When it comes to turkey hunting, the .410 has come a long way. for years, it was seen as a kid’s gun or a small-game option, but today, thanks to modern turkey loads like tss, the .410 is fully capable of dropping longbeards at 40 yards and beyond. Lightweight, easy to carry, and with minimal recoil, these shotguns are a great choice for seasoned hunters who want a challenge or newcomers looking for a manageable gun in the woods.
stevens 301 turkey
if you’re looking for a budget-friendly .410 turkey gun that still performs well, the stevens 301 turkey is tough to beat. for about $200, you get a break-action single-shot with an extended x-full choke and a rail for mounting an optic. cabelas even sells it as a combo with a red dot for around $240, which is a steal.
this shotgun is light—just over 5 pounds—so it’s easy to carry, but that also means it can be a little tougher to hold steady on a gobbler at 40 yards. That’s why I’d recommend upgrading to a better red dot, like a Bushnell rxs. the 301 isn’t the prettiest gun, and the action lever rattles a bit, but it functions reliably and patterns well. it’s a solid choice for kids or experienced hunters who want a simple, effective .410 for turkey season.
mossberg 500 turkey
there’s a reason mossberg shotguns are a go-to for turkey hunters. they work. the .410 turkey version of the mossberg 500 throws excellent patterns, putting 156 apex pellets on target at 40 yards. it also patterns well with boss loads and just about anything else you throw at it.
this is a pump shotgun with a few upgrades that make it more turkey-friendly: a mossy oak bottomland finish, extended x-full choke, and an optics-ready receiver with a shield rmsc footprint for a low-profile red dot. mossberg even offers a package with a holosun sight included. the trigger isn’t great—it’s a little sloppy—but at 3 pounds, 6 ounces, it’s light enough to get the job done. if you want an affordable .410 turkey gun that delivers, this is it.
henry single shot shotgun
henry knows how to make a good-looking gun, and their single-shot .410 is no exception. the american walnut stock, smooth metal-to-wood fit, and classic styling make this one of the best-built shotguns in the lineup. but it’s not just about looks—it shoots well, too.
this break-action single-shot has a crisp, 2-pound, 11-ounce trigger and comes drilled and tapped for a rail, so you can easily mount a red dot. it patterns well, putting 115 apex pellets on target at 40 yards. my only real complaint is that it doesn’t have swivel studs for a sling, which would be nice for turkey hunting. but if you’re after a well-made, accurate .410 that’s built to last, the henry single shot is worth a look.
cz drake
this isn’t a dedicated turkey gun, but don’t let that fool you. the cz drake is an over/under that patterns well enough to take gobblers, and it gives you the option to shoot a wide or tight pattern thanks to its barrel selector. the bottom barrel has an improved cylinder choke for close shots, while the top barrel has a modified choke for reaching out farther.
with the modified barrel, it put 119 apex pellets on target at 40 yards. it’s a solid, no-frills field gun with a nice walnut stock, extractors instead of ejectors, and a tang safety with a built-in barrel selector. the downside? it’s not drilled and tapped for an optic, so you’re stuck with the bead sight. but if you want a .410 that can pull double duty for upland hunting and turkey season, the drake is a great option.
browning bps field
if you like pump guns and don’t mind a little extra weight, the browning bps field in .410 is worth considering. this shotgun weighs over 7 pounds, which is a lot for a .410, but that extra weight helps soak up recoil. browning’s bottom-eject action runs smoothly, and with a full choke, it patterns tight.
the bps does pattern high, meaning you’ll need to aim low to compensate or mount a red dot sight. unfortunately, the receiver isn’t drilled and tapped, so a rib-mounted optic would be the best solution. availability can also be an issue, as this shotgun can be tough to find in stock.
tristar viper g2
this semi-auto turkey gun checks all the boxes—rail for an optic, extended choke, pistol grip, and a camo synthetic stock. while it performs well with apex loads, it may require some experimentation with different ammo to find the best results.
if you can get your hands on the right loads, this shotgun is fully capable of taking down gobblers at 40 yards. the viper g2 is currently only available in the older g2 model, as tristar’s new g3 line hasn’t yet expanded to include a turkey version.
mossberg sa-410
mossberg’s sa-410 is a gas-operated semi-auto that looks great in bottomland camo, but its patterns were inconsistent. it put up one solid 115-pellet pattern with apex loads but generally averaged around 75.5 hits. the choke design may be the reason for the variation in performance.
the big plus here is how soft this gun shoots. mossberg’s gas system tames recoil well, making it a great choice for new shooters or hunters who are extra recoil-sensitive. the ghost ring rear sight is a nice touch, but for the best accuracy, mounting a red dot on the included rail is a good move.
*This article was created with the assistance of AI.
