Not new to hunting or wing shooting but want to start turkey hunting. Live in Texas and will hunt out in Hondo area as well as some North TX hunting. Looking at TC Turkey 12ga or the 870 SPS. Some price difference as well single shot etc.
The 20" barrel on the 870 seems to be an issue for some but am looking for advice
Should mention not new to shotgunning either but Turkey hunting is new to me
Input appreciated. Thx
:welcomeOG:
Either will work. Keep in mind shotgunning turkeys is more like shooting a rifle than wingshooting. The ammo makes the gun not the other way around.
I don't have a TC, but I'm intrigued by them....
I love my TC, but both guns should serve you well. I just love how the Encore handles and shoots.
Texas is a 4 bird state. Double opportunities will present themselves with regularity.
I'd rather have the 870 with multiple shells.
Don't over look a good 20 gauge, with the chokes and the ammo offered now of days, a 20 will kill just as good as a 12 with less recoil and less weight to carry around, check out the 20 gauge pages on here for patterns and guns but I think it would be hard to beat the Rem 870 in a 20 gauge with the right choke and shot!
I have several Benellis, Remingtons,etc..but when going turkey hunting i always grab my T/C Encore topped with a Nikon Turkey Pro 1x4. That combo = Bad turkey medicine for me..(I absolutely DID NOT like the sights on the T/C hence the Nikon..).With that said i think most of your decision probably lies in whether you want to limit yourself with one shell in a state that sounds like you can harvest more than one bird a day...I agree with the post on the 20 gauge youth Remington. I was astonished how my Sons patterned. Very light to carry,multiple shells,and great patterns. Check out some of our fellow members builds in the 20 gauge section. For my next turkey gun that's the route I'm going. More than adequate.
870. Multiple shots. We all miss at some point in our lives. Never thought it would happen to me but it did!
I missed one and was able to reload the Encore and make a killing shot. Don't think I will repeat that one, but, if not probable, it is possible. The panic that comes with a miss is undescrible.
I turkey hunted with a single shot Stevens for 10 years and never missed a bird with it. If you make your first shot count, you generally won't need a follow up. These days I hunt with a Bernelli SBE II and haven't needed a second shot.
My grandfather taught me to hunt with a single shot. When he was a kid, one shot had to = food, or you were wasting ammo/money.
I love a TC Encore as a turkey gun, especially with a good red dot or scope. I wish I had one, because the SBE would likely stay parked.
Jim
I like TC but got an 870. They are tough and reliable and usually found at a good price.
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870
Love my 870
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Out of the choices you presented I go with that scoped 870, more than a few time I have been able to kill "true" doubles and a bit tough to do with a single shot, not impossible but the odds aren't there. Been shooting a scoped 11-87 for 20+ years and it works out great!
MK M GOBL