[Rebel2]

Ok, Im contemplating getting a new barrell for my dads mossy 835..

For whatever reason, the patterns are not even close to being similar... Was out a few days ago patterning our turk guns and shot 4 times, same choke, same shells... One would be right on the money, one "decent" and then 2 way off, one to the low left and one high right.. And also the pattern itsself is not tight at all, pellets straying all over everywhere..

Going to have him shoot it 4 more times and see if it continues to happen.. If it does continue to happen, should we chalk it up to a bad box of shells.. or could it be more of a serious problem, possibly with the barrell?

The shells in question are Frederal Premium 3.5" #6's 2 oz shot, the new ones with the flite control wad..

I can understand the gun not liking the shells, but why 1 time awesome.. 1 time iffy and 2 that wouldnt even faze the turk??

 

[Mailman]

Seriously.....it sounds like it's the shooter. Maybe not placing the cheek on the same spot on the stock each and every time. Are you using a fixed rest or just off hand?

 

[Rebel2]

Off hand...

That is true mailman... It could be the shooter, I wasnt shooting (not that im much better :rollseyes, but I guess ill shoot it too , just to see if the human error factor was the problem..

 

[Poor Valley]

I agree with Mailman. Esp where heavy turkey loads are involved.:roll2:

 

[doublelunger]

You might try switching shells my 870 remington would not pattern some shells worth a darn and others were just fine. And in all honesty I get a better pattern out of a standard full choke than an extra full turkey choke. could'nt tell you why. But after several test rounds I have found this is the case. Winchester 3" #4 pattern the best out of my gun some others would just be loose and all over the place.

 

[Mailman]

Those heavy loads make even the best shooters flinch. That will change your pattern drastically. Use a rolled up coat on some sort of rest or even a couple of sticks about 5 ft long tied together to make a V at the top. That would be called "shooting sticks". Anything to stabilize your gun. Just like you are sighting in your rifle.

 

[henry]

Try switching to winchester 5s or 6s. I have a long story about federals,,but lets just say I have had a couple of guns that did'nt like them. I have also heard several stories of 3 1/2 inch guns that shoot better with 3 inchers.

:cheers::cheers:

 

[Bowpredator]

Another thing to consider is that a clean barrel will shoot different than a dirty barrel. If the barrel on my turkey gun is clean, it doesnt pattern well so anytime I am going to try some new shells or choke to check the pattern, I always fire a few regular birdshot shells through it to dirty it before I shoot the turkey shells. That's been my experience anyway so if those 4 shells were the first ones you fired through a clean barrel, that may have been part of the problem.

 

[sand_manms]

Sounds like shooter flinch to me too. Those 3 1/2 inchers will beat the heck outta ya!

 

[mrmurph]

I have the Mossberg 835 also and Federal's do not pattern worth a hoot in that gun. In fact, the best pattern I get is with Winchester Supreme 3.5" 5's.

You're all right, that load kicks like a mule! I can always tell when I'm down on the stock properly with the turkey loads; when I'm down on it like I need to be, I always bust my lip with my middle finger on my shooting hand!!

 

[Hoytshooter]

could be the shells, but my money is on inconsistent shooting. I would put it in a gun vice if I had one, or at the least on a bag and shoot it to see whether that is the problem or not and then go from there.

 

[JimH]

man i gots to agree with the others on the two key things, 1st, i bet theres flinching going on and 2nd, give me winchester turkey loads over federals any day.

 

[Chad]

This is all good advice. and another thing you might wanna try is a regular full choke. I have alot better luck out of all the 835 s ive owned with just a normal full choke when shooting 3 1/2 s and also you might wanna try a good rest just to proof the gun. Ive got a caldwell steady rest i use to pattern my shotgun. It takes out that oh **** this is gonna hurt flinch.

chad

 

[JimH]

what brand & constriction choke you shooting. and check to see that bugger is srewed all the way in and snug.

 

[alwyshntn]

If you find out it's not the shooter I'm with the others that said to switch shells.

Like Henry I have not had any good experiences with the Federal Turkey Loads.

My Mossberg 835 likes the 3'' #5 in the Winchester Supremes.

GOOD LUCK!!

 

[membergone]

It's been mentioned several times already but. Try the 3" shells. I bet you'll have your prollem solved.

If you wanna shoot 3.5 inch shells, try a 10 ga! It'll pattern right.

 

[beanpile]

Originally posted by doublelunger
You might try switching shells my 870 remington would not pattern some shells worth a darn and others were just fine. /quote]

That and I'd go down to just 3 inch mags.. I'v known a couple of guys having problems with the 3 1/2's grouping good.
Actually my girlfriends lil bro loads some real hot 2 3/4 6 shot and I'v got real good groups they dont kick as bad and they are fine out to 30 yrds

 

[glennasher1]

One other thing (all the other points made were valid), as the barrel heats up from successive shots, it can change point of impact, if there are any stresses in the barrel metal (there usually are!). In other words, as the barrel heats up, it can bend to suit the stresses involved. I've seen it happen when trap shooting, usually with inexpensive barrels. I bet Mossberg doesn't spend a fortune on barrels.........The first and least expensive thing to try is the ammo, though, get a bag of shot to put between your shoulder and the buttstock, see if that helps, or the Limbsaver pad.
If all else fails, you can get the barrel "frozen" and stress relieved, the local gunsmith can steer you in the right direction for that. That's not too pricey, about $35 per barrel, if I remember right.
Everyone made good points, though.

 

[JimH]

Glen, not to steer this thread away but i have heard mixed comments on stress relieving. i had thought about getting it done to my ruger and here is why. the rugers are a hamerforged barrel opposed to a butten rifled barrel. it stands to reason in my mind anyway that the ruger barrel could achieve a positive result in haveing it frozen. i can't tell you how many people tell me it's a waste of time and money.

 

[Chad]

Originally posted by JimH
Glen, not to steer this thread away but i have heard mixed comments on stress relieving. i had thought about getting it done to my ruger and here is why. the rugers are a hamerforged barrel opposed to a butten rifled barrel. it stands to reason in my mind anyway that the ruger barrel could achieve a positive result in haveing it frozen. i can't tell you how many people tell me it's a waste of time and money.

It should help. What you are doing is cryogenically alighning the molecules in the metal. You can do it yourself. All you need is some 3" pvc that you can seal and some liquid nitrogen. I might be wrong illl have to check but i think liquid nitrogen is what we used. I did it on my mdl 77 30-06 and it helped.

chad