We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more
After years of getting bigger, turkey shotguns are now shrinking as small-gauge options attract interest among hunters. That’s just as true this year as it's been in years past, when we saw a raft of new turkey guns. There are now more small-bore options and more guns that are optic-ready or even packaged with an optic, in the case of the new Mossberg 500.
While you can still find new 3½-inch 12-gauges decked out for the spring woods, they are now joined by more 20s, 28s, and .410s, which just means extra options for you. You can credit TSS ammo and improved lead loads like 20-gauge Winchester Long Beard for the switch, and it might also be true that more hunters realize that the real fun of turkey hunting is bringing birds in close. Small-gauge guns fit in perfectly with that hunting philosophy. They’re also easy to carry and handle, and a lot less of a chore to pattern, too.
Below are my picks for the best turkey guns, big and small, for this coming spring. There are 18 guns in total, running pretty much the gamut in gauge, action, and price point, which means your perfect new turkey gun is probably on the list.
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
Specs
Gauge: 3-inch 20- or 28-gauge
Barrel Length: 24″
Weight: 5.7 pounds (20-gauge), 5.4 pounds (28-gauge)
Pros
Compact
Recoil-reducing stock
Easy-Locking bolt increases reliability
Cons
Expensive
Bead sight only
Benelli has extended the SBE 3 line by shortening a pair of small-bores to help them better fit into the turkey woods. Both the 20- and 28-gauge SBE 3 come in 24-inch barreled versions for this spring. They have original Mossy Oak Bottomland camo furniture and Patriot brown Cerakote metal finishes. Both are chambered for 3-inch shells, and they have Benelli’s vibration-absorbing ComforTech stock and Benelli’s Easy Locking bolt to prevent out-of-battery misfires. Like all SBE 3s, they operate on Benelli’s famous inertia system. The Super Black Eagle 3 guns are very lightweight for carrying through the woods, with the 20-gauge listed at 5.7 pounds and the 28-guage weighing just 5.4 pounds. Retailing at $2,149, they are not cheap, but you'd be hard pressed to find a better sub-gauge turkey gun.
Mossberg 500 Turkey w/ .410 Holosun Micro Dot
Specs
Gauge: 3-inch 20-gauge, 3-inch .410
Barrel length: 20 inches
Weight: 6.75 pounds (20-gauge) 6.25 (.410)
Pros
Low-mounted optic included
Ambidextrous safety
Cons
20-gauge on the heavy side
Mossberg's newest turkey shotguns are a pair of Model 500s, in 20-gauge and .410 Model, both of which come with a Holosun red-dot sight pre-mounted in special receiver cuts for a low-profile mount. The guns are also drilled and tapped in case you’d like to use some other sight system. Both come with a 20-inch barrel with bright fiber-optic bead and an extended turkey choke. They are dipped in Mossy Oak Greenleaf and have the top safety that is accessible to right- and left-handers alike. They retail for $863, including sight, but you can find them for less.
Stoeger 3000 and 3020 Turkey Edition
Specs
Gauge: 3-inch 12-gauge (3000), 3-inch 20-gauge (3020)
Barrel length: 22 inches
Weight: 6.9 pounds (30000), 5.4 pounds (3020)
Pros
Optic-ready
Lightweight
Sling and turkey choke included
Cons
Small safety button, not reversible for LH
Stoeger's Model 3000 3-inch 12-gauge inertia gun and the scaled down 20-gauge 3020 get the full turkey treatment. The guns have 22-inch barrels with extended, X-Full turkey chokes. Along with bright, Hi-Viz beads, both guns are optic-ready. The 12-gauge has receiver cut for RMR or Burris sights, while the 20 sports a Picatinny rail. Both wear Mossy Oak Bottomland and come with paracord slings. Light, compact, and ready to hunt out of the box, these are a good deal in a dedicated turkey gun, with a retail price of $669.
Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Turkey w/ Holosun Micro Dot
Specs
Gauge: 3 ½-inch 12 gauge
Barrel Length: 20″
Weight: 7 lbs
Pros
Excellent optic mounted in receiver cut
Compact
Reliable
Cons
20-inch barrel can be tough to make pattern well
As a longtime 835 user and fan, I love the combination of a slide cut into the top of the receiver for mounting an optic and the Holosun’s nifty 407 Microdot sight, which allows the shooter to keep their head firmly on the stock and use the optic. In all other ways, this is the great 835, with 10-gauge dimensions to help it handle large loads of big shot. It has the top safety that left-handers like, too, and a long track record of reliability. The action is smooth and fast. I have found that 20-inch barrels (in this gun and others) can be finicky in terms of what ammo they like, but once you find the right load, this gun will deliver.
Mossberg Silver Reserve Eventide Turkey
Specs
Gauge: 3-inch 20-gauge, 3-inch 28-gauge, 3-inch .410
Barrel Length: 20″
Weight: 6.5 lbs
Pros
Extremely compact
Choice of chokes
Good patterns
Cons
Mushy, heavy trigger
Turkey O/Us have two major advantages over other types of shotguns. First, they are more compact because they have an action that’s about 3 inches shorter than a repeater’s, and second, they give you the choice of two chokes. Mossberg supplies this gun with two XX-full turkey chokes and one IC. You can either set it up conventionally with two tight chokes, or you can put the IC in the gun to have a wider pattern for close-range shots. The safety is also the barrel selector, so you can make your choice easily. The gun also comes with sling-swivel studs, and its super-compact overall length means no more snagging the barrel in overhanging branches as you walk through the woods.
Stoeger 3500 Predator/Turkey
Specs
Gauge: 3 ½-inch 12-gauge
Barrel Length: 24″
Weight: 7.5 lbs
Pros
Enlarged controls
Comfortable grip
Good patterns with buckshot and turkey loads
Cons
Doesn’t cycle light loads well
Made for the hunter who calls turkeys in the spring and coyotes in winter, the Predator/Turkey comes with a pair of Mojo chokes: one Full for buck shot, the other XX-Full for turkeys. Both delivered excellent patterns when I tested this gun recently. As a 3 ½-inch inertia gun, this 3500 definitely gets your attention when it goes off, despite the ports in the barrel that reduce muzzle rise. It does include an optional stock weight to reduce recoil, as well as shim to adjust the stock. The receiver is also drilled and tapped for an optic, and the gun’s coat of Mossy Oak Overwatch helps it both stand out and blend in. Overall, I was impressed with this gun for the price; it delivered excellent patterns and is a heck of bargain to boot. Again, you can read my full review here.
Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey
Specs
Gauge: 3-inch 12-gauge or 3-inch 20-gauge
Barrel Length: 24″
Weight: 7 lbs in 12-gauge
Pros
Recoil-reducing stock
Rail for optic
Proven reliable action
Cons
Rail mounts optic a bit too high for optimum cheek weld
Beretta’s A300 is a cheaper, USA-made version of one of the best semi-autos ever made, the Beretta 391. The turkey version gives you the features turkey hunters want built into a great gas-operated platform. The camo-coated A300 Ultima Turkey has a 24-inch barrel, which a good length for a turkey gun barrel: short enough to be compact, long enough to shoot good patterns. It has a fiber-optic bead sight or, for those who would prefer an optic, a Picatinny rail is included. The A300 Ultima also has its version of Beretta’s Kick-Off recoil reduction system which really works and makes patterning sessions easier.
Mossberg SA-28 Tactical Turkey
Specs
Gauge: 2 ¾-inch 28-gauge (also available in 3-inch 20-gauge and 3-inch 410)
Barrel Length: 22″
Weight: 6 lbs
Pros
Comfortable stock, good height for optics
Rail for optic and good iron signs
Light, easy to carry
Cons
28-gauge has 2 ¾-inch, not 3-inch chamber
The SA Tactical Turkey is available in 20-gauge, 28-gauge, and .410, but as the 28 is the newest option in the line, that’s what we’ll focus on here. This smallbore turkey guns is a delight to hunt with, as I found out while toting the 28-gauge in Texas last year. It weighs practically nothing on the shoulder, and the tactical stock keeps your trigger hand at a comfortable angle during long waits. As optic mounted on the gun’s Picatinny rail puts it at a good height for aimed shots too. While the 28-gauge which I hunted with lacked the trendy 3-inch chamber, Apex 2 ¾-inch 28 gauge ammo shot great patterns to 40 yards in this gun. If that’s not enough for you, get the 20, which actually weighs the same but has a 3-inch chamber.
Browning Maxus II
Specs
Gauge: 12
Barrel Length: 26″, 28″
Weight: 7 lbs, 7.2 lbs
Pros
Rubber grip panels
Inflex recoil pad
Versatile for multi-species hunts
Cons
Expensive
Browning offers a limited run of its excellent and soft-shooting Maxus II gas gun with a 26-inch barrel, extended choke, Picatinny rail and Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. The synthetic stock features both rubber grip panels and a soft comb insert along with an Inflex buttpad, all of which will help you endure pre-season patterning sessions. At around 7 pounds, the Maxus is light enough to tote through the woods, but hefty enough for serious wingshooting, too. Remove the rail in the fall and you can hunt birds and ducks with this gun, too, which helps you rationalize the price tag.
Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey
Specs
Gauge: 12
Barrel Length: 18.5″, 24″
Weight: 7.25 lbs or 7.5 lbs
Pros
Corrosion-resistant parts
Adjustable stock
Enlarged bolt handles
Cons
Expensive
Mossberg extended its 940 Pro series in 2024 with a pair of dedicated 3-inch 12-gauge gobbler guns. The 940 improves on the 930 with upgraded gas-system parts, corrosion-resistant internals, and stainless-steel return spring. Both guns feature cuts in the receiver for a RMR-footprint reflex sight and a cover should you choose not to mount one. The stocks adjust with spacers to as short as 13 inches. Both feature enlarged bolt handles and closer buttons, and their synthetic stocks are covered in Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo. One has a 24-inch barrel, usually a length conducive to better patterns, while the other comes in at a compact 18 ½ inches, ideal for carrying and close quarters.
Weatherby Element Turkey
Specs
Gauge: 12, 20
Barrel Length: 22″
Weight: 6.2 lbs
Pros
Lightweight
Rubber grip panels
Multiple gauges
Cons
Stronger recoil
Inertia semi-autos are lightweight, which makes them easy to carry through the spring woods. They kick more than heavier guns and gas guns, but who cares when you may only shoot once all spring? The Turkish-made Element comes dressed for the woods with a bobbed 22-inch barrel and a coat of original Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. It features sling swivel studs and rubber grip panels in the stock and forend. Weatherby has been sourcing guns from overseas makers since the 50s and they how to pick their partners: the Element is a good gun, and now it’s even better if you want a turkey gun.
Henry Single-Shot Turkey
Specs
Gauge: 12
Barrel Length: 24″
Weight: 6.78 lbs
Pros
Lightweight
Turkey choke included
Pre-drilled and tapped for optics
Cons
Single-shot
Stronger recoil
Turkey hunting–done right–is a one-shot sport, and it’s good to see a single-shot represented among this year’s guns. Break-action single-shots are both light and compact, which are good traits in a gobbler gun, and Henry’s new Single-Shot is woods-ready with a coat of Mossy Oak Obsession, iron sights, a barrel drilled and tapped for an optics, and a turkey choke. It has a 24-inch barrel and weighs just 6¾ pounds. You’ll feel this gun go off if you shoot it with a 3½-inch load, but you’ll hardly know it’s there when you’ve got it slung over your shoulder.
Savage 320 Turkey Thumbhole
Specs
Gauge: 12, 20
Barrel Length: 22″
Weight: 7.6 lbs
Pros
Affordable
Turkey choke included
Thumbhole design for better grip
Cons
Doesn’t come in camo
Modeled after Winchester’s Model 1300/SXP, the Savage 320 is a Chinese-made pump that sells for a very low price that can put a dedicated 3-inch 12- or 20-gauge turkey gun in the hands of almost anyone. The 22-inch barrel comes with a turkey choke and adjustable fiber-optic sights clamped to a vent rib. The drab-green synthetic stock features a hybrid thumbhole design that is highly practical for turkey hunting.
Franchi Affinity 3 Turkey Elite
Specs
Gauge: 12, 20
Barrel Length: 24″
Weight: 7.2 lbs, 6.5 lbs
Pros
Comfortable pistol grip
Adjustable sights
Pre-drilled and tapped for optics
Cons
Expensive
The Franchi Affinity has become quite popular among upland hunters and waterfowlers who more or less want to shoot a Benelli without paying Benelli prices. Now, turkey hunters can buy a lightweight, reliable Franchi inertia gun made expressly for the spring woods. The Affinity Turkey and Turkey Elite shotguns feature a very comfortable pistol grip, camo finish, and a 24-inch barrel with a turkey choke and adjustable rear and hooded front sights. They are also drilled and tapped for an optic. The Turkey comes in 3-inch 12- and 20-gauge, as well as a 3½-inch 12 with a choice of camo patterns. The Turkey Elite comes in 3-inch 12- or 20-gauge with camo and Cerakote.
TriStar Viper G2 Turkey
Specs
Gauge: 12, 20, .410
Barrel Length: 24″
Weight: 6.8 lbs, 6.3 lbs, 6lbs
Pros
Lightweight
Three different gauges
Comfortable pistol grip
Cons
None
The TriStar Viper G2 Turkey comes in 12, 20, and .410 versions for hunters who want to shoot a lightweight semi-auto. The 12 weighs just 6.8 pounds, the 20 weighs 6.3, and the .410 weighs 6 pounds even. The tactical-style pistol grip is extremely comfortable to hang on to when you’re seated against a tree, and the gun has a Picatinny rail for mounting an optic. The 24-inch barrels are the right length to shoot good patterns with high dollar TSS loads through the gun’s XX Full turkey choke.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
