Which 3.5 inch 12 gauge turkey gun?

[MACHINIST]

OK.I shoot a low range model charles daily 3.5 inch pump.The 3.5 inches are a killer on both ends and I want to keep shooting them.This will be for turkey and coyotes/fox mainly.What gun would you go with thats a nicer model and preferably auto but I wont rule out pumps.I know that the pumps kick the sheet out of me and I am done with it.I was at Beikirch's today and fell in love with the new Browning A5 but I am having a tough time justifying 1400+ for the model I want.So what do you suggest??

Edited April 19, 2014 by MACHINIST

[virgil]

I have the Benelli SBE2 and love it. Got it used at Cabelas in PA. They have loads of used guns. You might find a bargain there.

[G-Man]

i have a mossberg 835, kill turkeys with plain lead out to 55 yards...ofm green camo.. my favorite turkey gun.

[ants]

If you want a semi, My choice would be either the Mossberg 935 or the Rem versa max. I had a 935, great turkey gun that shot unbelievable patterns, and was 100% reliable  with 3 1/2" and 3" loads. Friends of mine have the Versa Max and report the same results. I currently use the Mossberg 835, that I have used since around 1993. It  also has  the original green woodland camo pattern. I use  3 1/2 inchers out of it…. . Bad Ass turkey rig.

Edited April 20, 2014 by ants

[MACHINIST]

Yup I had a 835 and it was a good gun but I could never get it to pattern as well as my other guns.My friends 835 is the same way.My BIL's can punch a solid hole at 30 yards with some ammo and patterns good at over 50 easy.So I know its just the gun.I dont want to get a lemon though.I think I will keep the old trusty and get a new/used one and see what happens

[Lawdwaz]

SBE for me. Ya don't need no stinking camo!!

 

Edited April 20, 2014 by Lawdwaz

[ants]

SBE for me. Ya don't need no stinking camo!!

 

Then whats with that stink'n jacket??? LOL!

[MACHINIST]

Old skool camo is kick azz!!!!LOL

[MrGroundhog]

The Sbe2 is a nice gun and I would have went with that if the price tag wasn't 1700... I liked the a5 and the maxus as well. I ended up going with the maxus which is a great gun and It fit me well. Gas guns will reduce the overall felt recoil (some may disagree). I ordered mine off line and got it ffl transferred for 25 bucks. I think that's the best route to go (others may disagree) but you do not end up paying 100 plus dollars in tax and the higher price from retail stores/shops.

[Lawdwaz]

Damn, ya got me on THAT!  It is a vest though, not a jacket.

 

How do you like that camo pattern?  IIRC I bought that in 1982.  You wouldn't believe the miles on it and the birds that have ridden out in it.  Each year I have to re-sew strap or pocket for fear of a complete blow out.  It was designed by the late great Dick Kirby and made by Duxbak.  I tried to replace it about 10 years ago and couldn't find what I liked so I keep on sewing..........

Edited April 20, 2014 by Lawdwaz

[MACHINIST]

I will be buying used I think to try and save a few $100 bucks.The A5 was simply a perfect fit for me so I may wait a year and see if I cant find one for a good deal.

[Terry]

I don't know anything about the new A5's, but the old ones are not shoulder friendly.

[boo711]

I will be buying used I think to try and save a few $100 bucks.The A5 was simply a perfect fit for me so I may wait a year and see if I cant find one for a good

deal.

I've got 2 browning a5's. A 12 gauge and a sweet sixteen. I could shoot those guns all day long. Awesome guns. My 11 year old loves the a5 12 gauge for shooting trap. I started him on an 870 pump but once he shot that A5 he didn't want to shoot anything else

[MACHINIST]

I have my grandfathers old A5 and its been all redone so I can't justify to take it as a primary shotgun.I usually take it out with me on a hunt every once in a while to hunt with grampa but its been a while.Thats one reason I am leaning towards the A5.

[Pygmy]

 

Damn, ya got me on THAT!  It is a vest though, not a jacket.

 

How do you like that camo pattern?  IIRC I bought that in 1982.  You wouldn't believe the miles on it and the birds that have ridden out in it.  Each year I have to re-sew strap or pocket for fear of a complete blow out.  It was designed by the late great Dick Kirby and made by Duxbak.  I tried to replace it about 10 years ago and couldn't find what I liked so I keep on sewing..........

I literally wore one of those Dick Kirby Grand Slam vests out. I got tired of sewing..When the fabric wore through on the back side of the shell loops I gave up..I truly loved that vest, and it traveled lots of miles on my back in the days when I used to hunt gobblers in several states each spring.

I bought a replacement from Bucklick Creek about 12 years ago...I don't like it NEARLY as well as I liked the old Kirby vest..<<sigh>>....

Edited April 20, 2014 by Pygmy

[Pygmy]

 

I have my grandfathers old A5 and its been all redone so I can't justify to take it as a primary shotgun.I usually take it out with me on a hunt every once in a while to hunt with grampa but its been a while.Thats one reason I am leaning towards the A5.

 

Save your pennies and get what you want. A Browning is NEVER a bad investment.

Quality firearms..My first 3 inch mag 12 was a Browning A-5.. I wish I had never sold it. Killed a lot of ducks, geese and turkeys with that shotgun. I bought it used, shot the hell out of it and sold it several years later for more than I paid for it.

I still have a couple of Brownings, an A-5 Light Twenty and a Citori 12 gauge.

They would be among the last of my guns that I would part with.

[dbHunterNY]

I didn't want to spend the money a good auto so I got a good pump with reduced recoil.  I ended up with a Benelli Supernova in advantage timber.  it has the comfortech stock.  I've shot stuff like Remington 1100 and a few other autos and recoil is equal or slightly less.  a good stock and pad turn the kick into more of a push and soften it up a bit.  despite many autos are dependable some have quirks, and I know the pump will always cycle.  I know some with A5, 935's, and some others.  Most by far I know have Benelli Super Black Eagle II's.

[WNY Bowhunter]

I love my Browning BPS 3.5"/ 26" barrel fitted with a Pure Gold .670 choke. Here's today pattern @ 30 yds with 3.5" Hevi-13 #7's...

 

[Pygmy]

Awesome pattern..

However, at 30 yards, most 2 3/4" 12 gauge guns with a modified choke and #6 shot will kill a gobbler just as dead.

I have never felt the need to take the punishment of 3.5" loads (especially in a fixed breech gun).

3 inch loads in a gas auto are plenty for this old fart.. They kill turkeys at 40-45 yards, and that's as far as I feel the need to shoot.

[ants]

What I like about the Mossgerg 935 and 835 (and a lot of other 3 1/2" guns) is that you can run 2 3/4 or 3" shells through it too.  My 835 patterns great with all 3 but the 3 1/2" with 2 1/4 oz loads of #5 out perform the rest past 35 yards.

Its all about you and what you feel comfortable with. Hell… I killed a good number of toms with my old 870 and 2 3/4"  Turkey loads using just the factory full choke. The first turkey I killed was with the 870 and a high brass #6 pheasant load. Maybe 25 yards. POOOFF

[Uncle Nicky]

Any gun with that shoots 3 1/2" shells is going to wail you. I kinda enjoy shooting a gun/shell that I know will thump the bird just as hard as it thumps me.

 

Just my $.02, but why not invest in a good recoil pad, and keep your current setup?

[MACHINIST]

Because I want to get back into a semi.I bought my first 3 1/2 inch pump gun to test the waters so to speak.My first was a 835 and I couldn't get that to pattern to good,then I happened on the charles daily in a trade and its been a good gun.It has a good recoil pad on it now also.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Because I want to get back into a semi.I bought my first 3 1/2 inch pump gun to test the waters so to speak.My first was a 835 and I couldn't get that to pattern to good,then I happened on the charles daily in a trade and its been a good gun.It has a good recoil pad on it now also.

buddy had the same issue with his 835 and he tried a half dozen chokes and loads. The thing shot patterns like a donut. He was convinced it had such a high charge it was blowing the center of the pattern out. I don't know what caused it but I saw the patterns.

[Five Seasons]

the mossberg 835 is essentially a 10 gauge so it really absorbs the kick a lot better. I put a limbsaver recoil pad on it, and it's not horrible for 3.5" shells. It's a cheaper gun as well, but I have no complaints.

[moog5050]

Machinist

 

Why not get the Stoeger 3500 if you want a semi - you know they are good guns already from experience and reasonably priced.  Might not be as nice as the A5, but less than 1/2 the price.  I would have bought one if I didn't find the win sxp for a reasonable price.