New To Shotguns

[jnoonan22]

I'm pretty much a rifle person, but I'm looking at getting my first shotgun in the very near future. I've done a little research to learn more about them, but I'm still learning. I'm definitely leaning towards the Mossberg line for quality/affordability.

Again, this will be my first shotgun. I plan on using it primarily for turkey hunting as well just general shooting for fun. Maybe I'll get around to hunting other stuff, but for now turkey is all I plan to hunt. I was looking at the 935 series and they seem to be turkey and waterfowl specific, but would these guns be good for other shooting, such as skeet, trap, etc?

From reading other posts, I see people report that the 935s don't cycle 2 3/4 shells very well unless they are heavy. If the 935 would not be a good choice for skeet and trap shooting, would the 930 series be a better choice and if so, would the 930 work really well for turkey hunting? I'm new to the whole shotgun thing so I just was hoping I could get a shotgun that would be able to perform well in both areas. Thanks.

 

[Jason_W]

Personally, I don't care all that much for Mossbergs, but that's based only on the experience I had with my 835. I much prefer the Remington 870. Admittedly, I know very little about semi-auto shotguns, but I like the feel of Remingtons better in general.

 

[chas08]

The 930, in my opinion, for your stated purposes would be the better choice. Especially for shooting shells on the lighter end of the scale. The 935 has an "overbored" barrel which means that it is larger than a 12ga. bore. This probably adds weight and mass to the gun, and disables you from being able to shoot slugs through it, should you ever decide to. The 930 has a standard 12ga. bore with a 3inch chamber that is more than adequate for your stated purposes. Both models have ported barrels which make them considerably louder to the shooter and by-standers. I've owned two different models of 3.5inch semi-auto shotguns, both have issues with light loads in some form. No one gun will do it all with excellence there is always trade offs in one area or another. If you are absolutely sure you want a Mossberg (and there is nothing wrong with that) I'd go with the 930.

 

[jnoonan22]

Thanks for the help. I had a feeling the 930 would be the one to go with. Would you advise going with the turkey model specifically which I believe has a 24" barrel or would any of the models suffice?

 

[chas08]

I'd probably go with the 24 inch if Turkey was going to be my main objective. A 26 inch length is a nice compromise, if they offer it, for both Turkey and wingshooting other birds from Ducks to Clay. Either will shoot just as far and pattern similarly with the same choke restrictions. So it's really more personal preference. A longer sighting plane is generally considered more desireable for most wingshooting. You could even consider additional barrels for it later to taylor it to specific purposes. Mossberg barrels are common and relatively inexpensive.

 

[oneounceload]

A longer barrel has nothing to do with longer site plane or radius - you don't look at your beads but the targets; it has everything to do with swing dynamics......If you're using your gun for a lot of clay targets and wing shooting, then the longer barrel is your friend. If you're mostly shooting static targets like deer or turkey, then a shorter barrel is not a handicap

 

[ArmedBear]

The 935 is a serious pig. It's a heavy 10 Gauge bored gun that takes 3.5" 12 Gauge Magnum shells. It's a great gun for its intended purpose (massive payloads for faraway geese, etc.) but it's by no means an all-around gun.

 

[Al LaVodka]

A longer barrel has nothing to do with longer site plane or radius - you don't look at your beads but the targets; it has everything to do with swing dynamics......If you're using your gun for a lot of clay targets and wing shooting, then the longer barrel is your friend. If you're mostly shooting static targets like deer or turkey, then a shorter barrel is not a handicap

Yeah, everyone else, stop looking over the bead, or lining or stacking both of them up, when you shoot. Just look at the target everybody, not the barrel. In fact, I want you all to take those silly, useless, beads off the barrel as you don't use them. That's no matter what each of the rest of you think. You won't!?

I'm gonna put electric tape on the bottom of your shooting glasses, like all the competitive shooters have, so you just can't see the barrel -- you DON'T look at it!

LOL

Al

 

[oneounceload]

Yeah, everyone else, stop looking over the bead, or lining or stacking both of them up, when you shoot. Just look at the target everybody, not the barrel. In fact, I want you all to take those silly, useless, beads off the barrel as you don't use them. That's no matter what each of the rest of you think. You won't!?

I'm gonna put electric tape on the bottom of your shooting glasses, like all the competitive shooters have, so you just can't see the barrel -- you DON'T look at it!

LOL

nice attack......

folks who shoot targets and upland game do not look at the beads, lest they miss their target.........and if had a gun that fits, you would know that

 

[bobelk99]

Key words "gun that fits".

 

[reckless carolinian]

Just curious, if this is a first shotgun, why an auto. There are plenty of pumps out there looking for a good home.

 

[chas08]

A longer barrel has nothing to do with longer site plane or radius - you don't look at your beads but the targets

folks who shoot targets and upland game do not look at the beads, lest they miss their target.........and if had a gun that fits, you would know that

I beg to differ, there are times when I use my bead, and times when I do not, so I like both. At crossing geese or ducks at 40-60 yds I like a bead that I can use as an out of focus reference point to match speed and be in the same plane because of the long lead needed. On quail or doves, I never know it's there. Either way the target is your point of focus and a good fitting gun is a huge advantage. I was blessed with good hand eye coordination and can most usually shoot 50-60% on dove, with guns that I don't even own, given the length of pull isn't too long. Even better with ones that I do. I was taught to "see the bird, shoot the bird" and several different techniques to "git 'er done" I practice during the off season shooting bumble bees and yellow jackets on the wing with a "Red Ryder" BB gun, it's great fun.

 

[jnoonan22]

I wanted to go with a semi-auto primarily for skeet, for shooting more than one skeet at a time. I'm sure somebody with a little decent experience could pull this off with a pump action, but I'd rather start out with a semi.

 

[chas08]

I plan on using it primarily for turkey hunting as well just general shooting for fun.
I wanted to go with a semi-auto primarily for skeet

Those parameters are pretty far apart. If you are just shooting for fun, you can make do. I'd go with at least a 26 inch barrel length in a semi-auto maybe something like this. http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossberg_Guns/930/NEW/85120.jpg if your heart is set on a Mossberg semi-auto.