SCATTERGUN ALLEY
TIME TO THINK ABOUT NEW TURKEY SHOTGUNS Here are five new lighter-weight 12- and 20-gauges capable of downing a wily ol’ tom this season. STORY AND PHOTOS BY LARRY CASE
n all honesty, I have tried to put this off as long as I could. Talking about turkey shotguns, that is. Now don’t get me wrong, you know I love shotguns, and I certainly love those of the turkey persuasion. I just think we are going to be in “turkey mode” for a few months – turkey hunting, turkey shotguns and loads, choke tubes and patterns, you get the idea – and I don’t want you to get bored and worn out with turkey-related stuff. But really, it is time. I write this in February and the season for those loud, aggravating, make-you-lose-all-of-yourdomestic-bliss-type birds has already started in southern Florida and will move north as the days go by. It goes by fast, my brothers and sisters in camo; soon it will be time to turkey hunt in your state and it will be here before you know it. Are you ready? Do you need to get your gear together, like calls and turkey vests and your camo attire? Are you OK for a shotgun? Do you need a new turkey gun or are you just wanting a new one? (Nothing wrong with that.) Good! That is what we are here to talk about. Here are a few selections for you to grind on.
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HENRY SINGLE SHOT TURKEY CAMO SHOTGUN Henry may have surprised us all with the offering of this single-shot, fully camouflaged shotgun for turkeys. Some may question a single-shot 12-gauge for turkeys, but if you think about it, how often do you require a second shot? Safety is a big factor here, as you can readily confirm by sight or by looking at the gun if the weapon is cocked or not. Likewise, while traveling with the gun, crossing fences or other obstacles, a break-action shotgun is easily opened, rendering it safe, and the hunter can go on his way. While the single-shot break-action form and function is beautiful in its simplicity, Henry added some useful features for today’s turkey hunting enthusiasts. Most apparent is full coverage of Mossy Oak Obsession, the official camo pattern of the National Wild Turkey Federation. This pattern matches the colors and foliage of the woods in spring and early fall, so you can disappear into your surroundings regardless of the season. The barrel is topped with adjustable fiber optic sights to get you on target quickly, and it is also drilled and tapped for a Weaver 82 base. Many turkey hunters opt to mount optics on their shotgun, like a red dot sight, and the Single Shot Turkey Camo Shotgun
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