I am purchasing a Mossberg 12 gauge 835 ulti-mag tomorrow for a good price privately, and am wandering what brand/size/type of shell to use. I have never owned a shotgun before so please be specific so I can purchase the correct ammo. Iwill be hunting in northern Arizona.
Thank you much
G A is right. There is no way to say definately that Brand A, # ? shot will pattern well. Each gun is a law onto itself. Plan to get a couple of choke tubes of different constrictions, buy several boxes of different brand and shot size ammo and do some shooting.
That said, there are some constants: Just because it takes 3.5 in. shells, doesn't mean it'll pattern best with 3.5" shells. Try 3" if tthey don't seem to work well. Larger shot size (#4) will generally shoot better in an open choke. Smaller shot (#6) will shoot better through a tighter choke.
I think if you do a search of topics on the board, you'll find that Winchester Supremes either the lead or their version of Hevi-shot, shoot well in a wide variety of guns and chokes.
If you plan to go to Hevi-shot, you'll need a more open choke. It's harder than lead, and generally doesn't do well in a tight choke.
I know this is not the information you were looking to get, but it is what is it. It's the process we all had to go through.
I have a Mossberg 835 Turkey Series with the Ulti-Full and by far the Federal #5 3.5 work the best in mine. But, as others have previously stated, each gun reacts differently.
__________________
Frank
We don't live in America. America lives in us!
Nice gun. Personally, I'd steer clear of the 3.5 inch loads, IMO all it does is punish your shoulder when patterning, but I'm sure some would disagree. The best thing is to pattern your gun between 20 and 40 yards with different size shot (4's, 5's and 6's) and also different brands. Mark your targets and pick the load that patterns best out of your gun. Maybe you'll have better results with 3.5's, but to me its not worth it, 3" works for me.
Newazhunter,welcome to the board...good informative folk here...
My dad shoots an 835 and so does my middle son and our guns patterned Federals new Premium Magshock heavywieghtturkey loads pretty well this last year in the # 5 shot size,throws a 1 7/8 of copperplated shot traveling some 1300fps...this is a 3 1/2 inch load...the 3inch's ballistics are pretty much the same except I believe it is loaded with a 1 5/8 of shot..Bob..
__________________
Monarch isn' t a butterfly it' s the King of the Spring!
Alot of times those 3.5 inch mags actually blow holes in the pattern, don't get caught up in the bigger is better theory. Iv,e killed a lot of birds with 2 3/4 and 3in give them a try when sighting in, each gun shoots a little different try spoonfeeding them a variety of loads and see what they like. We have a small gun store that actually makes upwhat I would call grab bags 10 shells but they are all different. Really great for us turkey hunters get to try many shells w/out the big investment. 3.5 inch also cause a man to flinch at times I don't care how macho they thinkthey are!!!
__________________
2009 Bowtech Admiral
50 Cal Traditions XLT EXTREME camo/nickel
50 cal Omega ,thumbhole stock ,fluted stainless
Browning Citori "sporter" ULTRA 12 ga
Marlin 22 mag
Mossberg 12 ga Trophy Slugster /bushnell scope
Remington scoremaster 22, What gramps taught me to shoot with!! Sure do miss ya buddy
A friend of mine uses 3.5in federal flight control wads #5 shot in his with excellent results out to 50yds with a mad max choke tube. Just as others have stated every gun is different. I tried 6 or 8 loads until I found what my Benelli liked to eat. My sugestion is to try a couple of dfferent loads stated above. This should be the quickest way to finding that perfect load. Good luck
My Mossberg patterns differntly with different brands... I also use an Undertaker choke.
My 3.5 load is a winchester #4.. but it packs a hell of a wallop.
My 3 inch loads I pattern Remington #6 well..
__________________
Hoyt Katera
Limbdriver
Pro-Line Bowstrings
Copper John sights
To be honest every gun shoots differant and patterns differant.
I have a mossburg 835, and in my gun the " Federal #6 3.5in Turkey Loads" work best for me
Same for me when I owned the Mossburg 835, but I used Federal #5 instead
__________________
Remington Model 11-87 Premier 12 Gauge
Remington Model 870 SPS-T Camo Thumbhole 12 Gauge
Ruger M77 Mark II .270 w/ Nikon 3-9x40 Buckmasters
Turkey hunting question (newbie)
