Budget turkey hunting 12g ?

[cjmac]

Wife wants to get into turkey hunting. I quit after dad passed . It was our thing but it was difficult for me to go after ...
15 years later wife wants to try so she wants her own shotgun. Was thinking maby a single shot 12g ? But never seen one with x- full choke? Not wanting to spend a ton on one .
Thanks

 

[KMart]

My thoughts on a single shot shotgun
I grew up shooting the things. Great first guns. I shot competitive shotgun for many years with a single shot and O/U. Then for nostalgia, I picked up and old Stevens single shot to plink around with. That thing would smack the crap out of you. They are very light and pack a wallop.
In my opinion, for the wife, pick something that is a little more tame. If she is up to the task, have fun.

 

[JayHHI6818]

Look at a 20 ga…. Won’t beat her up like a 12 ga.

 

[Mike Kohout]

Agree with the 20ga. One of the single shot mfg's in Wisc. has several good models. (old age short mind) Henry?
Mikey

 

[243winxb]

x- full choke

May blow paterns. Ammo most important. Buffered & plated shot.

$91 for single shotgun here. $91
¹
Patern any/all before hunting. https://www.federalpremium.com/shotshell/grand-slam/
Size 5 shot.

Or load your own with added Buffer
Dont load for maximum velocity. Slower better, pellets are deformed less.

Less felt recoil- think gas gun, auto loader. But cost more $$$

 

[DogBuster]

Pick up an older Remington 870 in 20 or 12…3” chamber if you find one

Or even a Mossberg ‍

 

[Gman]

Wife wants to get into turkey hunting. I quit after dad passed . It was our thing but it was difficult for me to go after ...
15 years later wife wants to try so she wants her own shotgun. Was thinking maby a single shot 12g ? But never seen one with x- full choke? Not wanting to spend a ton on one .
Thanks

Is your wife recoil sensitive? Because any 12-gauge shooting "full house" 3-inch Magnum loads will kick pretty hard. Even gas operated autoloaders.

A lightweight 20-gauge will also smack her shoulder shooting 3" magnums at the pattern board. My 20 gauge Benelli M1 kicks almost as much as my 12 bore Rem 11-87 shooting 3" turkey loads.

If you want to pony up the cash for the "high-dollar" TSS loads, you can buy a 28 gauge or .410 which won't have nearly the recoil of the 12 or 20 and both of these sub gauges will kill a gobbler at 40 yards with the TSS ammo.

 

[Clancy]

20 gauge. 12 is way too much for turkey with modern shot.

Steven 301 Turkey is what I’d buy.

 

[Gman]

20 gauge. 12 is way too much for turkey with modern shot.

Steven 301 Turkey is what I’d buy.

Not everyone wants to spend $90 for a box of 5 loaded cartridges to kill a turkey.

 

[Majday]

Pick up an older Remington 870 in 20 or 12…3” chamber if you find one

Or even a Mossberg ‍

12 ga 870 3" magnum is what I shoot when I go out. I shoot 2-3/4" prairie storm. Works just fine...my thoughts are...its a turkey

 

[Gman]

If she is recoil sensitive and stuck on a 12-gauge, you don't have to shoot 3" Mag loads either. Heck I've killed a few turkey with a 12-gauge shooting 7.5 shot 2 3/4" target loads while rabbit/pheasant hunting in the fall. I believe that if you do shoot a light, small shot "lead" load in the 12 bore, that you would probably need to bring the bird into 35 yards or less for a clean effective kill. But I'm sure that guys have killed them at 40+ yards with small diameter lead shot.

 

[dryhumor]

Budget means different things to different people….

Single shots, over under, doubles, and pumps have a bit more recoil. Recoil semi autos have less recoil. Gas semi autos have the least recoil.

I have a 20ga SX3 gas semi, very pleasant to shoot. Screw in chokes. It the bomb on doves.

My turkey gun is a gas semi 10ga. Not an apple to apple comparison. However, the recoil is similar to a magnum 12 recoil semi.

I’ve had a good many recoil semis. Many, but not all have screw in chokes.

Might be worth asking your wife if she might want to shoot doves, quail, or pheasant at some point. That might change the whole dynamic.

 

[DGP4]

I use an old Winchester 1500 XTR with a full choke barrel. It is a semi-auto and really reduces the recoil. I think it would be perfect for a lady shooter. There are probably other semi autos that reduce the kick effectively.

 

[RussellJ]

If she is recoil sensitive and stuck on a 12-gauge, you don't have to shoot 3" Mag loads either. Heck I've killed a few turkey with a 12-gauge shooting 7.5 shot 2 3/4" target loads while rabbit/pheasant hunting in the fall. I believe that if you do shoot a light, small shot "lead" load in the 12 bore, that you would probably need to bring the bird into 35 yards or less for a clean effective kill. But I'm sure that guys have killed them at 40+ yards with small diameter lead shot.

Great advice from Gman. I agree 100%

 

[chester999]

Shot my last 3 toms with a .410. That tungsten shot is the ticket. My 6 year old grand daughter also used it for her first bird.

 

[Pyscodog]

Probably get roasted for this but check out some of the Turkish made shotguns. I'm afraid a single shot 12 is going to pack a punch on both ends.. Some of the Turkish guns are pretty decent and budget friendly.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

I would go with a basic Mossberg 500 in 20 gauge. With the advancement in today's shot shells it would be a perfect fit.

 

[DogBuster]

12 ga 870 3" magnum is what I shoot when I go out. I shoot 2-3/4" prairie storm. Works just fine...my thoughts are...its a turkey

OP wants it for his wife

Why I suggested the 20 gauge

We all know what happens when ya pull the trigger on a 3” 12 gauge

 

[Jrjones]

20ga high brass 2 3/4. Normal yardages. I never needed fancy super tight chokes. Find something w a little heft. Super light ones kick lick a bi*!+$

 

[std7mag]

@cjmac,

Why would you get your wife a 12 ga??

Heck, I don't even shoot a 12 ga!

Why not a .410?
Savage has a dedicated .410 turkey gun.
Lots of YouTube videos on it.