Mossberg Maverick 12ga for tureky?

[catman529]

I'm looking at getting this gun mainly because it's cheap. Has anyone used it for turkey and do you have any advice/suggestions? From what I read, the choke is changeable and the gun comes with a modified choke - I will want to get a full choke for turkeys, am I right?

Should I buy this gun or no...I'm just looking for something to get the job done that I can afford before April 2.

 

[knightrider]

you want to get an extra full not just a full,i have a mossberg 500 with a gobble stop xxfull that shoots the hevi shot #5 great,the main thing is finding the right choke - shell combination. ive owned several mossbergs and all have shot good once i found the right choke and shot combo. alot of folks dont like mossbergs but i have loved the ones ive had, the 500,835,and rem 870, are all good choices in my opinon you can find used ones fairly cheap on gunownersclub and other sites.

 

[catman529]

Thanks. Do you have a choke recommendation that doesn't cost too much? Preferably $30 or under if that's realistic for a turkey choke. Also what shot would you recommend to go with it?

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

Well how much is this Maverick going to cost you?

I just don't like a Mossberg.... However several people do and turkey hunt with them.....

I know you can get a new 870sm for $347 at Walmart. An 870 magnum would be a little less. Lots of aftermarket parts for the 870's vs the Maverick..... I would say an 835 Mossberg would be better than the Maverick....

As far as the choke, you just have to pattern it with different ammo and see if the full choke will get it done at the range you want to shoot. Most likely you will need a x-full or even an xx-full.

I tune my 870sm to 40+ yards.... I like them close but be prepared in case he hangs up just a little farther than you want. I know, to each his own, but if I am putting in 110% to get him to me and for some reason he hangs up at 45 yards.... I will be prepared to take the shot.

 

[knightrider]

Thanks. Do you have a choke recommendation that doesn't cost too much? Preferably $30 or under if that's realistic for a turkey choke. Also what shot would you recommend to go with it?

you can usually pick up the gobble stop,strut stopper,undertaker,and a few others for 35 and under

 

[catman529]

OK I will go look at academy in the next couple days, ask them about the gun and look at the chokes and decide what to get from there. Hopefully someone there will be able to recommend the right shot to go with the choke.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

If you look at the some of the choke tube makers, they will recommend what choke constriction to use with which size shot.... I know Kick's Industries choke tubes do for sure....


It really is a shoot and see type thing. Different chokes may like different size shot. Just remember the smaller shot size the more pellets, which equates to more shot in the pattern. If you shoot Hevi-Shot you can use a size smaller and it has the same energy as the lead shot of the larger size ie #4 lead is #5 heavy shot, #5 lead is #6 heavy shot. This means more shot with the same energy.

 

[knightrider]

it really depends on every gun and choke on which shot it likes as grizz said its a shoot and see type of deal, to get the perfect combo it can really add up, it depends on how far you want to stretch it, good luck and dont be afraid to pick brains on here there is alot of good shooters and turkey killers on here

 

[catman529]

I'm not looking for the perfect combo but would like something dependable, let's say I get a turkey to 30 yards or less, anything that doesn't spread too much to kill at that distance would be fine with me. I will def. want to do some target practice before april comes around.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

Here is another good place for info:

oldgobbler.com

 

[Bone Collector]

i have a 500 and a undertaker XX full choke. it works well with 3" Remington Premier magnums in #5 out to 40-45 yds.

 

[.44mag]

It should do just fine. I would get a xxfull choke for the turkey and use what ever shell you want. If you do not get a new choke and just use the factory full that will come with it I would invest in some higher quality shells such as the heavy 13 JMO

 

[catman529]

It should do just fine. I would get a xxfull choke for the turkey and use what ever shell you want. If you do not get a new choke and just use the factory full that will come with it I would invest in some higher quality shells such as the heavy 13 JMO

Thanks and if I used the factory choke I would have to keep it to real close range shots...I'd rather be set up for 30 yards or more. And it says the gun comes with a modified choke not a full. Still I'm going to have to buy at least an X full, whatever I can afford and will ask the guys at academy if they have recommendations for shells to go with the choke

 

[bvoss]

I've shot a Mossberg 835 for years. I used the factory choke for probably the first five and killed birds grave yard dead out to 50 yds with it. I ended up getting a Jelly head choke tube because I wanted to shoot the Nitro Heavy Shot shells. I love my set up now.

IMO a Mossberg 835 with the factory turkey choke is one of the best bangs for the buck that you can get when it comes to getting a turkey gun.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

Here is some info I got from Old Gobbler forum, I hope it helps when you shop for choke tube:

chokes for:

Browning Invector (not Invector +)
Winchester Win-Choke (not SX 2 or 3)
Mossberg Accu-Choke (not Accu-Mag)
Weatherby Multi-Choke

will work in the Maverick.

 

[TheLBLman]

I'm not looking for the perfect combo but would like something dependable, let's say I get a turkey to 30 yards or less, anything that doesn't spread too much to kill at that distance would be fine with me.

Ever thought about just using whatever shotgun you already had?

The "need" for a specialized turkey gun is mostly hype imo.
Can it give you a slight edge? Sure. But not always. Sometimes too tight a pattern contributes to a clean miss at close range. Truth is, most any good squirrel shotgun can be a decent turkey killer out to 35 - 40 yards.

Just keep in mind what you enjoy most may be more about the total experience than what gun you're using. Personally, I enjoy killing one at close range much more than long range. An experienced turkey hunter could do well with a 20 ga quail gun, i.e. he'd just set himself up more for closer shots. While a 50-yd special "turkey" gun will still require you to be within 50 yards of a turkey, and get the shot off correctly at the right moment.

 

[catman529]

Here is some info I got from Old Gobbler forum, I hope it helps when you shop for choke tube:

chokes for:

Browning Invector (not Invector +)
Winchester Win-Choke (not SX 2 or 3)
Mossberg Accu-Choke (not Accu-Mag)
Weatherby Multi-Choke

will work in the Maverick.

Thanks I will have to write these down.

I'm not looking for the perfect combo but would like something dependable, let's say I get a turkey to 30 yards or less, anything that doesn't spread too much to kill at that distance would be fine with me.

Ever thought about just using whatever shotgun you already had?

The "need" for a specialized turkey gun is mostly hype imo.
Can it give you a slight edge? Sure. But not always. Sometimes too tight a pattern contributes to a clean miss at close range. Truth is, most any good squirrel shotgun can be a decent turkey killer out to 35 - 40 yards.

Just keep in mind what you enjoy most may be more about the total experience than what gun you're using. Personally, I enjoy killing one at close range much more than long range. An experienced turkey hunter could do well with a 20 ga quail gun, i.e. he'd just set himself up more for closer shots. While a 50-yd special "turkey" gun will still require you to be within 50 yards of a turkey, and get the shot off correctly at the right moment.

Thanks for your input, I was kind of wondering the same thing...it's a 12 gauge and it should get the job done if I get the bird close enough, even if a few pellets go into the body or not so many go into the neck...I am just looking for something to get the job done. I will still look at chokes just to tighten it up a bit for longer shots just in case, but the main thing is that I just want a gun that will kill a turkey.

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . the main thing is that I just want a gun that will kill a turkey.

That, my friend, is almost any shotgun you pick up.

Consider the #7 shot from Hevi or the #6 shot with the Winchester Extended Range shells. Those #7's could be particularly beneficial to you if you're using a modified or standard full choke. Personally, I've killed some with #7 1/2 size standard lead pellets, which can work fine for head shots out to 30 - 35 yards with a standard mofified or full choke.

 

[catman529]

Sounds good to me, 30 yards sounds decent and even if there's one day where a gobbler hangs up at 40, there are still other days to get a shot. I'll ask the academy guys (like I said) and consider the options and make sure whatever I get fits in my budget.

I'm so cheap I even made my own turkey calls - slate, tube, diaphragm...but they do sound good, not trying to brag. Got to give credit to the internet for offering tips here and there...

 

[TheLBLman]

. . . . . 30 yards sounds decent and even if there's one day where a gobbler hangs up at 40, there are still other days to get a shot.

Like your thinking.

I've killed a ton of turkeys over the years, and most have been with a factory full choke in a 2 3/4" chambered gun. Limited my shots to about 40 yards, yet took most birds at an average distance of about 22 yards. When a bird is coming your direction, he'll often just keep coming unless you mess up. Most of these would have come closer. I just felt best about taking the shots between 20 and 25 yards.

Only when my old eyes needed a little help, did I go to a specialized turkey gun. That was to take advantage of an optical sight more than to increase my range. Doubt my average range for harvested birds will ever go much above 25 yards.