My 870 express was purchased at walmart 1989. It has never malfunctioned in any way. I used it for turkey and waterfowl and many other types of game through the years. At 69 i'm starting to feel the weight but the reliability makes it worth it. I also switch the barrel out with a rifled slug barrel for deer.

@dannymattison1953

3 ай бұрын

@ Jake from thp. They make something called a metal creek mount. It mounts right to the vent rib on the barrel of ur shot gun and your red dot goes on to the barrel. It's low profile. Allows your red dot to sit low and flush . It's a real slick design .

@whiteyfisk9769

3 ай бұрын

Pre-Freedom Group 870s were absolutely bomb proof. It is an absolute travesty that the Remington brand has been ran completely into the ground for short term shareholder profits.

@bch5513

3 ай бұрын

@@whiteyfisk9769absolutely.. on both accounts.. 😢

@judyrichardson9642

3 ай бұрын

21” barrel,Carlson choke tube Remington shur shot stock

@alanlechleidner6951

3 ай бұрын

1st gun I bought when I turned 18 (1988) 870 express mag 12ga combo from coast to coast hardware. #2 ruger 1022. #3 870 20ga all late 88 early 89 still have #1 . My turkey gun is a benelli SBE from 2004

This is fantastic! And perfect timing too! I literally just looked yesterday to see if y’all have talked about your hunting setups but didn’t see anything. This was perfect timing! Thank you!

Appreciate yall being specific and thoughtful about safety and walking in the woods with other people around

I’m glad you all doted on the shot shells you all use and constantly said shoot your gun and see what patterns best for the shooting you plan to do. That’s how it should be. Fancy shells doesn’t harvest meat the knowledge and skill of the hunter does. Keep up the great work gents!!

66 year old still using a Ted Williams polychoke 12 gauge 3inch . Shoots #6 great out to 70 yards . No scope , no sling , just old school I guess .

Remington Model 870 for the win! Received my Rem 870 Express as a Christmas Present in 1990 at 12 years old. 34 years later and still hunting pheasant, Grouse, and spring turkey with it and the gun has never let me down!

@markhamblin8195

3 ай бұрын

870 TS Special Purpose Super Mag......is the best ever!! Express ones are garbage

@conradyoder6897

3 ай бұрын

Whoah…. I received my Rem 870 in 1994 for Christmas at age 12 as well! I’ll never forget the feeling. Still going strong!

Love that some of yall are shooting old lead loads. Shows it can be done with the cheaper stuff. Cheap doesn't mean bad! Get Sumtoy mounts for your guns, William does great work.

Great video showcasing one of the reasons I was attracted to this channel when y'all started. An 870 with 28" barrel & no sling., I'm like "that whitetail guy ain't so bad after all" 😂 Also cool to see the progression, a buddy suggested I pattern TSS and I actually looked into red dots and meadowcreek mounts today for my 20ga. over/under (for proper alignment - not more distance).

Get Sumtoy mounts for your Vortex red dot. They'll sit right on the reciever.

Look at Meadow Creek Mounts (mounts to the rib on your barrel). I love mine Vortex Venom on my Remington 870 20 gauge. No need to drill and tap your receiver. Plus I like the red dot mounted further out, better sight plain and it's easier to reach the controls on the red dot.

Enjoyed this video. Hearing about turkey gun setups is always fun

Good video. Appreciate the thoughts about safety around other hunters. Y’all seem like good people.

Great info guys I like that y’all tell people that all you need is what works for you or whatever their comfortable with you don’t have to have the latest greatest things to hunt with just do the best with what you have love the show guys

I appreciate that you guys teach how you hunt. And you say any equipment will do it, but this is what you think.

Good video. I’ve been using an 870 Express for almost 30 years. Used to use Winchester XX No. 6, 3” magnums. A few years ago switched to Longbeard XR for early season “long range” shots of 35 yards in the heavy woods. I strive to call them in within 20-25 yards. I installed a 20” iron sight barrel with REM choke for easier handling in the woods. Used iron sights until a few years ago when I installed a red dot after cataract surgery. I guess I’m not too “old school” after watching this video. I agree 100% on not using a sling on a shotgun.

Over 52 years I’ve shot pumps and semi’s in multiple brands and different loads, from a 10, 12, 16 and 20 gauge. I will say guns are pretty much just preference, but the choke tubes, sights and today’s turkey loads (specifically TSS) are much improved. I would like to see you guys go old school, and Y’all get a 10 gauge pump with 3 1/2 inch turkey load. 😊 I enjoy the show.

Can’t go wrong with the mossbergs!

@whiteyfisk9769

3 ай бұрын

New Mossberg beats New Remington anymore for sure. Love my 500

@danielernst3685

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely I've used one since 1978

It's funny how some people think having the top of the line latest and greatest most expensive gear is going to give you a huge advantage over having more affordable middle of the pack average gear or firearms, I've always said like my elders instilled in me u can have the best of the best but if u don't have the know how and the knowledge of how to hunt all that's pointless it's not the equipment it's the operator that brings success no matter what your using

Nick, cheek combs are the best for bringing your eye level with the red dot. Get a leather one that you can adjust how tall it is. On a safe range, close your eyes and bring your gun up to your cheek like you normally would, when you open them. You should be aligned with your red dot. If your off, adjust up or down. If you don’t you’ll fight to get the right height and under pressure you’ll forget your anchor point and end up high or low!

I too shoot an old 870 from 1979, and i'm back to using lead shot and Longbeard XRs pattern the best in mine

Really interesting guys! Good message "there's no one gun and shell". Plenty of tips for someone starting out and putting together a dedicated turkey shotgun from guys with LOTS of experience. One perspective I'd share after 50 years of turkey hunting, as your eyes age it's really helpful to go to an optic sight. I've gone from vent barrel & bead to glow sights to red dots. Kinda thinking about a 2X red dot now. This year I'm going out with a .410 pump and Federal TSS 9's as it shoots as good as my 870 12ga at 40 yd and doesn't beat me up.

Thanks for this video. Been looking forward to it for awhile! Y’all are awesome

Practice, practice, practice builds confidence and creates a competent deadly hunter. Great tips and video as always 👍👍

Absolutely correct Find a gun that fits you and pattern different loads till you find the one that gun likes😊 Thanks for sharing guys and good luck for the rest of the season😊

Good info saying anything you like will do . I have hunted with a 12 gauge pump but for last 3 years I have used a 20 gauge single shot , with the action open I can fold it and stuff it in my backpack both hands free to walk in and carry hopefully on the way out mister Tom

Awesome thank you guys for making this video. I've been curious ever since watching you guys. What you all used for your turkey setups.

Biggest thing over loads is knowing your gun, and you guys been shooting those along time each. Then you shoot without even thinking about it. Great stuff. I used to shoot my 10 ga the older I've gotten now with tss I've gotten more to the .410

I have a 870 wing master my grandpa bought in 1963. Its still works perfectly. Looks pretty ruff . It's killed a many turkeys with 2 3/4 inch 6 shot

Good points about knowing what Loads pattern the best out of your gun and knowing you are set up for your gun and limitations I've always used 3-in bag Winchester long beards with full turkey choke out of my 870 and have taken a couple birds out to about 50 yds which i would have never thought was possible until i experimented myself with different loads, probably wouldnt take a shot that long in the woods but over a field im totally confident taking a shot 45 to 50 yds if need be and it has put the bird right down the few birds i took at that range

Ole Mossberg 500 my dad got me ten years ago been gettin the job done ever since. Such a reliable gun. I'd choose it for a survival situation

I think it's cool that you guys have a simplistic approach and don't make it more difficult than it needs to be. That being said, ya'll are crazy for valuing pump guns over semi-auto's. Much better recoil mitigation and follow-up shots if necessary.

Dad and I ordered a pair of 870s back when you could still get them thru the mail. Killed a lot of ducks and geese with it from Arizona to Alaska, but there came a time when I wanted an auto loader with a gas system, and got the A400 12 ga....never looked back. The 870 is now a 'safe queen'. The recoil just a footnote now. I have since bought a SX3, and a Browning Maxus II for back ups after dropping the A400 in the sand when a Badger hole swallowed my foot on a gravel road. But both have since gone to my Son. As I am old enough (As you may have guessed) to no longer enjoy the run and gun many of you young guys do, I will be hunting from a blind, and the weight of the A400 will no longer trouble me. A lifetime of increasing infirmities have caught up, and I don't mind it so much having other alternatives.

I have been using a Safari Sling on my long gun (shotgun for turkey, rifle for deer) for a decade-plus. It is THE sling in my opinion.

Pretty cool!! I’ve got an old 870. And it’s been the best shotgun I’ve ever owned

For the guys that want their dot lower you should check out meadowcreek mounts. They mount great and are about as low as you can possibly get

Nice. I shoot a 870 Super Mag Turkey Special I bought in ‘98. 3 1/2 Longbeard XR #6 through a Carlsons Longbeard XR tube. Way overkill but it has never failed me. Deadly to 50.

i shoot a 1x4 leupold scope. i just put a cheek riser on it last year. worked great!

Interesting video and reasoning behind each of their choices. I started out with a simple Remington 870 express (no scope), sold that, bought a Mossberg 835 ulti mag (put a cheap Tru glo red dot, after missing a gobbler), sold that gun due to recoil and now have a Remington Versa Max sportsman turkey edition. I will never go back to a cheap pump. The reduced recoil from a semi auto is worth its weight in gold. I have a Burris Fastfire 3 red dot on my versa max and love it. I shoot Federal 3" TSS 2 oz 7&9 shot. That is a killer combination. Almost all my birds have been within 40 yards, but did kill one at 58 yards 2 years ago. He was not budging from his spot. He didn't even flop once. I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for. If i buy another turkey gun, it will probably be a Benelli M2 20 gauge. I like the idea of something a bit lighter and less recoil.

You can’t beat a kicks choke!! Awesome video boys, good luck moving forward!

Lots of over complication these days with guns, chokes, tss, etc… a basic pump with a good choke does work. After buying my son a little Rossi 410 I bought one for myself and probably won’t carry the 28” 12 ga much. 3 lbs and the tss is good to 40 and easy to carry for miles.

One of my favorite videos from THP

Jake look up sumtoy customs mounts, pull your weaver base off and it will bolt right up. They are very low and solid

Jake, try a meadow creek mount with your red dot. You will love the sight being farther away and lower. The sight picture is so much clearer.

@DavidBedingfield-bd4nq

3 ай бұрын

Meadow Creek is the way to go.

The fun of turkey hunting is getting bird in close. Like you all said 40max. Used over under last couple years but Probly going back to pump Great info guys!

Great video guys!! Gotta 12 ga. Now need a 20 ga. Just a lighter option and good for my daughter. Been hunting with her since 12 and now she’s turning 30….. life is going too fast! Cant wait for the opener here in Wisconsin!! Mikey in Waukesha 🦃

Have an 870 turkey gun as well, never failed… here in Ontario Canada, gun has to be fully encased until half hour before dawn, so no loading at the trunk…gone back to double x like Warb…XR cost my son and I each a bird last year…

I've asked so many times and here it is 😂😂 thanks guys!

Jake i have several of the sumtoy custom mounts on my turkey guns there a solid low pro mount for 45 bucks I highly recommend them.

Check out the Sumtoy mount to get rid of the pic rail.

Love the basic 870 express with a Hastings barrel. Although my second pick would be the super black eagle or browning bps.

Me and my brother both got tristar g2 viper turkeys and i can tell you the pistol grip and the vortex venom is an amazing thing never knew how truly uncomfortable a regular gun is when your sitting on a tree until i got that pistol grip put a patternmaster anaconda striker .570 and apex 9s make a baseball pattern at 20 yards

I’ve gotten birds with a 20 a 12 and a 10 they all do fine, but I love using my 10 the most even tho it’s 12lb and I cover a lot of ground and have climbed mountains and old deer fences I plan on using it for many more years to come

If y’all want a good setup for a dot that keeps you down on the gun, buy a meadow creek mount. They mount to the bent rib and work really well.

Just put a cheek riser on the stock. I put a slip on riser. Beartooth riser $26 on Amazon. Comes with multiple inserts to get the rise you need. slips right over the stock. Been shooting with them for about 4yrs. No issues

I like the Long beard Xr over the Double X. They really improved with the XRs. They hold a super tight pattern and you can tell just by looking the quality of the shell.

I shoot the Mossberg 500 12g with the HS Undertaker choke, 3" Nitro.

You may want to check out meadow creek mounts vs trying to drill and tapped. It puts the red dot out farther and keeps it very low profile

Yall fellas need to check out meadow creek mounts. No drill and tap required. Clamps right to the vent rib. Rock solid. Have 5 of them on turkey guns.

Opening day for Kentucky in the morning and I can’t wait

@TheHuntingPublic

3 ай бұрын

Good luck out there!

Awesome. On the red dots, lower. Look up Meadow Creek mounts. They mount on the rib of the barrel. I got my 870 turkey express from a dealer in the late 80's early 90's. The dealer talked me out of the Mossy Oak Greenleaf. 😂😂😂😂. He said save the $300 😂. I believe mine was under $200 the camo was around $500. I've spray painted mine 4x. My Son just turned 12 shot his first bird here in Hawaii. I put a turkey scope on my gun. My Son made a perfect shot. So Greg know that you have a dedicated turkey gun. Is Jim expecting his gun back?😊 God bless y'all THP, stay safe out there.

Sumtoy boys can't beat em love their mounts

Grabbed the Winchester xsp Turkey 12ga years ago good gun in $509 range pistol grip fiber optic sights cheek mods

There's a reason why the Remington 870 express magnum is the most popular and has sold more than any other shotgun on the market in history, there absolute workhorses and crazy reliable, I now have my oldest brothers 12 gauge 870 that both my older brothers got for Xmas back in like 1990 91 in that ballpark, first deer hunt I went on at 8 yrs old with my brother that's what he was carrying, since then going on almost 35 yrs the gun has taken countless turkeys and pheasant many deer and even a few ducks it's still going strong and hopefully will another 30 yrs

@joearceneaux9854

3 ай бұрын

Also, tons of 870 expresses sold for $99 in ‘87-‘88 when “big green” introduced them. They flew off the shelves.

zach you should try the kicklite m4 style stock on your 870 i have 2 on my 870s and love them... length of pull is easily adjustable

Sumtoy makes mounts for anything I got one for my retay and it's also low profile as well reasonably priced.

Thank you guys been waiting on this! I started out with an old Mavrick 88 had luck with 20 or so then switched to an 870 got a dozen with it just switched to an SA-20 should be fun

@driftlesshunter9200

3 ай бұрын

Their point was most of them haven't switched, and that's the cool part. A Maverick 88 for under $200 will put birds down the same as other shotguns. The choke used, however, can be the real difference.

And also I went to a over under with different chokes so I have open patter and tight it's pretty sweet

Jake/Ted. Take that pic rail off your Mossberg and try the Monstrom mount specific for your Vortex red dot. It’s cheap and lowers that red dot down to bead height! Looks really cool too. I’m sure they have one for other gun/red dot combos too. Way better than sumtoy mounts btw.

870s are hard to beat. I love my 20 gauge 870 and 1187. I won’t turkey hunt with anything else. The Burris fastfire mount is lower than the Sumtoy. I prefer it over the Sumtoy. I use a Vortex Venom 3 moa. I tried the Burris ff3 red dot, but like the Venom better.

Started with a mossberg 500 and switched this year to an 835 ultimag 3 1/2” Have a gobble stopper red dot but not sure if I’m gonna use it or not.

Remington Model 12 1907 30" semi auto. My Grandads gun, my first gun. Shoots straight, and often. Love Nick's Grandads gun. I have the copycat...lol 😂😅 How things have changed. Love the sharing. 😊

Switched to 410 6 years ago never looked back. Y’all should try it.

I get the wight thing but they do make 12 with short barrels I have one with 18 inch ... I will say 20 gage are alot lighter and ALOT less recoil... keep the videos coming guys ...and good luck

870 is great all around gun for turkey and waterfowl. Use anti seize on the choke tube and never have one stick even when getting soaked.

870 express with fiber optic slugger sights carlsons turkey choke tube sling, 3in #6s not over 40 yards is the recipe aim at the neck not right on the head

Egw makes a universal type mount that fits most shotguns its 48$ from midwest gunworks put one on my franchi affinity 3 20 gauge with a burris fast fire 3 for my 12 year old to use turkey hunting

Zach, have you looked at getting a saddle for the 870? I have one on mine because i like to have the bead as a backup but you can mount a reddot

I have a mossberg youth myself bout the same age of gun , last year I bought an adult butt stock for it and it changed the game for a cheaper price. I bought the longer forarm and action slide tube also but I liked the shorter forarm and kept it instead. Might be a good option for ya !

I'd also put on the Blackhawk pistol, grip and foreign on my Mossberg 835 alty mag

You guys should do a video on good hunting boots, here in Michigan you gotta walk thru a cuple in of water to get to some birds sometimes with the woods, jus wondering if you have a good brand of boots, that’s comfy and waterproof

Get the old 870 turkey sp with the 24 inch barrel ive had it for 25 years and my brothers and nephews always borrow it cause it always kills. But I have an 870 expess I call trusty rusty that I bought when I was 13 that I have no doubt in when I need to kill anything

Williams Gun sight here in Davison, Michigan just came out with their new design/patented reflex where the glass is on the bottom and guts are on the top. Ya'll probably mighta seen them down at nationals with it. Ya'll should definitely give them a try, I'm about to after I get back from my turkey tour.

@miked8227

3 ай бұрын

I can here the range from my backyard.

Have a Mossberg Alta mag. 835, from 1990 by traded in and got a newer version that was ported, and then that first 5 years I was shooting federal three and a half inch. Magnums number four or number five, and then they went to a, federal, what do a different load and my local gun store had the original loads on sale for $5.99 a box of 10, 3 and 1/2-in Magnum number fives and I bought 20 boxes which I still have about 15 boxes because I don't shoot that many and I don't hunt turkeys every year and every year I go out and listen for him and I tried to go out and hunt but sometimes I just don't get out there and I'm like you guys don't want to change. It works out of my gun and I'm 58 years old and that's going to last my lifetime I think.

Hi Aaron you and Zack Are American hunting legends with a pump shotguns Old school all the way! You with your Remington 870 ,12 gauge what number 4 you can't beat it! number 4 are a bone breaking load !!! Zack you and your little 20 gauge is an American legend !! keep shooting it brother don't never lay it down !!! Hard to beat a Undertaker choke 20ga shotgun today are your #1 turkey guns today! GREAT VIDEO GUYS ! Love it 🦃🦃

Suggestion, talk about the different placement of safety switch.

Know your gun and what loads shoot threw your chokes. Ive got a 935 with multiple chokes many loads and it likes the federal and winchester

Look up sumtoy custom they have just what y’all boys need for doing away with the pic rail. So you can direct mount red dot to the receiver. They hav them for must name brands that mount up using the drilled and taped holes already there. I’m in the same boat otherwise you will be shooting high or hafta put a cheek riser on the stock.

Great video Boys - what ever works, works 👍

I've used my mossberg 835 for 10 years now, my dad's old mossy 500 is like 25, 30 years old and still going strong lol. There's something to be said for these walmart guns like the mossys and 870s that just keep on trucking to matter what!

Id try some long beard xrs. Lot better loads than double x and nitros

Check out the scalarworks mounts very low profile mounts

Jake pull that picatinny rail off and see if it's got two bolts holes close together already!

Zach you can shoot tss out of that choke I use that choke in my gun and I can shoot out too 60 yards the reason it says led is because they hadn’t come out with tss yet when that choke tube came out. 👌👌👌

12g Browning gold hunter the 3inch one, factory full choke, winchester 3inch turkey load 4 shot, turkey sight. Anything within 15 to 20 yard is game, small game have no chance when 4 shot is being slang

One thing I don’t like about the autos is I had a new gun and ejected the shell didn’t go off in the gun and luckily it was kind of a dud it went off after being ejected. I had a few small powder burns is all. I was extremely blessed. I was alone when patterning a new gun. I’m thinking the shell had gotten wet possibly.

They make a stock sleeve that has riser you can put in it it’s by bear creek armory

Pipe foam insulation on top of stock an tape it. That get your head up.

GREAT Video Men Thanks!

My 835 12 I used to shoot 3.5in longbeard xrs out of because I could. Very deadly load but man that thing rocks you, especially in a pump. Switched to 3in apex now and it's just as deadly now but a tiny bit reduction in recoil. I don't feel like I can be very precise aiming with a bead or fiber optic. Turkey scope was good but had to move to get too far forward into the gun for the right picture n was spooking birds. Good reflex is where it's at, any angle I'm sitting, if I can get that dot on the birds head, he's done, even if I gotta switch left handed. Normally try to stay 50 and in. But I had a Tom in Utah this last spring that I THOUGHT was 50-60ish, wide open in mature pines, and he wasn't coming any closer n was getting ready to follow the Jakes n hens back off to his right. I squeezed the shot off feeling confident with it, went down without a single flop. Ran to the bird and as I was running I'm like "dang this is a lot of running." Ranged it back to my tree and it was 89 yards. I never wanna shoot that far EVER but my gun did it with those 3in apex.

Way to keep it simple fellas. And warb that gun could use some cerakote a couple more years and that steel gonna be polished shiny!!!!