RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

I have the Mossberg 835 for 12 years, and for Turkey I love it, this what this gun was made for. If I didn't have the 835 then I would look into the 870, make sure you get one with a 3.5" chamber

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

Mossberg....

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

I would look into the Benelli Nova. i personally dont own one but i know a guy who does and he likes it. if they are anything like there semi autos it will treat you well. it is only around $450.

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

Ditto for the Mossberg 835. The thing that seperates this gun from all the rest is the fact that the barrel is overbored and the shot isn't as constricted compared to other 12 gauges. It handles the 3.5" loads extremely well. With a Star-dot choke and Nitro 4X5X7s mine put 256 pellets in a 10" circle at 40 yards. I've taken turkeys cleanly at distances once thought unimaginable.

On the other hand you can't go wrong with the tried and true 870. I used one for 20+ years with great success.

Mouthcaller

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

I shoot a mossberg 500 with an extra full turkey choke. It shoots very very well...

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

I've got an 870 Express and a Mossberg 835. My 870 has probably been around as long as they've been making the expresses, and it only handles 3" shells. I only have a 28" barrel and although I love the gun, it is a pain to carry thru the turkey woods. My 835 is a nice short and light gun and it gets the job done. They kick like a mule with 3.5" magnum loads, so the Sims recoil pad helps alot when I'm patterning. You don't notice any recoil when you've got a gobbler in your sights tho.

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

I've got a 870 express with a 26" barrel and with a good turkey choke in it... It patterns awsome... I've killed several gobblers past 40 yards with this gun...

I'd say for the money u cant beat the 870 express... I really don't know how much the mossbooger cost

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

If you're just going to use it for upland game and turkey-BY ALL MEANS go with the short barrel. I've used 20"-24" barrels for years for these uses (especially rabbit and quail) and they make for deadly, extremely fast handling, fast swinging guns. Your swing with this length barreled guns is not only lightning fast, but there's much less chance of catching them on brush. The old outdated myth that you need an long barrel originated back in the black powder days when it was inconvient to use choke in shotguns. The fact of the matter is all the powder in today's loadings is completely burned within the 1st 14"-18", depending on the load. My choice would be, and was, Browning bps in pumpguns. I recently bought an Stoeger 2000 (new 400$) 12 ga semiauto for use to keep from damaging the fancy wood on my Benelli. Turns out since it uses the exact same inertia operating system, it actually performs almost as good so now my Benelli will likely be safe queen or sporting clays gun.

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

I have found that it is easier to get better patterns with a barrel length in the 24"-28" range. Having said that it is entirely possible to get just as good as or even better patterns with a shorter barrel....it is just generally easier to findan acceptable load for a barrel in the 24"-28" range.
Realistically, and as long as you are not using it for competition, you will not find much of a difference between the shorter barrels.

RE: LOKKING TO BUY A NEW GUN
 

Hey I use the 835 and knew it was overbored but never understood what the advantage is? Could you explain to me what that feature is? Thanks