A specific and well-planned combination of shotgun, optics, ammo and camo helped put this Grand Slam in the books.
Editor’s Note: This is the final installation of one turkey hunter’s quest for the Grand Slam, a journey that takes him throughout the country as he seeks to fulfill his dream of hunting and killing the four U.S. turkey subspecies: Rio, Merriam’s, Eastern and Osceola.
Read Part 1 Here
Read Part 2 Here
Read Part 3 Here
Read Part 4 Here
When you get your gear figured out that provides lethality and confidence, it’s hard to argue if you’re successful in the woods. Check out this slate of turkey-thumping gear used by Deer & Deer Hunting Editor Gordy Krahn during his Grand Slam quest.
By Gordy J. Krahn
Winchester Longbeard XR
Rarely does an innovation in turkey-specific ammo come along that’s a real game changer, but the guys and gals at Winchester Ammo truly built a better mouse trap when they introduced Longbeard XR. For years, lethal performance at 40 yards has long been the standard by which all turkey loads were measured, but Longbeard has successfully broken that barrier, by consistently providing increased lethality at longer ranges.
How did they do it? By thinking outside the box. Long Beard XR incorporates Shot-Lok Technology—a hardened resin that encapsulates the lead pellets, eliminating air space around the pellets and preventing movement—which eliminates the pellet deformation you find in standard shotshells and produces tighter patterns downrange. As the shot leaves the barrel, the resin fractures, forming a micro-buffer—the pellets remain round and fly straighter and tighter, resulting in highly consistent payloads and devastating terminal performance at longer ranges.
Key Features
- Devastating terminal performance beyond 50 yards.
- Twice the number of pellets in a 10-inch circle out to 60 yards.
- Available in 3- and 3.5-inch 12 gauge Nos. 4, 5 and 6.
For more information about Longbeard XR and other Winchester Ammunition products, visit Winchester.com.
Mossberg Pistol Grip Turkey Shotgun
Mossberg 930
Mossberg’s 930 Pistol Grip turkey-specific shotgun—also available in the beefy 935 (3½-inch) Magnum version—is the cat’s meow for hunters who want a reliable, maneuverable autoloader that offers quick follow-up shots should things get dicey in the turkey woods. Dressed in Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity camo, it comes standard with features hard-core turkey hunters demand in their shotguns: adjustable fiber-optic sights for quick target acquisition, ported barrel for reduced recoil and muzzle climb, a tactical-style pistol grip in a fixed synthetic stock and much more.
The 930 was developed to handle 2¾ and 3-inch 12 gauge factory shotshells—from low-brass target loads to heavy-hitting magnum turkey loads. It comes drilled and tapped for convenient optics mounting and a XX-Full ported choke tube for turkey-tight patterns. It also has a fast-dump feature for emptying the magazine in a quick, convenient manner.
Key Features
- Smooth cycling via its Dual Gas-Vent System
- Available in 3-inch (930) and 3.5-inch (935 Magnum) versions
- Pistol-grip synthetic stock
To learn more about Mossberg’s lineup of special-purpose turkey shotguns, visit Mossberg.com.
EoTech EXPS2
As shotshell manufacturers and choke tube companies conspire to produce the tightest patterns turkey hunters have ever witnessed, the need for improved sighting solutions to make certain those tight swarms of angry BBs stay on target has never been greater. And with shotshell accuracy and terminal performance routinely breaking the 40-yard barrier and beyond, more scopes and red-dot sights are finding their way onto turkey-specific shotguns.
EoTech’s EXPS2 holographic sight is a good example. Its holographic halo provides quick target acquisition, and simulates the shot pattern for pinpoint accuracy at all ranges. As with all red-dot sights, the EXPS2 provides two-eyes-open shooting—giving turkey hunters an edge when shooting from those awkward positions they often find themselves in.
Key Features
- Easy-to-adjust side buttons and quick-detach lever
- Up to 600 hours of battery life at midrange settings
- Quick-detach lever that fits both 1-inch Weaver and MIL-STD-1913 rail
For more information on holographic sight solutions for turkey guns, visit EoTechInc.com.
NWTF = Grand Slam
No wild turkey Grand Slam would be possible if not for the efforts of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Its restocking efforts are legendary—bring the wild turkey from the brink of extinction to the more than 7 million birds that occupy the United States and parts of Canada tody. More recently the organization has set its sights on habitat conservation, hunter recruitment and hunting access. Its mission is to raise $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential upland wildlife habitat, create at least 1.5 million new hunters and open access to 500,000 new acres of hunting, shooting and outdoor enjoyment.
Lend your support by joining the NWTF today. Visit NWTF.org.
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April 2015 Turkey & Turkey Hunting Digital Download
Fuel your passion for America’s greatest game bird challenge with the 2015 Turkey & Turkey Hunting Annual, which is slammed with great features and information including some of the hottest new turkey hunting gear.
“What better way to gear up for the spring wild turkey season than with an information-packed issue of Turkey & Turkey Hunting magazine?” says Gordy Krahn, T&TH Editor. “Inside you’ll get top-notch instruction on how to improve your hunting skills as well as the latest dope on all of the new gobbler gear. Everything from the latest and greatest turkey calls to how to get the most out of hunting public land – it’s all here in this special spring issue.”
Get your digital download here now!
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