RE: who shoots an 835
 

I've got the 20" barreled 835 grand slam. I have a ported Pure Gold choke tube... but no barrel ports.

The thing is just ridiculous. I've got the Limbsaver pad on mine, I don't think it helped much. It isn't the hurt on the shoulder that bugs me... its mostly the face/jaw and just the overall concussion of the thing.

Some loads kick worse than others. I shoot 1 3/4oz of Hevi 13 #6 in 3.5" configuration through mine, and they are honestly about as gentle a magnum shell as you'll find. I don't think they are much worse than my waterfowl loads out of my gas operated semi-autos in 3".

You don't HAVE to shoot a 3.5" shell out of a 3.5" gun of course, so you can reap the benefits of the overbored barrel without detaching your retinas.

RE: who shoots an 835
 

i had an 870 and a nova. they where bad. they killed on both ends. its going to be a dedicated turkey gun. i figured that the auto 11-87 would have less recoil but its about $250 more. i killed 1 with the nova last year. it came in on my right and i had to swing alittle. that pinned my shoulder between the gun anda pine tree. all i could think about was" man, this is going to hurt". and it did. it killed both of us. i shoot the 3 1/2 nitros. love'm and can't put them down...........tony

RE: who shoots an 835
 

I have a 835 but I'm shooting a Martin Firecat this year