Printable View
So we’ve recently moved to an area where there is no rifle season for deer. And there is loads of turkey too!
My question is regarding the best shotgun for both. I know very little about shotguns because I never really had an interest. This has changed.
Ive heard of these combos shotguns like the Mossberg 500 and 535. Are they any good or is there a better way?
thanks
870 express with a 26/28 inch smooth bore, and a rifled barrel with a canterlever scope mount. You can switch barrels without resighting the scope. Mossberg mounts scope on receiver.
I have owned both the Remington Express and the Mossberg. Buy the Mossberg. But yes, a combo that includes a cantilevered slug barrel is what you want.
What he just said.Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
I have both. I prefer the safety in the mossy 500 but the fit of the rem 870.both will do the job just find the one that fits you
Time to be adventurous, try something new and get into Black Powder shooting.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Boiler
A good .50 cal muzzle loader makes a great 'slug' gun for deer during the 'rifle' season and you get an extra week of ML hunting in Dec . AND...with an optional 12ga barrel you can also use it for Turkey hunting.
I've been doing that for years and it's made hunting that much more of a challenge and way more fun.
Otherwise like the other guys have said..:)
Cantilever scope mount for the rifled barrel, you do not want to have to tap the receiver. If you do I bet you will deal with a wandering zero and stripped receiver holes when you want to go back to the original configuration.
An 870 is a good one, even an older 3" gun will work out great for you, 3" is more than enough for turkeys and you can get any new 870 barrels to fit on to even the older receivers, you just cannot load it for a chamber length longer than the receiver is designed for.
Remington 870 in 20 gauge with 28" barrel for turkey etc & a rifled slug barrel for deer...lot lighter to carry and does the same job as a 12 gauge with less recoil and weight...I switched to a 20 gauge years ago and have never looked back!
I have two close friends who both have the Mossberg 535 combos and have had numerous troubles with them. The main issue is failing to properly cycle and eject shells. This is particularly true with slugs and magnum turkey loads. I typically like Mossberg and have heard they offer good warranty service. I have a 935 turkey/waterfowl combo and love it. I also got my son a 500 bantam 20 gauge combo last year. So I am not bashing the brand, but would stay away from the 535. That being said, they are liquidating them at Canadian Tires all over right now as noted in another thread. So it is tempting to hope for the best when they are going so cheaply. Lastly, the 870 will hold its value better IMO. Plus barrels are numerous and reasonably priced.
If you can afford it pick up a dedicated gun for each. A slug gun like a Savage 220 for deer and a 12 gauge specifically set up for turkey or turkey/waterfowl with a change of choke.
It will cost more up front but in the long run you might tire of messing with a combo and want something more specific to the task.
Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk
My Mossberg 500 slug barrel has a cantilever scope mountQuote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
I bought the Remington 3 barrel combo It came with the 28” smooth bore, a rifled cantilever barrel and a 24” turkey barrel with iron sights and an extra full choke. That covers me for everything.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A cantilevered barrel may not be necessary if his range for deer is adequate for a red dot. This shotgun is to be used for deer and turkey so tapping the receiver may not be a deal breaker.
Why not buy a turkey gun and a deer gun! J/k. I think the mossberg because Remington is in financial trouble and who knows what will happen with warranty.
My wife is right handed and left eye dominant and I have thought of a red dot scope on her shotgun. We can't retrain her right eye because it is too weak. You think that would work?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dythbringer
I use a Browning BPS and bought the rifled barrel for it. I found it fit me best and the bottom eject works good for being a lefty
I was taught to shoot red dot optics with both eyes open so I don't see why it wouldn't work for your missus. Perhaps you could see if a buddy has a red dot she could try out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
I got a red dot you can have. Give it a try and if she doesnt like it go for a scope. PM me and we can figure out how to get it to you.
Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
My brother has the same problem. No magnified scope will work. A red dot might but she has to shoot with both eyes open. I shoot with both eyes open with the red dot on my crossbow and i don't have any problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by Snowwalker
I have a Winchester O/U 101 12 Gage 2 3/4 30 in barrel Full / Full fixed choke good for Deer Bear Grouse
(I can't use for Ducks , and never tried for Turkey) I love it ...
Just heard that about Remngton. We'll see what happens. For now I'll avoid them...Quote:
Originally Posted by Useless
Thanks for the offer Jerry. I have a red dot thats collecting dust in my gun cabinet too... LOL!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerryklimczuk
At this point most my rifles have iron sights. The 300wm is really the only one scoped.
I'm leaning more towards the Mossberg because its already tapped for a scope if I so choose one day. They do have a kit with two barrels. One is a smooth bore for turkey and the other is rifled for waterfowl. Im thinking I could use the rifled barrel with slugs. Just remove the choke. Any thoughts on that?
Beyond that I may just get two shotguns. Get a turkey gun now and save my pennies for a slug gun in the fall.
I have an 870 cantilevered barrel with a shotgun scope on it. Good out to 100 meters with about a tea cup plate group. My wife shoots 20 ga, smooth barrel with rifled slugs and she is just as good out to 60ish meters. All I can suggest is practice makes perfect, sounds like you guys are setup for it so start sending lead down range and get comfortable with your equipment and skill.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Boiler
Fyi, gave up the red dot because I could dial in long shots. I like a bit of magnification.
Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk
I'm on my second Mossberg 835 3 1/2"pump. I gave the first 2 barrel set to my son. It had a turkey barrel and an open sighted rifled barrel.
My second one is a camo job with 3 barrels ... waterfowl with 3 choke tubes. a turkey barrel with fiber optic sights and an aftermarket turkey choke tube. and a cantilever rifled slug barrel.
I really like the gun a lot. It has killed whatever I point it at. That 3 1/2" is deadly but every time it goes off something dies and something gets hurt!
I think Jerry was speaking to Snowwalker with the offer of the red dot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr.Boiler
Yup I think he was too. But since Karen is really into her O/U right now, I will pass on the loan of the red dot right now. I may put one on the 870 for myself. Getting harder to see both the barrel and bird at the same time.. Doc says a few more years I may have almost 20/20 vision again..Quote:
Originally Posted by Dythbringer
Damn! Got squirrelled again!Quote:
Originally Posted by Dythbringer
When you say " something gets hurt", are you referring to your shoulder?Quote:
Originally Posted by SK33T3R
I prefer to shoot my 10 gauge 3 1/2 inch, instead of any 12 gauge in 3 1/2 inch , "big ouch"
The old 12ga10ga argument comes up again ��
Who is arguing? I am just saying that I prefer my 10 gauge over a 12 gauge 3 1/2 inch .Quote:
Originally Posted by Thymallus
Ever wonder why there are many more 12 gauge 3 1/2 inch shotguns for sale. on this forum and at gun shows .
But here is something very interesting if you care to read .
The Disadvantages of the 3-1/2 inch Twelve Gauge Shell
By Randy Wakeman
There are several readily understood disadvantages to a 3-1/2 inch chamber in an autoloader or pump. Here are some of them.
1) Weaker receiver. Anytime you have a larger then necessary ejection port, you weaken the receiver commensurate with the amount of additional metal removed.
2) Longer, heavier receiver. To accommodate 3-1/2 inch shells, the receiver is longer and heavier than otherwise necessary, as is the shell elevator, links, mainspring tube, etc. The shell elevator and associated springs must be heavier to move around a heavier object, the loaded shell itself. Contingent on the model, loading through the bottom of the receiver can be clumsy, finger-pinching, or a bit of both.
3) Slower cycling. It is a matter of distance: the bolt most travel rearward half of an inch farther during the ejection sequence, then must again travel and additional half of an inch forward to return to battery. It indicates a slower-cycling autoloader and a slower to shuck pump.
4) Heavier than necessary barrel. Only the 3-1/2 inch 12 gauge shell deviates substantially from SAAMI standard 12 gauge 11,500 PSI MAP pressure at 14,000 PSI MAP. With the approximately 22% rise in allowable working pressures, the barrel must necessarily be thicker and heavier to accommodate the higher working pressure. (See the list at the bottom of this article. Note the much higher pressure of 3-1/2 inch 12 gauge compared to the 10 gauge (also a 3-1/2 inch shell).
5) Recoil is far beyond what most shooters can tolerate in standard weight hunting guns. No one can do their best shooting with a shell that kicks more. Heavy recoil promotes flinching. In addition, heavy recoil can, over time damage the human body in several ways, including joint damage, eye damage and brain damage. (Each shot can cause a mini-concussion, similar to a boxer taking a clean shot.)
6) Thicker, heavier components subject to recoil. When shooting 3-1/2 inch shells, for example the common 2 ounce 1300 fps lead load, your shotgun and its stock are subjected to higher levels of stress, shock and vibration than they would be with lower recoil 2-3/4 inch, or even three inch shells. All parts of the system are punished by the additional shock and must be made heavier and stronger to accommodate the higher shock levels. The bent mainspring tubes and cracked bolt buffers that have plagued many models get far more stress from 3-1/2 inch shells.
7) Patterning of standard length shells is degraded when fired in 3-1/2 inch chambers. Folks such as Browning have published their findings that pattern percentage improvement of ten percent or so is experienced when the unfolded shell length matches the chamber length.
8) Longer shot column than standard length shells. To pack a 10 gauge Magnum shot load into a smaller diameter 12 gauge shell, the shot column becomes extraordinarily long and therefore inefficient. Short shot columns pattern better, putting more killing pellets on target.
9) A shotgun that is designed for 3-1/2 inch shells isn't as compact, responsive, or as intuitive to operate as it would be if the action was designed around standard length shells.
SAAMI Shotshell Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) in PSI
· 10 gauge: 11,000
· 12 gauge (except 3-1/2"): 11,500
· 12 gauge 3-1/2": 14,000
· 16 gauge: 11,500
· 20 Gauge: 12,000
· 28 gauge: 12,500
· .410 Bore 2-1/2": 12,500
· .410 Bore 3": 13,500
Shooting 3.5in 2oz magnum turkey loads out of a Mossberg 535 is the hardest kicking gun I've ever shot.
It's a very light shotgun(aluminum reciever) and the 3.5" shells kick like a mule. Almost gave me a flinch.
But the Mossberg with a ported .655 turkey choke and 3" turkey loads shoots the best pattern of all my shotguns.
I'd buy an 870 20guage with cantilever rifled barrel and vent rib barrel for a do all gun.
If using for Waterfowl I'd likely move up to the 12 from the 20. But only personal preference
Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk
I agree 100 percent with every thing .3.5 inch turkey loads are brutal in the plastic stock shotguns.
A 20g combo is a great way to go.
No need for 3.5" shells for turkey. I bet half the people shooting them flinch so bad they can't hit the ground if they tried.
Lol yup. I have seen it a few times with new hunters.plus Thy get so excited seeing a big tom up close Thy forget to get there face down in the stock.. seen lots of dust fly at the feet if big toms.Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
When I was first testing loads for turkey, I tried 4, 5, and 6 shot in 2 3/4, 3, and 3 1/2.Quote:
Originally Posted by terrym
Result were like this with all three shot sizes
2 3/4"
12 to 18 pellets in neck and head.
3"
8 to 20 pellets in neck and head.
3 1/2"
8 to 12 pellets in neck and head.
Can you guess what I shoot?
Lots of food for thought. Thanks guys. Ill let you know what I get..