- Location
- Just West of the GTA
I have had an 535 for about 4 years. I have hunted upland and turkeys with the short barrel, ducks, geese and stuff with the duck barrel and deer with the cantilever. I am very happy with it.
Remember that the mossbergs have aluminum receivers (at least the 535 does) so there is more recoil than with a heavier steel receivered shotgun. Whether this factors in to your decision is personal. I personally prefer the aluminum as when you are carrying it it is lighter, especially because you want it to do different jobs and you may very well have days where you carry it for hours and never shoot it at all (I know I have). If it were a 100% waterfowl gun and you are sensitive to recoil I would definitely try one out before you buy. The recoil of a fast 3.5" payload is significant, at least as compared to other shotgun loads. The recoil from the cantilevered barrel with sabot slugs is noticeably more than with heavier steel guns too.
As Jay points out there is a real advantage to the 3.5" chamber. I personally use 3.5" on geese and turkeys - again not necessary but there is an advantage and I prefer them. Better to have it and not use it than want to use it and not have it. Plus you never know when you may be out in the field with a buddy and need to share shells - with the 3.5" you know that you can shoot any shell out of it. I haven't looked at the numbers in a while, but I believe that 3.5" 12 gauge loads are equivalent to a 10 gauge and this is why 10 gauge has fallen out of favour with waterfowlers.
Mossberg also has a 5 year warranty - much better than other manufacturers at the same price point. And they are made in the USA if that means anything to you.
Remember that the mossbergs have aluminum receivers (at least the 535 does) so there is more recoil than with a heavier steel receivered shotgun. Whether this factors in to your decision is personal. I personally prefer the aluminum as when you are carrying it it is lighter, especially because you want it to do different jobs and you may very well have days where you carry it for hours and never shoot it at all (I know I have). If it were a 100% waterfowl gun and you are sensitive to recoil I would definitely try one out before you buy. The recoil of a fast 3.5" payload is significant, at least as compared to other shotgun loads. The recoil from the cantilevered barrel with sabot slugs is noticeably more than with heavier steel guns too.
As Jay points out there is a real advantage to the 3.5" chamber. I personally use 3.5" on geese and turkeys - again not necessary but there is an advantage and I prefer them. Better to have it and not use it than want to use it and not have it. Plus you never know when you may be out in the field with a buddy and need to share shells - with the 3.5" you know that you can shoot any shell out of it. I haven't looked at the numbers in a while, but I believe that 3.5" 12 gauge loads are equivalent to a 10 gauge and this is why 10 gauge has fallen out of favour with waterfowlers.
Mossberg also has a 5 year warranty - much better than other manufacturers at the same price point. And they are made in the USA if that means anything to you.
