Hey guys,new member,first post ! Been lurking on this site for a while and really appreciate all the knowledge about guns and loads. I've got a Mossy 835,24" ported barrel and although I've seen many posts about chokes and loads for 835's, most are for 3.5" loads.I'm not particularly recoil shy but will admit that the 3.5" round is painful. I want to use 3" loads so here's my question.....what single choke/load combo for 3" loads performs best in my 835 ? I love to shoot but will never go buy a bunch of expensive chokes just to test them so I'm calling on all the experience here for some help.Thanks in advance for the help.....this site is great ! :you_rock:
Hey let me start of by saying :welcomeOG: And I have your exact set up. I went and got a jelly head choke and shoot Win ext # 5's through it 3" shell. I get a great pattern at 40 yards. Hope that helps.
My 835 has never threw a good pattern with 3" shells. I would probably try the Hevi13 3-2-6 load if you wanted to shoot a 3". I think mine was around 130 in the 10" @ 40yds.
I can beat that with a $12 box of 3.5" HV's from walmart.
my 835 don't like 3" shells. haven't broke 200 with 3" 7s yet
Honestly, I bought an 835 to shoot 3.5's, shooting 3's never really crossed my mind. I tried them but had no real expectations that they would out shoot the 3.5's.
There's nite and day difference between shooting the 3" Hevi-13 loads and the 3.5" Hevi-13 loads in my 835. I have even showed people the difference. Why would anyone want to shoot just 3" shells after owning an 835?
looks like I need to do some more research maybe my pattern isn't as good as I think it is. But to be honest those 3.5 hurt when I first got my gun last year i shot 4 3.5's through it and my shoulder was saw for three days. But that just comes with the territory I guess.
Have any of you guys tried 3"s with a polished barrel?
Quote from: kyhunter57 on February 26, 2012, 07:38:19 PM
Hey guys,new member,first post ! Been lurking on this site for a while and really appreciate all the knowledge about guns and loads. I've got a Mossy 835,24" ported barrel and although I've seen many posts about chokes and loads for 835's, most are for 3.5" loads.I'm not particularly recoil shy but will admit that the 3.5" round is painful. I want to use 3" loads so here's my question.....what single choke/load combo for 3" loads performs best in my 835 ? I love to shoot but will never go buy a bunch of expensive chokes just to test them so I'm calling on all the experience here for some help.Thanks in advance for the help.....this site is great ! :you_rock:
Welcome to OG. We're glad to have you here and look forward to hearing more from you.
I shoot a lot of 3" shells through my 835, 935 and SSi-ONE guns. I have my best patterns with the Hevi-13 "Bronze" shells with 2 oz. of #6 shot. The #7 shot also does well but my guns prefer the #6 for pattern density. I use the SSX most of the time but the Hevi-13 and Pure Gold chokes all do well.
The common denominator in chokes for those guns is about .100 - .105 of constriction and that give you a choke with an exit diameter of between .670 and .675.
Good dense patterns with 180 - 200 are pretty common with the #6 shot in those guns and frankly I'd have to look to see the numbers with the #7 shot to give you more precise information.
Thanks,
Clark
I would recommend checking with choke manufactures on their results. For example, Kick's recommends 3" #6's out of a .670 choke with the ol' 835.
I only shoot 3 inch in my 835 and a Carlson's choke. I shoot mag blend and #7 both have cleanly killed turkeys for me without the recoil. Now with the limbsaver recoil pad 3.5 recoil is not all that bad but my preference is the 3 inch shells. My two hunting buddies also shoot 3 inch mag blends and last year one took 2 turkeys on different days at "reasonable yardage" with both birds dead on contact.
Heard good things about Hevi 3" 6s 2 oz and a JellyHead. Good Luck!
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on February 26, 2012, 10:38:09 PM
There's nite and day difference between shooting the 3" Hevi-13 loads and the 3.5" Hevi-13 loads in my 835. I have even showed people the difference. Why would anyone want to shoot just 3" shells after owning an 835?
:icon_thumright:
Thanks Myles.
Here let me back up my claim with my evidence. Now granted that 3" pattern will smoke any turkey out there at reasonable ranges. This one below was shot with the .670 Pure Gold. I have tried shooting these 3" loads through my better shooting .676 Star Dot, and you can clearly see the difference on paper and are typically about like the Pure Gold pattern below.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF00654.jpg)
Now why settle for that unless that's all you want or you don't like the recoil of course when you can have patterns like this?
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF00593.jpg)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF00844.jpg)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF0056_Small_.jpg)
And then there will be some wanting to know but yea but how's the 20" pattern so I might as well show you.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF00532.jpg)
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on February 26, 2012, 10:38:09 PM
There's nite and day difference between shooting the 3" Hevi-13 loads and the 3.5" Hevi-13 loads in my 835. I have even showed people the difference. Why would anyone want to shoot just 3" shells after owning an 835?
Your pattern proves your point as they always have. In my case I still can not see well enough to shoot with my right eye and I shoot right handed so I use my left eye and a Mueller to compensate so recoil will always be an issue for me. With that said the 3 inch kills as good as the 3.5 it just has fewer pellets so it makes me take my time and do it right. Your patterns are what many strive for on this site!! :newmascot:
If I went this way with 3" shells, I'd shoot a SSX .670 and Hevi #7's. If you wanted to spend a little more on choke then a Pure Gold .670 or Indian Creek .675 would be good choices as well. The 7's will kill and give you great patterns in the 3" shell. Cheaper too!!
I have a 20" barrel 835.
Mine 835 go with Indian Creek Choke on 3 inches over 3 half inches and it s good pattern density with Polisher Barrel I used Remington Nitro #5 really knock down fast killed 6 Pa. Gobblers....... :fud::newmascot:
If you can find some of the pre-flight control federal 3" #6 loads and a .676 Stardot you would be set. 40 yard birds were no problem. Mine shot them exceptionaly good. That said the same gun with the W-W 3.5" #6 of #5 is one more turkey smashing machine. With this combo I have never seen the need to go to heavy shot. reflexl
Thanks for all the responses guys....lots of stuff to consider.I'm leaning towards the PG in .670 since it seems to be a real popular choice for 835's. I'll pattern the 3" shells I have and if they aren't real good I'll get some 3.5's....and a Limbsaver pad,lol. Thanks for the help.
Quote from: mossy835 on February 27, 2012, 01:35:09 PM
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on February 26, 2012, 10:38:09 PM
There's nite and day difference between shooting the 3" Hevi-13 loads and the 3.5" Hevi-13 loads in my 835. I have even showed people the difference. Why would anyone want to shoot just 3" shells after owning an 835?
Your pattern proves your point as they always have. In my case I still can not see well enough to shoot with my right eye and I shoot right handed so I use my left eye and a Mueller to compensate so recoil will always be an issue for me. With that said the 3 inch kills as good as the 3.5 it just has fewer pellets so it makes me take my time and do it right. Your patterns are what many strive for on this site!! :newmascot:
Well thanks for the kind words. Your making my head swell. But seriously I meant nothing bad about shooting 3" shells and your case in point I do understand why. And others may just like the 3" shells over the 3.5" and don't want a better or maybe need a better pattern. I do respect their choice. I always say that choice is good as long as it works.
I will admit that I switched from 3.5" to 3" in my 835. This is only because I purchased several boxes of the old white Hevi 3" 6's from a member here and the patterns were better than what I was getting with the new 3.5 6's. The only problem I found with the old white shells is the consistency from shell to shell. I've got white buffer material coming out of some and I can clearly hear differences in the shells when I shake them. Some rattle like the shot is all loose in there.
I just shot my 835 with the old Federal Premium 3" #6, 2oz loads. I got 240 in 10" at 35 yards. I love this shot and it is easy on the shoulder. The only problem is they are hard to find and the new Federal loads like this have the "flight control wad" and don't shoot near as well.
Quote from: unworthy on February 29, 2012, 10:48:15 AM
I just shot my 835 with the old Federal Premium 3" #6, 2oz loads. I got 240 in 10" at 35 yards. I love this shot and it is easy on the shoulder. The only problem is they are hard to find and the new Federal loads like this have the "flight control wad" and don't shoot near as well.
I wish I had a bunch of those! One of the best turkey loads ever. The flight control through the stardot is spotty at best. reflexl
I haven't had any personal experience, but I've heard the flight control wads suck for duck hunting as well...
240 at 35 yards! Wow! That would be better the some htl loads at 40. Good find!
Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk
Quote from: WildSpur on February 29, 2012, 11:36:05 AM
240 at 35 yards! Wow! That would be better the some htl loads at 40. Good find!
Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk
I don't doubt that a bit. The pattern from these loads threw a very tight concentration of shot at the center of the pattern. I still haven't figured out why they ruined a good thing. reflexl
I sent federal an email early this morning asking why they stopped making them. I'm anxious to see what they have to say.
I have the exact same setup you have. I polished the barrel, added a pure gold .670, and use hevishot. With 3.5/2.25/6 I can get 245 in 10" at 40 yards, and will post 142 at 50 yards! If you want to avoid the punishing recoil of the 3.5", avoid magblends, use 3" Shells in either #6 or 7. Be sure to pattern your shells extensively to establish the range you can make an ethical kill.
Well guys I just made a liar out of myself. I was shooting my little 20" barreled 870 with the Winchester XX gray box 3" 1 7/8oz #5's. They are like $7 a box at WallyWorld. It was throwing 95-108 @ 41yds and I was happy.
My 835 had 4 rounds fired and only boresnaked between rounds. I put up a new piece of paper and shot one of the 3" XX #5's just to prove myself right. 41yds 3" XX #5's - 119, looks like I may have just got a new dirt cheap load. The 2nd shot went 111 just to see if it was a fluke.