The Best Over/Under Shotgun For Turkey Hunting

If you’re a frequent reader of our blogs, you most likely know that I have a Stoeger M3500 and a Mossberg 500 as my primary shotguns.

I bought my Stoeger M3500 for the semi-auto action and compatibility with my lightest dove shot to my heaviest turkey loads. I just recently bought my first home and can’t spend $2,500 on a limited shotgun like an over/under 12 gauge, but if I did, I’d buy either one of the Browning Cynergy Wicked Wing or Ultimate Turkey shotguns.

For me, the most noticeable traits of an over/under shotgun are the shiny metal action and the engraving on the steel.

Every time I’ve seen an over/under shotgun I’m always reminded about the potential craftsmanship of motivated gun makers.

An over/under shotgun can be decked out with bells and whistles or have a minimalistic design, but regardless of design, they always look elegant and beautiful. You’ll notice many of the top-end designs have elaborate engravings like the Cynergy Field 12 gauge shotgun.

Many shotguns like the one we’re here for today features a gold plated trigger finish with Buck Mark gold engraving and a chrome chamber for that added durability and longevity.

What is a Break-Action Shotgun?

A break-action shotgun can be done in 2 ways; a side-by-side or an over/under platform. Either way, these shotguns feature 2 barrels with 1 shot in each barrel with one or two triggers. The Browning Cynergy has 1 trigger for both barrels that can be set to either barrel with a switch on the receiver.

A break-action shotgun means the barrel (s) are hinged and rotated vertically to expose the breach. A really great shotgun will eject the shells out and away to allow for faster reloading in case you’re hunting waterfowl. Normally, break-action shotguns are in the side-by-side platform, but also come in the over/under platform.

Why is Bottomland Camo Perfect For Turkey Hunting?

The only way any of us are going to find a gun that has it all is to spend more money on better materials and better manufacturers.  The Bottomland camo pattern from Mossy Oak blends in perfectly with late Fall colors with the dead leaves, the farm fields of wheat or corn, and forests of hardwood.

I’ve spooked turkeys with the slightest movements and sounds because of their incredible hearing and vision. Turkey can see in more color than we can and they have a wider vision to protect their peripherals from predators.

Regardless of where you’re turkey hunting, a Bottomland camo gun finish will ensure the sun doesn’t catch your barrel the wrong way and shine into the eyes of a turkey. They may not look it, but turkeys are very fast when they’re spooked and will often take off for the trees within a couple of steps.

Either way, once a turkey feels someone this off, your chances become grim. At the very least, the Bottomland camo will ensure that your gun isn’t what spooks your chances at a nice Tom.

Where is The Browning Cynergy Made?

Much like the Browning Citori 725, the Cynergy is made by the world-renowned Miroku Firearms Manufacturing in Kochi, Japan. If there is anything that most people think of when they think of Miroku weapons is the level of intensive care and precision in their craftsmanship.

What sets Miroku over/under shotguns from many other companies is their commitment to craftsmanship and performance, Known as zero gap-fitting.

Browning Cynergy Ultimate Turkey Shotgun

$2,221.99

at Guns.com

VIEW DETAILS

Prices accurate at time of writing

Miroku designs guns that have as close to a zero gap between the barrel and receiver as physically possible with modern technology.  Miroku shotguns are incredibly precise and consistent due to the extra attention to create a gun that fits together as close to perfect as possible.

Browning Cynergy Specs

What Makes a Cynergy Over/Under Shotgun so Great?

The level of features for this shotgun are endless and the amount of time Miroku puts into their firearms is what makes this shotgun so great. It’s an easy comparison to say that Miroku is like a Samurai blacksmith of modern times with the amount of time and care his company puts into making firearms for the ultimate gun enthusiasts and hunters.

It’s really cool to see how much effort Browning and Miroku have put into this shotgun. from the engravings on the action to the precision of the MonoLock Hinge.

• • One thing that immediately stands out to me is how streamlined this shotgun is. For example, the Cynergy lowered the sight plane on the receiver to provide a more natural point of aim as you raise your gun to your eye. The design of the stock and receiver make Cynergy one of the lowest-profile turkey shotguns on the planet.
  • Your front support hand is designed to be closer to the bore to provide better recoil control and significantly reduce muzzle flip.
  • The Inflex II recoil pad in the Cynergy shotgun is worth all the hype that it’s gotten by most owners. The stock is designed with directional ribs (like the Remington V3) to absorb the recoil and force the energy down and away from your face. I honestly am shocked at how I can shoot a 3.5" shell and have it feel like a 2.75" shell in regards to felt-recoil. Not only will you feel less of the force on your body, but you’ll also be able to have much quicker follow-up shots because the recoil won’t be felt in your face or head as much.

• • The gold-plated mechanical trigger is called a reverse striker trigger because it doesn’t use the inertia of the explosion to set the hammers. Since it doesn’t use the energy of the recoil, the trigger doesn’t depend on the load size of the shell to provide enough energy. With man inertia-driven shotguns you will experience some inconsistency if you shoot multiple load-outs for turkey and waterfowl. The Cynergy is much more reliable in ensuring both barrels fire every time, regardless of whether you’re shooting a dove load or a magnum turkey load. This is very rare for a recoil-operated shotgun.
  • Since there is almost no space between the barrel and receiver the patented MonoLock Hinge from Browning is able to offer up to 300% more surface area to pivot on than the most common type of hinge in other shotguns, called a trunnion hinge. Browning also uses rectangular locking pins for more durability and longevity because they that we can’t just spend $2,500 on a shotgun every few years.
  • The comb is adjustable to fit any size shooter, but more importantly, it allows you to use many different optics by raising your comb to fit the optic. The adjusts are made in small 1/8" increments and will ensure you have the best possible line of sight for an attachment.
  • Miroku uses 100% chrome chambers in all non-camo models and a chrome-plated finish for the camo models. Chrome is used because it’s exceptional against water and moisture and prevents rust better than most other metals. If you’re turkey hunting or duck hunting, you know you’ll be around water at some point from rain, marshes, lakes, or rivers.
  • As you fire your Cynergy shotgun, you’ll immediately notice the striker spring positively eject your shells like they were shot out of your chamber. As far as I could tell, the positive ejection of spent hulls was consistent and reliable every time you ejected your spent hulls. An even cooler feature is the shotgun won’t positively eject unfired shells. Instead, the striker spring will slightly raise the shells to make it easier for you to grab with your hands, whether you have gloves on or not.
  • Browning hit a home run with its Invector-Plus choke tube system and it’s used in all Cynergy model shotguns as well. The Invector-Plus choke tubes are impressive because they prevent gas from flowing between the choke tube and barrel with its precise installation. Most Browning shotgun owners swear by the consistency and reliability of the Invector-Plus choke tubes because each shot offers far fewer fliers and much better uniformity in the shot pattern. Finally, the Invector-Plus choke tubes allow faster, easier, and tighter installation than anything else I’ve seen.
  • A common aftermarket upgrade in recoil-operated shotguns is lengthening the forcing cones to improve reliability and consistency while hunting. The Cynergy Ultimate Turkey shotgun built extra-long forcing cones into the gun for optimal performance without modification.
  • The Cynergy uses a very impressive front and rear sight called the Marble Arms Bullseye rear sight (ghost sight) and a Hi-Viz front fiber-optic. This front and rear sight set-up will give you a bigger window to track birds in the air or stay locked in on a turkey moving through the thick forests. You really don’t need to add anything else to this, but there are a few optics that take this shotgun to the next level, like the Crimson Trace RAD Max Pro.
  • The best feature for the over/under shotgun is the ability to have two barrels with different choke tubes for close-up birds (10-15 yards) or birds out in the distance at 50 yards.

One of my biggest issues with my Stoeger M3500 is how heavy it is to hold up for any period of time without a bipod or shooting stick. In my first year with my Stoeger, I didn’t put an optic on it because I was ok with the front fiber-optic Hi-Viz sight.

The problem with turkey hunting is if you’re hunting in the forests, you may not know exactly where the turkey is coming from.

For example, last season, I missed an opportunity to take down a Tom because I thought he was coming from the bushes on my right at the 2 o’clock position and he came up on my left at the 7  o’clock position. By the time I saw him coming, I couldn’t get a good enough sight picture. With the sun hitting my eyes at the right angle, it took a few extra seconds and that little movement spooked him and he flew into the trees faster than a gobble.

Crimson Trace RAD Max Pro

$399.99

at Amazon

VIEW DETAILS

Prices accurate at time of writing

For this turkey season, I decided to take the plunge and buy a new optic that I can use for all of my shotguns that have a Picatinny rail system. The Crimson Trace Rapid Aiming Dot (RAD) Max Pro features one of the biggest acquisition windows with the CT Radiant Ambient Light Sensor. The ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of the red dot based on your current light conditions.

For example, if it’s really bright outside and the sun catches your optic, the red dot will adjust to the brightness down for you to see the contrast better. This feature is for those exact moments that caused me to not walk out with a Tom last season. I can confidently say with the RAD Max Pro, I won’t get caught off guard by the sun again.

The CT RAD Max Pro is the newest optic from Crimson Trace and from holding it at Shot Show and ordering my own, the 3 MOA red dot is bright and very easy to see. The lens is recessed inside the housing to help keep it safe from the inevitable drop or smack against a tree while crawling, ducking, or climbing over trees or rocks.

Related Article – Stoeger M3500 Follow-Up Review | Best All Around Semi Auto Shotgun for Waterfowl and Turkey

The CT Motion sensor allows you to conserve your battery while sitting down against a tree or lying prone in the bushes as you wait. Once you move your gun to raise it to your cheek, the red dot will turn on and automatically adjust to the current light conditions without anything done by you.

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