What's your favorite turkey gun?

[DoniphanRedneck]

Mine is a pump shotgun and as far as I know it hasn't ever jammed or failed to eject..Just need a new barrel..
But to maybe since it being a pump it wouldn't have as much problems???

DoniphanRedneck

[semodeerhunter]

Mossberg 835 here too

[sptsman]

hobie - Since I have owned one for 10+ years and fired countless shells through it,let me help here. What Two Tall is saying is accurate. The action on the gun is generally sloppy and loose. I have handled and shot 835's other than my own and they were excatly the same. It isn't/wasn't just that I had a lemon. They're all that way. Perhaps some of the folks that love their's have either never shot a high quality shotgun, have low expectations or just got lucky and have one of the better 835's out there.

Regarding your comment/question about cleaning the gun, I can tell you that I keep my guns relatively clean. Do I clean them after every use? Nope. Do I clean them more than once every 10-15 uses? Yep. In short. I clean my guns when they need it. IF they get wet or muddy, they will be thoroughly cleaned that day or the next. If they've been used 3-5 times and had several rounds fired through them, they get cleaned. However, I don't clean my gun if it only has a few rounds fired through it, it didn't get dirty and I know I'm going to shoot it again within the week. Quite honestly, I shouldn't have to. I don't want a gun that requires a thorough cleaning after every use. Who's got time for that?

The main problem I had with the 835 was with 3 1/2" shells. They did not cycle well, often jamming between the magazine and chamber. Through some betrayal of the laws of physics, the shell would end up cock-eyed in the gun, stuck between the magazine and chamber. It would require careful extraction with my hunting knife and the use of multiple cuss words to get it out. Of course by then the ducks or geese were loooooong gone. I never did solve that problem, other than to just leave the gun home.

The second major problem had to do with extracting the spent shell from the chamber. At least 3-4 times, I would fire the gun and make a quick pump to cycle the next shell in and the old shell was stuck in the chamber. Needless to say, the new shell would not go in with the old shell still stuck there. I would have to take my hunting knife and use the tip to extract the spent shell. Apparently, the minor swelling of the brass that occurs when a shell is fired is more than the 835 allows. The solution was to take a brass brush that is made for a 12 Ga. and put it on the end of a drill. After taking the barrell off, I polished the chamber so smooth and shiney, it looked like glass. Then, I put a tiny drop of fine machine oil in the end of the chamber and wiped it around, creating a micro-thin layer on the wall. This pretty much eliminated the problem but was and still is a pain in the ass...

The third problem I have with the gun is the lack of room for error when pumping 3 1/2" shells. Granted this is more of an operator issue but it is caused by poor design. When you pump to cycle a 3 1/2" shell, you must pump 100% of the way down or you will have a jam. Not 99% or even 99.9% but 100%. With most pumps, you dodn't have to pump all the way back until the pump physically stops, then pump back forward. There is a point where the shell will cycle and you can begin the forward motion, before the pump slams to a halt due to lack of room. This problem makes for herkey-jerky pumping, rather than the smooth feel on a good gun...

I have no beef with the pattern whatsoever. I also like the lightweight nature of the gun. Although it kicks like a rented mule, I never seem to notice when firing at a tom. Patterning can be brutal if I fire more than 3-4 shells. The solution to that it to find a load you like and stick with it. Take one shot befor the season to make sure everything still works, including you, and there is no need to take multiple patterning shots.

I don't want to sound like a broken record here but anyone who has high expectations of this gun will be disappointed. It is a low cost gun and can work well for several uses. If you are hard on guns or you cycle more than a case or two a year, this is not the kind of gun you want. If you want a inexpensive gun that will kill a turkey stone dead, it works great...most of the time.

Hope that helps clarify some of what's been presented...

As always, no charge

[TOS]

Sptsman: That post probably ranks right up there with any advice MoBuck has ever given. Hats off once again to the CCGC. Hobie, if you want answers, we always have it covered. Bow, firearms, etc..., we have the knowledge. TOS

[B Smarr]

Got a 835 when they first came out great gun,used it for 9 years then shot AL390 so that was my new one gave the 835 to a friend and now have Franchi 912variomax.They are all great guns and there are plenty more out there.Just get one you like and good luck.

[hobiecat]

I guess I'm just lucky then, cause I haven't ever had any of those problems with mine (except the kicking like a mule). It's been nothin but reliable and as I said it patterns great. With such great luck with mine, I'm just supprised to hear anyone else being unsatisfied with'em.

[HawgDawg]

you guys are Funny!!!
DO THEM HIGH DOLLAR GUNS KILL 'EM ANY DEADER???

I'm a remington man myself, but couldn't bring myself to spend the extra $$ for gun used only to hunt turkey, so I bought a 835 2 years ago - 3.5 federal #5's & Mad Max choke. Light, Durable, Good sights, and shoots with any turkey gun I've put it against and havn't had a problem yet.

I'm not a waterfowler but did go on a couple goose trips with a buddy and the 835 was kicking them out like a champ while his Browning Gold 3 1/2 jammed once or twice.
I'de recomend them to anyone looking for a turkey specific gun!!!!

[sharps4590]

I use a pre-war Ithaca double in 16 gauge. It's always done everything I need done with a shotgun.

Vic

[sptsman]

hobie, HawgDawg and others - I'm not saying the 835 won't kill 'em dead. It has dropped many a critter for me as well. It will almost certainly kill another turkey or two this spring as well. That's not the issue with the 835 or any gun, for that matter. If all we ever needed from a gun was for it to go boom and kill what is on the other end, then we would only need a few different types of guns in this world. The fact is that many folks can afford to pay a little more for a better quality gun and are willing to do so. Will the critter at the receiving end be any more dead? Of course not. But the person shooting it will be much more comfortable, confident and ultimately successful if he has a gun that suits him better. No different than a rifle or bow or even fishing rods and reels...

When money is an issue (as it is for most of us) and the extra jack just isn't there to buy the better quality guns, the 835 is a fine choice. I made it myself when money was tight. But facts are facts. It's not a very high quality piece of machinery. To argue against this point is like arguing that the Porche is no better than the Ford Escort.

If you have never had a problem with your 835, I would say you haven't fired enough rounds through it to realize the problems that are inherent with that gun or you are just darn lucky to get one of them that are trouble free.

Again, not pickin' on anyone or their gun here. Just pointing out some pretty obvious stuff...

Good luck this spring!!

[JimH]

well dang, it use to be my 3 1/2" bps, but i sold it to a good friend of mine this winter so i could buy that O/U i wanted and not piss off the mrs. (can i type the "P" word here?)so now for turkeys i guess i'll be going back to my old winchester pump for this year until i find a good turkey tube for that U/O. right now the O/U has a imp. mod as the tightest, so i'll be waiting to use it on the birds untill this fall if it works out right.

[hobiecat]

When money is an issue (as it is for most of us) and the extra jack just isn't there to buy the better quality guns, the 835 is a fine choice.

Sptsman, you know when it comes to huntin and fishin gear, money has never been issue for me. I reckon I can afford just bout anything I want. I picked up my 835 several years ago when it was bout the only choice you had, if you wanted to shoot 3 1/2" shells. It is light weight, has a short barrell, patterns well, and as I have said it has never given me a problem one. I use it specifically for turkey hunting (I have other 12 guages I use for other things), so it doesn't get shot except for patterning loads before season and killin birds during season. Now, given all these things and since this was a post on your favorite "turkey" gun, I stand by my choice. If we were talkin bout favorite wing, duck gun, or slug gun I would prolly have a different choice, but we aren't we are speakin on favorite "turkey" gun.

[sptsman]

Fair enuf...

[Gutpile]

I use a slingshot...the CCGC is hardcore baby...

[DoniphanRedneck]

Slingshot??? heck no!!! You've got to grab them by the neck and snap it like a twig!!

DoniphanRedneck

[hobiecat]

When I really want a challenge I use the Ninja Throwing Stars. Now that's hardcore.