Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk ALTurkey Talk -- Beards and Spurs New Gun Advice

I'm looking for a new turkey gun. My demands are that it is camo, 12 guage, can shoot 3.5", and have a pistol grip stock.

Here is what I'm looking at right now.

Remington 870 Supermag Express with Sureshot stock. $490

Mossberg 835 Ultimag $457

Benelli SuperNova with SteadyGrip stock. $589



What say you experts?

I'm no expert, but I owned a Benelli Nova. The gun was never comfortable. The forearm was too far forward and I always felt as though I was overextended when shouldering it. I wouldn't buy a shotgun without shouldering it. One positive, I don't think it's possible to tear up a Benelli. I traded it on my SBEII.

Having said that, a 3.5" magnum shell in a pump is painful. Get a semi....

Is that a Knox recoil absorbing stock on that Mossberg? If so...I would buy that gun all day and twice on Sunday. If not, I would buy an 835 with a plain stock and BUY a Knox recoil absorbing stock and replace the buttstock before I used it. Recoil absorption PLUS you'll have the gun that will no doubt throw the best patterns of the 3 with that overbored barrel.

^^^^this^^^^

Just looked at this again....with the 20" barrel....you might not get the best patterning gun in the Mossy but Todd1700's (and others with the 20" barrel on oldgobbler) still get REALLY good patterns with the right load/choke. I would still go with the Mossy...especially if that stock absorbs recoil but I can't find anything online that states whether or not it does?

The 870 or the 835 would be a great turkey gun.
I personally have never been impressed with the novas. Now if your wanting a autoloader its a different story.

The ones I have seen had just a standard adjustable stock. That gun with 2.25 oz Mag-Blends or Nitros would make the perfect killing setup.

I own that very gun and it is "not" the Knox recoil absorbing stock. Trust me. LOL! But I did modify a slip on limbsaver recoil pad to fit mine. Poked a few holes and used some small black tie straps. Worked pretty good and stays put nicely.

As for patterns even with the shorter barrel I have had no trouble finding choke/shell combos that throw a good killing pattern at 40 yards. Some that would no doubt kill to 50. Nitros, Mag Blends, or even Winchester Elite Extended Range shells out of a Jellyhead, Indian Creek, or the new Hevi-Shot choke all gave me good patterns.

The best pattern I have gotten is with straight HEVI Shot 7's and the Hevi-Shot choke. 278 pellets inside 10 inches at 40 yards. But I'm not convinced of the long range killing power of a load that only leaves the barrel at 1050 fps.

I can buy the 835 from Walmart for $337 with a basic camo stock. Then, I oould buy a Knoxx adjustable camo stock for $130. That would put me at $467 compared to the $457 in the above link. It is not but $10 dollars different. My question is does the Knoxx stock definitely make a differense.

Until last year when it was stolen, I had a Remingtom 870 SPS Turkey Mag (call them Max now) with the Knox pistol grip stock... bought one the first year they hit the market. Don't know how much recoil was reduced, but it was still rough on the shoulder with the 3.5's in patterning.

One, it was lighter than other 870's... and didn't have any issues with carrying. Two, it improved my hold... having the ability to adjust the stock length to fit my shoulder helped me have the best form and the pistol grip improved my firmness of holding on the target. Bought a Briley choke (designed for Hevi-Shot) from Cabelas the year I bought it. With that setup shooting #6 HS, I killed birds from 60 yards and in (hunted a lot of pastures when I bought it - easy to misjudge distance). Typical scenario - pull the trigger and bird goes down... with minimal flopping.

Broke my heart last year when it was stolen... would have used if for the rest of my life and been content. Now in process of trying to make my Beretta Extrema a similar killing machine.

I don't have a Knoxx stock but after doing some google on them the reviews overall look poor for reducing recoil. A few said the perceived recoil may be a little less but the stock configuration was hard on the cheek bone. Not sure I would waste the money.

Where did you get those reviews? I'd like to read them. Cabelas has a 4.5 rating out of 5 with 225 reviews.

Not arguing just want to make the best decision.

Google "Knoxx recoil reducing stocks". There is one YouTube by some guy nut fancy. They try several styles and one is a hunting stock it appears along with some combat style. Several other links. Of course there are a few that say they greatly reduce it so I guess your just left with what you believe. In the YouTube video it looks like it kicks like a mule. I'm sure it does some , but does it $100+ dollars worth.

I know you aren't arguing, just trying to help you out before dropping the Benjamin.

Thanks. I'll take a look.

Nutnfancy gets on my nerves. He will do a 15 minute video on a $20 walmart knife and talk it up. He has some good points sometimes but I've gotten where I can't sit through one of his videos. I'll try and stomach it after work.

Like I mentioned before, I think the Knoxx setup primarily helps with weight, stock length, and confidence. I don't think it's really a great recoil reducer... though it helps some. Those reviews are right regarding the cheek bone - you have to adopt a more upright "cheek resting" on those stocks or they'll murder that cheekbone. Figured that out the first time I shot it... didn't make the same mistake twice.

Buy the Remmington, put a Indian Creek .665 choke on it and shoot Heavy Shot Mag Blends, you won't be sorry

Todd, One more thing I just realized. The 835 has the safety up top and with a pistol grip it appears it would be difficult to maneuver while a turkey was giving you a look. have you ever had trouble turning off the safety while trying to remain hidden?

I also own a 870 with the Shurshot stock and while the 870's safety right behind the trigger is the more convenient of the two I can put my thumb on top of the the 835 and click the safety off without taking my other fingers off the pistol grip. And I don't have really big hands. So it's not really that big a deal.

There are things I like about both models so it's tough to say which you would prefer.

Pros for the 835 for me are, 1. that over bored barrel is really hard to beat for patterns. 2. I love the short compact nature of the gun. 3. The adjustable butt stock is great to get the length of pull right for each person. 4. The pistol grip fits my smaller hands better than the shurshot grip.

Cons for the 835. 1. the 835 (and Mossbergs in general) are a little more rattly noise wise than the 870. 2. It kicks like a mule with a 3 1/2 shell and I did not like the butt pad that came on it and replaced it with a limbsaver slip on.

Pros for the 870 with shurshot stock. 1. The 870 just feels like a more solid gun and is quieter. 2. The recoil pad on the back of the shurshot butt stock is superior to what comes on the 835 tactical stock although nothing makes shooting 3 1/2 inch shells pleasant.

Cons for the 870 with shurshot stock. 1. it is not adjustable to individual length of pull. 2. The pistol grip is bit bulky for me but not terrible. 3. I have never got my 870 to pattern as well as the 835 despite the 835 having a substantially shorter barrel. The 870 has never put more than 190 pellets inside 10 inches at 40 yards with any choke/shell combo and that includes a Rhino Choke with the Nitro duplex loads. Of course 190 will kill turkeys all day long

Hope that helps. I don't dislike either gun and you really can't go wrong either way.

I'm happy with my 870, but if I was ever gonna buy another gun just for turkeys I'd find a used citori and dip it. You could have a gun with 2 different chokes and shot sizes then. There's been lots of times I've wished for a modified or IC choke with lead 4's when I let a turkey get too close and he saw my eyes or something and tried to take off.