Lefties get tired of ejecting shells across their face, and Mossberg makes a left-hand 500 to fix that. This turkey model is a 12 gauge pump with a 24 inch barrel, a six-round capacity and a left-handed layout.

A pump gun is a simple tool. You rack the slide, the shell goes in, and you are ready for the next shot. The left-hand setup moves the safety and the ejection to suit a left-handed shooter, so it handles naturally. A little practice every month beats a long session once a year. Spend an afternoon at the range before the season so you know exactly where it shoots.

The turkey configuration points to a camouflage finish and a choke that tightens patterns for close shots. In North Carolina, spring turkey season is a favorite, with birds in the Piedmont and the mountains, and a pump gun like this is a time-tested way to hunt them.

Pattern the gun before opening morning. Different shells shoot different patterns, and you want to know what works at forty yards. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer, where the background check is completed at pickup.