I recently made a thread about semi-autos but now im also considering pump actions for a dedicated turkey gun. I know these two guns have been reviewed over the years and I'm likely opening up a can of worms but I would like to get everyone's current opinions on the Remington 870 magnums vs Mossberg 835s, especially in the most recent years since Remington's manufacturing quality has gone down quite a bit (I have first hand experience with this in their 700 rifles). From what I read is in the past the 870 won out in terms of fit/finish, after market support, functionality of the pump action and that the Mossberg was a bit cheaper cost wise, not as nice fit and finish, might rattle but typically threw better patterns. Personally, I do not care too much about fit and finish, however, loud rattles would concern me with a turkey that might be 10-20 yards away. I like that the 835 has a tang safety and overbored barrel to help with patterns. I also like that their is a specific Mossberg 835 turkey model which has recoil reduction and such. My two priorities in this shotgun for turkey hunting would be first good patterns to 50 yards and second loud rattles would definitely be a no go. Please do not bash for the 50 yard comment as yes I always try to call them in as close as possible but I have had one incident where the bird was further than i had ranged and luckily I did not wound it (maybe shouldnt have shot) but also turkey land near me is hard to come by and if im getting close to the end of the season i will shoot at further distances to get some meat in the fridge. I welcome all thoughts!
870 or 835. It really makes no difference to the bird, both will pattern and both go bang when you pull the trigger. Handle both and purchase the one you like best. Your goal can be accomplish with either.
Not going to bash your 50 yard comment, just tell ya my philosophy. Don't take a shot on the last day that you wouldn't on the first. Never pass on an animal on the first day that you would be happy with on the last day.
Quote from: dirt road ninja on January 02, 2018, 03:29:20 PM
870 or 835. It really makes no difference to the bird, both will pattern and both go bang when you pull the trigger. Handle both and purchase the one you like best. Your goal can be accomplish with either.
unfortunately I cannot handle both. I only live near 2 dealers and they tend to only carry the basic models. I would be ordering one through them (likely a turkey specific model).
I'd go Mossy. They are already drilled and tapped and a few bucks cheaper. The money save on the gun could be put toward ammo. The ammo makes the gun not the other way around. My cheap 935 with good ammo will embarrass guns costing 3x as much.
Quote from: dirt road ninja on January 02, 2018, 03:43:29 PM
I'd go Mossy. They are already drilled and tapped and a few bucks cheaper. The money save on the gun could be put toward ammo. The ammo makes the gun not the other way around. My cheap 935 with good ammo will embarrass guns costing 3x as much.
thanks!
both are good guns. Alot of parts around for them. Now the 870 is easier to work the trigger on.
To me the 835 ulti-mag is THE turkey gun, you gotta have one. :fud:
Mossy gets mt vote. Nothing wrong with the 870 though. The "rattle" can be fixed by some adhesive felt between the barrel and forearm.
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Quote from: Double B on January 02, 2018, 04:56:11 PM
To me the 835 ulti-mag is THE turkey gun, you gotta have one. :fud:
X2
I would get the 835
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Do your homework, handle both guns, shoot them if you can and go with your gut. Both will do the job but there are 10,000,000 Rem 870's out there. :z-twocents:
Ive had both guns and am a big fan of em both. It really comes down to minute details and specific models... Remington is lighter, trigger is an easy fix, fit and finish is probably better overall. Most of the current 870 Turkey models come drilled and tapped nowadays too. The 835 is probably gonna throw a better overall pattern, especially with 3.5" mags. If it were me, it would end up coming down to whether i was looking to shoot 3" or 3.5" shells... No since in carrying the extra weight of an 835 if your only interested in shooting 3", IMO... This would be my pick out of any current manufacture 870 or 835. https://www.remington.com/shotguns/pump-action/model-870/model-870-sps-super-mag-turkey-predator-w/scope Sweet handling guns and the shurshot stock really helps tame recoil in the one i shot.
I did quite a bit of research on the Mossy and 870. Too me it came down to the weight. The 870 is lighter so lugging it to my spots will be easier. I'm pretty happy with the 870 so far. I have ordered a few different chokes to see what patterns best.
Weight is the absolute last thing I worry about when it comes to a hunting weapon. I'll shave a pound or two off my gut first.
I vote Mossberg. Tough to best an 835's pattern.
870 no question.
Mossberg 835 turkey model weighs 7.5lbs, Remington 870 turkey model weighs 7.25lbs. I don't find the weight savings a valid argument unless your backcountry hunting. However they are both proven turkey guns, I am a Mossberg man simply for the fact that I'm a lefty and I like the ambidextrous safety. Remington makes an 870 thats a lefty but I was given a Mossberg 500 20 years ago as a college graduation gift and liked the feel and I now tote an 835. Its all about personal preference, both a solid guns.
mossberg all day if for no other reason than the top tang safety.
835 for me as well. Bought mine at Wally world 10 years ago and she has been a turkey killing machine. The 835 shoots all shells well with the overbored barrel. Plenty of chokes to choose from. I shoot the Hevi 13 7's with a .670 Pure Gold and she hammers birds. Good luck with your search.
Very happy with my 870 but I've never shot a 835.
I shoot an 870. I recently chose an 870 Supermag for my son over the 835 for the oppposite reason that everyone chooses the 835. I didn't want the overboared barrel because you can never shoot a slug out of the Mossy. I picked up a new camo 26" supermag from dicks just before Christmas for $375. It is drilled and tapped for optics, but I'm hoping it'll shoot POA. I have a plain old 870 express in 28" that has never failed me and never needed optics. I can swap chokes and shoot buck, slugs, ducks or game loads easily. I also have a turkey/ predator that is a dedicated rig. If I'm honest, aside from the maneuverability and "cool, badass turkey gun" look, it's not that much better than the old 3" 870 express. Shooting the older plain 870 has never cost me a bird, it's a killer for sure. My son is "graduating" from a mossberg 500 youth 20g that has killed a bird every year as well. It has never failed. I have two complaints about that gun. First it's noisy as hell (like carrying a coffee can full of pennies) second, there is a little ridge inside the receiver that makes it a little difficult to quickly load. I don't know if this is an issue with an 835 or strictly limited to the 500 20g. Other than that the Mossy is a fine gun. If you're fixed on mossberg and want 3.5" with the ability to shoot slugs , you'll need an extra barrel or a 535 which isn't overboared. Good luck with whichever you choose. They are all great guns.
Good point on the over bored 835 barrel, says right on the barrel no slugs, its a single purpose turkey gun for me. But they do shoot a great pattern.
Quote from: FXDWG on January 07, 2018, 08:50:52 AM
I shoot an 870. I recently chose an 870 Supermag for my son over the 835 for the oppposite reason that everyone chooses the 835. I didn't want the overboared barrel because you can never shoot a slug out of the Mossy. I picked up a new camo 26" supermag from dicks just before Christmas for $375. It is drilled and tapped for optics, but I'm hoping it'll shoot POA. I have a plain old 870 express in 28" that has never failed me and never needed optics. I can swap chokes and shoot buck, slugs, ducks or game loads easily. I also have a turkey/ predator that is a dedicated rig. If I'm honest, aside from the maneuverability and "cool, badass turkey gun" look, it's not that much better than the old 3" 870 express. Shooting the older plain 870 has never cost me a bird, it's a killer for sure. My son is "graduating" from a mossberg 500 youth 20g that has killed a bird every year as well. It has never failed. I have two complaints about that gun. First it's noisy as hell (like carrying a coffee can full of pennies) second, there is a little ridge inside the receiver that makes it a little difficult to quickly load. I don't know if this is an issue with an 835 or strictly limited to the 500 20g. Other than that the Mossy is a fine gun. If you're fixed on mossberg and want 3.5" with the ability to shoot slugs , you'll need an extra barrel or a 535 which isn't overboared. Good luck with whichever you choose. They are all great guns.
This will be a dedicated turkey gun so no need for slugs and my current shotgun can shoot slugs anyway. ThAnks for the info.
Quote from: fmf on January 05, 2018, 01:09:27 PM
mossberg all day if for no other reason than the top tang safety.
Actually the safety is what kept me away from Mossberg. I like pistol grip stocks on a dedicated turkey gun. Personally it was easier to manipulate the safety on the 870 with a pistol grip stock. In my opion both guns are very well made made and you can't go wrong with either, but that was the deciding factor for me.
I've owned several of both over the years. In my experience, the 835s patterned better. Neither ever let me down as far as feeding or overall function. One of the 870s had POA/POI issues that was bad enough that I wouldn't hunt with it. Recoil is brutal from both with 3.5" loads.
Currently own a 870 but in 20. Great little gun. My vote for a dedicated turkey gun in 12 is the SA-459. Lot of gun for the money.
Something to keep in mind is the safety location if you purchase a pistol grip. The thumb safety on Mossberg is a little awkward in this situation. I haven't used any of the old 870's to say that the quality has went downhill but my 870 is 7 years old and I am yet to have a single problem with it.
870 without question. I know we aren't talking youth guns but I bought my son the Mossberg youth turkey gun initially and it was the biggest piece of shi*** I have ever bought and the slide mechanism was as chnisy and loud as you can imagine. I lost a bunch of money and traded it in to get a new 870. Far superior in my opinion.
I have several of the mossbergs with pistol grip stock(4) I wouldn't have the safety any other way, I love it :z-winnersmiley:
Try them see what fits you best, they're both reliable guns. 870 with the shurshot stock and rifle sights is a great combo. But I'm partial to Remington's I have a couple 870's, a Versamax and a 11-87.
I have both, and for a turkey gun you can't beat a Mossy 835, and deer I use the 870. Now I love both and both patterns good, but I feel with the over bore the 835 Patterns better.
I've had both, and like both. The 835 that I had was a turkey only setup with a 20" barrel and thumbhole stock. It patterned very well, and killed every bird that I ever squeezed the trigger on with it. The safety was a little cantankerous to me on that gun with the thumbhole stock, but manageable. Not as convenient as the location on an 870, but manageable. The thing about that gun, though, is that it had so much more felt recoil than the 870 that I had prior to it. Maybe it was just me, but it was obvious to me. I ended up selling it for more than I gave for it, and now roll with a turkey specific 870 with a 23" barrel and shur-shot stock. I prefer it slightly more than the 835...but they are both great. The 835 does rattle like a baby toy, so what one poster said about some felt may be needed...I never felt it was so bad that it would run a turkey off, though.
After testing for myself (not simply going with what someone else said was a good choke/load combo...which CAN get expensive), I found a difference at 40 yards on average of about 6 pellets. I averaged 233 hits at 40 yards out of the 835, and 227 out of the 870 at 40 yards. For the small preferences I personally had for the 870, I'm good with giving up those 6 pellets...lol.
Between those two, you can't make a bad decision. You might even try looking the used route...people are always wanting to try something new, and you might be able to find a steal!
Years back it used to be aftermarket parts like stocks and chokes leaned 870. Nowadays it seems they run about even on options. Both are turkey killers. I have both. It feels to me 835 fits a longer arm better but then again the optional l.o.p butt stock can adjust that.
Best 870 turkey gun ever made was the spst in obsession. Rem had to go jack that up.. cough cough.. bankruptcy
Quote from: dirt road ninja on January 02, 2018, 03:43:29 PM
I'd go Mossy. They are already drilled and tapped and a few bucks cheaper. The money save on the gun could be put toward ammo. The ammo makes the gun not the other way around. My cheap 935 with good ammo will embarrass guns costing 3x as much.
Some 870 models are drilled and tapped as well. The older spst came that way. Not sure what they're doing these days. Here is an express version with 26" barrel with tapped receiver. Always liked that model. They pattern good.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/995690443/81125-Remington-870-Express-Super-Mag-Turkey-Waterfowl-12-gauge.htm
870's for years and years. Working great.
Couldn't wait to sell 835 and 935's. Too heavy and clunky feeling.
You can't go wrong with either, just depends on which one feels better. I like my 870's....
Best point is the one Big Jeremy made about felt recoil....the mossy will knock a cross eyed person straight!!!! Both are gonna have significant recoil but you can tame that down with a good recoil pad,Supercell for the Remington,and a Limbsaver for the Mossy ,although my pop-n-law got a supercell to fit on his Mossy. Anyways, gobbler74 made a terrific point about the older SPS-T (the older one i'm speakin' of had MOBU camo) it came out new in 1999,had a 23" bbl.,shot 3.5",came with twin beads, and was supplied with turkey extra full & turkey super full choke tubes,and as I already pointed out was camo'd in a waaaaay cool pattern. Now,it may take some digging' ,but ifn' you cold find one of those.....THAT would be a perfect go-to gun!!!! Came out new in 1999,2000,&2001 the order/sku #4968,then in 2002-05 order/sku # 24968 (same gun,different sku #) 2006-2009 is where they changed the camo from MOBU to Obsession and gave it order/sku #25007....same gun,different camo. Now for 2006-08 the same gun could be had again in MOBU but instead of callin' it SPS-T,they called it 870 express super mag camo order/sku #25131. Hope I didn't confuse ya too bad!!!! Like someone posted before me,the QC @ Remington has gone downhill dramatically,this is why i'm referencing all these older guns. If you wanna go on a search and try and find one of these babies I've found the easiest way to do it is type in Remington 870 SPS-T supermag camo then put the order/sku # in and then type gun.deals and search it that way,and you may very well find one your lookin' for. That gun.deals can be used to find just about any gun,ammo,scope,or huntin' related.Hope this helps,ifn' you need a hand with anything else,don't hesitate,thats what we are here for is to help one another!!!!!
Bought a pre-owned 870 Super Mag SPS-T Thumbhole vintage `05-`07. I don`t know how it compares to the newer models, but that`s one solid turkey gun. It`s like a block of steel forged into a gun. 23" barrel, sling and a red dot.