Hey guys I've read a lot on here and haven't seen many if any lead loads and factory .695 choke patterns. I have a few turkey guns but am tired of the long barrels on the two i use a lot and not sure if i'll use the 20 ga a lot this year. I couldn't find a barrel for the benelli and the super x2 was around 4-500 dollars. I found a nice mossberg 835 20" barrel on clearance rack new for 349.99. I picked it up and since I've gone away from hevi and hd loads figure ill try the factory choke. I really like the lead 5's and have used 4's with good results but am new to this gun and all my other chokes fit the other turkey guns.I'm looking for a nice even pattern at 40yds. doesn't have to cut their heads off like the other guns.lol I've had awesome results with lead and benelli nova but there's a big difference in these two barrels. If the mossberg will shoot as good as the 26" barrel nova ill be in heaven and a super lucky guy!! The mossberg is already deep cleaned and polished. would have started shooting by now but as you know the weather has been terrible this year. thanks
Mine shot much better with a Stardot .676 choke but my old 835 did good with Winchester HV 3.5" 2oz #5's and did better with the Win 3.5" 2.25oz #5's from the factory choke. It did pretty good with 4's, but you wont get real big numbers with #4's usually.
If I were you and I was going to shoot lead I would get a box of the 3.5" Winchester Long Beards in #5 shot for that setup.
I am a complete newbie and have a older 24in barrel 835 with the factory "Ulti-full choke.Im going to try Federal Turkey thugs 3 1/2s #5 and see how they do..Also adding williams fire sights slugger series..I will let ya know the results once I find out
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Thank you for the replies. I'll try those winchester 5's. I think i have two or three of those to pattern. I'll keep an eye on here for the report. on the federal thugs. Thanks again
I have the same gun and am anxiously awaiting a nice day to shoot. It will be with the factor .695 and the new longbeards in 3.5" #5. Should be a good combination.
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First of all i apologize for starting this post in the wrong area. I will do better in the future. I did get to shoot this setup i posted about. They weren't record breaking patterns but good hunting patterns. I shot six different loads at 41 yards from 2 3/4" up to 3 1/2 inch. I was impressed considering some of the other guns and lead loads I've worked with. If i get them counted before i go to bed ill post some pics.
I shot my 835 with the factory choke and 3.5 in Longbeard XR 2oz #5's and got 150 in the 10'' at 40. Nice even pattern.
That's a very good pattern with lead 5's!!
Here's one i shot today with 3.5" hv 2oz 5's at 41 yds.
Here's one with win xx 3.5" 6's 2.25 oz at the same distance.
try the longbeards. they seem to be workin for everyone lol
try longbeards and pickup a choke in the 670-680 range
With the factory .695 and 3" LB #5's my bro's 835 put 110 in 10" circle. Nice even pattern. The .670 bone collector did 175 in the 10"
If you're hanging onto the factory choke I'd try some of the LongBeards. They shoot really tight in my Indian Creek .675 but would probably be perfect for a factory setup.
With the pre-flight control Federal 3-2-6 mine would put 160-170 in the 10' circle with the factory choke. I thought about sticking it back in and trying the long beards. reflexl
Thanks everyone. I tried to post a nice long post twice earlier today.lol wouldn't work for some reason.
I'll keep the advise in mind. If i try the longbeards i'll let ya know. I do have a chance to try a kicks choke
in it as well. I love kicks lead patterns. I'll update when i get to shoot again.
Just thought i would give a little update. I tried the kicks .685 my friend had and it was better than factory choke but still wasn't great with 4's. 5's and 6's were nice and even and would deffinitely kill at forty yards but i still kinda wanted to shoot the 4's. Particularly the super x gray box 3" 1.875 load. My buddy shot the LB in his 24" 835 with the kicks .685 at 40 yards and got 224 in 10"..very impressive!! Anyway i picked up a hs strutt under taker ..695 on clearance for 13.00 and thought id try it since some have had good results with this choke and shot size. My first shot at 40 yards was 91 in the 10". Then 87 and then 88. First shot was clean barrel. This is along thelines i was looking for with this shell and gun atleast till i decide it isn't killin em good enough.lol I'll eventually try some other chokes and loads down the road but this cheap setup sure made my day.
This was at 40 yards with rangefinder.
Quote from: ohiomossyoak on March 21, 2014, 07:18:29 PM
I am a complete newbie and have a older 24in barrel 835 with the factory "Ulti-full choke.Im going to try Federal Turkey thugs 3 1/2s #5 and see how they do..Also adding williams fire sights slugger series..I will let ya know the results once I find out
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Oldtoe I figure I would give ya a update as my plan may have changed from what I previously posted.
I picked up a box of LongBeard 3in/6s the other day to try..And my buddy at work surprised me with a Ported Truglo Gobble-stopper Extreme choke .695(to borrow)..Now I realize its the same constriction as my factory choke,but its worth a try..I picked up the 835 used about 5 years ago an its an the factory choke had been abused..I am pretty sure I even saw a rust bubble inside the factory choke..That cant be good right? :TooFunny: .
Ha ha i'd think a rust bubble wouldn't exactly enhance your patterns!lol You can probably polish it out though with some emery cloth or steel wool or even dremel tool as long as the actual choke isn't bulged itself. Those LB 3" 6's should do well. The ones my buddy shot the 224 in 10" with kicks .685 were the 3.5 6's. The 3" LB loads seem to be shooting as good as the 3.5's too. I tried the 3" no 5's in my factory choke and undertaker and they were ok but would deffinitely have to limit shots to 35yds maybe 40 max. No doubt a tighter choke would have been very nice but i'll save that for another day. I couldn't find a ssx local and didn't want to order one this close to season. Its next on my list too. lol Looks like you've done your home as well!!
Have used the .695 Undertaker choke for my 835,it loves the Federal 3.5" pre FC 2-1/4oz 5's and 6's and the Winchester XX Magnum 2-1/4 oz 4's,5's, and 6's
I forgot to add in my previous post the 3" 5's i tried were the fed turkey thugs not longbeards. Don't want to mislead anyone. I'll keep an eye out for some 3.5 inch 4's from winchester and federal. Also i failed to mention i believe i scrubbed the barrel while still new then polished it good. Then shot several patterns two different days then scrubbed then polished then scrubbed again.lol Then patterned ten more shots. Probably leave it dirty the first week of season before i clean again. It is amazing how much easier a barrel is to clean that's been polished versus a factory bore. Season comes in saturday here so maybe i'll get to break her in!! Can't wait!!
I have an 835 with a 24 inch barrel and a Mossberg Ulti full extended tube. Not sure of constriction, but with 3.5 inch. 2 1/4 Win XX 6's (red shell) I consistently get 150s in a 10 inch at 40, best is 157.
Quote from: jblackburn on April 11, 2014, 01:15:12 AM
I have an 835 with a 24 inch barrel and a Mossberg Ulti full extended tube. Not sure of constriction, but with 3.5 inch. 2 1/4 Win XX 6's (red shell) I consistently get 150s in a 10 inch at 40, best is 157.
I had good results with this combination as well.
Thats a nice pattern with those 3.5 double x 6's. I shot them in my factory choke and they done around 100 in 10". And a little better in the kicks .685 GT. So far from what i can tell with 5's and 6's in my gun with 20" barrel the tighter choke in shorter barrel seems to be holding true. I am impressed with this gun though because i have yet to shoot a single load and choke combo that didn't throw an even huntable pattern. Some were more open than others deffinitely but I've shot several guns, loads, and chokes that weren't even countable. Also poi between chokes and different loads have been pretty close. Which you get a little more wiggle room with the more open choke and lead versus the heavy loads and super tight patterns. Something I'm curious about is what a load of no 4 lead and no 7 heavy shot pattern would look like! Be kinda like the 4's buffered with the 7's.
i shot the thugs 3 inch 5 shot and longbeard 5 shot and both of them will kill a turkey out to 40 yds i was using ulti mag choke