870 Supermag VS Mossberg 835

[Coldfinger]

I have had 870's and like the safety position better, and think they used to be built better. (More metal internals) Mossbergs backbored barrel is a hard one to beat for patterns tho. I've taken patterns out to 100 yards to see how they look On Paper! I just wished they didn't add the porting in the barrel.

 

[vog2hunt]

I have and shot both. I will say, i may have gotten lucky but the Mossberg shot great in two load attempts. The Rem took a bit longer to figure out. Both shoot amazing now, i don't feel ethical shooting at turkeys at the distances these guns could do it.

Mossberg pros: made for turkey hunting (over bore = less pellet deformation)
Cheaper
Readily available chokes/replacement items (stock, sight, scope base)
Cons: kicks like an ill tempered mule (i only shoot it once a year, i forget how much it kicks by then)
trigger gritty, not important with turkey hunting in the moment

Rem Pros: more robust sounding and functional build (feels better)
Readily available chokes/replacement items (stock, sight, scope base) (maybe the most common shotgun ever)
Find them anywhere
Cons: More Expensive compared to the Mossberg
Can take some work to find a load, I own 4 and 1 came ready to play, 1 took a few chokes to find one that it liked, 1 took a ton of work (lengthen forcing cone, polish barrel, high end choke, hand loaded shells) to get to the turkey killing levels i want

 

[Ace Quackhunter]

As my sons and I are now all turkey hunting together, I need a another turkey gun and are down to either a 870 super mag or a Mossberg 835. I am leaning strongly towards the Mossberg 835 as it comes drilled and tapped for a scope which is in my opinion a HUGE advantage because I'm going to put a red dot on which ever gun I buy. Also important but to a slightly lesser degree is the 835 is cheaper than the 870.

I will be the only one using the gun as my boys will be using the 870's.

What I would like to know is there any major reason not to buy the Mossberg 835 VS the 870 Supermag? I've read two things about the mossberg VS the 870 #1 some people claim the 870 is better made than the 835 and some people have claimed the Mossberg 835's trigger is not as good as the 870 Supermags. Has anyone found either of these claims to be true? Is the 835's trigger rough enough to be considered a deal breaker? After all this is a shotgun I'm trying to get a good pattern inside a 10" circle at 40 yards not under an inch at 100 yards.

I have also read that the Mossberg's over-bored barrel is designed specifically for turkey hunting and throws tighter patterns than the 870 does over all regardless of chokes or pellet size. Is this at all true?

Lastly strangely enough no one near me has any 835's in stock so I can do a hands on side by side inspection and comparison of a 835 VS a 870 Supermag, so the information I receive here will have significant impact on which gun I buy.


This gun will be for turkey hunting only and not see use hunting anything else.

Thanks,
Art.

I have the 870 in 3" mag. I use for duck hunting and I bought the 835 for goose hunting. The 835 will knock down geese all day long and for the money and durability I would go with the 835. It should work great on turkey, with the right choke tube.

 

[eastbank]

where do you buy 3.5" shells for 2.00 a piece?

 

[Coldfinger]

New York is that high or low?

 

[eastbank]

thats low here.

 

[Coldfinger]

Haha lucky me for living in Hitlers state!!!! They're prolly higher now but low brass 6-71/2 get anything I need done out of a freaking tight mad max tube

 

[Tiny Tim]

Do your shoulder a favor and check out the pattern from a full choked 835 shooting low brass 6-71/2 shot. Works for me but I'm sure there are tons of professional turkey slayers that will have a legitimate reason to by 3.5" shotshells at over $2 apiece.

$2.00 a piece? Lol. High end Hevi-shot Turkey loads are $5.00-$6.00 each. And that's when there's a rebate!