We are 5 weeks away from spring turkeys...though based on the last couple of years, I will probably put off hitting the woods until the end of April, as there have been a lot more active birds then.

Two lady friends have shown interest in getting into some hunting with me, and though one used a 12 gauge last year to successfully harvest a fall bird, she definitely would like a lighter and more manageable weapon. The other flat out does not like the big boom of a 12 gauge, but is willing to pop off a few with a .410 to see how she likes that.

A few months ago I picked up the Mossberg SA-410 TSS Turkey gun, and then this month I picked up a Stevens 301 TSS Turkey Special by Savage Arms.



The Mossberg is a semi-auto, and the Stevens is a single shot break action.

I've shot the Mossberg a couple of times, and it's really fun to shoot...haven't taken the Stevens out in the woods yet, but may get out there this week if I can squeeze out a little time.

Both are optimized for Federal TSS #9s, and though they are getting a little easier to find, they are not getting any cheaper! They still end up running about $9 a pop...but I do have some comparable Apex on the way that are a little less. Still have the two boxes of Boss copper coated, and I am looking forward to seeing how all three of them pattern.

Fish on...

Todd

i think i want to hunt turkeys this year, just dont know where to go...

whats the deal with 410"s and turkeys?

probably the fact that shells loaded with that ultra dense TSS shot makes a properly choked .410 into an effective turkey gun without the recoil of a 12 gauge. Being that most people aren't going to shoot a lot of those $8-10 shells in a season, the high cost of ammo isn't too much of a concern.

Interesting shotguns.

That little Savage looks just like my old H & R Pardner single shot, break action 20 gage Boat Gun. Do they allow barrel swapping with that little Savage ?

Make that old 20 gage “Boat Gun” an old NEF , and not an H&R as previously thought. And at 70, any previously thoughts thought , may need a closer inspection before.........



Gotta luv that old “pull the hammer-back” safety tho !

Yeah...that. The young lady who will be hunting with that gun is scared to death that it will slip out from under her thumb while she's cocking it and go off.

The iron sights on the Savage are off by about an inch up and an inch to the left at 25 yards, so I put a cheap red dot on it...she loves it. Definitely shortens up her time to acquire the target and shoot, and now it's spot on.

I have TSS shells from Apex, Federal, and Boss...all will crush a bird at 40 yards, these little guns will be really fun to hunt with. Even with cheap Winchester lead shot they pattern up really well at 20 yards.

Fish on...

Todd

Todd,

I was down in Oregon's Umpqua valley earlier this month and last. Wild turkeys are running around all over that area. I've never seen anything like it. But the valley is covered with oak forest, and all those acorns apparently grow lots of turkeys. I have no idea how agreeable the farmers are to permitting folks to hunt their land, so there's that little issue.

They are frequently just like most game...when you are your car, or not bothering them, they are numerous...get out of your car or put in a little effort getting close, and they become rather scarce.

Fish on...

Todd

We'll see how my strategy of waiting a few weeks to make the trek east has worked out...we're heading over on Thursday morning, we'll be hunting that evening.

April weather has been too unpredictable...but, predictably, the current good weather over there is about to change, with a temperature drop and the arrival of rain...but it's still 15 degrees warmer than on the opener, so I think we'll be good.

Fish on...

Todd

Todd,

So, how was the turkey hunting with the .410 bores and the TSS shotshells ?

Just for fun this fall I tried both the BOSS copper plated Bismuth and the BOSS TSS in number 7 shot while hunting preserve/released Rooster Phez with the .410. Both pattered well out to 35yds with my IM choked over/under. With a bit shot more loaded in the TSS shells, the pattern was denser than the Bismuth, but both were acceptable at 30 to 35 yards.

Hunting with the setters and pointed birds helped keep the ranges to shoot acceptable, and both .410 BOSS loadings were serious Rooster harvesters. The TSS versions were almost jaw dropping if you and the gun did their parts. Almost anti aircraft capable....

Back when I was much younger and had quicker reactions I hunted pheasant over a great pointing Brittany. I was using a 12 pump. Because I was quick on the trigger I went to using low base 7.5 shells for the first shot. Releaded 6's for the next two, if needed. Most of the time, the low base worked just fine and also seemed to tear up the birds less.

It was pretty good...new guns will take a bit to get used to. I was able to knock down a couple of turkeys at longer ranges, 40 yards or so...but flat out missed one from 10 yards and needed a follow up shot to kill it.

I suspect the pattern on the XL full choke .410 with the 7/9 TSS had a pattern of about 3 inches at that range...first shot missed, second one damn near took its head off

Had fun double where two toms came in, shot one at 40 yards, and while it was flopping the other was obliging enough to kick the $hit out of the first one long enough for me to get a good shot at him, too

He damn near tore the wing off the first one, along with a few handfuls of feathers, before I could put a stop to it.

Fish on...

Todd

Well, it sounds like a good Turkey hunt was had !

They gotta be a great Bird to hunt, being super alert, a bad attitude, and giving the hunters a chance to fool - lure them into shotgun range.

Thx

PS
Not to mention the head to toe camo gear, and another chance to wear hunting makeup & face paint . Kinda like calling in bears.