Description
You’re in the Missouri timber at first light, the world painted in shades of gray and green. A distant gobble cuts through the fog. You need a tool that’s simple, reliable, and disappears into the landscape. That’s the mission of the Stevens M301 Turkey Bottomland, Single Shot, 20 Ga 3″ Chamber, 26″ Barrel, Black Color, Mossy Oak Bottomland Polymer Stock, Right Hand, X-Full Choke, Bead Sight. It’s a purpose-built, no-fuss hunting shotgun designed for one perfect shot.
Here’s the thing—when it comes to turkey hunting, complexity is your enemy. The Stevens M301 strips everything back to the essentials. It’s a single-shot 20-gauge with a tight X-Full choke and a 26″ barrel, delivering a dense, hard-hitting pattern where it counts. The Mossy Oak Bottomland camo isn’t just for show; it breaks up your outline against the bark and brush of the Ozarks. This is a tool that demands patience and precision, rewarding it with clean, ethical harvests. At a price of $204.16, it’s an accessible entry into serious turkey hunting without sacrificing performance.
Built for the Blind
The M301’s design philosophy is pure function. The single-shot action is inherently safe and teaches deliberate shot selection—there’s no follow-up. The 20-gauge chambered for 3″ shells offers a potent payload with noticeably less recoil than a 12-gauge, a real benefit during long sits. The 26″ barrel provides a smooth swing and a compact profile for maneuvering in a ground blind or tight cover. The bead sight is all you need for the close-to-moderate ranges of turkey hunting, keeping your focus on the bird, not the hardware.
Key Features in the Field
The integrated X-Full choke tube is the heart of this system. It constricts the shot to deliver the tight, consistent patterns necessary for cleanly taking a turkey at 30-40 yards. This choke is drop-in ready—no gunsmithing required to achieve that critical pattern density right out of the box. The polymer stock in Mossy Oak Bottomland is durable, weather-resistant, and provides excellent concealment in early-season green-up or late-season brown woods. The total package weighs just over 5.5 lbs, making it easy to carry on long walks to your spot.
Look, this isn’t a gun for blasting clays or high-volume waterfowl spreads. It’s a specialist. The manual safety is positive and easy to operate with gloves on. The break-action is simple to load and unload, a key safety feature when navigating fences or climbing into a blind. While it comes ready to hunt, the choke tube system is compatible with other aftermarket Stevens/Savage tubes if you want to experiment with different constrictions for other game, like using a modified choke for small game. This firearm is available at firearms-missouri.com for Missouri residents and nationwide, following all applicable regulations.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Gauge | 20 Gauge |
| Chamber | 3″ |
| Action | Single Shot, Break-Action |
| Barrel Length | 26 Inches |
| Choke | Fixed X-Full (Extra Full) |
| Sights | Bead Front |
| Stock | Mossy Oak Bottomland Polymer |
| Overall Length | Approx. 42.5″ |
Pros & Cons
Pros: Incredibly simple and reliable operation. Excellent camouflage for wooded environments. The X-Full choke delivers tight turkey patterns. Lightweight and easy to carry. Very affordable price point for a dedicated turkey gun. Low maintenance.
Cons: Single-shot capacity requires a perfect first shot. The fixed X-Full choke limits versatility for other types of shooting. Synthetic stock may feel less traditional than wood.
Who This Is For
The Stevens M301 Turkey Bottomland is for the new hunter seeking an effective, budget-friendly entry into turkey hunting. It’s for the seasoned woodsman who appreciates the minimalist challenge of a single shot. It’s an ideal backup or dedicated gun for a permanent blind setup. It’s also a great option for a younger or smaller-framed shooter who benefits from the milder recoil of a 20-gauge, especially when paired with modern TSS or heavy lead turkey loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can this shotgun shoot 2.75″ shells as well as 3″?
A: Yes. A 20-gauge shotgun chambered for 3″ shells can safely fire 2.75″ (also called 2 3/4″) shells. This allows for practice with lighter target loads.
Q: Is the choke tube removable for cleaning?
A: The provided X-Full choke is a fixed, non-removable choke integral to the barrel. This design enhances pattern consistency and reduces points of failure.
Q: What is the effective range for turkey with this setup?
A: With proper 20-gauge turkey loads (like TSS or heavy lead #5-#6 shot), the X-Full choke makes ethical, clean kills out to 40 yards a realistic expectation. Always pattern your specific ammunition at various ranges to know your exact point of impact.
Ready to add this focused, dependable tool to your turkey hunting kit? See the Stevens M301 Turkey Bottomland at our online store.
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