4 Great Turkey Guns from Winchester Repeating Arms

While turkey season is rolling in Florida and will soon be open in other southern locales, the bulk of gobbler-getting is yet to come. Few things rival the sight of black blobs clinging to leafless branches as rays of light breathe life into the morning. 

When those black blobs start making noise, your heartbeat intensifies. Then, when a boy bird puffs his chest and spreads his fan moments before flying down, all you can think about is how to get that bird in range of your turkey shotgun.

We get the obsession. Winchester Repeating Arms has been producing reliable shotguns for over 130 years. Here are four great spring choices — two pumps and two autoloaders — that will help make your springtime dreams a reality.

Finished in Mossy Oak’s popular turkey pattern, Obsession, our SX4 NWTF Cantilever Turkey was made for a singular purpose, to jelly the heads of longbeards. There’s something to be said for singularity of purpose, and this 24-inch-barrel autoloader, available in 12- and 20-gauge, promises excellent ergonomics, tight patterns, and easy optic mounting. 

Built on the Active Valve System, the 12-gauge SXP Long Beard NWTF handles 2-3/4-, 3-, and 3-1/2-inch shotshells with ease via a self-adjusting, gas-operated piston that regulates gas pressure to reduce felt recoil and reliably cycle a variety of factory loads. 

The included Invector-Plus extended extra-full turkey choke produces tight patterns with lead, bismuth, TSS, and various metal blends. The synthetic stock features a close radius grip and textured gripping surfaces for an excellent fit and feel. 

A TRUGLO fiber-optic front sight pairs with an adjustable rear sight for rapid target acquisition even in low light. Optic goers will appreciate the Weaver-style cantilever rail design, which makes attaching an electronic sight or a conventional scope straightforward. 

• Cantilever Optics Mount: The integrated cantilever rail makes mounting optics easier and keeps your sight zeroed when cleaning.
• Versatile: The shotgun comes in 12-gauge, a popular choice for turkey hunting, offering sufficient power and range for taking down turkeys effectively. However, Winchester Repeating Arms offers the SX4 NWTF Cantilever Turkey in a 24-inch barrel 20-gauge option, which is a great sub-gauge turkey choice.
• Active Valve Gas System: The SX4 utilizes a proven gas piston operating system, which reduces felt recoil and allows for faster follow-up shots.
• Durability & Weather Resistance: The shotgun is coated with weather-resistant finishes, making it suitable for a range of hunting conditions, including wet environments, and the all-camo design reduces glare and helps the shotgun blend into any environment.
• Lightweight Design: Its lightweight build makes it easy to carry on long hunts, enhancing comfort and maneuverability.
• Smooth Action: The SX4 offers a smooth cycling action, improving reliability and performance in the field.
• Ambidextrous Cross-Bolt Safety: Makes the shotgun suitable for right- and left-handed shooters. 
• Drop-Out Trigger Group: Easy cleaning, even in the field.
• Black Nitride Surface Treatment on the chamber and bore: Makes metal surfaces resistant to wear and corrosion. 

The only black on Winchester Repeating Arms’ SX4 Universal Hunter - Bottomland is the buttstock, trigger guard, trigger, bolt, and top-mounted optics rail. The rest of the shotgun is cloaked in Mossy Oak Bottomland, a favorite pattern of turkey goers nationwide. 

This is an autoloader that promises diversity; the X-Full choke delivers tight patterns for maximum lethality at longer ranges, and also includes Full, Modified, and Improved Cylinder chokes to meet the demands of upland, waterfowl, and recreational shooting.

The drilled-and-tapped alloy receiver includes a removable Picatinny rail for turkey hunters who want to add a red dot or standard scope. Those who prefer to chase longbeards without an optic will appreciate the LPA Fiber-Optic front sight.  Shoulder protection comes courtesy of the wide, recoil-absorbing Inflex Technology Recoil Pad. 

The SX4 Universal Hunter - Bottomland is available in an identical Left Hand option, and, like the right-hand model, is fitted with a larger bolt handle and oversized bolt release button for improved in-the-woods functionality. 

• Camouflage Finish: The Bottomland camo pattern provides effective concealment in various hunting environments, helping hunters blend into their surroundings while pursuing turkeys.
• Versatile Gauge Options: Available in 12-gauge or 20-gauge, making it suitable for different hunting preferences and styles.
• Active Valve Gas System: The SX4 utilizes a proven gas piston operating system, which reduces felt recoil and allows for faster follow-up shots.
• Durability: Built with high-quality materials that ensure durability and resilience in varying weather conditions.
• User-Friendly Features: The SX4 is equipped with features like reversible safety and easy-to-use controls, making it accessible to both new and experienced hunters.
• Black Nitride Surface Treatment on the chamber and bore: Makes metal surfaces resistant to wear and corrosion. 

A sweet-looking pump-action shotgun featuring a pistol grip stock with spacers to adjust the length-of-pull and interchangeable comb height pieces for correct eye-to-sight alignment, the SXP Long Beard NWTF is the last turkey shotgun you’ll ever need.

The Long Beard choke is deeply rooted in head-smashing lore, and these 24-inch-barreled, 12- and 20-gauge shotguns use inertia-assisted pump-action operation to make cycling shells quick and clean. The pistol grip feels great in the hand — especially when sitting — and the alloy receiver is drilled and tapped for scope bases. We also include a fiber-optic rear sight and a fiber-optic front sight for precision aiming. 

We do recommend pairing the extended Long Beard Choke with Winchester’s LongBeard XR turkey ammo for optimal pattern density, especially at extended ranges.

• Rapid follow-up shots, which are crucial for turkey hunting situations where quick cycling is often necessary.
• Specialized Turkey Features: This shotgun includes a special turkey choke that enhances shot density, helping ensure more effective, accurate shots at longer distances.
• Camouflage Finish: Mossy Oak Bottomland and a drab green Perma-Cote finish on the receiver and barrel that reduces glare. 
• Durable Construction: The materials used in the SXP Long Beard are designed to withstand various weather conditions.
• Comfortable Stock: The stock design features ergonomics for better handling and comfort, allowing for a better fit for various body types.
• User-Friendly: With straightforward controls and a reversible safety, it appeals to both experienced hunters and beginners.
• Versatility: The SXP Long Beard NWTF is available in 12- and 20-gauge models. The 12-gauge is chambered for 3-1/2-inch shotshells and the 20-gauge for 3-inch shotshells. 

Like the SX4 Universal Hunter, the SXP Universal Hunter is cloaked in Mossy Oak Bottomland and is an excellent choice for any feathered hunting foray. What makes it a great turkey pump-action is the top-mounted, removable Picatinny optics rail, large trigger-guard opening, and Extra Full Choke. The SXP Universal Hunter also comes with Full, Modified, and Improved Cylinder chokes. 

The aluminum alloy receiver and composite stock are bulletproof; this shotgun will stand up to Mother Nature’s most violent spring moods. Turkey hunters will also cheer the lightning-fast, inertia-assisted pump action and TRUGLO Long Bead fiber-optic front sight. 

The hard-chrome-plated chamber and bore reduce wear and tear, and the four-lug rotary bolt ensures secure lock-up each time you drive a shotshell into the chamber.

Winchester Repeating Arms offers the SXP Universal Hunter in three 12-gauge (24, 26, 28-inch barrel) and three 20-gauge (24, 26, 28-inch barrel) offerings. 

• Versatility: Designed for multiple hunting applications, the SXP Universal Hunter can effectively handle a variety of game, including turkeys, making it a great all-around shotgun.
• Pump-Action Reliability: The SXP features a smooth, inertia-assisted pump action that enables quick cycling and delivers reliable performance. If your first shot is errant, and a gobbler is ducking and diving through the woods, you can cycle quickly and get back on target. 
• Lightweight and Maneuverable: Its lightweight design makes it easy to carry over long distances, reducing fatigue during extended hunts and enabling easy maneuverability in challenging terrain.
• Comfortable Ergonomics: The stock and forearm are designed for comfort and stability, providing a secure hold and helping to manage recoil effectively.
• Reliable Choke System: Equipped with the proven Invector-Plus choke system, it delivers excellent shot patterns, enabling better shot placement and greater effectiveness at various ranges.
• Durability: Built with high-quality materials, the SXP Universal Hunter is designed to withstand tough hunting environments.
• 3-Shot Adapter with Speed-Plug System: No tool magazine plug removal.
• Back-Bored Technology: Optimized barrel internal bore diameters reduce friction between the shot cup and the barrel wall.