Got to pattern the Mossberg 835 with a Primos Tight Wad .690 choke and my new Williams sights (recommended by some fellow ALDEER folks). After the initial sight in with dove shot....I backed to 35 yards. I used Federal Flight Control 3 1/2" 2oz. #5 shot. My results were as follows.

2 shots:
shot 1 - 180 pellets in a 10" circle with 7 in a 1" bullseye
shot 2 - 152 pellets in a 10" circle with 7 in a 1" bullseye


I am considering buying a box of Hevi 13 Magblends just to see...but I dont know if I could get much better with my setup. Any suggestions?

I would definitely try some other than the Federal with Flight Control in a 12g. Also, try some 2.25oz #6's or the MagBlends.

Try the federal flight control in #6. Should put a few more in the kill zone. They patter much better than the #5 in my mossberg. The mag blends pattern well, and seem to have a little more down range energy imo.

I would try the mag blends. I think you will get better results.

You would probably get alot better #'s with the magblends, but there is still something to be said for the killing power of straight 5's.
never seen a test on it but I've thought about it..........you would have to factor in both #'s and pellet energy to determine actual killing power.

Probably don't matter too much about killing power when you shoot them neatly in the head, but I've had to shoot them in the back walking off more times than I would like to admit, or shot them through a real thick place and ended up breaking legs and running them down, etc.

That's why I always kinda liked big shot, even if I didn't break his neck I was gonna break him down good enough that I could run over and get my foot on him.
Of course big shot for me now is TSS 8

Thay will work but i would try something different if it was me.

I personally like to get around 200/10 or better @ 40y.

If you have the discipline to let him hang up at 50+ and turn and walk off, then your fine. I struggle with that at times, therefore I like it to be a little more dense at 40.

That SOG ain't letting one walk off from any distance if he can help it.

Can ya blame him!? Never know when it's your last one for a while! Some years they don't come so easy.

Well Im not too comfortable shooting past 40 yards....yet. I am going to try some #6 federal and probably some magblends....it will be a few days....but I will update here.

I agree, I was being conservative a little with my numbers for the new fella and his new found love. But if I'm shooting factory loads I feel a little over 200 is a great pattern.

If I can get a clear shot there is not a bird alive that will walk away to 60 yards. That's if I do my part.

That's a great attitude to have, know the limitations of your gun and hunt to that.

Try the Federal HWT in #7s. Way more energy than the Magblends, and a lot more pellets than the #5s.

Try a .670 constriction choke,I've had good patterns with that and federal 5's

Ain't nothing wrong with your results.

Hunt with it and know your limitations.

A dead bird is a dead bird. Doesn't matter if he has 7 pellets in his kill zone, or 200.

God Bless,
David B.

This is Federal #6 shot 3"....new Carlson choke. 675 @ 40 yards on a 8.5" x 11" piece of paper..

need feedback

112 in an 8" circle

same choke....federal #5's 3 1/2" @ 40 yards......8 inch circle 111 pellets....my shot was a little high and right....but it looks to have held a tighter pattern

DEAD

i dont think it could get any better unless i wnt to a heavy shot #7 or possibly a magblend

I wouldn't change anything brother,that is a dead turkey.

which shot....6 or 5?

I like the pattern of the 6's better myself, but you are nearly always gonna have better pattern density with smaller shot size. Either or both will do the job, and i would shoot all the fives and sixes considering what they cost!

Im hoping to find a better selection of shells in Huntsville tomm. Academy in Gadsden is awful for selection!

When I shot my .690 choke, I averaged about 165 pellets in 10" circle of a number 5 shot 3 1//2" shell.....when I used the .670 choke, I dropped to 125 pellets in 10" circle, but a tighter group in the center but not much spread outside of the center.....could the .670 choke be "over constricting" the shot to where they are bouncing off each other? The 835 I am using has a 28" barrel. I haven't shot #6's out of the .690 choke yet....that is my next test, but I wanted to get some input.

From what I remember the mossbergs like a more open choke.

10-4.....gonna try the #6 with the .690 choke....maybe that will get me to 200+ at 40 yards....still can't find any magblends....any ideas around south Huntsville?

They had a few magblends up here, but may be sold out now. They were sold out of 3" magblends that I was supposed to pick up for another member yesterday.

Where at?...convention?

Yeah

I can't find a 3 1/2" in the no. 6 shot.....would love to find that w.ith 2.25 oz.

Is hevi-shot magnum blend made from steel?

No

Its a tungsten blend

You're thinking about that hevi-metal stuff. That stuff is junk you'd be about as well off with dove loads. Magblends are made from a tungsten product.

10-4.....thanks bud!

well....i am more confused now than i was to start with....

would it be normal for a .690 choke to shoot 3 1/2" #5's better than a .675

and a .675 to shoot 3" #6's better than a .690

my best result so far has been the .690 choke with 3 1/2" #5's...@35 yards it put 180 in 10"

the .675 held tighter patterns down range on target...but the wasnt many pellets outside of the 100 or so that was on target...whereas the .690 kept more pellets in the 10" circle...just not quite as dense.