The trend of smaller or sub gauge shotguns for turkeys has become as they say a “thing”. All of this has happened really fast. About a year ago turkey shotgun geeks would be more likely to be arguing the merits of 3 ½” Magnum shells versus 3” instead of what is the best load for a dainty .410. This transformation was brought on by basically one thing, a mysterious metal called wolfram, or tungsten. A secretive, almost cult like group of turkey slayers hand loaded tungsten shot for years and reported incredible, and often unbelievable results. Someone from this movement coined TSS for Tungsten Super Shot, and the rest is history. Federal, Apex, Browning, and now Kent cartridge offer TSS shotgun loads commercially.
Because it is so much heavier and harder, tungsten shot has performance capabilities far above that of lead. This allows for the loading of much smaller shot, and TSS fans will tell you that a #9 tungsten shot is equal in performance to a #5 shot in lead. Loading #9’s versus #5’s means about twice the number of shot can be loaded in the shell. The sub gauges, mainly the .410, are now in demand for turkey hunters. Here are a few to consider.
Remington 870 Express .410. The Model 870 is certainly not new and I would stick my neck out and say probably more turkeys have been killed with it than any shotgun in America. The .410 bore was offered in the 870 line at one time but it was discontinued, now with the demand from turkey hunters it is back. Not much can be said about an 870 that has not been said before. The iconic action on a Model 870 will take whatever turkey hunters dish out. The .410 Express features a 25” barrel, fixed full choke, vent rib with a bead sight, 14” length of pull, and weighs five and three quarters pounds. The shotgun has a 4+1 round capacity and has an MSRP of $551.00 www.remington.com
CZ-USA Drake. CZ-USA offers this trim little over and under in 12, 20, and 28 gauge as well as the .410 bore. Turkish walnut stocks and forearms are cut with laser checkering that gives a good grip on the shotgun. The Drake has a single selective trigger (which I like) and heavy duty extractors to lift spent shells. The Drake has 28” barrels, 5 interchangeable chokes with the 12, 20, and 28 gauges, fixed Modified and Improved Cylinder chokes on the .410 model, and ships in a hard plastic case. The Drake weighs in at six pounds and is a lot of shotgun for an MSRP of $702.00. www.cz-usa.com
TriStar Viper G2 .410 Camo. If you are in the race to get a .410 turkey slayer with all your buddies and want a semi-auto, the Viper G2 from TriStar may be for you. The stock and forearm are injection molded and finished with TriStar’s “Soft Touch” finish for a firm grip on the gun, and the camo pattern is Realtree Max-4HD. The Viper G2 .410 has a 3” chamber and will shoot heavy waterfowl loads and light target ammo. Three choke tubes are included, IC, M, and Full. The choke system is Benelli/Beretta Mobil threads for those that will seek an aftermarket choke. This shotgun has a five year mechanical warranty. MSRP $640.00 www.tristararms.com
Browning BPS Field. The Browning BPS has been around awhile and has its own following. The BPS Field model has a classic look with matte blued barrel, vent rib, and satin finish stock. Many like the BPS for its unique bottom loading and ejection port which along with a top tang safety makes it truly ambidextrous. The BPS Field has a 28” barrel that is threaded for the Invector Plus choke system, chrome plated chamber, and is available in 12, 16, 20, and 28 gauge as well as the .410. MSRP $599.00 www.browning.com
Mossberg 500 Turkey .410. Answering the call for .410 turkey guns, Mossberg has likely hit a home run with the 500 Turkey in Mossy Oak Bottomland. The action on a Mossberg 500 shotgun has stood the test of time and is as tough as a pine knot. This 500 Turkey model has a 26” barrel with a fixed full choke, adjustable fiber optic sight, and vent rib. The length of pull is just shy of 14” and the shotgun has a 5+1 ammo capacity. This is the Mossberg 500 that many of you started with and grew up on chambered in .410 and coated with maybe the coolest camo pattern of all time. MSRP $500.00 www.mossberg.com