Leaning back towards the 3 inchers...
 

Hi everybody. I'm new around here and enjoy the conversations.

I took my new Mossy 535 out yesterday to try some 3 1/2" loads. Wow. I had an 835 before and a Super X2, both which I shot the big shells out of with only minor discomfort. My new gun is a man killer! It's got a nice thumbhole stock, and I figured my problem would only be a sore shoulder. Well even with my cheek tight to the stock, it feels like somebody hit me in the face with ball bat! I wish I could have seen the look on my face after that first shot. Surely it was priceless.

I shot a couple boxes of shells out of it, and the good news is that it's deadly out to 45 yards with the shells I shot. I'm going to check and see what 3 inchers will do. I've killed plenty of birds with them, but hate passing on the shells since I paid for a 3 1/2 gun! I'd hate to miss one because of flinching... :bash:

I'm looking forward to talking to all of you!
rw

Firstly, welcome to the board.

Not surprising that the 535, at 6.5lbs, kicked the snot out of you. Those big shells can be brutal in a very light gun.

I would expect that a 3", 1 3/4 or 2oz load of Hevi-Shot will pattern better in that gun since (I think) it has a standard bore barrel vs. the overboard barrel of the 835.

I shoot the 835 - with a ported 24" barrel, ported choke, and aftermarket Limbsaver pad it is not unpleasant to shoot. More of a big push than a mule kick even shooting the 2.25 oz Nitros at 1200 fps.

I would suggest a ported choke and limbsaver recoil pad.

Yes, it's a very light gun. The 3"s I shot didn't faze me. But the big boys rocked me. I was going to get a limbsaver pad, but those shells didn't seem to bother my shoulder. The gun is jumping up more than back it feels like. I didn't figure it would judging by the design of the stock, but I guess I was wrong. It does have a ported tube in it.

It's rough thinking of spending the $ for the heavy shot not knowing how it will pattern. If I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it would pattern well enough out of my setup to kill a bird at 45 yards I'd buy a box. I wish I knew somebody around here that would give me a shell to try before I spent the money.

I'll try the Winchester Supreme 3" shells. They have some with 2 oz of lead, which is what the big ones hold. Just not as much powder and no sore face!

rw

I'm not too proud to say that I don't like that kick! haha Now I shot the big ones in my ported 835 and my super X2 auto and they weren't intolerable.

This gun has VERY low profile sights to really get your face down on the stock. I'm wondering though if I tried a slightly higher set that I could get my cheek in a better position on the stock. Anybody else have this same issue with the 535 thumbhole?

rw

Well, you da man!!

When you have a turkey in your sites and your blood is pumping hard do you really feel the shot? I know I don't, never did never will.

Hatchet Jack

killing the turkey is easy. Patterning the gun sucks!

Back in the old days, the ole time hunters killed turkeys with 2 inch black powder shells.
I am in the same boat, so to speak.
I had rotator cup sugery.
So the high power shells are out.
If nothing else, it will be 2 3/4 12 ga shells, or mabe 20 ga.
That is If I can find one I could borrow.
Well Good Luck.

jrbsr

That's exactly the point my friend!!!

And 3 1/2" shells "aint" fun to pattern with when trying many different loads and chokes!!! Sure, one shot at a bird most people can handle, no brainer there!!! But, it's the constant pounding from brutal recoil at the pattern board that will change many people's minds on that shell in short order.

I hear that. You know that we feel no pain dropping the hammer on a longbeard but patterning is brutal. My gun used to rattle my teeth too. The limbsaver pad really helped with that. You should give one a try.

I left 3.5" long ago.......and now am thinking of leaving the 3" - 12 ga. too...to go to a 20.....

Call em close! Real close. Then no need for high powered, long range, expnesive loads and expensive chokes.

But that is just me -

JW

Right on Tom, Limbsaver recoil pads are where its at. :happy0001:

I have one on my 835 and my Omega... takes a lot of the bite out.

Beretta 391 20 ga.... Indian Creek choke tube... hevi-13....
If I was a pro... then that would be what the pro's use!

JW you and I are much alike, but even with my 20 banger... I don't have to call them but so close.... 45 yards... guarenteed (assuming the nut behind the stock isn't loose... and he is known to be) and I wouldn't put it past her to dump one at 50... but I'm not so inclined to try.

3-1/2 for geese,pass shooting ducks,yea, I can recommend that. Turkeys, not necc. 3" will do fine for me thanks--I don't wear the same amount of clothing for turkeys as I do for sitting in a goose blind. Even the SBEII gets my attn with 3-1/2 and say a couple of shirts and a relatively thin camo jacket.