Weatherby's SA-459

This predicament was not new to me. The position I was sitting in was as painful as it was familiar. My left knee was raised and my left forearm rested there. My right leg was more or less extended and was now screaming to be moved, which created a problem as my right foot was entwined in several dead branches. That was going to make enough racket to spook turkeys in the next county.

Several roots had evidently grown under my posterior since I had piled into this setup 45 minutes ago, when a loudmouth gobbler had announced his presence just down the hill from me. I glanced down at the shotgun. It felt good in my hands and I was thankful for how light it was and for the pistol grip. As cramped as I was, I knew if the gobbler presented himself I would be able to give him something to worry about. Now I heard the muted sound of drumming. And, of course, he was coming up on the left, my offside. Could I get the gun pointed way over there?

Stubborn & Specialized

Turkey hunters are a funny bunch. Most of them are stubborn as a mule; they often keep to themselves and are secretive in their ways, especially if the conversation is going to have anything to do with the whereabouts of turkeys. Maybe they get like this from dealing with a bird that is so frustrating at times you just want to go kick your old yellow dog. Once an experienced turkey hunter gets something in his head, you will move heaven and earth before you change his mind. I can say all this because I have been a turkey hunter for over 40 years and I am known to keep company with many of these disreputable characters.

In no area are turkey hunters more opinionated than when it comes to shotguns. To the rabid turkey hunter the shotgun is not just a spiritless tool like a shovel or a hammer, nor is it simply a weapon to shoot at something. This gun is our ally and we want to be in tune with it as our favorite box call. It has got be “right.”

So this past spring I did something I haven’t done in a long time, if ever. I started the gobbler season with a new gun. It was strange and it was awkward at first. I was going into the season with a new partner. Soon though, all of the attributes of the semi-auto Weatherby SA-459 I was carrying began to shine through. I knew I was on to something when other wizened turkey hunters with many years’ experience started fondling the gun back in camp and asking where they might get one.

Name Brand

You really don’t hear that much about Weatherby’s shotguns, but maybe you should. We are quite a ways down the road since Roy Weatherby started experimenting with wildcat rifle cartridges in his garage in the mid-1940’s. Weatherby’s vision for lightweight bullets traveling at super velocities changed the landscape of rifle ballistics.

But now we’re talking about shotguns. To be perfectly honest, a very functional, moderately-priced shotgun for turkey hunting will not get the attention that an elegant Mark V or Vanguard rifle will. But maybe it should. Let me tell you about the Weatherby SA-459 Turkey model.
Built on the same action as their other 459 semi-automatics, it’s gas- operated and works on Weatherby’s “dual valve” system. Two “pistons” are supplied with the shotgun, one for light loads, one for heavy loads. The pistons are readily accessible on the magazine tube and can be switched out in minutes.

I ran a lot of rounds through this shotgun — light field loads and heavy turkey stuff — and never had a malfunction. Other SA-459 owners I talked to said the same thing, no problems. The Extra Full choke tube supplied with the gun shot well for me. Knowing that many of today’s turkey hunters are all about “super tight,” the SA-459 accepts a wide array of aftermarket choke tubes. The gun comes with a fiber-optic front sight and a removable Picatinny rail on the rear. A ghost ring or red-dot sight installed on the rail would be deadly for turkeys. Personally, I’d like to see an additional bead about halfway down the rib, but I guess we can’t have everything in life.

Pistol-Grip Plus

Haley Heath, outdoor TV personality and Women of Weatherby member told me she is a big fan of the pistol grip as this feature is of great benefit when turkey hunting because remaining still and quiet is so important.

“Trying to hold a shotgun up and wait for that perfect shot may take a while, so having a shotgun with a larger pistol grip helps to keep the gun steady and comfortable.” Haley told me this past turkey season two members of her family took gobblers with the SA-459 in 20 gauge. Her 10-year-old son Gunner waited for over 30 minutes for the perfect shot. His turkey that had “hung up” at around 40 yards out.

Two things are really important as to why I like this shotgun. First is the weight. Look around and see if you can find a similarly configured semi-auto in this weight class. Not easy is it? Next is the pistol grip. It’s rubberized feel, along with the light weight makes this gun a dream for a long sit with a stubborn gobbler that is hesitant to be decently shot.

There’s another thing I like about this shotgun. At $799 MSRP (and you will get it for less if you shop around), the SA-459 Turkey model is a bargain. When you boil it all down, the weight and the pistol grip on this shotgun make it a pleasure to turkey
hunt with.

Back To My Bird

So how did I come out on the turkey that slipped in on my off side? Well let’s just say that it was not his day. If I’d not have been carrying the Weatherby, he most likely would not have joined me for the trip back to camp. You have to have faith in your shotguns … us old turkey hunters are like that you know.

Weatherby SA-459 By the Numbers
Type: Gas-operated, semi-auto
Gauge: 12 (3″)
Barrel length: 22″
Overall length: 44″
Weight: 6-3/4 lbs.
Choke: Extended extra full
Sights: Fiber-optic front, (Picatinny rail)
Finish: Realtree Xtra Green
Price: $799

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