Picking up a firearm and being reminded of simpler days or the joy of your first harvest is irreplaceable and fraught with emotion. However, if we allow this emotion to interfere with facts, it becomes a hindrance. Like many others, I’ve always been told that you need a super-long barrel to get the full velocity out of a shotshell, and anything less than 26 inches is unethical. I’ve also been warned about using anything less than a 12-gauge.

While that might have some relevance to the lead shotshells coming out of the fixed-choke scatterguns of yesteryear, that’s not entirely true in this world of Tungsten shot and turkey tubes. At the same time, we get to see another concept take stage, and that is to fight with that of which you play. When we pair modern technology with long-standing defensive principles, shotguns like the Mossberg Tactical Turkey start to come into their own and demonstrate that we can likely get things done with fewer firearms in our safe. 

Mossberg SA-20 Tactical Turkey

Formally known as the Mossberg SA-20 Tactical Turkey, this semi-auto shotgun is chambered for 3-inch 20-gauge shells with a total capacity of six rounds. If we begin here, we can already start seeing the crossover between hunting and defensive use. The longer chamber accommodates magnum shells that are typically associated with each, and the choice of 20 gauge mitigates collateral damage within the home while preserving more meat in the field. With an overall length of less than 42 inches, the package is short enough to pie a room or tuck tightly into the places birds love to gather.

The lion’s share of this handiness comes from its 22-inch barrel, which is shorter than most bird guns but promises more than enough runway for today’s modern ammunition. Topping it off is a pair of fiber-optic sights that glow with just a glimmer of light. Hunters will love these during dawn or dusk when the birds are making their way to or from a roost, and defenders will appreciate them in the dead of night when the glow of a cable box might be all they have to light the living room. Those looking for something brighter are invited to take advantage of the included Picatinny rail. With four screws, you can enjoy whatever red dot you wish or even a scope if you feel the need for glass in either scenario.

Lastly, the Tac-Turkey features a soft, rubber finger-grooved pistol grip, which manages recoil better for faster follow-up shots. This becomes handy when dealing with multiple threats or harvesting a pair of birds in rapid succession. 

A Double Whammy

Mossberg’s double agent is built to be customized for each of the two uses mentioned. The six-round capacity is a liability in the woods, as many jurisdictions only allow a total of three shells to be loaded when you’re hunting. Therefore, Mossberg includes a plug to keep you legal. The best practice is to keep it in your hunting pack and install it the morning of the hunt, as it only takes a minute or so to put it in or out.

The same holds true for the extended Turkey Choke hanging out of the end. This ultra-constrictive tube works wonders in the field, as it extends your range by keeping your pellets closer together. However, in a defensive situation, a little spread is more desirable. Mossberg offers throatier options on their website, which help open it up for slug use as well. One might say the Mossy Oak Greenleaf pattern doesn’t blend well with the furniture, but neither does Olive Drab or Flat-Dark Earth, and that doesn’t stop us from buying millions of firearms in this hue every year. I will say that it is one of the darker patterns that disappears like sunlight in the evening hours. 

Optic-Ready Platform

For this test, I was joined by Michael Hagemeyer of the IWOM pro staff, as his Turkey hunting experience would prove to be invaluable. We prepped our sample before our range day by taking advantage of the Pic rail and snapping a Burris Fastfire 3 optic to the top of the receiver. This affordable red dot is the answer to guns that might only be used a few times a year, as the investment is minimal and it has an eight-hour automatic shutoff. Batteries don’t die from use; they die from forgetful shooters.

When the battery does die, you can replace it without dismounting the unit, preserving your zero. Tungsten shells are expensive, and not having to fire one after a simple battery swap is a big deal on a shotgun. Sealing the deal was the automatic brightness adjustment, saving us the trouble of remembering to cycle through the setting halfway through a hunt when the sun has completely risen.

Heavyweight Hammers Engaged

We selected Federal Heavyweight TSS shells to pattern with and hopefully dispatch a bird in a few weeks on opening day. These shells are packed with an ounce and a half of #9 18G/cc Tungsten Super Shot. This material is denser than conventional Tungsten and more than 56% heavier than traditional lead pellets of the same size. This equates to the same lethality from a smaller shot, allowing for more pellets to be packed into each shell and into each pattern. Being also harder than lead, they retain their shape better and fly straighter and longer, thus dramatically extending your range. We paired those with a hodgepodge of mixed bird and buckshot and set out to make a mess of our steel target bay.

After arriving and unpacking, the first test was to center up our sight for 25 yards. We used the birdshot for this, which confirmed its reliability with lighter loads in the process. As the SA-20 is gas-operated, we had little doubt of any trouble and were pleased to watch it chow down on whatever we stuffed into the tube. Once we felt we were close, we swapped in the TSS and fired our first patterns on a Birchwood Casey Pregame Turkey Target. Initial patterns were high but absolutely lethal. Upwards of 50 pellets found their way onto the bird’s head and neck, with a velocity that was only 43 feet per second less than what was advertised on the box. This tells us that we should be golden if something comes to investigate our call in a few weeks. 

CQB Worthy

Moving onto the steel pit, we worked with the gun in a variety of close-quarters drills and maneuvers. As expected, swinging the abbreviated shotgun was effortless, particularly since it only weighs in at 6 pounds. That’s important in the field, too, as turkey hunting often involves covering a fair bit of ground. The extended charging handle also serves both uses, as it’s easy to operate under stress or while wearing a pair of hunting gloves. Rapid follow-ups, including controlled pairs, were exceptionally fast.

Mossberg SA-20 Tactical Turkey: A Soft-Shooting 20

Being that we were shooting 20 gauge, it didn’t yield as much muzzle rise as you might expect, especially when you consider the sloped buttstock. We found that the red dot came to our eye without any trouble and agreed it was an asset to the overall package. After emptying a gallon-sized bag of shells without a hiccup, we were satisfied and ready to take the Tactical Turkey hunting. 

Mike and I decided to rotate the gun each day this season, and as a series of misfortunate events placed me out of town for opening day; he was up first. Living for little more than gobbler gettin’, Mike had watched over a trio of properties, and as his luck was only marginally better than mine, the birds settled in the hardest place to get to. A quarter-mile of thicket stood between him and their roost, so he had to take advantage of the Tac-Turkey’s abbreviated length and light weight to quickly and quietly maneuver within calling distance.

Slinking into position before first light, only gentle calling was needed to get them to gobble. After hitting the ground, they continued their conversation before going dead silent. Fearing they scooted out the other direction, he was ready to call it quits before he spotted a decent Tom about 40 yards out. Completely exposed, he dared not move a muscle until something got between the two of them.

Birds on the Ground

Finally, after closing another 15 yards, a mat of scrub brush would fill that role, and Mike was able to get the gun up high enough to see through the optic without alerting the bird. Its next step would be its last, as a healthy dose of TSS put him down without so much as a flop. Pulling him out, we measured his spurs to be just shy of an inch and estimated his age to be approximately 2.5 years, which is not bad for an opening-day bird.

Either on the range or in the field, the Mossberg SA-20 Tactical Turkey proved to house an invaluable set of features. Gentle recoil led to faster follow-up shots, and with the right ammo, little, if any, lethality was lost to its 20-gauge chambering. Adding a red dot makes it an excellent candidate for low-light use, and being that both two-legged and four-legged turkeys operate in those conditions, I’d say this feature is often overlooked. Pulling double duty from a firearm is a great way to maximize your safe space, and I can’t think of a better way to rattle some steel.

Mossberg SA-20 Tactical Turkey Specs

• Gauge: 20 gauge
• Barrel Length: 22 inches
• Capacity: 5+1
• Choke: Turkey included
• Overall Length: 41.75 inches
• Length of pull: 12.75 inches
• Weight: 6 pounds
• Stock: Synthetic
• Sights: Rear Fixed Fiber Optic Ghost Ring, Front Fixed Fiber Optic Rod; Picatinny Rail Included.

Bonus: Alps Ambush Sling Pack

Turkey hunting doesn’t require a ton of gear, but you’re still going to need stowage beyond a pair of pants pockets.  As demonstrated with the SA-20, keeping things light is of the utmost importance, as remaining mobile ups your chances of positioning yourself to take a Tom. Alps Ambush Sling Pack is crafted specifically for Turkey season and includes specially designed pockets for pot calls, box calls, and mouth calls, as well as their associated accessories. Other pockets keep extra ammunition and field snacks handy while offering several ways to sling everything over your shoulder. When you add it all up, it makes the perfect pack to dedicate to this sport, allowing you to hit the field running when it’s time to answer the call.