2-3/4" 835 loads

[PEHunter]

I need to reduce the recoil of may 835 as much as possible due to fusion in my neck that only allows my neck to bend at the C2-C3 and C8-T1 joints.  I was thinking of switching to 2 3/4" Win X-range #5 through a Kick's .675 choke.  How does everyone think this pattern will hold up at 40.

Also, I though about switching to a 20GA. but thought I may be just as will off sticking with the 12 and going down to 2-3/4 shells due to the extra weight of the 12GA.  Does anyone have any experience with both guns that could give me some insight.

Thanks in advance for the input.  

[allaboutshooting]

I need to reduce the recoil of may 835 as much as possible due to fusion in my neck that only allows my neck to bend at the C2-C3 and C8-T1 joints.  I was thinking of switching to 2 3/4" Win range #5 through a Kick's .675 choke.  How does everyone think this pattern will hold up at 40.

Also, I though about switching to a 20GA. but thought I may be just as will off sticking with the 12 and going down to 2-3/4 shells due to the extra weight of the 12GA.  Does anyone have any experience with both guns that could give me some insight.

Thanks in advance for the input.   

First of all welcome to OG. It's good to have you here and we look forward to getting to know you.

The 835 can deliver some excellent patterns and many turkeys have been killed with 2.75" shells. If I read your post correctly, you're considering 2.75" Winchester Xtended Range shells. Those shells have 1.5 oz. of shot and if I was considering those shells, I'd choose #6 shot. They have plenty of energy to kill a turkey and you'll have more pellets in the load to develop your pattern and those extra pellets will put more killing power at the target.

A 2.75" shell will shoot just as far as a 3" or 3.5" shell but the lighter load may not consistently produce  killing patterns. There is no rule however that says you must shoot at 40 yards. Maybe you limit your shots to 25, 30 or 35 yards like we used to 20 years or so ago. We did just fine then and you can do the same today.

The only way you'll know how it works however is to take it to the range and try it.

Since you already have the 835, I'd deep clean the bore http://allaboutshooting.com/article_info.php?articles_id=282 , put a Shooter's Friend recoil pad over the existing pad to lessen the recoil and go to the range to see how it does.

All my best this spring.

Thanks,
Clark

[Jayhawkeye]

i only shoot 2 3/4" 12 gauge shells due to recoil issues.  C-5/6 issue.  lol.  i use a mossy 930 w/ a PG choke that loves #6 Hevi-13s.  i have very little felt recoil with the combination of 2 3/4" shells and a lib saver recoil slip-on pad.  i don't hesitate to take a 40 yard shot and i've never lost a bird due to lack of knockdown power!  although, i haven't had to take a shot over 25 yards since i started using DSD decoys.  lol!  I'll be out sighting in and patterning later this week.  hopefully, it goes smooth.  nevertheless, I'll see how the Beretta A390 patterns with a IC choke. 

here's some numbers from my mossy 930 PG Choke set up:
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,2103.msg35130.html#msg35130

[PEHunter]

Thanks for the input guys!

I went ahead and swapped the fractor recoil pad with a limbsaver, and have decided on a choke/shell combination that I want to try.  I will let you know how the patterning results turn out.  Thanks again.

[Jayhawkeye]

It was a gorgeous 70 degree today in the Land of OZ!  Is it really March 1st?  It wasn't the best day to pattern due to the strong gusts of winds from the SW @ 20+ mph, but we still went out shooting anyways.  Unfortunately, we could only shoot @ 35 yards due to lack space at my buddy's house.  Oh well...  I might have found a new favorite shell!  The 2 ¾" Hevi Duck Loads #7.5's 236 hits are amazing numbers.  I want to do a penetration test before I use these shells in the field.     

Here's the Berettas A390 w/ an Indian Creek choke results:
2 ¾" Hevi-13 Loads #6's (IC choke) = 155 hits in 10" circle @ 35 yards
2 ¾" Hevi Duck Loads #7.5's (IC choke) = 236 hits in 10" circle @ 35 yards
2 ¾" Winchester Supreme HV Loads #6's (IC choke) = 149 hits in 10" circle @ 35 yards

[PEHunter]

Thanks for the up date Jay.  I am anxious to get do some patterning this weekend if the weather will hold off a little bit.  I have a different choke for the 835 on the way and should be here today, so I feel like a kid an Christmas eave.  I will post up the results.

[surehuntsalot]

Winchester XX magnum 1-5/8oz #5's or 6's

[PEHunter]

I finally got a chance to do some patterning yesterday, I'm not sure how happy I am with the numbers but the patterns are very evenly distribted.

835 w/ 24" barrel (deep cleaned), Kick's GT .670, Win. X-range 1.5oz #5,  temp 58 deg.
30 yard, lasered: 138 in 10" Circle, Very even distrubution
40 yard, lasered: 70 in 10" circle, very even distrubution

[Jayhawkeye]

I finally got a chance to do some patterning yesterday, I'm not sure how happy I am with the numbers but the patterns are very evenly distribted.

835 w/ 24" barrel (deep cleaned), Kick's GT .670, Win. X-range 1.5oz #5,  temp 58 deg.
30 yard, lasered: 138 in 10" Circle, Very even distrubution
40 yard, lasered: 70 in 10" circle, very even distribution

These #s are pretty good for 2 3/4" #5 shell!  I'm sure your #s will go up w/ #6s.  70 hits will put a bid down!!!  a good pattern is key...

[PEHunter]

I finally got a chance to do some patterning yesterday, I'm not sure how happy I am with the numbers but the patterns are very evenly distributed.

835 w/ 24" barrel (deep cleaned), Kick's GT .670, Win. X-range 1.5oz #5,  temp 58 deg.
30 yard, lasered: 138 in 10" Circle, Very even distribution
40 yard, lasered: 70 in 10" circle, very even distribution

These #s are pretty good for 2 3/4" #5 shell!  I'm sure your #s will go up w/ #6s.  70 hits will put a bid down!!!  a good pattern is key...

Thanks Jay...I think what was concerning me was the low pellet count in the 1.5oz load, it just seemed very low after shooting 2.25oz loads for several year.

I have a 28" barrel also, I'm going to switch it out for the 24" and shot the same loads and see how it patterns.  I am curious to see if I can notice a difference in the two.  Overall the 24" barrel gave a very even pattern distribution at both range, which I was very happy with.