Today, we're kicking off a series of turkey shotgun reviews from Mossberg. First on the list is the 835 ULTI-MAG Turkey in 12 gauge. Turkey season is right around the corner! We're going to be putting this tried and true 835 to the test today to see if it holds up as a valid turkey hunting option. Let's go!

If you have experience with Mossberg shotguns please let us know your thoughts on the TFL COMMUNITY!   

The 835 ULTI-MAG Turkey was designed for turkey hunting.

MMOSSBERG 835 ULTI-MAG TURKEY

• Specs

  • 12 Gauge pump action.
  • 3.5" chamber.
  • Over-bored barrels. This is a 12 gauge, but has a thicker barrel closer to that of a 10 gauge bore diameter.
  • Comes with 1 "Ulti-Full" choke.
  • The weight of this 835 is 7lbs 1.7oz.
  • Our average trigger pull weight was 5lbs 5oz.
  • Length of pull is 13.87".
  • This shotgun does not come with shims or spacers.
  • MSRP is $714. The pre-mounted HOLOSUN red-dot version is $895. The non-optic-ready version is $643.

• Ergonomics

  • The ergonomics of this turkey gun are basically the same as the previous 835 we reviewed: The ULTI-MAG Combo (WATCH HERE). Here are some notes from that review:
  • If you're at all familiar with Mossberg shotguns, you know that they keep it pretty classy with minimal changes over the years to their shotguns. One small but fantastic update on this 835 would be the safety. It's still the famous Mossberg top-tang style but the new safety is much easier to toggle.
  • As we said - This is a simple (yet classy) budget shotgun. Basic build with a nice Mossy Oak camo.
  • The rib is flat off the receiver and is vented.
  • Brass mid-bead and ivory front-bead.
  • The 835 is drilled and tapped for an optic.
  • Basic contour and grip-checkering on the forend.
  • The loading port is a bit sharp on the edges.
  • If an alien asked me "What does a shotgun look like?" The image that pops into my head would most likely resemble the Mossberg 835. 
  • But what this shotgun lacks in looks, may be made up for in the shooting experience. After all, the way this thing shoots is far more important than anything else and this thing is a tank. (In a good way)

• Recoil and Reliability

  • Recoil from a pump shotgun is always going to be more noticeable. However with target loads, recoil was minimal.
  • Where you notice the recoil is with the turkey loads. Because this is a pump shotgun, we opted to put on a Falcon Strike recoil reduction pad.
  • The upside of a pump shotgun is that it should work reliably pretty much forever. If you can speak to the reliability of an 835, please let us know how it's held up on the  TFL COMMUNITY!    

• Breakdown/Quality of Build

  • Similar to ergonomics, the disassembly is the same as the original 835, and a number of other Mossberg pumps like the 500. Reference our Mossberg 500 review to see more about the internals. (WATCH HERE) Here are some notes from our original 835 review:
  • In regard to quality, the barrels really stand out to us. The over-boring seems to just make this shotgun better.
  • Everything else? Basic. These pump guns a made to last as long as you treat them right. A large reason people like pumps is for the fact that they always seem to work - Rain or shine.
  • We have no reason to believe that this shotgun won't hold up over time if properly cared for. Very solid. 

• Shooting The 835

  • In every review, we typically do a speed shooting test where we hand throw 2/3 clays and record the time it takes to get on the clays, and shoot all of them. This test reveals a lot about the functionality of the gun such as mountability, target acquisition, trigger, recoil, and reliability. This may not be how you will use the gun, but with our trick-shooting background, we find this to be a fun and effective way to test every aspect of the shotgun through the lens of our experience.
  • In our original 835 review, we were able to smoke 3 clays in 1.71 seconds.
  • On the pattern plate, this 835 shot a pretty true point of aim.

The 835 ULTI-MAG is a great option for turkeys. This is a solid tested, tried, and true shotgun platform with a rich history of success. We love the Mossberg lineup and think that the 835 turkey will be a workhorse in the field. 

Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we will only hit what we are focused on, so live the #targetfocusedlife