches as you walk through the woods.
Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey
Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey
Pros
- Recoil-reducing stock
- Rail for optic
- Proven reliable action
Cons
- Rail mounts optic a bit too high for optimum cheek weld
Specs
- Gauge: 3-inch 12-gauge or 3-inch 20-gauge
- Barrel Length: 24″
- Weight: 7 lbs in 12-gauge
Beretta’s A300 is a cheaper USA-made version of one of the best semiautos ever made, the Beretta 391. The turkey version gives you the features turkey hunters want built into a great gas-operated platform. The camo-coated A300 Ultima Turkey has a 24-inch barrel, which is a good length, short enough to be compact but long enough to shoot good patterns. It has a fiber-optic bead sight or, for those who prefer an optic, a Picatinny rail. The A300 Ultima also has its version of Beretta’s Kick-Off recoil reduction system, which really works and makes patterning sessions easier.
Mossberg SA-28 Tactical Turkey
Mossberg SA-28 Tactical Turkey
Pros
- Comfortable stock, good height for optics
- Good iron sights
- Lightweight and easy to carry
Cons
- 28-gauge has 2 ¾-inch chamber, not 3-inch
Specs
- Gauge: 2 ¾-inch 28-gauge (also available in 3-inch 20-gauge and 3-inch 410)
- Barrel Length: 22″
- Weight: 6 lbs
The SA Tactical Turkey is available in 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410, but as the 28 is the newest option in the line, that’s what we’ll focus on here. This smallbore turkey gun is a delight to hunt with, as I found out while toting the 28-gauge in Texas last year. It weighs practically nothing on the shoulder, and the tactical stock keeps your trigger hand at a comfortable angle during long waits. The optic mounted on the gun’s Picatinny rail puts it at a good height for aimed shots, too. While the 28-gauge, which I hunted with, lacked the trendy 3-inch chamber, Apex 2 ¾-inch 28-gauge ammo shot great patterns to 40 yards in this gun. If that’s not enough for you, get the 20, which actually weighs the same but has a 3-inch chamber.
Browning Maxus II
Browning Maxus II
Pros
- Rubber grip panels
- Inflex recoil pad
- Versatile for multi-species hunts
Cons
- Expensive
Specs
- Gauge: 12
- Barrel Length: 26″, 28″
- Weight: 7 lbs, 7.2 lbs
Browning offers a limited run of its excellent, soft-shooting Maxus II gas gun with a 26-inch barrel, an extended choke, a Picatinny rail, and Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. The synthetic stock features rubber grip panels, a soft comb insert, and an Inflex buttpad, all of which will help you endure pre-season patterning sessions. At around 7 pounds, the Maxus is light enough to tote through the woods, but hefty enough for serious wingshooting. Remove the rail in the fall and you can hunt birds and ducks with this gun, which helps you rationalize the price tag.
Henry Single-Shot Turkey
Henry Single-Shot Turkey
Pros
- Lightweight
- Turkey choke included
- Pre-drilled and tapped for optics
Cons
- Single-shot
- Stronger recoil
Specs
- Gauge: 12
- Barrel Length: 24″
- Weight: 6.78 lbs
Break-action single-shots are both light and compact, which are good traits in a gobbler gun, and Henry’s Single-Shot is woods-ready with a coat of Mossy Oak Obsession, iron sights, a barrel drilled and tapped for optics and a turkey choke. It has a 24-inch barrel and weighs just 6¾ pounds. You’ll feel this gun go off if you shoot it with a 3½-inch load, but you’ll hardly know it’s there when you’ve got it slung over your shoulder.
Savage 320 Turkey Thumbhole
Savage 320 Turkey Thumbhole
Pros
- Affordable
- Turkey choke included
- Thumbhole design for better grip
Cons
- Doesn’t come in camo
Specs
- Gauge: 12, 20
- Barrel Length: 22″
- Weight: 7.6 lbs
Modeled after Winchester’s Model 1300/SXP, the Savage 320 is a Chinese-made pump that sells for a very low price, putting a dedicated 3-inch 12- or 20-gauge turkey gun in the hands of almost anyone. The 22-inch barrel comes with a turkey choke and adjustable fiber-optic sights clamped to a vent rib. The drab-green synthetic stock features a hybrid thumbhole design that is highly practical for turkey hunting.
Franchi Affinity 3 Turkey Elite
Franchi Affinity 3 Turkey Elite
Pros
- Comfortable pistol grip
- Adjustable sights
- Pre-drilled and tapped for optics
Cons
- Expensive
Specs
- Gauge: 12, 20
- Barrel Length: 24″
- Weight: 7.2 lbs, 6.5 lbs
The Franchi Affinity has become quite popular among upland hunters and waterfowlers who more or less want to shoot a Benelli without paying Benelli prices. Now, turkey hunters can buy a lightweight, reliable Franchi inertia gun made expressly for the spring woods. The Affinity Turkey and Turkey Elite shotguns feature a very comfortable pistol grip, camo finish, and a 24-inch barrel with a turkey choke and adjustable rear and hooded front sights. They are also drilled and tapped for an optic. The Turkey comes in 3-inch 12- and 20-gauge, as well as a 3½-inch 12 with a choice of camo patterns. The Turkey Elite comes in 3-inch 12- or 20-gauge with camo and Cerakote.
TriStar Viper G2 Turkey
TriStar Viper G2 Turkey
Pros
- Lightweight
- Three different gauges
- Comfortable pistol grip
Cons
- None
Specs
- Gauge: 12, 20, 28, and .410
- Barrel Length: 24″
- Weight: 6.8 lbs, 6.3 lbs, 6lbs
The TriStar Viper G2 Turkey comes in 12, 20, 28, and .410 versions for hunters who want to shoot a lightweight semi-auto. The 12 weighs just 6.8 pounds, the 20 weighs 6.3, the 28 weighs 6and the .410 weighs 6 pounds even. The tactical-style pistol grip is extremely comfortable to hang on to when you’re seated against a tree, and the gun has a Picatinny rail for mounting an optic. The 24-inch barrels are the right length to shoot good patterns with high-dollar TSS loads through the gun’s XX Full turkey choke.
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