I prefer to try out a new turkey-hunting shotgun in weather that’s approaching spring-like turkey-hunting conditions. But I live in north-central Wisconsin, a part of the world that was hammered by 50” of snowfall in February alone. Article deadlines being what they are, I hit the range recently to test Remington’s new V3 Field Sport Turkey Pro 12-ga. shotgun. First, I had to shovel out a place to sit in the three-plus feet of snow blanketing my sportsman’s club outdoor range. I told myself I was prepping for the elusive “snow” turkey.
After digging out a space on the frozen, snowy tundra of Wisconsin, the author tries out the new Remington V3 Field Sport Turkey Pro.
The V3 Turkey Pro is the latest model in Remington’s successful V3 line of shotguns. It is an accurate shotgun, handles 2 3’4” and 3” shells, cycles and ejects those shells without any difficulties, and features very ergonomic controls.
To create the V3 line, Remington employed its VersaPort gas system which regulates cycling pressure based on the length of the shell. Remington also did away with the recoil spring in the buttstock common to semi-automatics. Instead, Remington engineers added a pair of recoil springs located on guide rails along the lower inside receiver walls. The springs absorb recoil as the bolt comes back and, on the rebound, pop the bolt and a fresh round into battery.
The combination creates one of the softer-recoiling 12-gauges I’ve ever used.
Introduced in 2015, the V3 now boasts 10 models with the Turkey Pro, and Remington isn’t done. Big Green will introduce three V3 waterfowling versions by May of this year, as well. What sets apart the Turkey Pro from the other V3 models? Partly it’s the ergonomic controls mentioned earlier. Then there’s the Realtree camouflage finish. The V3 Turkey Pro is also packaged with a mounted TruGlo TG8030DB red-dot optic, a TruGlo Headbanger choke tube and a thick, SuperCell recoil pad. Remington even redesigned the V3 loading port for the Turkey Pro model.
Don’t like optics for shotguns? The V3 Turkey Pro also features a fiber-optic front sight and steel mid bead.
“We beveled the outside radius of the Turkey Pro loading port from the bottom and on all four sides, plus did two depth cuts at the front of the port to provide even more clearance for the thumb during the final phase of the loading cycle.” said Daniel Cox, Remington’s product manager for shotguns. He added, “This additional clearance and bevel cut makes it easier to get the shell into the receiver without looking at it because the redesign helps position the shell in the right place naturally. The depth cuts at the front on either side provide clearance so than thumbs or gloves have extra room to prevent pinching or grabbing.”
Before shooting, I checked the screws attaching the TruGlo optic to the shotgun and found the front one needed about a half turn. For shooting, I first ran a half-dozen 2¾” field loads through to get a feel for how the Turkey Pro handled.
Then I switched to turkey-hunting loads, using Federal Heavyweight TSS 3” shells with #7 shot; Hornady Heavy Magnum Turkey, 3” with nickel-plated #5 lead shot; and, Winchester Supreme Elite, 3” loaded with Winchester’s Xtended Range Hi-Density #4 shot.
The TruGlo is bore sighted at 40 yards, so when I started my accuracy testing at 25 yards I expected the V3 Turkey Pro to pattern a little high. As it turned out, the first patterns were low and left, but the windage and elevation controls on the TruGlo optic worked fine, so it only took several clicks and two additional shells to put me on target.
Time to smack a snow bird, I told myself.
I used Birchwood-Casey’s 12”x18” Turkey Splattering Targets to test out the V3 with the different loads. At 25 yards, sitting and using a tripod for a rest, the snow birds didn’t stand a chance. Aiming just below the tom’s head, the Federal TSS loads consistently put 20 pellets into the head and neck vitals, the Hornady 12 pellets, and the Winchester loads 11 pellets.
Dead “snow” turkey at 25 yards using Federal’s TSS Heavyweight turkey load
At 40 yards, those same loads did the job very nicely. Again, the TSS load was the winner, with an average of 15 pellets in the head/neck kill zones, while Hornady and Winchester both had 10 pellets. With additional practice, I believe I can increase my pellet counts into the vital areas. The more I used the V3 Turkey Pro, the more I appreciated the thought that went into the controls.
A pair of practice shots at 40 yards with the V3 turkey Pro and Federal TSS Heavyweight loads.
Is it just me, or has anyone else tried to rack back the bolt of a shotgun with wet hands and had the curved bolt handle slip? Such mishaps shouldn’t occur with the V3 Turkey Pro. The bolt handle is large and sticks out perpendicular to the receiver, allowing for a steady pull to the rear with excellent leverage. The handle also sports deep lines cut into it for a firm grip with gloves or wet hands.
The V3’s sturdy bolt provides plenty of leverage for clean racking/ejecting.
Speaking of gloves, no serious turkey hunter goes afield without gloves covering their hands. But gloves can and will make shotguns a little to a lot more difficult to manipulate. That difficulty level is much reduced with the over-sized bolt release on the V3 Turkey Pro. Not some slippery little button, this bolt release is a flat, thumb-sized tab which raises up from the receiver body when the bolt is locked back. It is easily pushed in with your thumb. The right side of the crossbolt safety is also quite large and can easily be pushed to “FIRE” with gloved hands. However, the left side of the safety is pretty much standard smallish. I did wonder why both sides of the safety were not equally large, as it would have made the mechanism easier to work.
A substantial bolt release makes for easy use even when wearing heavier gloves.
The TruGlo optic worked well during my relatively limited shooting. The optic has red and green reticle capability, with five illumination settings per color. Even with bright snow on the ground the reticle stood out, cutting through some hard light especially near the end of my testing when the sun came out. I do want to see how well the TruGlo preforms on damp, gloomy mornings afield with a tom turkey’s head bobbing among the underbrush. I had no way to replicate that scenario.
The reticle on the V3 Turkey Pro’s TruGlo Optic can be set for red or green, with 5 illumination settings per color.
I’d also like to find out how much abuse the optic can take and remain zeroed. Running and gunning for turkeys means underbrush and branches slapping at a shotgun. I have two Texas turkey hunts on my April calendar, and will no doubt find out the answer to this question as I chase Rio in the mesquite and cactus. Don’t like optics on a shotgun? The V3 Turkey Pro is also outfitted with a fiber optic front sight and a steel mid bead.
Don’t like optics for shotguns? The V3 Turkey Pro also features a fiber-optic front sight and steel mid bead.
I rate the trigger on the V3 Turkey Pro as “very serviceable.” No, it’s nothing like a precision rifle trigger. There is, for example, about ¼” of take up before the trigger beings to engage. Once engaged, the trigger pull is a bit stiff. Yet the trigger pull only measured a surprisingly light three pounds, six ounces, on average, as recorded by my Lyman Digital Trigger Pull Gauge. With a little practice, the trigger on the V3 works more than well enough to help you drop that big tom at 40 to 50 yards. Last, the V3 Turkey Pro comes with several drop and cast adjustment shims to tailor the gun’s fit to the individual hunter.
With a suggested retail of just under $1,200, the V3 is not an inexpensive shotgun. In-store and online prices will likely be much closer to $950, but that’s still a good deal of cash. On the plus side, this is a quality shotgun, and with the RealTree finish and synthetic stock should handle the elements afield for years to come. The V3’s 22” barrel is not rifled, but it is a standard Remchoke barrel, so, the slug-gun hunter can remove the Headbanger choke, replace it with a better option, and the V3 Turkey Pro will shoot slugs without a hitch, turning this “turkey” gun into a deer and hog hunter.
The V3 Turkey Pro is also built in the U.S. at Remington’s Ilion, N,Y., facility. For me, it’s a plus knowing you can buy a quality hunting shotgun that isn’t made overseas. For more on this fine firearm, please visit remington.com.
Specifications:
Manufacturer: Remington Arms Co.
Gauge: 12
Mag. Capacity: 3
Barrel Length: 22”
Barrel Type: Light Contour Vent Rib
Overall Length: 41.75”
Optic: TruGlo Red Dot TG8030DB
Sights: Fiber-optic front, steel mid bead
Length of Pull: 13”
Drop (Comb): 1 ½”
Drop (Heel): 2 ¼”
Receiver and barrel finish: Realtree Timber
Stock Material: Synthetic
Stock Finish: Realtree Timber
Avg. Weight: 7.6 lbs.
MSRP: $1,195
Additional Reading:
Video—ARTV: The Remington Shotgun Story
2019 SHOT Show Primer: Remington V3 Tac-13
Remington V3 Semi-Automatic Shotgun Now in Compact Model
American Rifleman TV Exclusive: Remington V3 Shotgun
Remington V3 Shotgun Review
