Turkey guns have come a long way since I first started turkey hunting back in the early 1990s. These days they offer better sighting systems and better chokes to deliver the payload of the shell on target. Plus they now come in camo patterns available on nearly every firearm. Today’s turkey guns are specialized turkey-taking machines. But alas, hunters being hunters, they are always looking for more of a challenge. Many are stepping down to a sub gauge but don’t want to break the bank while doing so. Enter the CVA Scout Spur 28 gauge.
Connecticut Valley Arms (CVA) began producing muzzleloaders and do-it-yourself kits in 1971. It has grown to become one of the most trusted and popular names in black powder guns. As a natural progression, CVA began branching into centerfire and rimfire firearms.
One of the most popular is the Scout, a reliable break open, single shot rifle. CVA saw that popularity, and produced a shotgun based on the same Scout platform. As a matter of fact, the test gun I received is marked “Scout” on both sides of the receiver.
If you are a sub gauge fan, you will recall CVA introduced the Spur .410 last year. For 2026, they added the Spur 28 gauge to the lineup.
The Spur 28 Gauge
The controls for the Spur; the triggerguard, trigger and hammer are easily reached. The triggerguard pivots to allow the shotgun to break open. The new shotgun was a bit stiff at first. After a few shots, and by manipulating the triggerguard, it opened without much effort.
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The OD Green furniture and matte blued metal on the test model blends into the turkey woods seamlessly. The Spur also comes in Mossy Oak Bottomlands/ Cerakote model. The stock and forearm is equipped with sling swivel studs for sling mounting.
I am not a big fan of synthetic stocks, however, I am a fan of stocks fitting me as they should. The Spur comes with two cheek pieces (.25 – .50 inch) which can be switched out with two, small torx head screws to keep your eye at the proper height to obtain a full field of view whether you use a scope or a red dot. I chose to mount a scope on the Spur 28 gauge for testing and the higher cheekpiece was perfect.
The Spur at the Bench
The 28 gauge is not associated with much recoil, however the new 28 gauge TSS offerings from Apex and Hevi pack more of a punch than I expected from the bench. But, the Crushzone recoil pad on the Spur helped to reduce the felt recoil. The Spur was delivered with a 14” length of pull, however, for smaller frame shooters the 1” spacer is easily removed with a medium Phillips screwdriver. The OD Green furniture on the test gun features molded checkering panels for a sure grip and the pistol grip boasts a palm swell on both sides molded into the stock to fill the hand. Though the stock is smaller it feels good in the hands.
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The trigger pull is a carryover from the excellent trigger found on the CVA Scout rifle and breaks at a very crisp 3.06 lbs. No creep, slop or overtravel.
In the event a scope is mounted on the shotgun, the Spur features a hammer extension to aid in cocking the shotgun. It is reversible for left or right-handed shooters.
The Barrel
The Spur features a 22” barrel chambered for 2 ½” and 2 ¾” shells. A Picatinny scope base is mounted from the factory.
The extended XX full .515 Trulock choke tube made for CVA is the perfect choke for TSS though it seemed to prefer the smaller sized pellets (7.5s- 9s) rather than the larger blended size pellets. The barrel accepts all Invector style choke tubes.
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I have noticed over the years, CVA guns were a bit heavier than other manufacturers, not a dig, just an observation. The Spur 28 weighs 7lbs. 2ozs. This weight comes from the heavier profile barrel of the Spur and is heavier than you will find on other 28 gauges.
The Scout Spur handles like a short-barreled rifle, compact and very handy. As a hunter who prefers to “run-n-gun” rather than sit in a blind waiting for a bird, I appreciate the handling properties, but it would be just as handy in a blind with its stubby barrel and overall length. You can easily maneuver around and not get caught up on window panels or spare equipment inside a blind.
Like a golfer with a bag full of clubs each having a different purpose, the Spur has a purpose; to kill turkeys. I am looking forward to putting the Spur through its paces this season.
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