Osage Roost
General Forum => General Discussion => Topic started by: allaboutshooting on April 05, 2014, 02:51:01 PM
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My new Mossberg 835 with the Matthews Harmonic Damper Technology recoil reduction system came in today. Here's the description:
Features an exclusive stock design incorporating Mathews Harmonic Damper Technology
a newly redesigned deluxe recoil pad.
The result is recoil is reduced up to 20%, for comfort and easier follow up shots
Two interchangable low and high profile combs included
835 models feature 3.5" chamber
Factory ported barrels also assist in reduction of recoil
Drilled and tapped receiver, factory-ready for scope base/optics
For use with a full range of 12 gauge 2 3/4", 3" and 3 1/2" factory shotshells
Free gun lock and 10-year limited warranty
Mine is black with a 28" barrel. I did all the paperwork this morning and will be able to pick up the gun Monday.
I'm interested to see just how well this Matthews system works. I've been shooting these guns for years so I have a pretty good feel for how much they kick with various shells.
I'll let you all know as soon as I can get it out and put some shots downrange.
Thanks,
Clark
P.S. I'll be calling for Doris Monday morning and hopefully after she gets her bird, I'll head out and pick up this gun
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I was able to pick up the 835 Monday afternoon. It is frankly a great looking gun and the bore is as bright and shiny as any I've seen. Mine is the "Waterfowl" model with the 28" barrel and everything on it is black. Very impressive.
I'm not sure how this Matthews system works but I don't really notice any extra weight or balance issues with it, although it's stated to weigh about 1 more pound than the standard 835 with the same length barrel. It balances very well, so maybe that's why the weight difference is not noticeable.
I have not been able to take it to the range due to the pretty much constant rain we've been having here. It's supposed to clear up tomorrow and Thursday, so maybe if we can get out and Doris gets a turkey, I'll be able to spend some range time with it.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks,
Clark
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Looking forward to reading your review Clark. I know the 835's can kick like a mule. This new system has got to improve the comfort when shooting. Good luck to you and Doris in the turkey woods this spring. *cheers*
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Good luck bringing one in for Doris !! Hope the weather dries up for ya.
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Thank you all for the good wishes. It has dried up a bit, still muddy lots of places but the wind will help to dry that out if it keeps blowing like it has been.
I was able to take the new 835 to the range Thursday and Friday afternoons. It was windy both days but my range is surrounded with large trees, so wind is minimized somewhat. I can get some swirling winds at times and I had some of that. I have small flags up that indicate wind direction/speed and I try to shoot when it's calm or at least pretty calm.
I had deep cleaned the bore and as I reported, it is smooth and shiny. My routine is to clean the bore and then try 10 or so shells with each choke I shoot, without cleaning between shots. In that way I can learn how a particular gun shoots with a clean and then fouled bore. Some guns like squeaky clean bores, others like slightly fouled bores while some others like really dirty bores. You'll never really know that if you clean between each shot. When I change chokes, I clean the bore and start all over.
My initial evaluations will be with the Hevi-13 Turkey Choke .676, the SSX .670 and the Bone Collector .670. I'll try them with 3" shells and then try some 3.5" shells as well. Later, I'll go through the same routine with a few other turkey chokes in my inventory.
My goal, as always, is to find a combination that consistenly yields good, even patterns without large gaps or holes, at a maximum range of 40 yards, without throwing baseball sized patterns at 25 yards.
I plan to shoot the 835 with just the bead sights and as it came from right off the shelf, since a part of my evaluation includes the performance of the Matthews Harmonic Dampner Recoil Reduction System. We'll see how that goes and I'll report to you, as well as publish my results when I've concluded my evaluation, hopefully relatively sooon.
If all goes well, I will plan to take the 835 turkey hunting with me for the 4th and 5th seasons in Illinois, to put it to the ultimate test.
Thanks,
Clark