Hunting with an 18.5" Barrel Shotgun?

[gfan1984]

Ok I am looking to get into Hunting, and I was looking at Turkey season. I have a Mossberg 590 Retrograde 18.5" Barrel pump action shotgun, and I was wondering if this would be ok to hunt with? One of my co-workers said that the barrel is too short and to get an actual Turkey Shotgun. However at my hunter safety course I talked with the instructor and he said that what I had would be fine just as long as I get the right Turkey shotgun shells and practice a lot on the range. So I ask the hunters here on this board, what your thoughts were, do I need a Turkey Shotgun or is my shotgun that I have sufficient?

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

no reason it wouldn't work fine! just choose the correct ammo/shot for it

 

[Biggfoot44]

Is your Bbl threaded for Choke Tubes, or cylinder bore ?

 

[Bassbob]

The barrel length of a shotgun really has only one consideration and that is length of sight plane. As far as spread and effective distance it’s not really relevant. For Turkey hunting though I would prefer a 3 1/2” Turkey load, but 3” will do the job.

 

[bc22wm]

no reason it wouldn't work fine! just choose the correct ammo/shot for it

And shoot only when the target is withing range. It's turkey hunting, part of the alure is calling the bird within range of the gauge, choke, and load. I know a very successful turkey hunter that uses a single shot 410.

 

[trader]

As the others have stated - with the correct loads and closer in, you should be fine.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Still didn't hear back from OP about his chocke situation.

If threaded - His options would start at Full , but might as well get a specialty Turkey Choke tube .


If cylinder bore - Essentially useless for Turkey Hunting .

Options would include having gunsmith thread the Bbl , or Mossberg Bbls can be found used for reasonable $ compared to other brands .

 

[Pitdogg2]

If cylinder bore - Essentially useless for Turkey Hunting .

All I have interacted with have been cylinder bore.

 

[KillerFord1977]

Still didn't hear back from OP about his chocke situation.

If threaded - His options would start at Full , but might as well get a specialty Turkey Choke tube .


If cylinder bore - Essentially useless for Turkey Hunting .

Options would include having gunsmith thread the Bbl , or Mossberg Bbls can be found used for reasonable $ compared to other brands .

I have an old Browning BPS shotgun that is not choked.
Have no issue killing turkeys with it for last 20yrs

 

[Biggfoot44]

I can't claim to know the specs of every 18.5 in M'berg Bbl . I do know that some Remington shorties , and some Turkish Imports do , so it wouldn't be inherently out of the question.

 

[Bassbob]

Still didn't hear back from OP about his chocke situation.

If threaded - His options would start at Full , but might as well get a specialty Turkey Choke tube .


If cylinder bore - Essentially useless for Turkey Hunting .

Options would include having gunsmith thread the Bbl , or Mossberg Bbls can be found used for reasonable $ compared to other brands .

Useless ? Massive exaggeration there I assure you. Not optimal for Turkey, but neither is an 18” gun with a 3” chamber.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

And shoot only when the target is withing range. It's turkey hunting, part of the alure is calling the bird within range of the gauge, choke, and load. I know a very successful turkey hunter that uses a single shot 410.

I'm the successful 1! I shot with a 410 and killed 4 when I was 8 or 9. I was truly trying to kill only 1. A "within range" does make the difference for sure.

 

[Biggfoot44]

I have an old Browning BPS shotgun that is not choked.
Have no issue killing turkeys with it for last 20yrs

It's not * Choked * , or that it's has fixed Choke, instead of threaded for Choke tube's?