Serious question- recoil reduction
 

Hello all, I'm 52 and I've been wanting to go turkey hunting and just purchased a mossberg 835 ulti mag(28"bbl) and a truglo gobbler stopper extreme choke tube.....I have not shot the gun yet as I do have a problem that I could sure use your help with......my neck has been broken 3 times, with the last break left un-repaired by surgery due to the extent of the damage, these were all done in 2000, I can walk and use my extremities like normal, but the recoil from a heavy caliber gun, and a shotgun leaves me in pain for a few days afterwards, I just ordered a Blackhawk compstock for the 835 in hopes of reducing the felt recoil to a manageable level, and I'm wondering if any of you have any suggestions as to turkey loads and maybe even some more recoil reduction Ideas for my turkey season......this will be my first year turkey hunting, but I sure don't want it to be my last....if it works out I'll also be purchasing a rifled cantalever bbl for deer season too..now I've tried semi autos and different styles of shotguns but have never found any multi purpose shotguns I could deal with for an extended period, and I'm really tired of playing musical guns, I just want one that I can use for Deer,Turkey and maybe waterfowl too........Thank you, Steve

I would try to find a 2 3/4 inch turkey shell that would give me an adequate pattern out to my intended maximum range. Avoid the 3 1/2 inch shells which have brutal recoil. I use them and they throw good patterns but WOW. They will slobber knock you. I think that Hevi-13 and Winchester Elite Extended range shells come in a 2 3/4 length. Since you are starting with a reduced amount of shot because of the shorter shell I'd get them in number 6 shot. Denser than lead 6's will kill to 40 yards easily if your gun will throw a dense enough pattern. 6's will typically out pattern 5's or 4's. And denser than lead shot will out pattern lead by a wide margin. Shoot at a dot centered on a large sheet of paper so you can see what the whole pattern is doing. Poster paper size at least. Typically 80 to 100 pellets inside a 10 inch circle is considered a good pattern. Whatever the maximum distance your gun can hold that dense of a pattern then there is your maximum range. Guns vary as do their performance with different chokes and shells. So I cannot tell you what your maximum range will be from your gun with 2 3/4 inch shells. Get a good extended range choke approved for use with hevi type shot and try the shells I mentioned and I'm betting that will give you more range than standard lead shells. But at the end of the day if you had to choose between limiting yourself to 35 or even 30 yards rather than risk serious injury to your neck? Well obviously your health is worth more than every turkey on earth heaped in one pile. Error on the side of caution.

Yes, go with 2.75" shells. For patterning, because you'll need to shoot a few rounds, consider a lead sled or similar rest. Or, add a pad in addition to the one on the new stock. Can someone else test loads with you?

Get a barrel with a cantilevered scope mount for deer, and leave the scope on that barrel. They usually are pretty close when you put them back on the gun for deer season.

Thanks for the good info, I planned on starting with the 2 3/4" hevi shot shells and if the stock works as advertised I may be able to handle the 3"..maybe.......and although I'm primarily a trad archery deer hunter, I miss hunting with guns a bit, but health trumps power in my case and I will sure watch my step in patterning this gun, and if the stock gets here in time I will have someone who will be more than happy to lay out a few rounds for me, thanks...

stock accessory
 

blackhawk (knoxx) makes a kit for the spec ops stock to raise the comb, i got one for my 870 and it makes alot of difference, i get a very good cheek weld.

I think you'll be pleased with the hevi 13. I shoot 3" and noticed a big difference in recoil when I swapped from my old winchesters. Hope it all works out and you have a good turkey season.....good luck!

All I'm going to say is still be very careful because even the 2 3/4" turkey loads pack a pretty good wallop. I get excellent patterns with #6 Winchester Extended Range loads out to 40 yards in my Model 1200 Winchester pump gun with a .660 restriction Carlsons choke tube, but it lets me know when I pull the trigger!

I know you already purchased a pump gun, but a gas gun will have much less recoil.

Sorry, but that's still my best advice !


Oh, and shoot 2 3/4" shells.

Nope the barrel isn't ported, just the choke is.... and I've had a few gas guns, built up a couple extremely nice ones, an 1100 and a 11-87, but didn't really care for shooting them.......really miss the 1100 though, probably shouldn't have gotten rid of it, but I'll sure be glad to send my shorty down the road, it's a 49-54 savage stevens pump with an 18" barrel, even with the light stuff it's got some kick to it.......I've only fired 2 shells out of it and that was plenty..... it does look cool though!

I'd change guns - Mossbergs in the 835 kick more than any other gun I ever fired. It has to do with the weight of IMO.

And good info given - a Gas operated semi-automatic kicks far less than a pump....So if you are handicapped anyway why beat yourself up? Sell it and get something that works for you......Saves money in the long run and life is way to short!

JW

Weight counts
 

My son who is eleven shoots a Mossberg 500 20GA - with an adjustable LOP. I have made the following modifications to reduce the recoil a lot (less than the 1100 20 GA.) Added a limbsaver recoil pad - $20 at Walmart, put a stock cover on with a padded comb, added a lead bar inside the stock(wrapped in foam). The gun has very little recoil weather he is shooting slugs with the rifled barrel, or using the field barrel and 3" Hevi-shot loads. The combo of weight, the recoil pad, and the padded comb really makes a huge difference. The next step would to get a shoulder pad, but we didn't need to.

Good luck! :-)

Try the reduced recoil 2 3/4" loads and put a Kick-Eez pad on.

I'd second what Sheridan and JW! said. I shoot a Mossberg 835, and while I love the patterns it puts out, as well as the maneuverability/short barrel/lightweight aspects, it kicks far more than any other shotgun I have ever shot. Mine has a 20" barrel, so your 28" one should help just a tad...JUST a tad in recoil, but still with a 2 3/4" turkey load and neck problems, I would recommend against it. If I were in your situation, I would be getting a semi-auto and still wouldn't shoot anything over 3"...preferably 2 3/4". It is up to you, but that is what I would do.

"......my neck has been broken 3 times, with the last break left un-repaired by surgery due to the extent of the damage,...."


Are you kidding me - a recoil pad ???


Once again - Gas operated semi-auto and shoot 2 3/4" loads. (consider yourself luckly you can still do that !)


All my best buddy - very sorry to hear about your injuries !!!

I have shot my fair share of turkey loads, and I would suggest getting a primos jellyhead choke (supposedly ported to reduce some recoil) and shoot 2 3/4" shells instead of 3 or 3 1/2". Also, I picked up a Butler Creek recoil pad and these things are very nice for the price.

Well since he just purchased the 835 it's unlikely he's looking to drop hundreds more on another gun.I put the second thickest pad Kick-Eez makes on my 835 and it made a significant difference patterning hefty 3" loads for possible use on coyotes.With reduced recoil loads and that pad I think he'll be OK.

Well fellas, I thank you all for the great info, and I have an update,....I took the gun out and shot it yesterday with 2 3/4, #7 1/2 field loads... no problem at all so I jumped up to some 3" #6 rem pheasant loads, and still didn't have or feel any ill effects, and today not even a twinge of pain or discomfort, and the blackhawk hasn't gotten here yet so I'll be fine shooting this gun when it does.....I was very hesitant as the docs told me I'd never be able to shoot a gun or a bow ever again when the third break happened, and I didn't either.... for 5 years....... then something happened in April of 05 that made me take stock in my own life and what it had become in listening to the docs......I was a pitiful, weak,pain killer eating, damaged shell of a person that didn't have much if any of a future.....and I wanted out, and almost did it too, but instead I picked up an old recurve we had and went out back shooting it...... and it didn't hurt, I could only pull it back about half way though... but that was enough....I shot it every day after that, soon I was stronger and the stronger I got the less I needed the pain meds.....and within a year I was shooting a 90# longbow at full 30" draw...pain free and without any meds..... and I've been shooting them ever since....... so even though I've been through one hell of an ordeal, I'm far from an invalid, I just never really tested it with the sudden shock of a heavy round, but if yesterday is any indication I should be good to go get me a turkey........but regardless, I thank you fellas for all the great info, it really gave some things to think about.

And as far as the gun goes....I bought it the other day at a place called Easy Pawn, it looked aweful, and they's had it for almost a year because someone had attempted to camo it numerous times and the paint was on there pretty thick, but once I got it off there it looks pretty darn good, and it's not stolen either as it had been checked numerous times by LEO's while in the posession of the pawn shop, of which I know the manager...... and the best part..... it cost me a whole $50.26....but it didn't come with a choke......and that was another $25..... and the stock is another $85....so I've got right at $160 in it so far.....man this turkey hunting is getting expensive!!....lol....just kidding,lol......

Sorry to hear about your neck injuries, take care of yourself with that!

I sympathyze with a serious lower back injury and a couple of surgeries with permanent damage.

When at the range in California a few years back I shot a 12 ga with some sort of hydraulic recoil system.

The stock had a wooden overboot with a recoil pad and internal pistons fitted to the shortened original rear stock.

I will say I barely felt the recoil from a 3" shell with #7 shot.

Quite the eye opener!

There is another system that is less costly that uses a volume of murcury in a capsule fitted to the gun's forend.

As the gun recoils, the murcury is slammed into the front end of the capsule, essentially pulling the gun away from you lessening the recoil.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Simple and elegant!

Good luck on those turkeys and all those nice fly tying feathers, lol

You could also try putting a decelerator recoil pad on it. It could be just me, but I found Mossberg shotguns to be nasty in the recoil department. My magnum 5 was a dream to shoot, but my buddies Mossberg was horrible.

I would suggest a Gel pad for you shoulder...and get one of those slip on recoil pads for the buttstock of your rifle...it will knock out a lot of the recoil.

I have the exact same shotgun and the first time I shot it was with 3 1/2" Winchester extended shot. It about ripped my shoulder off and nearly brought me to tears. I went out and bought a Limb Saver slip on butt plate and it works great. Still shoot the 3 1/2" shells but at least there isn't any crying in the turkey woods. Unless they are tears of joy!