Savage’s 410 Turkey Guns: Small Bores for Gobblers
Russ Chastain 06.15.20
Oddly enough, hunting turkeys with the diminutive 410 shotgun has become really popular of late. In fact, the Stevens 301 line of single-shot break-action 410 turkey guns was one of Savage’s top-sellers for 2019, which came as some surprise. I fired one at the 2020 SHOT Show Range Day and was impressed, consistently hitting a steel target at 30 yards.
Savage offers multiple options for hunters who wish to tote a 410, and they say the guns are optimized for Federal HEAVYWEIGHT TSS turkey loads. So if you’re thinking ahead about using a 410 during the 2021 turkey season — or you just want a light, reliable reacher-outer shotgun — the Savage Stevens 301 line might be right for you.
301 Turkey
The 301 Turkey is available in 2 Mossy Oak camo patterns for the stock: Bottomland or Obsession. Barrel and action are finished in matte black. With an MSRP of $204, it’s one of the most affordable new turkey guns you can find. This model comes with a picatinny rail for mounting an optic, which you can remove to use the front bead sight. It comes with one choke tube: Extra Full.
Here’s what Savage says about it:
- Single-shot, break-action shotgun
- Synthetic stock and fore-end with Mossy Oak Obsession camo
- 26-inch barrel optimized for Federal Premium® HEAVYWEIGHT TSS turkey loads
- 3-inch chamber
- Swivel studs on stock and fore-end
- Removable one-piece rail for optional optic or red dot
- Bead sight compatible with TruGlo® sight systems
- Extra-full choke included (Win. choke pattern ½-32UN)
- Manual hammer blocking safety
- Recoil pad
- Length of Pull: 13.75″
- Overall Length: 41.5″
301 Turkey XP
Like the previous version, this one comes in Mossy Oak Bottomland or Mossy Oak Obsession. Near as I can tell, the 301 Turkey XP is a 301 Turkey with a 1x 30mm red dot sight mounted on the optics rail. MSRP is $239, so you’re basically paying $35 for the red dot.
Features:
- Single shot, break action shotgun
- 1×30 Red Dot Mounted & Boresighted
- Synthetic stock and fore end with Mossy Oak Obsession camo
- 26 inch barrel optimized for Federal Premium® HEAVYWEIGHT TSS turkey loads
- 3 inch chamber
- Swivel studs on stock and fore end
- Removable one piece rail
- Front bead sight
- Extra full choke included (Win. Choke pattern ½ 32UN)
- Manual hammer blocking safety
- Recoil pad
- Length of Pull: 13.75″
- Overall Length: 41.5″
301 Turkey Thumbhole
The only non-camouflage version of the 301 series, the 301 Turkey Thumbhole naturally has a thumbhole stock. The stock is olive drab and the gun metal is matte black. Like the basic 301 Turkey, it has an optics rail but doesn’t include an optic. At $219, you’re shelling out an extra $15 for that thumbhole butt stock.
Features:
- Single-shot, break-action shotgun
- Rugged, synthetic, olive drab thumbhole stock and forend
- Ambidextrous cheek riser
- 26-inch barrel optimized for Federal Premium® HEAVYWEIGHT TSS turkey loads
- 3-inch chamber
- Swivel studs on stock and fore-end
- Removable one-piece rail
- Front bead sight
- Extra-full choke included (Win. Choke pattern ½-32UN)
- Manual hammer blocking safety
- Recoil pad
- Length of Pull: 13.75″
- Overall Length: 41.5″
Interested?
Are you interested in hunting turkeys and other game with a 410? I have to say, 410 is what I started with but I don’t feel a burning urge to return to the little booger when it comes to pursuing game. Am I wrong?
