These dogs will hunt. Choices for a new turkey gun. (Or anything else you may want to hunt)
Authors note: OK, we are a little past turkey season (spring) but you can think about a new shotgun anytime. Herewith are a few options.
This morning I asked Bo, my semi-retired turkey dog, what he thought most hunters felt was their most important piece of equipment for turkey hunting. Bo doesn’t get excited about too much (except turkeys) and he gave a sleepy yawn as he reclined on the couch. “I think most of them are obsessed with their shotgun,” he said. As soon as Bo said that I knew he was right. I could tell he didn’t agree with turkey hunters putting so much emphasis on the shotgun, but I also knew he wouldn’t say much else. He settled down to resume his afternoon nap and that was that.
Opinions of brown pointer/setter cross bird dogs aside, there is no doubt that we modern turkey hunters think a lot about what shotgun to carry in pursuit of the American Wild Turkey. As we have noted here before, not that long ago a shotgun was an all-purpose tool in the hunting world. Hunters would grab a Remington 870, a Winchester Model 12, or maybe a Browning A5 and go after ducks, rabbits, deer, and turkeys. You just basically used the same shotgun for everything. Times change. As spring turkey hunting grew in popularity, avid turkey hunters figured they needed a shotgun purpose built for that pursuit. First the gun should be camouflage, (of course) next the gun needed to be chambered for 3 inch ammo, if not 3 ½ inch.
As time went by the specialty ammunition for turkey hunting went through as many changes as the shotguns did. (Maybe we should cover the ammo line in another one of our meetings) The point here is hunters found with all the advances in souped up, more powerful turkey loads like Winchester Long Beard XR shot shells, and then later TSS (Tungsten Super Shot) ammo came on the scene, and well, the world was never the same.
From your Great Grandad’s time on hunters thought they needed long barrels (30 inches was not uncommon) on those shotguns to increase the range to bag turkeys and other game. The era of the Long Beard XR loads and then TSS ammo changed all that. Turkey hunters wanted shorter, easier to maneuver barrels for the turkey woods. A twenty-inch barrel is not unheard of on today’s turkey shotguns. One more thing, many turkey hunters now want an optic on the shotgun. It is now important for the gun to have a mounting system available to install a red dot type optic easily.
So here is a couple of picks for your new turkey gun. (Recommendations by me and Bo) Remember life is too short to hunt with an ugly shotgun. (Case’s Shotgun Theorem #4)
Akkar USA Sharp Spur Turkey Shotgun. In case you didn’t know it Akkar Firearms has recently moved into the American gun market in a big way. Among their many shotgun offerings is a line of turkey guns aptly named the Sharp Spur. As noted earlier many turkey hunters want an optic on the shotgun and the Sharp Spur features an ingenious mounting method with an integrated picatinny rail on the receiver. This allows a fast and easy installation while also lowering the red dot where it needs to be. This is a lightweight shotgun available in 12, 20, 28, and .410. 3 inch chambers in the 20, 28, and .410, 3 ½ inch in the 12 gauge. The barrel is 24” with five extended choke options and the entire shotgun is adorned with Mossy Oak Obsession camo. This is a lot of shotgun for an MSRP of $569.00. www.akkarusa.com
Spandau Arms S2 Shotgun. I may have told you when I went to SHOT Show this past January, one of the hot topics on the floor was a new company, Spandau Arms, presenting several new firearms. Among these was a rifle very similar to the classic Remington model 700. (More on this rifle at a later time) In the shotgun world Spandau is offering a line of inertia powered shotguns that I think you will like. The S2 shotgun is a nifty semi auto shotgun that some will see as similar to the Benelli. The Spandau S2 Shotgun is a lightweight, high-performance firearm designed for hunters and shooting enthusiasts. It features a reliable Inertia operating system for smooth cycling with various loads, a customizable Benelli/Mobil choke tube system, and a fiber optic front sight for quick target acquisition. The S2 has oversized controls, an enhanced loading gate, and compatibility with Benelli M2 accessories. Other features include a Vent Rib Barrel, and open cut loading gate, an enhanced lifter, oversized charging handle, and an adjustable drop/cast spacer kit, as well as being drilled and tapped for optic mounting and a rubber recoil pad. The S2 ships with a choke tub wrench and a Cylinder, Modified, and Extended Ported Modified, and Full Choke. Several camo choices are available; the shotgun I am currently testing has a lovely Mossy Oak Bottomland finish. The Spandau S2 shotgun has a one-year warranty and a lifetime service plan. MSRP $531.00 www.spandauarms.com
Larry Case larryocase3@gmail.com
