Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call Review

Here’s What You’ll Love (or Not) About the Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call

As a gear and equipment specialist with over a decade of hands-on experience, I’ve always been on the lookout for calls that bridge the gap between ease of use and authentic sound. The Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call caught my attention because it promised the rich tone of a diaphragm call with an added layer of complexity. I was particularly drawn to its claims of producing a full spectrum of turkey vocalizations, from soft contentment to aggressive rasps. My previous calls, while functional, often left me wishing for a bit more versatility or a simpler learning curve. After years of fumbling with multiple reeds or struggling to achieve specific tones, the idea of a call designed for enhanced playability was compelling. Upon first inspection, the call felt well-constructed, with a material that seemed durable enough for field use. While I considered other high-end diaphragm calls, they often came with a steeper price tag and a reputation for being more challenging for less experienced users. My initial impression was one of practical curiosity; could this call truly simplify the art of turkey calling without sacrificing authenticity?

Real-World Testing: Putting Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call to the Test

My testing began in the familiar, but often unforgiving, environment of a local woodland during the spring turkey season. I spent hours practicing in the early mornings, mimicking the sounds of hens to try and draw in a gobbler. The call was used both while stationary in a blind and while on the move, simulating more active hunting scenarios. I intentionally exposed it to light dew and the general grit of the forest floor, as well as significant humidity.

First Use Experience

From the moment I placed the Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call in my mouth, its slightly smaller diaphragm felt comfortable and controllable. The initial attempts to produce basic clucks and yelps were surprisingly natural, requiring less air pressure than I anticipated. The transition to purrs and contented sounds was equally straightforward, offering a soft, nuanced tone. I was particularly impressed with how quickly I could shift between these sounds, a testament to its intuitive design.

One surprising quirk was that it took a few attempts to get the hang of producing truly raspy yelps; it seemed to require a slightly different air channel or pressure point than the softer sounds. However, once I found that sweet spot, the rasp was indeed quite pronounced and authentic-sounding. I didn’t encounter any immediate issues, but I did notice that prolonged use (over an hour) could lead to slight lip fatigue, a common characteristic of diaphragm calls.

Extended Use & Reliability

Over the course of several weeks, this diaphragm call became my go-to for nearly every turkey hunting outing. It endured being stuffed into pockets, occasionally dropped (though thankfully not onto concrete), and subjected to the rigors of early morning hunts. The call has held up remarkably well, showing no signs of material degradation or loss of acoustic performance. The latex reeds remained pliable, and the tape seal stayed intact.

Cleaning the call was as simple as rinsing it with water after each use and allowing it to air dry, a process that took mere minutes. I haven’t noticed any stiffness or loss of volume. Compared to some budget calls I’ve used in the past, which often lose their crispness after a few outings, this call’s durability is a significant advantage. It performs just as well now as it did on the first day, a mark of true reliability.

Breaking Down the Features of Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call

Specifications

The Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call is designed with a few key attributes in mind, all aimed at enhancing its performance and user-friendliness. It features a slightly smaller diaphragm, which contributes to its ease of use, making it more adaptable for a wider range of hunters. This design choice directly impacts how comfortably it sits in the mouth and how easily one can control their air and tongue for sound production.

The call also boasts a slightly deeper tone compared to many standard diaphragm calls. This deeper pitch is crucial for producing calls with greater volume and complexity, allowing hunters to project their calls further and mimic a wider variety of turkey vocalizations. This aspect is particularly important for cutting through ambient noise in the field.

A notable design element is the additional Reed Baffle. This is a significant enhancement over a true diaphragm call, as it is specifically engineered to produce better tone. The PS1-R Reed Baffle, in particular, is integrated to refine the sound quality, preventing unwanted overtones and ensuring a cleaner, more authentic turkey vocalization.

Performance & Functionality

The core function of the Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call is to accurately mimic turkey sounds, and it largely succeeds with impressive fidelity. It excels at producing the all the clucks, purrs, and soft tree, feeding and content yelps described in its specifications. These softer, more intimate calls are crucial for luring cautious birds or closing the distance once a gobbler is engaged.

Where this call truly shines is in its ability to produce all the raspy yelps that bring game to you. The combination of the diaphragm design and the Reed Baffle allows for a distinct rasp that is highly attractive to turkeys. It doesn’t just create a generic yelp; it imbues the sound with the sort of aggressive, attention-grabbing quality that often prompts a response from a distant gobbler.

While its performance is excellent across the board, the slight learning curve for achieving the most aggressive raspy yelps is the only minor functional limitation. It requires a bit of practice to master the precise tongue placement and air control needed for those top-tier sounds, but once achieved, the result is highly effective. It definitely meets and often exceeds expectations for a call in its price bracket, delivering a performance often associated with more expensive, pro-grade models.

Design & Ergonomics

The design of the Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call is clearly centered on making it an easy to use tool for hunters. The choice of a slightly smaller diaphragm is a masterstroke in ergonomic design, allowing for a more natural fit in the mouth and reducing the awkwardness that some beginners experience with larger calls. This makes it significantly more accessible, even for those new to diaphragm calling.

The build quality feels solid. The latex reeds are flexible yet appear durable, and the tape used to secure them is strong. The overall construction suggests it can withstand the demands of regular field use without falling apart. The reed baffle, while an internal component, is part of the overall thoughtful design that aims to optimize sound production.

Usability is high; once you get past the initial learning phase for the most nuanced sounds, operating this call becomes second nature. The ability to transition smoothly between different vocalizations is a testament to its ergonomic considerations. The lack of overly complex features keeps the focus on making realistic sounds, rather than battling with complicated mechanics.

Durability & Maintenance

In terms of durability, the Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call has proven to be quite resilient. After extended use in various conditions, the latex reeds have maintained their elasticity and the tape has held firm. I haven’t observed any premature cracking or stiffness, which can be common issues with lower-quality diaphragm calls.

Maintenance is refreshingly simple. A quick rinse with clean water after each use, followed by air drying, is all that’s needed to keep it in optimal condition. This minimal upkeep is crucial for hunters who are often on the move and don’t have the luxury of extensive cleaning routines. There’s nothing particularly finicky to watch out for; it’s designed to be a robust, field-ready piece of gear.

Potential failure points are minimal. The most likely area for wear over a very long period would be the latex reeds, but given their quality, this is unlikely to be an issue for at least a full season, if not longer. Compared to calls that require complex maintenance or are made from less forgiving materials, this diaphragm call is a champion of low-maintenance performance.

Accessories and Customization Options

The Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call comes as a single unit, and the product description doesn’t indicate any included accessories. However, the primary enhancement comes from its integrated Reed Baffle and PS1-R Reed Baffle, which are built into the call’s design rather than being separate add-ons. This internal feature is a key part of what differentiates it.

While there aren’t traditional customization options like interchangeable reeds or tips, the inherent design offers a degree of versatility. The call’s ability to produce a range of sounds means that while you can’t swap parts, you can certainly achieve diverse vocalizations through user technique. It is built to work effectively on its own, negating the immediate need for external accessories to achieve core functionality.

Pros and Cons of Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call

Who Should Buy Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call?

The Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call is an excellent choice for intermediate turkey hunters who are looking to refine their calling skills or for experienced hunters who want a reliable call that offers excellent tonal variety. It’s also a great option for beginners who are serious about learning diaphragm calling and want a user-friendly starting point that doesn’t compromise on sound quality. This diaphragm call is ideal for those who hunt in a variety of environments where both soft, close-range calls and louder, far-reaching yelps are needed.

Hunters who need highly specialized, or extremely delicate, nuanced calls for very specific situations or subspecies of turkey might consider more advanced, multi-reed custom calls. However, for general North American turkey hunting, this call is more than capable. I’d recommend pairing it with a good quality striker call for gobble and cutting sounds to create a complete calling arsenal, though it performs admirably on its own for the primary vocalizations.

Conclusion on Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call

The Primos Hunting Select Diaphragm Turkey Call delivers on its promise of providing excellent tone quality and a versatile range of sounds with an emphasis on ease of use. Its thoughtfully designed Reed Baffle and ergonomic diaphragm size make it a standout option for hunters seeking authentic turkey vocalizations without an overly steep learning curve. While mastering the most aggressive rasp might take a few tries, the call’s overall performance, durability, and accessibility make it a strong contender in its price bracket.

For its price of $16.89, the value proposition is very high. You get a reliable, well-constructed call capable of producing the sounds that can make or break a hunt. I would personally recommend this call to any turkey hunter looking to expand their calling repertoire or simply find a dependable diaphragm call that consistently performs. If you’re looking for a practical, effective, and budget-friendly way to “speak the language” of the wild turkey, this model is definitely worth adding to your gear.