How a Sub-Gauge Can Make You a Better Turkey Hunter

When considering either of these sub-gauges for turkey hunting, ask yourself one simple question: Why?

I field a lot of questions about small-bore shotguns for turkey hunting. Some come from parents inquiring as to which is best for their youth hunter. Others come from aging hunters looking to pack a lightweight but still lethal gun with less recoil. But many come from turkey hunters wanting to shoot a bird at 40 yards with a small bore. If you aim to shoot long distances with a small-bore shotgun, just stick with a 12-gauge or 20-gauge loaded with TSS. Testing small bores on targets is fine. Testing them on live game is not the point of hunting with smaller shotguns.

When it comes to choosing between a 28-gauge or a .410, think about what you’re getting. A .410 is a caliber, as in a rifle. A small shell with a minimal payload tells you this is a gun that must be shot with precision. If a hunter can shoot a .22 – and especially a centerfire rifle – with accuracy, then the .410 is worth considering.

I took out three youths last season, all first-time turkey hunters. We shot targets before the hunts. One youth shot with confidence and accuracy. He punched a tom at 15 yards with a .410. One youth did well on paper but got the shakes when toms came in. I saw how much he was trembling so the next time we hunted he shot a 20-gauge with a 2 3/4-inch load of No. 6 shot and killed a bird over the decoy at 13 yards. The third young man struggled with a .410 and a 28, so we went straight to the 20-gauge. He shot a jake at 17 yards.

The next question to ask yourself is how close you want to call in a turkey before shooting. Today’s magnum loads, chokes and specialized shotguns have the sport going in the opposite direction of how many of us grew up hunting turkeys. Forty years ago, turkeys were called in close and most of us shot them with the same gun we used to hunt ducks, pheasants and quail.

A few years ago, I chose a .410 for hunting toms in the timber because I wanted to call them in close. I craved the up-close encounter. Bringing a tom in close means you’ll not get shots at every bird that would otherwise be in range for a 12- or 20-gauge. That’s fine. We hunt for the experience. What you learn from watching a dozen toms just out of range before killing one close will teach so much more than what you’ll acquire when shooting the first tom you see at 50 yards.

I set my maximum distance at 20 yards. I could shoot the .410 TSS loads farther, but that’s not my goal. The last six toms I’ve shot with the .410 have ranged from 11 to 17 yards. Those final 10 yards is where I’m often humbled, but have learned so much.

Which is better, a .410 or 28 gauge, comes down to basic math and your shooting ability. If you get amped-up when a tom approaches and 35 yards is as close as you’ll let them get, then a 28 gauge is your choice. With a 28’s payload options of TSS, killing a tom at 35 yards should not be a problem. You’ll likely achieve clean kills at 40 yards, but again, should that be the goal?

The more pellets in a shell, the higher the percentage of killing a tom. At 40 yards a 28 gauge delivers more than twice the pellet density of a .410. Cut that distance in half, then you’re talking .410 range. Then again, I’ve heard of a .410 killing birds beyond 45 yards.

The 28 is more versatile than a .410, and the recoil is still nominal compared to larger gauges. But if you like the low recoil of a .410 and know precisely how it patterns at 10, 20 and 30 yards, and can shoot it with confidence, that might be your choice.

Both a .410 and 28 gauge have a place in turkey hunting. What that place is varies among each of us. Because I limit my shooting distances with sub-gauges, I have more turkey encounters. I kill less often, which means I have to hunt harder and smarter. It also means I get to hunt more. It’s these experiences and extra efforts that, even after 38 years of turkey hunting, have made me a better hunter.

Note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular book, Western Turkey Hunting: Strategies For All Levels visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.