New England Arms single shot turkey gun

GVDocHoliday · 05-12-2003, 03:41 PM

Ok guys, the local sporting goods store has a New England Arms single shot 3.5 inch 12 gauge on sale for $130.00. It has a built in full choke, and this brings me to my question...do any of you have any experience with this firearm? What kind of groups does is hold and what is it' s maximum ethical range? I' m mainly looking for something that will hold a kill patteren out to 40 yards and this is a really nice feeling firearm. I just need to know how it performs. Thanks.

Antler Eater · 05-12-2003, 05:07 PM

I don' t have the actual NEF Turkey gun but for a number of years I used the NEF Pardner with a 3 inch chamber also with a fixed full choke. It will handle a 40 yard shot on turkeys with no problem. A friend of mine uses H&R' s N.W.T.F.-Turkey gun with a 3 1/2 inch chamber and a fixed full choke. He got it on sale from Jay' s there in Clare for around $100.00. I should mention he shoots 3 inch shells in it because at only six pounds it will punish you.

I think these guns are highly under rated. For turkeys you only need one shot anyway and the price of these shotguns is very appealing when one realizes whatever gun you use will have to be able to " get down and dirty" .

If I could make one change in the NEF/H&R shotgun line-up for the turkey specialist it would be to add a rib to the gun. This would allow a guy to add sights to the gun at a reasonable cost and make it that much better. I have been saying that for some time, now I see Stoeger has finally done this on a hammerless single shot with a MSRP sticker of $119.00 with screw-in chokes. If I could find one I would probably buy it.

strut · 05-12-2003, 08:24 PM

The only thing wrong with them is they kick the living snot out of ya.

trapper T · 05-12-2003, 08:33 PM

I don' t know about the 12, but I have a NEF pardner 20 gauge, w/ the full choke barrel and w/ standar ol' #6 bird shot it will take a Turk @ 35yds. I keep it for a back up gun and like the previous posts, 3" will knock the tar out of you.

BowToter · 05-14-2003, 07:36 PM

I have the NEF 10 guage, I wouldn' t trade it for any other. I wouldn' t think twice about a 40 yd. shot.