I've also got the 835 & shoot the 2.75 high velocity slugs through the rifle barrel and the 3.5 turkey loads through the bird barrel - both leave bruises if you shoot more than a couple shots. I think this is probably true with about all pump shotguns though. Try planting your shoulder back against a tree when you fire a 3.5 turkey load, you learn real quick there's no place for the recoil to go except into your bones!

Tip: buy the limbsaver recoil pad for it - talk about night & day difference! I fully believe their claims on reduced recoil.