Hi All,
I had my grandpa's old Mossberg 835 fail twice on me this season with Gobblers in range, and the birds walked both times. I've done all I can to clean and "restore" it, but I just don't trust it anymore.
I'm looking to buy a new pump with a focus on reliability that I can use for turkeys and as a backup to my SBE that I use for ducks.
I'm thinking 26" barrel, no red dot. I'm leaning towards a benelli super nova or Mossberg 835 but open to other ideas. Curious y'alls thoughts on the best reliable pump options available for me.
Thank you in advance!
870 . I have the old and the new one's and zero issues to report.
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The Nova is a descent shotgun, but hard to beat a Remington 870.
Find a 15-20 year old 870 in good shape, buy it, and never look back!! I bought my 870 sp in 1995 when I was 14 years old. That gun was my only shotgun for a lot of years and shot thousands of rounds hunting and thousands more shooting trap, skeet, and sporting clays. Looking back, I've killed turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, ring necks, grouse, snowshoes, groundhogs, fox, skunks, possums, coons, coyotes, bobcat, crows, ducks, geese, woodcock, doves, snakes, and one deer with that gun. Never had a single failure with it!!
I echo the 870 recommendations. Admittedly I was always a mossberg fan with a 500 being my 1st shotgun. The 870 though will likely always have aftermarket support and replacement parts.
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870
870
870
870 ... all the way ... IMO
If you want better quality than the 835, with similar controls, check out a Browning BPS.
If I could only own one gun for everything, it would be an 870. Unfortunately my son claimed mine! I don't own one any more, but that gun did it all. The only issue I ever had with that gun (purchased in 1989 and used hard ever since), was that if it is dirty you will get some blowback from powder when it is humid or damp outside (just clean it!). Not a single failure to fire or eject - ever!
Ithaca model 37 turkey slayer, if you can find one.
Browning BPS
Remington Model 870
Winchester 1300
Mossberg 835
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I have every one mentioned multiples and my favorite is winchester 1300.
Ive owned an 870 since I was 6 .... yes the same 1 .... I wouldn't hesitate to take it to the field any day. Its since been retired when I started waterfowl hunting but gets brought out once in a while for dive season. It's a battleship.
From owning one myself, and watching lots of turkey hunting videos, ive found that 8/10 times i see a shotgun misfire or fail, its been a mossberg pump... I got a buddy thats shot over 100,000 rounds through his 500, so maybe its just luck of the draw with em, and he got a good one? Anyways, i got a BPS and absolutely love it. Ambidextrous too. Highly recommend it. Points good, shoots good, smooth action, and reliable. When i pull the trigger, it always goes boom for me.
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Ithaca Turkey Slayer
Quote from: Canadian on May 17, 2023, 10:30:32 AM
From owning one myself, and watching lots of turkey hunting videos, ive found that 8/10 times i see a shotgun misfire or fail, its been a mossberg pump... I got a buddy thats shot over 100,000 rounds through his 500, so maybe its just luck of the draw with em, and he got a good one? Anyways, i got a BPS and absolutely love it. Ambidextrous too. Highly recommend it. Points good, shoots good, smooth action, and reliable. When i pull the trigger, it always goes boom for me.
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and 8 out of 10 times its user error instead if brand malfunction
Quote from: knightrider on May 18, 2023, 12:49:40 PM
Quote from: Canadian on May 17, 2023, 10:30:32 AM
From owning one myself, and watching lots of turkey hunting videos, ive found that 8/10 times i see a shotgun misfire or fail, its been a mossberg pump... I got a buddy thats shot over 100,000 rounds through his 500, so maybe its just luck of the draw with em, and he got a good one? Anyways, i got a BPS and absolutely love it. Ambidextrous too. Highly recommend it. Points good, shoots good, smooth action, and reliable. When i pull the trigger, it always goes boom for me.
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and 8 out of 10 times its user error instead if brand malfunction
Possibly. I know i kept mine immaculate, and it misfired twice. Maybe just bad luck? I clean mine after every shot (unless trap shooting, or first shot is a miss). Either way, super happy with my BPS.
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I like them all but I just like the bps and would trust it over any other pump more..... I'd just buy the gun I wanted the most and enjoy hunting with it, then buy the next one I wanted after that.
Complicated answer...overall best quality? An 870 Wingmaster..but I hate the 870 Express. It's like every bit of quality control went out the window.
Best patterning..Mossberg 835 based on the couple I've shot. And it's not even close
Probably the one that feels best is the BPS. Not sure why but it just feels right.
Quote from: Tally Turkey on May 16, 2023, 02:59:22 PM
Hi All,
I had my grandpa's old Mossberg 835 fail twice on me this season with Gobblers in range, and the birds walked both times. I've done all I can to clean and "restore" it, but I just don't trust it anymore.
I'm looking to buy a new pump with a focus on reliability that I can use for turkeys and as a backup to my SBE that I use for ducks.
I'm thinking 26" barrel, no red dot. I'm leaning towards a benelli super nova or Mossberg 835 but open to other ideas. Curious y'alls thoughts on the best reliable pump options available for me.
Thank you in advance!
Keep us posted which option you go with brother. im very curious lol. I think if you go with any of the mentioned guns here, you cant go wrong. And as knightrider said, 8/10 misfires are probably caused by shotgun abuse and neglect. Excited to hear what u go with.
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The only gun of any type I've never had a single failure of any kind from is a Mossberg 500 I got thirty years ago. Most of the time when someone says they've never had any failure they're forgetting or lying. That gun hasn't even crossed paths with a bad shell.
The only pump I'd consider using these days is a Mossberg 505AF 20ga. You'll probably want a slip on recoil pad to lengthen the stock.
870 Express 30+ years old. The only failure to fire and/or feed was a bad shell (side wall dented and hung trying to load thank goodness) and the few times I put a shell in backwards on a hectic ringneck shoot. No failure, not forgetting and not a liar.
My son's 870 he won in a clay shoot as a kid (roughly 2005 or so) does not have the same track record, not even close. 870 started going downhill then. I don't know about Mossberg as I have never owned one. I was always told as a kid in the late 60s and early 70s that Mossberg's were a POS so I just assumed they were telling the truth. Heard that about Mopar in those days and now I own one. Brands change.
With pump guns, I think it's a better idea to stick with 3" chambers. I would take my BPS anywhere and use it for anything.
Its a personal choice based on personal preference.
My choice in descending order is:
1. Ithaca Turkeyslayer
2. Rem 870
3. Win 1300
4. Browning bps
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There is a reason most police departments have had 870s in their patrol cars for years. Tough and dependable. All the new manufacture ones are drilled and tapped too.
Quote from: tnanh on June 02, 2023, 05:37:12 PM
There is a reason most police departments have had 870s in their patrol cars for years. Tough and dependable. All the new manufacture ones are drilled and tapped too.
X2 here. The Wing-masters and the early 90's Greenleaf/Bottomland 870's are built like tanks. You can tell when you cycle one how smooth and solid they are. I never had one misfire, not cycle, absolutely no issues with anyone of mine. I do like the Winchester 1300 NWTF laminate stock models, however the triggers are not as smooth as the 870's. I haven't been able to find an aftermarket trigger kit to make them any smoother. They are nice reliable pumps though.....
Remington 870
Benelli super nova
Winchester 1300
I just bought a first generation Remington 870 Super Mag. I love it
I have both an 870 Express and a Benelli Nova. Can't complain about either one. I will say, I have dedicated the 870 as my turkey gun. Red dot, SureShot stock and all camo. It's a great gun for Turkeys.
Remington 870(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230727/ba0facdc460801eb5e768a6742c5f606.jpg)
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870
870
I have a 870 that I bought in 1992 that has never failed to go bang when I pulled the trigger. Killed a lot of turkeys with that tank of a gun (yes, it does weigh right at nine pounds with a saddle/scope/extended choke/and sling all attached. But it is the one gun I never worry about.
But, I'm not 25 anymore and hunt in non-stop elevation - and have been going lighter for that reason. I really thought that Remington was going to go out of business a few years back and their quality control was really bad at the time. But then a miracle happened for them and they got bought out and today I feel like their current guns are as good as any they have made. The action is MUCH smoother, the wood is much better and the finish is also improved. And yes, they are drilled and tapped from the factory. I would not hesitate to buy one and am presently getting one in a compact 20 as a backup gun. For the money, I think the 870 is back and as good as one can get for a pump. The compact 20 weighs 6 pounds and is 40.5 inches long. You will like carrying that in the woods in the spring, and because you are sitting in a crouched position and not wing shooting, the 13" LOP will not be an issue for the majority of turkey hunters.
Quote from: Tally Turkey on May 16, 2023, 02:59:22 PM
Hi All,
I had my grandpa's old Mossberg 835 fail twice on me this season with Gobblers in range, and the birds walked both times. I've done all I can to clean and "restore" it, but I just don't trust it anymore.
I'm looking to buy a new pump with a focus on reliability that I can use for turkeys and as a backup to my SBE that I use for ducks.
I'm thinking 26" barrel, no red dot. I'm leaning towards a benelli super nova or Mossberg 835 but open to other ideas. Curious y'alls thoughts on the best reliable pump options available for me.
Thank you in advance!
What shells did it fail with?
Rem. 870- I have owned three of them with no problems, EVER.
Browning BPS- two of those with zero problems
Benelli Nova-same story, have owned three with no problems.
Mossberg 835 and Model 500- I have owned one of each model with no issues.
IMO you should take your Mossberg 835 to a good gunsmith and perhaps he can diagnose the problem and fix it for you. If it belonged to my grandfather that's what I would do.
-Had 870 long ago, no concerns, good gun.
-Have 3 Ithaca Turkey slayers, love these guns!!! They are what they say
-1 Benelli nova, good gun. little long for me in the woods, but it could reach out and touch'em.
-Mossberg 835, killingest gun I've owned. Great patterns. It will kick, so only use 3" shells.
Asking which gun is the best is like asking a parent about their child. Theirs is always going to be the best. By the way....my guns are the best. LOLLLLL
Kinda surprised all the 870 fans. They were fantastic guns. Were is past tense. Can't live on the old days when that's not true now. Ever since that express garbage started they went down hill and recently out of business. Now back in business the fit, finish, reliability is no where near what the old ones were. I'd never recommend a new 870 and would steer you from it . A mossberg is not my favorite manufacturer either but you'd be way ahead for around same price. If you want to go better/more expensive, the browning. If you could find an old 870 wingmaster and don't mind modifying it w paint, threading barrel that'd be good bet.
The other thing I should mention, another 835 would be a good bet. Never even heard of one with issues and about everyone I know has one. Another consideration is imo a turkey gun is best just staying turkey gun. I know you don't want a red dot or scope but if poa isn't correct and with todays loads it's often not, I'd find a way to adjust that with some sights and call it a turkey gun. Not a back up for anything as you'd be readjusting it every spring. If it throws the pattern good you'd be ok. I just wouldn't count on that
Quote from: Bowguy on November 19, 2023, 04:13:22 AM
Kinda surprised all the 870 fans. They were fantastic guns. Were is past tense. Can't live on the old days when that's not true now. Ever since that express garbage started they went down hill and recently out of business. Now back in business the fit, finish, reliability is no where near what the old ones were. I'd never recommend a new 870 and would steer you from it . A mossberg is not my favorite manufacturer either but you'd be way ahead for around same price. If you want to go better/more expensive, the browning. If you could find an old 870 wingmaster and don't mind modifying it w paint, threading barrel that'd be good bet.
The other thing I should mention, another 835 would be a good bet. Never even heard of one with issues and about everyone I know has one. Another consideration is imo a turkey gun is best just staying turkey gun. I know you don't want a red dot or scope but if poa isn't correct and with todays loads it's often not, I'd find a way to adjust that with some sights and call it a turkey gun. Not a back up for anything as you'd be readjusting it every spring. If it throws the pattern good you'd be ok. I just wouldn't count on that
I agree with the "Can't live in the old days" for example the latter Express days? But From what I have seen the Newer Fieldmasters are pretty nice guns, but I don't figure they can ever get a fair shake now no matter what they do. Lol
Quote from: b wilt on November 19, 2023, 08:20:26 AM
Quote from: Bowguy on November 19, 2023, 04:13:22 AM
Kinda surprised all the 870 fans. They were fantastic guns. Were is past tense. Can't live on the old days when that's not true now. Ever since that express garbage started they went down hill and recently out of business. Now back in business the fit, finish, reliability is no where near what the old ones were. I'd never recommend a new 870 and would steer you from it . A mossberg is not my favorite manufacturer either but you'd be way ahead for around same price. If you want to go better/more expensive, the browning. If you could find an old 870 wingmaster and don't mind modifying it w paint, threading barrel that'd be good bet.
The other thing I should mention, another 835 would be a good bet. Never even heard of one with issues and about everyone I know has one. Another consideration is imo a turkey gun is best just staying turkey gun. I know you don't want a red dot or scope but if poa isn't correct and with todays loads it's often not, I'd find a way to adjust that with some sights and call it a turkey gun. Not a back up for anything as you'd be readjusting it every spring. If it throws the pattern good you'd be ok. I just wouldn't count on that
I agree with the "Can't live in the old days" for example the latter Express days? But From what I have seen the Newer Fieldmasters are pretty nice guns, but I don't figure they can ever get a fair shake now no matter what they do. Lol
Well they gotta prove they're good quality and it'll take time. Right now if the new ones seem better that's good but soon as they started the cheapest gun race they lost something. Take an old wingmaster, work it with a new gun. Night n day bud
Hard to find a pump that isn't reliable. Take your pick.
I'd get the 835 fixed and use it .
Mossberg 835 for me. That said if I could find the afformentioned 15-20 year old 870 in good condition and the super mag version I'd love to have that. I have a buddy that has one he won't part with. It's a. Absolute killer.
So is my 835 though.
Quote from: Bowguy on November 19, 2023, 12:34:14 PM
Quote from: b wilt on November 19, 2023, 08:20:26 AM
Quote from: Bowguy on November 19, 2023, 04:13:22 AM
Kinda surprised all the 870 fans. They were fantastic guns. Were is past tense. Can't live on the old days when that's not true now. Ever since that express garbage started they went down hill and recently out of business. Now back in business the fit, finish, reliability is no where near what the old ones were. I'd never recommend a new 870 and would steer you from it . A mossberg is not my favorite manufacturer either but you'd be way ahead for around same price. If you want to go better/more expensive, the browning. If you could find an old 870 wingmaster and don't mind modifying it w paint, threading barrel that'd be good bet.
The other thing I should mention, another 835 would be a good bet. Never even heard of one with issues and about everyone I know has one. Another consideration is imo a turkey gun is best just staying turkey gun. I know you don't want a red dot or scope but if poa isn't correct and with todays loads it's often not, I'd find a way to adjust that with some sights and call it a turkey gun. Not a back up for anything as you'd be readjusting it every spring. If it throws the pattern good you'd be ok. I just wouldn't count on that
I agree with the "Can't live in the old days" for example the latter Express days? But From what I have seen the Newer Fieldmasters are pretty nice guns, but I don't figure they can ever get a fair shake now no matter what they do. Lol
Well they gotta prove they're good quality and it'll take time. Right now if the new ones seem better that's good but soon as they started the cheapest gun race they lost something. Take an old wingmaster, work it with a new gun. Night n day bud
Old remington guns like wingmaster are awesome gun and more recent ones like Express ones are made with less quality, but they are still sturdy guns to me.