Shotgun Advice Requested

dcphotos · December 2, 2011, 12:16 PM

I looked at a Mossburg 835 the other day. Has Mossy Oak camo and it's a 12-guage pump chambered for 3 1/2" shells. I own several rifles and handguns, but I've never owned a shotgun. I'd like to be able to use it to shoot skeet, not going to a range or competing just shooting in the backyard. I'd also like to be able to use to hunt deer with .00, and maybe buy a slug barrel for next year. I have very dense woods around my house and don't have a spot where I have a long range shot.

What I thought about that I didn't ask at the shop, if I have one of these do I have to fire the 3 1/2" shells or can I use the 2 3/4" or 3" shells also?

Any advice is appreciated.

Orphanedcowboy · December 2, 2011, 01:12 PM

In a pump gun chamber for 3 1/2" you can shoot them all

dcphotos · December 2, 2011, 01:38 PM

Thanks, that's what I thought but wasn't sure about that model.

the rifleer · December 2, 2011, 03:19 PM

Theres no REAL need for a 3.5'' chamber, but i suppose its one of those things thats cool to have just to have. 835 is just a mossberg 500 with a 3.5'' chamber. Its a solid gun.

bitttorrrent · December 2, 2011, 03:33 PM

I was thinking of a MOssberg also.

Is the rifled barrel only for deer slugs?

I am new to shotguns too.

dcphotos · December 2, 2011, 03:50 PM

Yeah the rifled barrel is for slugs.

Orphanedcowboy · December 2, 2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Theres no REAL need for a 3.5'' chamber, but i suppose its one of those things thats cool to have just to have. 835 is just a mossberg 500 with a 3.5'' chamber. Its a solid gun.

Well technically that is true, The 500 has a standard .729" bore where the 835 has a .775"(think 10ga) bore

Lee Lapin · December 2, 2011, 06:55 PM

Rifled barrels are better suited to sabot type slugs. Smoothbores are for rifled slugs. Mossberg used to warn people not to shoot slugs in the overbore 835 barrels...

dcphotos · December 5, 2011, 10:54 AM

Bought the gun. Went back to the shop and the price tag was more than they had said the other day, but it was still less than online prices.

Left gun shop and headed home, bought ammo and clays on the way at Academy sports. Wife calls and ask for other errands, I get home about 45 minutes before dark. Put my boots and pants on and went out in the woods, put a couple rounds of .00 in it. Sat down for a while, almost dozed off. Squirrels are everywhere. Last fall squirrels ate all of our pears and apples, so I said this wither we were going to have an apple-fed squirrel pie. Took buckshot out, put target load in and killed a couple. Picked them up, walked back toward the house and looked up at 3 deer about 20 yards in front of me. No ammo was in gun. Damn! Squirrel stew one night this week though.

redstategunnut · December 5, 2011, 11:20 AM

Lesson: reload your shotgun any chance you get.

zippy13 · December 5, 2011, 01:17 PM

I get home about 45 minutes before dark. Put my boots and pants on and went out in the woods, put a couple rounds of .00 in it.

Your time may have been better spent pursing the owners manual and cleaning the factory junk from your new gun.

December 2, 2011, 12:16 PM	#1
dcphotos Junior Member Join Date: December 2, 2011 Posts: 4	Shotgun Advice Requested I looked at a Mossburg 835 the other day. Has Mossy Oak camo and it's a 12-guage pump chambered for 3 1/2" shells. I own several rifles and handguns, but I've never owned a shotgun. I'd like to be able to use it to shoot skeet, not going to a range or competing just shooting in the backyard. I'd also like to be able to use to hunt deer with .00, and maybe buy a slug barrel for next year. I have very dense woods around my house and don't have a spot where I have a long range shot. What I thought about that I didn't ask at the shop, if I have one of these do I have to fire the 3 1/2" shells or can I use the 2 3/4" or 3" shells also? Any advice is appreciated.

December 2, 2011, 03:19 PM	#4
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	Theres no REAL need for a 3.5'' chamber, but i suppose its one of those things thats cool to have just to have. 835 is just a mossberg 500 with a 3.5'' chamber. Its a solid gun. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

December 2, 2011, 06:55 PM	#8
Lee Lapin Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2004 Location: SE NC Posts: 1,239	Rifled barrels are better suited to sabot type slugs. Smoothbores are for rifled slugs. Mossberg used to warn people not to shoot slugs in the overbore 835 barrels... __________________ Mindset - Skillset - Toolset. In that order! Attitude and skill will get you through times of no gear, better than gear will get you through times of no attitude and no skill.

December 2, 2011, 01:12 PM	#2
Orphanedcowboy Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2009 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 194	In a pump gun chamber for 3 1/2" you can shoot them all

December 2, 2011, 01:38 PM	#3
dcphotos Junior Member Join Date: December 2, 2011 Posts: 4	Thanks, that's what I thought but wasn't sure about that model.

December 2, 2011, 03:33 PM	#5
bitttorrrent Senior Member Join Date: April 21, 2011 Location: Chicago Posts: 703	I was thinking of a MOssberg also. Is the rifled barrel only for deer slugs? I am new to shotguns too.

December 2, 2011, 03:50 PM	#6
dcphotos Junior Member Join Date: December 2, 2011 Posts: 4	Yeah the rifled barrel is for slugs.

December 5, 2011, 10:54 AM	#9
dcphotos Junior Member Join Date: December 2, 2011 Posts: 4	Bought the gun. Went back to the shop and the price tag was more than they had said the other day, but it was still less than online prices. Left gun shop and headed home, bought ammo and clays on the way at Academy sports. Wife calls and ask for other errands, I get home about 45 minutes before dark. Put my boots and pants on and went out in the woods, put a couple rounds of .00 in it. Sat down for a while, almost dozed off. Squirrels are everywhere. Last fall squirrels ate all of our pears and apples, so I said this wither we were going to have an apple-fed squirrel pie. Took buckshot out, put target load in and killed a couple. Picked them up, walked back toward the house and looked up at 3 deer about 20 yards in front of me. No ammo was in gun. Damn! Squirrel stew one night this week though.

December 5, 2011, 11:20 AM	#10
redstategunnut Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Location: see name Posts: 405	Lesson: reload your shotgun any chance you get.

December 5, 2011, 01:17 PM	#11
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	I get home about 45 minutes before dark. Put my boots and pants on and went out in the woods, put a couple rounds of .00 in it. Your time may have been better spent pursing the owners manual and cleaning the factory junk from your new gun.