Getting ready to start from scratch patterning my 835 when it warms up. I plan on shooting HEVI-SHOT 6's. If you can choose 3 different chokes that would most likely be the best to try first, then let me know. Thank you.
An original star dot, and a strut stopper extreme. That is the only two I have messed with, Im sure others will be along to help out here shortly. If you haven't already, I would invest in a limb saver recoil pad. Good luck with it.
I planned on getting the recoil pad first thing. Also since you mentioned it I was actually planning on getting the SSX to start with since it's cheaper. Anyone else have any opinions?
Colonial Arms.676 (basically a stardot), .670 Pure Gold, and I think it's a .675 that Sumtoy makes that shoots the best that I've seen. Good luck
1. Original Stardot .676
2. Original Madd Maxx .680
3. Kicks GT .670
Those are the 3 that performed best with any shell I chose to shoot in my 835.
another vote for stardot original
Thanks so far guys! I have been searching and searching for an orginial Stardot but I can not find one. So is there anything else you would recommend besides the Stardot?
Original JellyHead
TruGlo SSX
StarDot/Indian Creek I haven't messes with these last two but they would be high on my list if I were back in the market.
SSX
Indian Creek BDS
Pure Gold .670
jelly head
sumtoy
rhino
I've shot the original jellyhead for 5 years now. I shoot them with heavy 13 #5 and they have put down every bird in a hurry. Devastating. That's all I can speak of because I haven't seen a reason to change
My Madd Super Max .695 shoots real close to my Star Dot in my 835.
Pure Gold .670 ,Indian Creek .675 and Kicks .670 all should shoot good hevi #6 :TrainWreck1:
Thanks again for all the replies guys! I used to shoot 7's last year and really loved them, but on black Friday this year I ran into a deal on the 3.5'' 6's that I couldn't pass up. So I bought all they had lol.
I have a Star Dot and think it is the best 835 choke but here are three that are EASILY attainable:
1. Indian Creek .675
2. TruGlo SSX .670
3. JellyHead .690
Good luck!
I am shooting Win XRHD #6 3.5" (at least till they run out) in a 24" 835.
Of the chokes I have tried, my results were:
Kicks .690 very open pattern but even distribution
Kicks .680 somewhat tighter
Kicks .670 decent hunting pattern, good for 30 yards and under
Pure Gold .670 good hunting pattern to 40 yards
Jelly Head .690 about like the Kicks .680
Indian Creek .675 scary tight pattern. Will reach on out there but under 20 yards no room for error.
I am using the Indian Creek with a open red dot sight.
Check out these threads:
Jelly Head: http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,18597.0.html
Hevi Shot Choke: http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,20209.0.html
Pure Gold: http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,18310.0.html
StartDot, Jellyhead, SSX: http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,17840.0.html
Quote from: gophert on January 20, 2014, 08:18:31 AM
Check out these threads:
Jelly Head: http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,18597.0.html
Hevi Shot Choke: http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,20209.0.html
Pure Gold: http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,18310.0.html
StartDot, Jellyhead, SSX: http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,17840.0.html
Thank you sir for taking the time to look that up for me. There is a few chokes that's just a touch more popular than the rest (SSX, Indian Creek, Jelly Head, and Pure Gold) but other than that it seems like there is a whole lot of chokes that does good in the 835.
I can't give you 3, But.....These are the 2 that have worked well for me.
J.H 690
Kicks 680
My vote goes to the SSX. Out of all the chokes listed, that one produced the most even and consistent patterns I have ever shot. I haven't tried a Stardot or Indian Creek, but I have found what works best for me.
One other thing. Clean the heck outta that choke, and run some low brass loads through it. Most chokes like to be broken in, and shoot much better the more they are shot. Best of luck! I think you will like that SSX. :icon_thumright:
^ I'm gonna try that ssx as well. Bin readin good stuff about it here. ;D
original .676 stardot
.679 Tru-glo GS
original .710 factory full (silver)came with the older 835's,this one that I have will shoot just about anything you put through it
If I were looking for one of the best Hevi-13 3.5" 2.25oz #6 load choke, I would have to strongly recommend this one from my findings. I put 245 shot inside a 10" at a taped 40yds with the very first shot from this same load. But the next shot wasn't as good around 180. So with continued shooting I would bet over 200 could easily be obtainable with this choke and a good lot # from this load.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mad-MD-1007-Turkey-Choke-for-12ga-Mossberg-835-Ulti-Mag-/111258483232?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e785ba20#ht_845wt_789
That choke was made by Indian Creek to the best of my knowledge.
The Indian Creek BDS .675 probably in my guess would also be another good candidate to shoot the Hevi-13 3.5" 2.25oz #6 with for great patterns. I don't believe I ever ran any of them in my Indian Creek I used to have. But I may have.
The Star Dot I have will do around 180 with this load mentioned above. It never has put close to 240 something in a 10" with that load at a taped 40yds.
The Star Dot choke I have shines above all others when shooting this exact same load mentioned but with #7's. No other choke I have shot will beat it for numbers with the 3.5" #7's in normal 60-70 degree turkey hunting weather here in MO. Now that's on my Moss 835 28" polished barrel I have. That's including Pure Gold, Indian Creek, Jelly Head, and TruGlo SSX. But I will say the SSX has been the next best shooting choke with this load. But in colder weather like in the 40's, the SSX has whipped the Star Dot with the 3.5" 7's. But I have to go off of what normal Spring temps are here in MO and what shoots the best patterns.
Lot 300325 has been the best shooting lot I have seen so far from the Hevi-13 3.5" 2.25oz #7 loads.
Here's what my Star Dot and gun can do with that load at a taped measured 40yds. I have a TruGlo open dot sight on this gun. I shot this one a few years ago with my buddy Mark and his son. I shot only 1 shell to make sure I was on. I told them both your looking at over 300 shot easily with this load. Temp was 75 degrees.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/brad541thb/DSCF2946Medium.jpg)
I also have done 360 in a 10" with this exact same lot # load.
I wanted to add another thought about that pattern I posted above. A guy on another turkey hunting forum wanted to know what's the most shot a person with a good shooting turkey load, choke and gun could obtain inside a 8" piece of duct tape at a taped 40yds. So I traced what would be the outline of a 8" strip over the densest part of that pattern above. I got a whopping 98 shot inside of what would be that 8" strip of tape. Here's a photo. That will show you exactly how dense that pattern is above. That's why I say if you own a Star Dot choke to shoot Hevi-13 3.5" 7's for densest patterns. The total number of hits alone would destroy what 6's will do from that exact same load. Now I'm just throwing that statement out there as the truth. That's not ripping Hevi-13 6 loads for I have a bunch of them, too. But that's for the guys that don't think you can kill a turkey cleanly at 40yds with Hevi-13 7's. I'm here to tell you they are simply wrong.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF5071.jpg)
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on January 21, 2014, 04:51:49 AM
I wanted to add another thought about that pattern I posted above. A guy on another turkey hunting forum wanted to know what's the most shot a person with a good shooting turkey load, choke and gun could obtain inside a 8" piece of duct tape at a taped 40yds. So I traced what would be the outline of a 8" strip over the densest part of that pattern above. I got a whopping 98 shot inside of what would be that 8" strip of tape. Here's a photo. That will show you exactly how dense that pattern is above. That's why I say if you own a Star Dot choke to shoot Hevi-13 3.5" 7's for densest patterns. The total number of hits alone would destroy what 6's will do from that exact same load. Now I'm just throwing that statement out there as the truth. That's not ripping Hevi-13 6 loads for I have a bunch of them, too. But that's for the guys that don't think you can kill a turkey cleanly at 40yds with Hevi-13 7's. I'm here to tell you they are simply wrong.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/526/DSCF5071.jpg)
Thank you for taking the time to give me some suggestions. I agree that Hevi 7's are devastating and they are all I have used for the past year. I just happened to run in to an incredible deal on the 6's that I couldn't pass up. I will look into the Mad max choke for sure.
ILIKEHEVI-13 is the only crazy nut to shoot that shoulder rattling, face slapping, gun with lots of different chokes. I would buy whatever he said to buy and be done with it. It will cut down on a bruised face.
Quote from: gophert on January 21, 2014, 10:37:59 AM
ILIKEHEVI-13 is the only crazy nut to shoot that shoulder rattling, face slapping, gun with lots of different chokes. I would buy whatever he said to buy and be done with it. It will cut down on a bruised face.
LOL!
I'll take that as a compliment.
But I will also add all 3.5" 2.25oz turkey loads are going to kick. The key is getting a nice softer recoil pad like the SIMS to reduce the felt recoil some. But I will agree the foream tighness is much better on the 870's. No doubt about it.
Quote
Thank you for taking the time to give me some suggestions. I agree that Hevi 7's are devastating and they are all I have used for the past year. I just happened to run in to an incredible deal on the 6's that I couldn't pass up. I will look into the Mad max choke for sure.
Your welcome. There is nothing wrong with buying a great deal. I don't blame you one bit. 6's will work just like the 7's will and penetrate deeper but will have less hits. So it's a give and take. Both will do the job super well at 40yds.
Quote from: ILIKEHEVI-13 on January 21, 2014, 10:46:50 AM
Quote from: gophert on January 21, 2014, 10:37:59 AM
ILIKEHEVI-13 is the only crazy nut to shoot that shoulder rattling, face slapping, gun with lots of different chokes. I would buy whatever he said to buy and be done with it. It will cut down on a bruised face.
LOL!
I'll take that as a compliment.
But I will also add all 3.5" 2.25oz turkey loads are going to kick. The key is getting a nice softer recoil pad like the SIMS to reduce the felt recoil some. But I will agree the foream tighness is much better on the 870's. No doubt about it.
Sory for the thread hyjack this was just an idea of mine. I'm sure I didn't invent it. Pipe insulation matching camo tape and a little velcro and of course the simms. This tamed mine down a lot.. with no slap in the mush.. ;D
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg299/TrackeySauresRex/IMG_0130-1.jpg) (http://s251.photobucket.com/user/TrackeySauresRex/media/IMG_0130-1.jpg.html)
Original .676 Stardot. W-W 3.5" #5. Bird killingest machine I have ever seen. reflexl
Rhino (.690)