Mossberg field/deer shotguns?
December 9th, 2009 by eranio
I am considering buying a Mossberg 12 ga. combo shotgun. It would be my first hunting shotgun, they seem to be of reasonable quality and a good value. My question is they have a model 500 combo gun and a model 535ATS combo gun. The only differences that I can see is the 500 is chambered for 3" shells and the 535 is chambered for 3.5" shells. I would like to eventually use it to hunt turkeys, deer and black bears. What would you recommend and why? Thanks in advance.
With the rifled barrel, I will be using slugs as well.
I think that a 30-06 kicks pretty hard, do 3.5" shells in a 12 gauge kick much harder than that?
http://mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=11&display=specs
Posted in mossberg shotguns
December 9th, 2009 at 5:51 am
First thing you got to ask yourself is this? — Are you recoil sensitive?…..
I have fired the Mossberg 535 and the Remington 870 Super mag with a 3 1/2 inch cartridge…. The recoil knocked the snot out of me! — No Thanks to either of them….
If recoil isn’t an issue then surely consider a Mossberg 535…..
I should point out I have had great success taking deer, turkey and a few other critters with the Mossberg 500…. I don’t hunt bear so cant really give you an honest answer about that… But deer is no problem with 2 3/4 inch or 3 inch slugs……..
I have several Mossberg 500 shotguns — 2 590′s, a couple of deer guns, a couple of field guns, a few persuader / cruisers and all have given me superb service with zero problems for years… The Mossberg 500 is reliable, easy to use and have been a pleasure to own……
December 9th, 2009 at 5:51 am
I own the 500 and very happy with it. But, the 535 with 3.5" shells sounds fun. Go with the 535… My 500 was only taken apart once after more than 3,000 rounds; so, I can replace the standard stock with a bullpup stock. Never have any issue…
December 9th, 2009 at 5:51 am
If you think you may turkey hunt some day go on and spend the extra money for the 535. The 3.5′s kick like a mule but they put alot more lead down range and come in handy for turkeys, even if you put a 3 in the chamber and have two 3.5′s in the tube for follow up shots.
Dave
December 9th, 2009 at 5:51 am
I would go with the 535 being it would be more versatile than the 500. The 535 should be able to chamber both 3 and 3 1/2 inch shells.
December 9th, 2009 at 5:51 am
I have a 535 and I absolutely love it. It is sort of light, so it kicks a little harder than a 30-06, but I can promise you if you shoot it at an animal, you will never even feel the kick. The 3 1/2′s will make you a lot happier with your shots, but I still would be a little skeptical of shooting a bear of any size with it, though it can be done with a good shot.