I have a nice 12 gauge but we can use rifles here too. I narrowed my search down to a Marlin 83TS (22 mag, bolt action, synthetic stock 12 shot tube mag). But I can' t find one at a good price before Turkey season starts. Besides, I discovered that a NEF handirifle in .223 is about the same price. FMJ .223 will ground a turkey at least as well as a hollowpoint 22 mag. My buddy says I won' t be happy with a single shot, but I know I can' t cycle a bolt fast enough for a follow up shot if I shot and miss a turkey as I can' t even seem to get a second shot off with my semi auto shotgun before a turkey flies away if I miss the first shot. I either hit it and kill it or it flies off. And I don' t think a singleshot would make much difference. Also, for about $80, you can send the NEF guns back for extra barrels. I am thinking about the wood stock and regular or heavy barrel.. Any thoughts on this? I know I like shotgun hunting for Turkeys too, but it is nice to have an alternative. And I don' t have big $ for this project to buy a Ruger or TC Encore rifle or something like that. I already have a .22 LR so I don' t really need a 22 mag other than wanting it for turkeys.

duck & cover, duck & cover

call em' in close shoot with em' a shotgun

Skip the rifle. Use your 12 gauge.

PBB

Not sure why either of you guys bothered to post your replys. I pointed out I had a shotgun and that I am buying a rifle for turkeys too. Oh well, I bet you guys don' t use a shotgun for deer. And deer are much bigger animals. So if a rifle isn' t sporting for turkeys it sure isn' t sporting for deer. Guess you guys should call in all your deer close with a grunt call and shoot them at 40 yards with your 12 guage with slugs.

hunting turkeys with a rifle? what are u thinking? use ur shotgun, get a rifle for rabbit or squriel, never a turkey. who_else

Why? A turkey is smaller than a deer. Why shotgun only for turkey and rifle for deer? Isn' t that unsporting to the deer hunter? Just because the Turkey is a bird you have to use a shotgun? That is one way to hunt them but not the only way. That is like saying deer have to be bowhunted only or shotgun hunted only up close and no rifles. Having different options is nice.

o.k. you asked for it....

I have taken deer with bow, shotgun, black powder and rifle and hopefully with a pistol next year. Want to know the furtherst I have ever taken a deer? 45 yards

Most turkey hunters, myself included, consider hunting turkeys with a rifle not really hunting but turkey shooting. Some of us even consider it very dangerous. Take a look at your home state where last year a 14 year old was shot and killed with a .243. Now don' t get me wrong, it' s legal and if you want to do it, do it. But don' t use a rimfire for gosh sakes! Use a rifle that will kill the gobbler instead of just wounding him. .220swift and above in my opion. (granted I don' t use a rifle) I guess turkey hunters just want you to experience the real aspect of turkey hunting, calling them in. Not sitting on a field edge and shooting a strutting blob at 100 yards. Anyone who can shoot a rifle can do that.

I think it' s a matter of individual choice. If you feel comfortable and confident enough in using a rifle for turkey hunting where it is legal, then go for it. If you want the bird in close and prefer a shotgun, then go for it. If you make a conscientious effort to make a clean kill, and you enjoy the hunt, I don' t see where it is an issue as far as the " proper" weapon is. Hell, if Daniel Boone had a Browning 7mm Mag with a Nikon 14x scope available, he' d have tossed his old smoke pole in a heartbeat...or maybe not. It' s a matter of choice.

Thanks guys! I have a 12 guage browning A-5 with extra full choke so I am covered shotgun wise. I ended up ordering a NEF handirifle superlight in .223.. That way I have the choice. I like to call them in close, but sometimes I just want to collect a turkey.. Nice to have options. People around here say the .223 FMJ does a fine job on turkeys without messing up the meat. And don' t worry, I will use the shotgun some too. The NEF looks neat because you can get all sorts of barrels for it even shotgun and muzzleloading. BTW, with deer hunting, I still shoot the first thing that comes by that I have a shot at. But then again, I started late only 8 years ago and I eat a lot of deer meat!

Why is a rifle not sporting you ask?? Well just last weekend after returning from a scouting trip i pass 2 longbeards and 3 jakes in a field. Season wasn' t in yet so i thought what the hey, i' ll watch them for a while. Well the urge overtook me so i gave a few calls and the boss of the bunch immediately went to strutting and gobbling. Those birds stood there, 250 yards away, starring at a Chevy Blazer parked beside the road and the boss was gobbling to the " hen" in the driver' s seat. Now this went on for a good half hour. How easy do you think it would have been to slip my rifle out the window and put an end to that ole gobbler' s reign?? Instead, he lives to strut and gobble another day because to kill him i' m forced to meet him on his level, somewhat, and beat him at his own game.

Now i' ll ask you fella, when is the last time you' ve parked your car aside a field loaded with deer and stuck your mug out the window and began to blow your grunt call and a 130 class buck stood there for a half hour grunting back. There is no $%&*@ comparison!!