Inspired by a video Dave Owens of Pinhoti Project put out on his "Ultra Light turkey shotgun," I decided to put together my own version of a custom ultralight turkey gun.

With the use of TSS shot loads, today a 3" 20 gauge can be every bit as effective on turkeys as a 12, so I decided to modify my Benelli 20 gauge Ultralight into a dedicated super light turkey rig similar to what Dave did to his.

I don't have any "before" photos, as I didn't think to take any before I started this project, but it was a typical 24" barrel 20 gauge Benelli Ultra Light. It's a good looking gun, but I already have another Ultra Light for upland shooting, so I didn't mind dispensing with the wood and gloss metal look to achieve the goal of a sweet handling, easy toting turkey gun.

The specs are as follows:
- Standard Benelli 20 ga Ultra Light, 24" barrel, around 5.5 lbs.
- "Comfortech" stock in Optifade Timber camo from an M2 Field (also fits Ultra Light).
- Had OEM wood forend film dipped in Optifade Timber
- Burnt bronze and black "distressed look" Cerakote finish on receiver and barrel
- Receiver drilled and tapped for Scalarworks optic mount
- Scalarworks "Sync 01" mount
- Aimpoint Micro T2 red dot
- Bolt carrier refinished in TiCN copper colored PVD coating
- MGW "Sure Cycle Frag" oversized bolt handle
- Sling swivel forend cap
- Wolff +25% extra power recoil spring
- Taran Tactical reduced power trigger spring
- Pinhoti/TruLock .585 ported Turkey choke

I haven't weighed the gun, but I would say the stock change, optic, and optic mount maybe added 8 oz at the most; not enough that I can tell any difference by feel.

I just completed everything this week, and I'm very happy with the results. Hopefully it patterns well, making me even happier. I won't know that for another couple weeks when I have a chance to get some range time and pattern it. I was hoping to get it completed prior to this spring turkey season, but the film dipping, Cerakote, and PVD finish took longer than expected.

Here she is, my idea of the perfect ultralight turkey shotgun:

Nice looking rig!

Awesome looking turkey gun. I really like the cerakote finish and the optifade combo.

I'm waiting for my Indian creek .562 constriction choke. Pairing it with Apex 9 shot TSS. - edited. Missed that you already had your choke

AgDad121619 said:

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Awesome looking turkey gun. I'm waiting for my Indian creek .562 constriction choke. Pairing it with Apex 9 shot TSS. Have you already got your choke / tss combo figured out?

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No sir; haven't had a chance to do so yet, I just got it finished yesterday and I have family commitments the next couple weekends. I will get it all sorted out soon. I chose .585" constriction only because that seemed to be the consensus on what most who bought this particular choke preferred on patterning results. If it doesn't give me the density I'm looking for, I might try the .560".

I'd be interested in hearing your findings AgDad!

Thaddeus Beauregard said:

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AgDad121619 said:

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Awesome looking turkey gun. I'm waiting for my Indian creek .562 constriction choke. Pairing it with Apex 9 shot TSS. Have you already got your choke / tss combo figured out?

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No sir; haven't had a chance to do so yet, I just got it finished yesterday and I have family commitments the next couple weekends. I will get it all sorted out soon. I chose .585" constriction only because that seemed to be the consensus on what most who bought this particular choke preferred on patterning results. If it doesn't give me the density I'm looking for, I might try the .560".

I'd be interested in hearing your findings AgDad!

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I think it depends which brand of tss you choose - the tighter choke for the Indian creek paired with Apex was the recommendation by the Aoex engineer. And I had to wait a month and half for the choke to be back in stock so I think that is a good sign- the attached article says a more open choke is needed for Federal TSS. Will post some patterning pics when I get it

https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-turkey-chokes/

Did you do the work yourself or get someone local to the cerakote and camo dips? Curious the cost for each part of the process . Also did you start from blued barrel / action or stainless?

AgDad121619 said:

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Did you do the work yourself or get someone local to the cerakote and camo dips? Curious the cost for each part of the process . Also did you start from blued barrel / action or stainless?

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I had Crossed Rifles LLC do the Cerakote…
https://crossedrifles.com/home

Rob Roberts Custom did the forend camo dip…
https://www.robrobertsgunworks.com/
Since the Sitka/Gore Optifade patterns are licensed to only certain applicators, and since Rob Roberts does custom work for Benelli, they are able to apply Optifade camo patterns. It kinda needed to be Optifade Timber to match the buttstock I bought from Benelli.

The bolt PVD coating was done by Jarvis Inc….
https://jarvis-custom.com/product/pvd-dlc-coatings/
The factory bolt carrier had a mirror polished hard chrome finish, so I wanted it more subdued and match the bronze. A spray painted finish would rub off and look like crap, and PVD finishes are super hard, plus slick.

Everything else I did myself.


The original gun had a blued barrel and black anodized receiver. That's the only way the Benelli Ultra Light is offered; no stainless. Actually Benelli has discontinued the Ultra Light and it is now replaced by the Montefeltro Ultra Light. Same weight, length and similar specs, just slightly different look and a couple minor features different.

I don't remember the cost for each of those finishes or the cost of the stock, mount, springs, choke, sling swivel cap, and charging handle, but I believe I have around $1200 total in it beyond the cost of the shotgun itself. This is minus the Aimpoint T2. I already had it mounted on another gun and moved it over to this gun.