It was mid-March when I visited my favorite whitetail hunting ground to retrieve trail cameras, invade bedding areas, and find a few sheds. 

Though browns were few and far between, something amazing happened that stopped me. I wasn’t sure at first, but then the springtime noisemaker sounded off again. It was music to my ears. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and a smile slid across my face. There’s nothing like that first gobble of spring. 

Crouching down, I slithered up the muddy bank, inching my binos above a golden tumbleweed. The boy bird was in full strut. I didn’t see a single hen, but I watched him spin circles for 10 minutes, his white-tipped fan and ebony feathers shimmering in the mid-morning sun.

Whether turkey season has kicked off in your neck of the woods or you’re on the brink, it’s time to think about shotgun and load selection. It’s also time to get out there and test and tinker with different loads to find the best head/neck eater you can. 

My buddy, Benny Spies, is a turkey killer, and while planning a 2026 pheasant hunt over the phone, we quickly spiraled into longbeards, loads, chokes, shotguns, etc. “Many people think I’m weird,” Spies said, “but I prefer my trusty ol’ black synthetic stock SX4 for springtime birds.”

The reason Spies mentions the “crazy” part is that Winchester Repeating Arms makes an SX4 Long Beard. Crafted specifically for turkey fanatics, this pistol grip stock with high and low interchangeable combs comes in a 12- and 20-gauge model cloaked in Mossy Oak’s Obsession camo finish. The shotgun has an adjustable rifle-style rear sight with a TRUGLO fiber-optic front sight. I’ve jellied the heads of a tom or two with this 24-inch barrel shotgun, and I love it. 

“For me, I want to hunt turkeys with the same shotgun I use for ducks, geese, and pheasants,” said Spies. “The SX4 is my everyday shotgun. I’ve never been a guy in need of a pistol grip or fiber-optic sight. I just want a tough-as-nails, reliable shotgun that kills birds. I don’t want a shotgun that breaks the bank, either. I get all of this with my SX4 with black synthetic stock. This shotgun will take a beating, yet turkeys die every time I settle my TRUGLO Long Bead fiber-optic front sight and pull the trigger.”

Aside from being an all-around excellent shooting shotgun that’s reliable as the day is long, the SX4 in black synthetic is also ultra-economical, especially when you factor in its functional controls, maximum pointability, and fast-cycling self-adjusting Active Valve System.

“I consider myself a simple man,” Spies continued. “I don’t mind turkey hunters that use or even prefer a red dot or scope; I’m just not one of them. I like an open sight picture. I also feel like shooting a shotgun should be instinctive. You can try to get too fine when you get a red dot or scope. I like to get my bead on the bird’s neck, halfway between the caruncles and the beak, and let it rip. Plus, a quick, difficult shot must often be made when turkey hunting. It just comes with the territory when hunting such a savvy bird. If I need to peek up above my bead and find a tiny bit of red in the brush, if I’ve confirmed the bird is a tom and keeps hanging up, I want that openness. Then, I can quickly settle in and make a quick shot, even if it’s through a bit of light vegetation.” 

Aside from the SX4 being Spies’ go-to shotgun year-round, he feels the improved ergonomics, rounded close radius grip, and textured gripping surfaces are big reasons everyone who picks up an SX4 shoots it well.

“The SX4 builds confidence quickly!” Spied exclaimed. The gun cycles so quickly and cleanly, and it’s an easy keeper. New shooters will love the larger bolt handle and oversized bolt button release, which add to the shotgun’s overall functionality.

“I also love the grip; the stock welds to my cheek and provides perfect eye-to-barrel alignment. The textured gripping surfaces ensure fit and feel even when wet outside. The shotgun is light and maneuverable, which you want when running and gunning for turkeys. I also love that it allows easy sling attachment. Shotgunners don’t talk about this feature enough. When you’re trekking across public dirt all day chasing distant gobbles, you want a sling.” 

Spies and I disagree on many things. We enjoy busting each other’s chops and poking fun. One thing we do agree on, though, is Winchester’s Invector-Plus Full Choke.

“It’s not an extended choke,” Spies said, “but who cares?” “If you take the time to pattern your gun with a top-tier load like Winchester's Long Beard XR, the full choke, which comes with the SX4, is all you need. I highly recommend this shotshell in 12-gauge 3-1/2-inch #6s. Settle that bead, pull the trigger, and watch ‘em flop.” 

Spies did admit that though he has a serious love affair with Long Beard XR, he’s testing and will be hunting with Winchester's all-new Long Beard TSS, which he is excited about. 

One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Benny Spies is his honesty. He tells it how it is, and that’s a lost art. Spies is short, and to the point, so I asked him to provide his top three quick-hitting turkey tips for beginners. 

So, straight for the horse’s mouth, here we go.

1. Ammo! Hit ‘em where it hurts. I like the pellet count I get with #6s. The load smashes the head and neck, and with more pellets in the air, you have a better chance of a fatal shot if you’re off a little. 
2. I get the sub-gauge craze. If you want to run a 20-gauge or .410 bore, that’s fine. However, if you hunt public land gobblers and like to run and gun, you want a shotgun with a serious punch. The 12-gauge offers increased range, especially when you choose the correct ammunition. You’ll love the fast-cycling SX4. If you miss a bird, you can get right back on it and send a follow-up shot.
3. I touched on this, but the full choke that comes in the box is all you need. The key is taking your time and patterning your choke at different distances with the load you plan to hunt with. Patterning lets you know what the shotgun/choke combo can do at various distances. This leads to confidence when you get in the woods and chase birds around.

Winchester offers multiple SX4 models. Don’t think you must opt for the standard black or Long Beard. If you’re a waterfowler who hunts springtime birds, the SX4 Waterfowl Hunter Compact is a winner. Consider the SX4 Left-Hand Waterfowl Hunter or SX4 Field Left-Hand if you’re a left-handed shooter.

For many of us, there are only a few more sleeps until our back is against a tree, a call in our mouth, and a tom turkey on the way. I can’t wait!