Mossberg 835. Which size slugs to use???

sewerdude · January 4, 2010, 10:30 PM

Hello all,
This is my first time on here. Great site, alot of info on here! \
My question is: I just bought a new Mossberg 835 waterfowl/deer combo over the weekend. The deer barrel is rifled. I'm alittle confused about what size slug shells to use in the slug barrel. I read on another site that you "have" to use a 3.5 inch slug in the 835 not a 2 3/4 or a 3 inch. Because of the gap in the chamber with the two smaller shells.
Is this true? I do know that the 3.5 slugs are pricey and I would like to use the 3 inch if all possible. I'm not sure how available the 3.5 inch would be. Did I buy a gun that I can only shoot the 3.5 in? Thanks and I hope to learn alot on here.

Dave McC · January 5, 2010, 06:56 AM

Use 2 3/4" slugs if possible. Your shoulder will thank you.

And yes, you can use the shorter slugs. Accuracy will not be compromised.

Downrange, I've not seen any actual difference in performance.

sewerdude · January 5, 2010, 08:14 AM

Thanks Dave. Thats good news to me. I wonder if all the talk about only using 3.5 inch slugs in 3.5 inch cambers are just rumors ? I know not to use slugs in the 3.5 Mossberg 835 field barrel as it is overbored. But I got the combo that came with a full rifled barrel. Thanks again

rantingredneck · January 5, 2010, 08:35 AM

Look on the side of your slug barrel. You should see something like "Chambered for 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" shells". Therein lies your answer.

And yes, as Dave said your shoulder will thank you for using 2 3/4" shells.

I have a Mossberg 835 with a regular 24" Accumag field barrel. I don't shoot it much anymore. One of my nephews is enamored of the "Three and a Half" and likes to deer hunt with it using 3 1/2" 00 buckshot.

He's young, he'll learn.........

zippy13 · January 5, 2010, 03:14 PM

Greetings sewerdude, and welcome aboard.

Just in case you are unaware, for your rifled slug barrel, you'll want to get some sabot type slugs. Sorry, they are more $$ than standard slugs; but, the rifled slugs barrels are designed to perform with sabots.

jmr40 · January 5, 2010, 03:20 PM

I'm no slug shooting expert, but if the barrel is rifled I think you would be better using the sabot slugs. Regular slugs are better used in smooth bore barrels if I understand right. At any rate the shorter 2 3/4" length should be fine.

sewerdude · January 5, 2010, 11:05 PM

Thanks, thats good news to me....I was hoping I could use 2 3/4 or 3 inch slugs...........and yes, I plan on using sabot slugs...Not sure what kind....any suggestions?

Bassopotamus · January 5, 2010, 11:58 PM

I'm interested to see what people have to say for recs, as I'm in the same boat. FWIW, a quick search didn't turn up any 3.5 inch sabot slugs.

rantingredneck · January 6, 2010, 09:00 AM

Quote:

FWIW, a quick search didn't turn up any 3.5 inch sabot slugs.

Only ones I've ever personally seen were made by Lightfield (Hybred EXP?). Never personally purchased or shot any though.

sewerdude · January 6, 2010, 10:41 PM

Yes, Lightfield is all I found also in the 3.5 inch slugs. I think I'm going to go witht the 3 inch. My barrel does say 2 3/4, 3 , 3.5 inch on it (slug barrel). But I read some things about using anything smaller in a search. So, thats why I'm asking. I want it to be as accurate as possible. I read some good things about the Rem Buckhammers . I'm kinda of concerned about the leading in the rifling though using those slugs....They sure did get good reviews though.

zippy13 · January 7, 2010, 01:55 AM

Sewerdude,
I'm not a sabot shooter; but, from past postings the consensus is, there's no one best or most accurate sabot. Each gun/barrel may have it's favorite. For more info about sabots, check out: http://www.slugshooter.com/

January 4, 2010, 10:30 PM	#1
sewerdude Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2010 Posts: 4	Mossberg 835. Which size slugs to use??? Hello all, This is my first time on here. Great site, alot of info on here! \ My question is: I just bought a new Mossberg 835 waterfowl/deer combo over the weekend. The deer barrel is rifled. I'm alittle confused about what size slug shells to use in the slug barrel. I read on another site that you "have" to use a 3.5 inch slug in the 835 not a 2 3/4 or a 3 inch. Because of the gap in the chamber with the two smaller shells. Is this true? I do know that the 3.5 slugs are pricey and I would like to use the 3 inch if all possible. I'm not sure how available the 3.5 inch would be. Did I buy a gun that I can only shoot the 3.5 in? Thanks and I hope to learn alot on here.

January 5, 2010, 08:35 AM	#4
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	Look on the side of your slug barrel. You should see something like "Chambered for 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" shells". Therein lies your answer. And yes, as Dave said your shoulder will thank you for using 2 3/4" shells. I have a Mossberg 835 with a regular 24" Accumag field barrel. I don't shoot it much anymore. One of my nephews is enamored of the "Three and a Half" and likes to deer hunt with it using 3 1/2" 00 buckshot. He's young, he'll learn......... __________________ NRA Member NC Hunter's Education Instructor PCCA Member (What's PCCA you ask? <- Check the link)

January 5, 2010, 06:56 AM	#2
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Use 2 3/4" slugs if possible. Your shoulder will thank you. And yes, you can use the shorter slugs. Accuracy will not be compromised. Downrange, I've not seen any actual difference in performance.

January 5, 2010, 08:14 AM	#3
sewerdude Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2010 Posts: 4	Thanks Dave. Thats good news to me. I wonder if all the talk about only using 3.5 inch slugs in 3.5 inch cambers are just rumors ? I know not to use slugs in the 3.5 Mossberg 835 field barrel as it is overbored. But I got the combo that came with a full rifled barrel. Thanks again

January 5, 2010, 03:14 PM	#5
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Greetings sewerdude, and welcome aboard. Just in case you are unaware, for your rifled slug barrel, you'll want to get some sabot type slugs. Sorry, they are more $$ than standard slugs; but, the rifled slugs barrels are designed to perform with sabots.

January 5, 2010, 03:20 PM	#6
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	I'm no slug shooting expert, but if the barrel is rifled I think you would be better using the sabot slugs. Regular slugs are better used in smooth bore barrels if I understand right. At any rate the shorter 2 3/4" length should be fine.

January 5, 2010, 11:05 PM	#7
sewerdude Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2010 Posts: 4	Thanks, thats good news to me....I was hoping I could use 2 3/4 or 3 inch slugs...........and yes, I plan on using sabot slugs...Not sure what kind....any suggestions?

January 5, 2010, 11:58 PM	#8
Bassopotamus Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: Waterloo IA Posts: 4	I'm interested to see what people have to say for recs, as I'm in the same boat. FWIW, a quick search didn't turn up any 3.5 inch sabot slugs.

January 6, 2010, 10:41 PM	#10
sewerdude Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2010 Posts: 4	Yes, Lightfield is all I found also in the 3.5 inch slugs. I think I'm going to go witht the 3 inch. My barrel does say 2 3/4, 3 , 3.5 inch on it (slug barrel). But I read some things about using anything smaller in a search. So, thats why I'm asking. I want it to be as accurate as possible. I read some good things about the Rem Buckhammers . I'm kinda of concerned about the leading in the rifling though using those slugs....They sure did get good reviews though.

January 7, 2010, 01:55 AM	#11
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Sewerdude, I'm not a sabot shooter; but, from past postings the consensus is, there's no one best or most accurate sabot. Each gun/barrel may have it's favorite. For more info about sabots, check out: http://www.slugshooter.com/