Mossberg 835 | Review 2022

The Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag is the 1st pump shotgun chambered in a 3.5" barrel with the capabilities of firing magnum rounds.

All other shotguns are chambered to shoot 2 3/4" and 3" shells. As you’ve learned with the 590 Shockwave, Mossberg likes to push the envelope on the capabilities of what a shotgun can do.

The first thing they did to accommodate a 3.5" Magnum shell is to overbore the barrel to accommodate the extra power. With the same dual extractors and twin action bars in the 500 and 590 models, the Mossberg 835 brings an extra punch to the product line while keeping the shotgun smooth.

Even with the extra power, the 835 back-bored barrel provides an outstanding relief in felt-recoil by reducing the friction inside the barrel.

Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Specs

What is an X-Factor Choke?

The X-Factor Waterfowl Choke from Mossberg is designed to give the shooter more uniform patterns and less muzzle flip for a better shooting experience. The ported construction of the Choke allows the shooter to put more pellets downrange. The reduction in muzzle flip gives the shooter more accurate follow-up shots at flying targets, such as Duck and Geese.

The best part about this choke is that you’ll need no extra tools to install and it’s easy to clean and replace if need be. The only caveat to this choke is it’s meant to only fire lead pellets.

What is a Back-Bore Shotgun?

The Mossberg 835 is incredibly unique in many ways, but the most unique feature is the back-bore barrel. A back-bored barrel is a shotgun barrel that has a bore diameter increased beyond maximum specifications. By increasing the diameter of the bore, you increase the performance of the shotgun because it reduces the friction of the shot against the barrel walls.

For example, if the pellets have extra room inside the barrel, they’re not putting pressure on the barrel walls, which increases the velocity of the pellets. This feature also decreases the number of deformed pellets you’ll have because they have their own space to fly. When you add up all the benefits of a back-bored barrel, you get a more consistent, uniform, faster, and accurate shot than you do with any other barrel.

* No matter which size shell you shoot (2 3/4", 3", 3.5"), don’t ever shoot a slug from this shotgun! You will destroy the barrel and severely injure yourself.

Where Can I Buy The Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag?

Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Waterfowl 12 Ga Shotgun

The Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Waterfowl shotgun is incredibly versatile with the capability of shooting 2 3/4", 3" and 3.5" Magnum shells without any additional tools. The over-bored barrel provides a reduction in recoil, increased accuracy, and a better pattern for shooting Duck and Geese out of the air. This model is set with a full choke to keep the pellets in a more uniform pattern for longer ranges so you can reach fast-flying birds in the air.

The front fiber optic provides a sustained green glow for your eyes to easily lock onto when a bed pops up out of the grass. The vented rib on the upper receiver reduces felt recoil by expelling excess gas out and prevents over-heating by allowing air into the receiver. You can buy this shotgun for as low as $450.00 in some stores. I have never held a better shotgun for this price and had the backing of a 10-year warranty by one of the most recognized names in the gun industry.

Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Waterfowl Specs

What Ammo Should I Use With 835 Ulti-Mag Waterfowl Shotgun?

I chose the Migra Steel shotshell because of the efficiency and dependability it offers. The primers in these shells are specifically designed to consistently work in less than ideal environments, such as rain, snow, or extreme humidity (South Carolina, Georgia, Florida). I love to use steel over lead because it has proven to be less detrimental to the environment, especially with birds of prey, such as Eagles and Hawks. If an Eagle eats a bird that has been injured with lead, it could be poisoned and die, but steel doesn’t have the same effect and is easier to expel. With an extremely high muzzle velocity of 1,430 fps, this Migra ammo is great for hunting fast-flying prey, such as ducks.

Which Ammo Should I Use For Turkey Hunting?

I’ve only been hunting Turkey for about 2 seasons and I have absolutely fallen in love with communicating with the birds. It’s the hardest animal I’ve hunted so far (deer, elk, turkey, Grouse, and duck), but it’s worth it when you get your 1st turkey. Winchester makes a great shell for specifically hunting turkeys called, “Longbeard XR" and it is incredibly accurate and dependable. I’ve even exposed this shell to the potential downpour that is the Spring rains in Southern Virginia and the shell still fired perfectly. It’s built with the Grex buffering (polycarbonate granules) to ensure uniformity inside the shell and prevent deformation as the pellets exit the barrel.

Where Can I Buy The Mossberg 835 Waterfowl 12 Ga Shotgun?

Mossberg 835 ULTI-MAG -RECOIL REDUCTION SYSTEM

The Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag has been equipped with the incredible recoil reduction system from Mathews Harmonic Damper technology. Many hunters know Mathews Harmonic Dampers for their incredible contributions to bow hunting. However, they’ve collaborated with Mossberg to create a recoil reduction system built into the stock to reduce felt-recoil by 20%.

They accomplish this by installing their newly engineered thermoplastic recoil pad onto their patented synthetic stock for the ultimate experience in control and comfort. The addition of the Dual-Comb stock allows the shooter to customize their stock in either a low or high profile setting, depending on the individual.

Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Recoil Reduction Specs

Which Magnum Ammo is Best For Hunting Deer?

The Winchester Double X Buck Shot is specifically designed to shoot deer at 40 yards with incredible precision and uniformity. With 15 pellets per shell and a muzzle velocity of 1,450 fps, this shell will surely bring down a deer. The challenge for hunting with Buck Shot is not finding the power to bring the deer down, but the right pellet formation to not destroy all the meat. The Double X 3.5" Buck Shot will leave you impressed with the copper-plated pellets to ensure each pellet can handle the force and heat of 1,300 fps.

Which Shell Holder Should I Use For My 835 Ulti-Mag?

The style of shell holder you use will depend on your personal preference, so I included the 2 most popular styles. The Mossy Oak Hunting shell holder straps tightly and securely to the stock of your shotgun and gives you an additional 5 shells for rapid reloads. Personally, I find this style to be distracting because I always feel like it gets in the way when I press my shotgun to my shoulder when I’m about to fire. I think I’m the only person that has complained about this issue, so take this with a grain of salt. Mossy Oak consistently provides great gear and this is no exception with the bonus of it being only $18.00 on Amazon.

Ace Case Mossberg Bandolier

I look at the Ace Case bandolier as a situational option to carry based on your specific purpose. For example, if you’re shooting a lot of rounds at the range and don’t want to wear a turkey Vest or other restricting gear, this is a great option. It holds 25 shells (20 GA, 12 GA) and doubles as a sling to wrap around your shoulder when not in use. If you’re a bird hunter, this is a great option because you can carry less weight on your body to free up your mobility and make less noise. I don’t ever see a situation where having 25 shells is a bad thing, but it can get heavy after a few miles of hiking in the mountains.

Best Optic For Waterfowl & Turkey Hunting

If you haven’t heard about the newest electronic sight from Crimson Trace, the RAD Max (Pro) is perfect for hunting. It has a battery that lasts 50,000 hours worth of use, is completely waterproof, and has 10 brightness settings that you can manually change let it automatically adjust to the ambient light.

There are a lot of really cool features that add to the protection of the Rad Max optic, such as a recessed window to prevent any damage from drops. It’s also equipped with a new top strap layer of protection that deflects and absorbs energy if the optic falls and hits the ground. The entire housing is made from 7075 aerospace aluminum, instead of the standard 6061 aluminum to further prevent any damage if the optic falls.

It features a 3 MOA reticle that will change with the lighting, which is perfect for hunting on the water to prevent the glare from taking a shot away from you. The clear glass features a really big window to allow for rapid target acquisition, which really comes into play when waterfowl hunting. The RAD Max Pro has made me a more efficient duck hunter because the reticle is so clear and the light adjusts without me having to take my hand off the trigger and my head off the optic. I can’t wait for the Spring turkey season to see how it holds up through the rough terrain and ever-changing weather patterns.

Related Article – Best Mossberg Shotgun Accessories

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