Questions about Mossberg 935
 

Gentleman,

Have any of you had any experience/problems with a Mossberg 935 Autoloader shotgun? Im on a student/cadet budget ($600 and under), and its primary application will be for waterfowl, with a trip to shoot clays every now and then. If any of you have any thoughts/other ideas, I'd appreciate to hear them. I'm pretty much set on a semi, but i've given a few looks at the Benelli SuperNova. Thanks in advance.

Schmalzy

I haven't shot this particular model, but I never had much luck with Mossbergs. You can get a lot of 870 for less than your budget and they will feed almost anything. I've shot damp paper shells in an 870.

Ditto here!! The 870 Express are priced very reasonable, are Parkerized and work every time. I've shot reloads (MANY TIMES RELOADED) in an 870 that looked like mushrooms!!!

I haven't fired the mossberg in question, but I own three mossbergs and I love them. I have never had a problem with any of them. All of my shooting buddies own mossbergs also and their guns work great for them too. While I can't say anything bad about the 870 I am not a huge fan. Unlike most other people I have actually had a couple of bad experiences with the 870's, although they were due to the fact that the previous users had not taken care of them proporly.
I just picked up a used Charles Daly field grade semi auto and I like it. I've only got 200 round through it but its worked well for me so far and you can get them new for around $350-400. MSRP on the one that I got is $375 new and I paid $250 for it used with some extra choke tubes and other accessories.

I have two 870, excellent choice. For a auto loader, maybe look at the Remington 1100.

The other great thing about the 870, there are lot of add-ons to customize it for all sort of uses.


I also have a 590 Mossberg, it has served me well, but I use it only for home defense, so it does not get much use.

Thanks NDD and AM for the quick responses, and to everyone else for their input. It is a little expensive, but what are yall's thoughts on the Remington 11-87? I might have to step down and go for the 3 inch vs. 3.5 inch, but it's still pretty expensive. I enjoy pump shotguns and have shot a few 870's, but I think im ready to give a semi auto a chance. Second question, any preferences for camo pattern, or stay synthetic? Thanks again guys for your input/opinions. TR, if I may ask, what is your opinion?

I have been lucky own and shoot a lot of "nice" shotguns over the years, but always come back to an old, beat up 870 Express. It's not pretty or fancy for that matter, but it works for me.

The newer 870 Express (2 3/4" - 3.5" 12ga.) combos with the 26/28" vent rib and 22" slug barrels is a good choice. It would give you a lot of options, relatively inexpensive and is reliable as mentioned above.

Benelli, Beretta, Browning, Mossberg, Remington, etc. ... all make great shotguns. You will find someone who will swear by each one and has wrung it out in various ways to prove it works.

As has been mentioned with other equipment... put your hands on them, make sure the controls/fit/etc. works for you. Shoot them if possible at ranges, gun clubs, area shoots with friends to prove it to yourself. Spend the money it takes to get you what you need. You will not be sorry in the long run in your investment of time and money.

If you take care of your equipment and put some time in on some smart practice, you will be in good shape for what ever comes your way.

Good Luck!

The Mossberg pumps are good guns. No experience with the autos.

I am a fan of the Remington pumps and Benelli autoloaders. Some people have reported good results with 1187s, but I have never shot them enough to validate that.

Best of luck to you.

TR

I own a mossberg 935. Bought it for waterfowl.

It is not a light gun. It also recoils heavier than the some of the more expensive autos mentioned (Benelli, Beretta...). Mine was very tight out of the box. I experienced some 2nd and 3rd shot failure to feed problems during my first 100-150 rounds thru the gun (very frustrating when you have a big flock of ducks landing in your decoys). I made a point of shooting sporting clays with it to run some more rounds thru it (nice bruise on my shoulder after 50rds of 3-3.5" shooting in a t-shirt):) . That plus remmington dry lube and this year there were no problems during the minimal amount of hunting that I was able to do this waterfowl season.

This gun is made for waterfowl and turkey (and deer). A grouse gun it is not. It is made to eat 3 and 3.5 in shells. If you try and use 2 3/4" shells you will have a single shot gun. It might (might) cycle using the heaviest high-brass 2 3/4" loads available but I can guarantee it won't eat the $3.00/box light target loads. So, if you want to shoot skeet with it to get used to the gun, you might as well plan on shooting 3'' shells untill it is WELL broken in. I have been to several gun forums and other owners of this gun say that once broken and loosend up the gun will feed heavy target 2 3/4" loads. I have not come across anyone who got theirs to eat light target loads. I cannot verify the fact that this gun will in fact handle 2 3/4" shells because mine won't (yet). This does not surprise me because Mossberg never claims for this gun to be anything but a waterfowl gun that shoots the big shells.

I'm happy with it. It is (relatively) inexpensive, goes bang when I pull the trigger and kills ducks/geese when I can actually get one to fly into my shot pattern. If you want a smoother working, lighter recoiling gun...go with another make...however, you'll be paying more for it. (and you'll stress more about the scratch that gets put on it when it acidentally gets banged up in the duck boat ;) )

If you're ok with spending more money and you're looking for purely a waterfowl gun... check out a10ga. The guy I hunt with has one (can't remember what make..remmington I think) and it's a nice gun... not much difference in recoil from my 935 shooting 3.5" shells (actually may be less). Boy does it put a lot of steel in the air.

HTH.

TR and others, ABC 123 especially, thanks for all the information and opinions in such a timely matter. I shot a few clays today, some with a semi, some with a pump and surprisingly I am content going with a new pump. My theory is spend the money on a good pump action (870 or superNova) and purchase a higher end semi auto down the line when my budget allows it. Thanks again for all of your help, yall are a wealth of information.

Schmalzy

Auto Loader's
 

I have had a Remington 1100 since the mid 70's. I has been consistently great! I never have had any problems and, have used it for Deer, Pheasant, Chukker, Crows and clays. Will not trade or sell it!

Great advice from all above. would like to add something base on my hunting experience.
I think it depends on how much shooting you will be doing.
870 is a great gun. Remington auto's (1100/ 11-87) tend to break parts when shooting a lot.
I used to have a remington 12 ga 1100 special purpose. Nice looking gun with all synthetic stocks and extended magasine.
I had to have extra extractors and other small parts with me on long hunts.
I used it for doves in the summer and ducks in the winter.
Shot min a case to a case min. each hunt. And we hunted every other weekend. After couple of years parts started breaking every 1000-1500 shots.
switched to a Beretta AL390 Silver Mallard. never broke anything.
For an auto if you are planing to shoot a lot I would recomend a Benelli or Beretta.
JMHO.

Stay Safe

Sigma1