Spring turkey hunting has changed a lot over the last decade. With the rise of Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) ammunition, small-bore shotguns that were once considered novelty guns are now serious hunting tools.

One of the most talked-about options is the Stevens 301 .410 Turkey shotgun. Lightweight, simple, and purpose-built for chasing gobblers, this little single-shot has gained a lot of attention among turkey hunters looking for a minimalist setup.

Recently, I picked one up and decided to take things a step further by pairing it with a Holosun ARO-GR2 optic and installing a Beartooth Comb Riser to fine tune the cheek weld.

After unboxing the gun, installing the optic, dialing in the fit, and spending time behind the setup, I’ve got some honest thoughts on whether this little .410 lives up to the hype.

If you're looking for a lightweight turkey gun that punches above its weight, this one might surprise you.

Stevens 301 .410 Turkey Shotgun Overview

The Stevens 301 is built on a break-action, single-shot platform that prioritizes simplicity and reliability. There are no complicated moving parts, gas systems, or magazines. Just a straightforward design that does exactly what it’s supposed to do.

Key Specifications

Gauge: .410 Bore
Chamber: 3 inch
Barrel Length: 26 inches
Weight: Approximately 5 pounds
Action: Break-action single shot
Choke: Extra full turkey choke
Stock: Synthetic camo (Mossy Oak pattern)

The first thing you notice when picking this gun up is how incredibly light it is. At roughly five pounds, it feels almost toy-like compared to most turkey guns.

But don’t let the weight fool you. With modern tungsten turkey loads, the .410 has become a legitimate turkey-killing platform.

Why the .410 Is Becoming Popular for Turkey Hunting

Ten years ago, most turkey hunters wouldn’t have considered a .410 for gobblers. The pattern density simply wasn’t there with traditional lead loads.

That changed when Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) entered the scene.

TSS pellets are significantly denser than lead, allowing hunters to pack far more pellets into smaller loads while maintaining energy and penetration. This means a .410 can now deliver extremely dense patterns capable of ethically harvesting turkeys at reasonable distances.

Because of that, the .410 has become popular with:

• Youth hunters

• Run-and-gun public land hunters

• Hunters wanting ultra-light setups

• Experienced hunters looking for a challenge

The Stevens 301 was designed to capitalize on this exact trend.

Holosun ARO-GR2 Optic: A Perfect Match for Turkey Hunting

When setting up a turkey shotgun, optics can make a huge difference. Bead sights work, but they require perfect alignment and can be difficult to use in awkward shooting positions.

That’s where a red dot optic shines.

For this setup, I installed the Holosun ARO-GR2 optic, which is part of Holosun’s newer Advanced Rifle Optic series.

Holosun ARO-GR2 Features

2 MOA green dot reticle
Shake Awake technology
Up to 50,000 hour battery life
Multiple brightness settings
Parallax free design
Durable aluminum housing

The green dot reticle really stands out in the woods, especially during early morning hunts when light conditions can be tricky.

Instead of trying to line up beads while a gobbler is moving through the timber, you simply put the dot on the bird’s head and squeeze the trigger.

For turkey hunting, that kind of fast target acquisition can make all the difference.

Fixing the Cheek Weld: Installing the Beartooth Comb Riser

One thing I immediately noticed after mounting the optic was that my eye line didn’t perfectly match the height of the optic when I shouldered the gun.

This is actually very common when mounting optics on shotguns because factory stocks are designed around bead sights rather than red dots.

To fix the issue, I installed a Beartooth Comb Raising Kit.

This kit allows you to add height to the stock comb using foam inserts and a neoprene sleeve. By adjusting the thickness of the inserts, you can dial in the exact height needed to naturally align your eye with the optic.

Once installed, the difference was immediate.

Now when I shoulder the gun, my eye lines up perfectly with the Holosun optic, creating a much more consistent and comfortable shooting position.

If you plan on running an optic on a Stevens 301 or any turkey shotgun, I highly recommend looking into a comb riser. Proper cheek weld equals consistent shooting.

Handling and Field Performance

Once everything was set up, the Stevens 301 felt incredibly comfortable to handle.

A few things stood out right away.

Lightweight Carry

At roughly five pounds, this gun is incredibly easy to carry.

If you hunt big public land areas or spend long mornings moving ridges trying to strike a gobbler, the difference between this and a heavy 12 gauge becomes very noticeable.

Compact and Maneuverable

The single-shot platform keeps the gun slim and easy to maneuver in tight setups.

That’s especially helpful when hunting from:

Ground blinds
Tree setups
Hardwood ridges
Thick brush edges

Simplicity

There’s something refreshing about the simplicity of a single-shot turkey gun.

When the moment comes, you cock the hammer, settle the dot, and take the shot.

It forces you to slow down and make the first shot count.

Pros and Cons of the Stevens 301 .410

Pros

Extremely lightweight
Affordable entry price
Reliable break-action design
Optics ready
Great performance with modern TSS loads
Compact and easy to carry

Cons

Single shot only
Limited follow-up shots
TSS ammunition can be expensive
Factory stock height may require a comb riser when using optics

Who This Turkey Gun Is Best For

This setup is a great option for several types of hunters.

Youth Hunters

The lightweight design and manageable recoil make it ideal for young hunters getting into turkey hunting.

Mobile Public Land Hunters

If you spend hours covering terrain trying to strike gobblers, carrying a lightweight gun makes a big difference.

Minimalist Hunters

Some hunters prefer simple, reliable equipment without unnecessary complexity.

Experienced Turkey Hunters

For seasoned hunters, a single-shot .410 adds a fun challenge while still being fully capable of getting the job done.

More Than Just a Turkey Gun

There’s another reason this shotgun means a lot to me, and it has nothing to do with ballistics or gear specs.

When I bought the Stevens 301 .410, I had my daughter in mind.

She isn’t born yet, but one day she will be walking the woods with me during spring turkey season. My hope is that she grows up watching me hunt with this gun, hearing gobbles echo through the timber at daylight, and seeing what those quiet mornings in the woods are all about.

Eventually, when she’s old enough and ready, this will become her turkey gun.

The .410 platform makes it perfect for that. It’s lightweight, manageable, and not intimidating for a young hunter learning the ropes. Instead of handing a kid a heavy 12 gauge with a lot of recoil, she’ll start with something she can handle confidently.

But the gun itself isn’t really the point.

It’s the memories attached to it.

My hope is that years from now, long after I’m gone, this little Stevens 301 is still sitting in her safe. Not just as a shotgun, but as something that reminds her of spring mornings chasing gobblers, the lessons learned in the woods, and the time we spent together out there.

If that happens, this gun will have done far more than just kill turkeys.

It will have carried a lifetime of memories.

Final Thoughts: A Simple Setup That Gets the Job Done

The Stevens 301 .410 paired with the Holosun ARO-GR2 optic turned out to be an extremely fun and capable turkey hunting setup.

With the addition of the Beartooth Comb Riser, the gun shoulders naturally and lines up perfectly with the optic, creating a comfortable and repeatable shooting position.

Lightweight, simple, and effective, this setup proves that you don’t always need a heavy 12-gauge magnum to put a gobbler on the ground.

Sometimes the simplest tools in the woods are the most effective.

Watch the Full Video Review

If you want to see the full unboxing, assembly, optic installation, and my first impressions, check out the full video on The Outdoorsman’s Oath YouTube channel.