I may decide to shoot something other than my Benellis this year. I have a 26" M1, 28" M2 waterfowl and 28" SBE2 and all seem a little awkward and long when chasing gobblers in the woods. A local shop has a ported 24" 835 in the old woodland camo and factory turkey choke with a $250 price tag. I know first hand that the 835s kill on both ends but I'm not sure the SBE2 is any better in mitigating recoil.

I haven't tried to dicker with them on price but what would be a reasonable price to pay. That seems fair enough but I honestly havent priced used Mossbergs so I don't know.

That's what they go for.

$250-$275 around here

I bought mine for $100. The best patterning turkey gun I have every shot. I have broke 350's (10" circle)on numerous occasions with 3 1/2 Longbeard #6's and a Carlson ported 682 choke at 40 yards. But that thing hurts shooting a Turkey when your excited and pumped up. Recoil was to much for last owner is how I got so cheap. I'm thinking if you can get for $200 your doing good.

Barrel had been super cleaned and choke! First shot from

Pattern falls off after that first couple shots on clean barrel to low 300's average.

Stuff the butt stock with 16 oz of fishing sinkers and Wally world bags with a long shank screwdriver
Dont allow sinkers to contact the plastic
Wrap up 1 or 2 at a time and stuff em in
Layer em


About 10 oz along the comb line
And 4 oz in the heel
Put a limbsaver pad on it.

Cut felt recoil by around 25 - 30%

Poor mans mercury recoil reduction device



Been doing it for years
835
935
930
And other synthetic stock guns

Most are always barrel/ front heavy.



Also adding weight helps get your balance point under the receiver just behind of the mag follower/tube loading port and the front of the lifter for comfortable 1 hand carrying.

Will give her a try.

Thanks for the input guys. I know they pattern well due to the overbore and i think I still feel the recoil from the time i shot my buddy's with 2.25 oz about 15 years ago. The long barreled Benellis just get to be a pain when walking in thicker stuff so I need to change. I'd love to find a 24" SBE2 barrel but upwards of $600 is just crazy and I'm not willing to pay.

Thats a fair price, I sold two 835s for 300 (for both) to a guy. Happy to get rid of them. I went to an xtrema2 and turkey loads don't hurt near as bad anymore.

Long barrels and standard velocity loads are easier on the ears. Both of my main turkey guns have 28"+extended choke. These are break actions, though.

Another very real option is taking my 20ga with 26" barrel and shooting #9 TSS. That stuff while expensive as all get out, is crazy. #9 penetrating like #4 lead! Would be lighter and less recoil than 3.5" 12ga. Plus its much cheaper than a new (used) gun.

Bingo !!!

Hell if I'd weight it down with sinkers one of the appealing aspects of the 835 is it's light weight....man up and shoot it or move along
Been killing gobblers with an 835 since the 1st yr they came to market

But then there's no fun in that....I can't believe I'm trying to talk myself out of another gun.

I don't know about less recoil, when you go to those light 20ga, they can pack a punch. I know my m1 20with 3in magnums kicks as much as my beretta xtrema2 with 3.5in loads. Xtema2 has never left a bruise on me, the 20 has.

DVD is on. Just gave my very old 835 to a new turkey hunt pard with an Indian Creek choke. It loves the Win LB 3", 1 1/2 or 1 7/8 oz loads. I see no need for 3.5" in a turkey gun. Much more muss and fuss, very little gain and terrible patterns.

Well, excuse me for elaborating to the OP on what works for me to tame recoil.
Thank you for your opinon.
Congrats on the the bird back then,looks like it was a jake?

Yup Jake 2nd day ever turkey hunting 1980's

Bought mine for $250

$225-275 is a reasonable price

That $250-275 price tag is about right, You'll want the savings for shoulder replacement.

You probably couldn't give me one. I saw one yesterday at a somewhat high priced LGS for $279.

Renegade 50 why not let the sinkers contact the plastic, noise, rattle?

I've been shooting Gobblers with my 835 for 10 years... Use 3 in shells, never noticed a heavy recoil... Damn gun is so accurate for me... I would never consider a different gun as this works perfect for me. $250 is about right for a used 835.

Good Luck...

Yep.