Turkey Hunters Trending Toward Smaller Shotguns

Older hunters embrace .410-bore and 20-gauge shotguns for turkey hunting

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Turkey hunters, especially an older demographic, are gravitating toward smaller, lighter shotguns with less recoil for their hunts. Guns like the Stevens 301 .410-bore and Mossberg International 20-gauge and .410 are growing in popularity, as hunters seek out firearms that are easier to carry and shoot. Retailers across the country are seeing this trend, with some noting a decline in 12-gauge sales and an increase in sub-gauge shotgun purchases for turkey hunting.

Why it matters

This shift reflects the changing needs and preferences of the turkey hunting community, as older hunters look for firearms that are more comfortable and manageable for them. It also highlights the importance of the turkey hunting market, even if it is a relatively small one compared to other hunting segments. Retailers must cater to these evolving customer demands to remain competitive.

The details

Willie Johnston, a 72-year-old hunter from Hamburg, is one of the turkey hunters embracing smaller shotguns. He uses a Stevens 301 .410-bore with a red dot sight, which he says provides tight patterns and accurate shots at typical turkey hunting distances. Retailers like Nathan Dunn of Dunn's Sporting Goods in Pevely, Missouri, and Zach Wheeler of Mack's Prairie Wings in Stuttgart, Arkansas, have also noticed the trend toward sub-gauge shotguns, particularly 20-gauge and .410 models. They attribute this to older hunters looking for lighter, less recoil-heavy firearms. However, not all regions are seeing the same shift, as Daniel Harina of Clark's All-Sports in Colville, Washington, says 20-gauge is still the dominant choice for turkey hunters in his area.

  • The trend toward smaller shotguns for turkey hunting has been observed by retailers over the last few years.

The players

Willie Johnston

A 72-year-old hunter from Hamburg who uses a Stevens 301 .410-bore shotgun for turkey hunting.

Nathan Dunn

The owner of Dunn's Sporting Goods in Pevely, Missouri, who has noticed an increase in sales of sub-gauge shotguns, particularly 20-gauge and .410 models, for turkey hunting.

Zach Wheeler

The gun department manager for Mack's Prairie Wings, a premier waterfowl hunting outfitter in Stuttgart, Arkansas, who has also seen high demand for sub-gauge shotguns and other high-end turkey hunting gear.

Daniel Harina

A sales associate at Clark's All-Sports in Colville, Washington, who says 20-gauge shotguns remain the dominant choice for turkey hunters in his area, despite the broader trend toward smaller gauges.

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What they’re saying

“Wherever you put that dot is where it's going to hit. You don't have to worry about pulling off or your sights not being aligned just right. Just put that dot on his head and shoot.”

— Willie Johnston (nwaonline.com)

“The last few years we've sold a lot more sub-gauge guns, a lot of 20-gauges and a lot of .410. A lot of hunters are getting older. They're tired of packing around that big 12-gauge.”

— Nathan Dunn, Owner, Dunn's Sporting Goods (nwaonline.com)

“We're seeing a big boom in 28-gauge. We sold close to 200 28-gauge in 2023 for both waterfowl and turkey. Other than that, most have gone to the .410. The allure is to make turkey hunting more challenging. A lot of turkey hunting takes place over rough, steep terrain, so people want a light gun that's easy to carry and that's light on the shoulder.”

— Zach Wheeler, Gun Department Manager, Mack's Prairie Wings (nwaonline.com)

What’s next

As the trend toward smaller shotguns continues, retailers will likely need to adjust their product offerings and marketing strategies to cater to the evolving preferences of turkey hunters. Manufacturers may also respond by developing more lightweight and recoil-friendly sub-gauge shotgun models specifically designed for turkey hunting.

The takeaway

The shift toward smaller shotguns for turkey hunting reflects the changing needs and preferences of an aging hunting demographic. This trend highlights the importance of retailers and manufacturers staying attuned to the evolving demands of their customers, even in niche markets like turkey hunting, in order to remain competitive and serve their communities effectively.