3 Perfect Turkey Shotguns & Ammo Pairings

In the March-April 2025 issue of Hook & Barrel Magazine, our editors picked three must-have turkey shotguns to consider toting this spring turkey season. What good is a turkey gun without top-notch shotshells to feed it? Ah, glad you asked. That’s why we also are serving up three, state-of-the-art turkey hunting loads to go with each. Yelp, yelp, and gobble, gobble on down to see three of our favorite turkey shotgun/new loads combos.

For gobbler chasers who prefer the added challenge of using a sub-gauge shotgun, the good folks at Benelli have added a 20 and 28 gauge to their SBE3 turkey lineup. Scaled to each specific gauge, they are perfect for sub-gauge aficionados using the latest shotshell technologies. The 24-inch barrel is built for mobility, making it easy to move this gun through dense woods and brush. Combined with a balanced design, these shotguns provide quick handling for setting up on a gobbler at a moment’s notice. MSRP: $2,149. (benelliusa.com) 

New introductions in the HEVI-18 Turkey category include two 2 3/4-inch 28-gauge offerings—No. 7 and No. 9 shot. Never let a hung-up gobbler keep you from filling your tag. HEVI-18 TSS uses high-density 18g/cc pellets and friction-reducing spherical buffering to extend your effective kill range. MSRP: $61.99/5. (hevishot.com) 

When it comes to accuracy and reliability, look no further than Beretta. The A300 Ultima Turkey model is no exception to that rule. Featuring the classic mechanisms of the industry-respected A300 platform, the new Beretta A300 Ultima Turkey shotgun includes enlarged controls, a seven-position Picatinny rail for optics, an enhanced loading port, a 24-inch barrel with a mid-bead and high visibility front sight, and an extended Beretta Mobile Choke. It’s offered in Mossy Oak DNA and Realtree Edge camouflage for maximum concealment when in the turkey woods. MSRP: $1,079. (beretta.com)

Migra’s 12- and 20-gauge loads kill turkeys dead. That’s partly because the company loads the shells with Tungsten Super Shot (TSS), the best turkey shot in use today. Add in the fact that Migra uses a duplex load of No. 7 and 9 shot stacked into the casing, and the result is unparalleled performance and pattern density. The 12-gauge is a 3-inch load that leaves the barrel at 1,200 fps, while the 20-gauge, 3-inch  load has a muzzle velocity of 1,100 fps. MSRP: $69.99/5 (migraammunitions.com)  

A sweet autoloader that will definitely get the job done in the turkey woods, the Renegauge Turkey from Savage can handle the hottest high-brass loads and mildest low-recoil shells with the same dependability. Chambered in 3-inch 12 gauge, it features a fluted barrel with Melonite finish, along with a carbon steel ventilated rib topped with a red fiber-optic sight. Additionally, everything from length of pull to comb height and drop at heel can be adjusted for a perfect fit for any hunter. It comes with five chokes including Extended Turkey. MSRP: $1,349. (savagearms.com)

The new Long Beard TSS is now the king of Winchester’s turkey hunting line. Loaded with the densest tungsten shot available, this new load takes effective range to the next level to create what the maker calls “the most lethal turkey ammo available.” The shell’s tight patterns lend devastating terminal performance even on reluctant gobblers that hang up at a distance. It’s available in 12, 20, and 28 gauge, and .410 bore. MSRP: $69.99/5. (winchester.com)