Four Great Turkey Shotguns From Browning

Turkey hunting with a shotgun is a popular spring endeavor. While no national harvest totals are currently available, the 2025 spring harvest is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. In the spring of 2025, over 50,000 turkeys were harvested in Wisconsin and over 35,000 in Texas. Virginia hunters reported harvesting over 20,000 turkeys, and even in Colorado, a state not known as a turkey hotspot, 6,746 were harvested. 

Springtime turkey hunting is popular, and while the pastime is gear-laden, there is one item you can’t go to the spring woods without: Your shotgun. 

Good news: Browning, has you covered. From the Maxus II to the legendary A5 to our Cynergy Ultimate Turkey gobbler-getter, we have a head-buster that will help you fill more tags.

Pros:

• 12-gauge
• 3-1/2-inch chamber
• 24- and 26-inch barrel options
• Mossy Oak Bottomland finish

Key Features:

• Over and under with a low-profile receiver
• Short Picatinny rail for red dot optics
• Height-adjustable stock comb
• Five Invector-Plus choke tubes
• Inflex Recoil Pad

This shotgun was designed specifically for hardcore turkey hunters who demand performance. Built from years of field experience, skilled engineering, and careful design, this over/under stands out among modern turkey hunting shotguns.

Many hunters ask why an over/under design works so well for turkey hunting. The answer is versatility. The dual-barrel configuration lets you instantly switch between different choke patterns with a quick flick of the barrel selector. This means you can switch from an extra full choke, necessary for longer shots, to a more open choke when conditions call for it.

Because wild turkeys have incredibly sharp eyesight, concealment matters; that’s why the  Cynergy Ultimate Turkey is treated to the full-coverage concealment of Mossy Oak Bottomland camo. This pattern makes sure that the shotgun blends into most types of vegetation, helping you fit naturally into hardwoods and turkey habitat.

This shotgun includes several specialized features designed to enhance accuracy and hunting performance:

• Precision Sight System: A Marble Arms Bullseye rear sight is paired with a fiber-optic front sight for a clear and precise aiming point. These sights work perfectly as a primary aiming system or as a reliable backup if you choose to mount a red-dot optic.
• Optics Ready: The included Picatinny rail allows hunters to easily attach a red-dot sight for faster target acquisition in the woods.
• Adjustable Comb: The height-adjustable comb ensures proper eye alignment with optics, improving comfort and shot consistency.
• Versatile Choke System: Five Invector-Plus choke tubes are included: An extended Ultimate Full Turkey choke, Spreader choke, and flush-fit Full, Modified, and Improved Cylinder options. This setup makes it one of the most adaptable turkey-hunting shotguns, easily transitioning to waterfowl and pheasant hunting, or even a slug setup for whitetail season.

While the sub-gauge turkey rave is going at full tilt, there’s a litany of turkey fanatics who are content with powerful 3½-inch magnum loads. To keep recoil manageable, the shotgun features a long-travel Inflex recoil pad that absorbs the punishment of heavy turkey loads — even when you’re sitting against a tree during a long morning hunt.

At the core of the design is the innovative MonoLock Hinge, which allows for an ultra-low-profile receiver that retains the strength and durability expected from a premium over/under shotgun. The result is a firearm that feels balanced and natural in the hands, allowing the hunter and shotgun to move as one.

This seamless integration of technology, design, and hunting practicality makes the Cynergy Ultimate Turkey a standout among today’s turkey-hunting shotguns, delivering precision, versatility, and reliability when it matters most in the field. 

Pros:

• 12-gauge
• 3-1/2-inch chamber
• 26- and 28-inch barrel options
• 10 camo pattern finishes to blend with any terrain
• Extra versatile All-Purpose model available

Key Features:

• Composite stock is shim-adjustable for cast, drop, and length of pull
• Rubber overmolding on the stock and forearm
• Power Drive Gas System softens felt recoil
• 50/50 POI
• Inflex II Recoil Pad

I’m a turkey fanatic, but don’t own a turkey-specific shotgun. I don’t use scopes or red-dot sights, and I haven’t fallen head over heels for sub-gauge models. For me, the Maxus II is a superior shotgun that is as equally capable at bringing down waterfowl as it is a strutting tom. The Maxus II is also available in the sought-after Wicked Wing livery that features great looks and a set of extended Goose Band choke tubes.

I’ve jellied 16 heads with a Maxus II — all using the included Full constriction Invector-Plus choke. This 3-1/2-inch chamber, 12-gauge shotgun, paired with the included fiber-optic front sight and ivory mid-bead, makes it easy to shoot accurately, hit hard, and watch 'em flop.

Since this is a turkey gun piece, Browning has tapped the Maxus II platform to handle turkey duties — and then some. Enter the Maxus II All–Purpose. Built using the proven Power Drive Gas System and Lightning Trigger, the All-Purpose is a versatile autoloader that excels in the turkey woods and waterfowl blinds. 

The All-Purpose differs from other Maxus II’s with a receiver that is drilled and tapped to fit the included Picatinny rail, a feature sure to excite turkey hunters that prefer a red dot optic to put pellets on target. This model also includes four choke tubes: Full, Modified, Improved Cylinder, and an extended extra full, Full Strut designed specifically for turkey.

It’s reliable cycling across a wide range of loads and class leading lock time delivers fast, consistent followups for close turkey shots and quick mallard or goose encounters.

• Reduced felt recoil courtesy of the Power Drive Gas System, SoftFlex cheek piece, and 1-1/2" thick Inflex Recoil Pad makes long days of calling and long strings of shots more comfortable, even with 3-1/2-inch magnum waterfowl loads.
• Excellent balance, trim dimensions, and smooth swing aid precise wingshooting and steady patterning for turkey head/neck shots.
• Overmolded rubber panels on the stock and forearm ensure a secure grip in wet blinds or early season dew.
• Lightning Trigger offers fast lock time, speeds follow ups for both turkey pickups and sudden flight waves.
• Trimmable stock (up to 3/4") and redesigned ergonomics let hunters customize fit for shotgun-style turkey setups or low seated blind positions.

Pros:

• 12-gauge
• 3-1/2 and 3-inch chamber offerings
• 26- and 28-inch barrel options
• Priced under $1,350 

Key Features:

• Bi-tone black and charcoal receiver finish 
• Composite stock with textured gripping surfaces
• Active Valve Gas System
• Three Invector-Plus choke tubes
• Semi-humpback receiver shape extends the sight plane

While not a turkey-focused shotgun, the Silver Field Composite is a top-value shotgun that delivers proven performance for hunters on a budget. Priced under $1,350, it pairs the reliable, self-adjusting Active Valve Gas System with a shotgun-appropriate handling profile to give reliable cycling whether you’re running light field or heavy turkey loads. The Active Valve vents excess gas through the forearm to keep the receiver cleaner and reduce felt recoil. 

A durable phosphate finish on the bolt and bolt slide adds corrosion resistance for extended seasons in the field. With comfortable ergonomics, consistent patterning, and a price that won’t break the bank, the Silver is an excellent value choice for bird hunters who want season versatility, top-tier performance, and proven reliability at a smart price.

• Verstaile value under $1,300
• Active Valve Gas System: Reliable cycling with light field and magnum turkey loads plus reduced felt recoil for faster follow-ups
• Durable phosphate finish resists wear and corrosion in field conditions

Pros:

• 20-gauge
• 3-inch chamber 
• 26- and 28-inch barrel options
• 5 pounds, 13 ouncs

Key Features:

• Humpback Acquisition Advantage
• Kinematic Drive
• Ergo Balanced
• Back-Bored Technology
• Fiber-optic front sight and ivory mid-bead

The Browning A5 20 Camo blends light, controllable 20-gauge firepower with Browning’s proven Kinematic Drive System and a realistic camo finish — making it an outstanding choice for turkey and waterfowl hunters who want quick follow-up shots, reduced recoil, and dependable performance in any environment, in any weather condition. 

• 20-gauge balance for lighter weight and reduced recoil that is highly effective with modern turkey and waterfowl loads. Works great for smaller-framed shooters
• Kinematic Drive offers simple, reliable cycling with minimal maintenance and excellent performance in cold/wet fields.
• Camo finishes in effective waterfowl/turkey patterns for concealment in marshes and hardwoods.
• Interchangeable choke system is easily adaptable for tight turkey patterns and longer-range waterfowl shots.
• Durable construction with corrosion-resistant finishes and robust internals for season-after-season reliability.
• Soft recoil pad and ergonomics lead to faster follow-up shots and comfortable extended use.

It depends on your needs. The Ultimate Turkey (over/under) is purpose built for hardcore turkey hunters; the Maxus II All-Purpose is the best autoloader crossover for turkey/waterfowl; the Silver Field Composite is the best value under $1,350. However, if you demand a lighter carry shotgun with reduced recoil, the A5 20 gauge is ideal.

Use a tight choke (Extended Full Strut or Extra Full) for head/neck shots; keep 3-1/2-inch turkey magnum loads in the vest for dense patterns at range. A blend of TSS #7 and #9 also works well at any distance. 

For closer shots or dense cover, a Full or Modified may be preferable. Pattern-test your gun/load at 20, 40, and 70 yards before hunting.

Optics (red dot) speed acquisition in heavy cover, but a fiber-optic/ivory bead works fine. Adjustable combs and shim adjustable stocks improve eye alignment and comfort, which helps you achieve consistent head/neck shots.