[Uncle Nicky]

Does anyone know of a good gunsmith who specializes in improving shotguns for turkey hunting?

I have a Mossberg 835, I'm happy with the gun, but I know I can make it better. I'm looking to improve the pattern out around 40 yards & past.

I've heard all the arguments about keeping shots within 30 yards, so I'm not looking to start that debate again. I've also spent $$ (chokes & different brands of shells) and a lot of hours patterning the gun, I've done the best I can with what I have. Now it's time to give a professional a try.

 

[Setters4Life]

Doesn't the 835 have an overbored barrel? So I would ask what additional benefits can be gained from 'smithing when the obvious enhancements like lengthening the forcing cone, adding a tighter choke, and polishing the bore might be a moot point on your barrel.

It's not that tighter patterns beyond 40 yards can't be attained, it is small lead shot's ability to penetrate a turkey's topknot and vertabrae that becomes the issue.
http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/shoo...hot-kill-turkey

But I'd recommend Curtis Wilbanks who has done work for me before if you chose to go that route.
http://www.guncustomizing.com/

 

[Uncle Nicky]

Doesn't the 835 have an overbored barrel? So I would ask what additional benefits can be gained from 'smithing when the obvious enhancements like lengthening the forcing cone, adding a tighter choke, and polishing the bore might be a moot point on your barrel.

It's not that tighter patterns beyond 40 yards can't be attained, it is small lead shot's ability to penetrate a turkey's topknot and vertabrae that becomes the issue.
http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/shoo...hot-kill-turkey

But I'd recommend Curtis Wilbanks who has done work for me before if you chose to go that route.
http://www.guncustomizing.com/

Thanks for the reply.
I hear you, I know an 835 basically takes a 10 gauge barrel & tapers down to a 12 guage. But I also believe the barrel still has a forcing cone, at least it looks that way to me. But I don't claim to be any type of gunsmith.
I know guys who consistently kill turkeys at 50 yards (and past), with todays shells & chokes I'm fairly certain I can accomplish this with my gun; I'd be happy to be ethically able to drop a bird at 50 yards. I've always used #4 shot, I don't know if there's not enough pellets to create this type of pattern at 50 yards or not. I don't want to give up on this idea until I'm 100% certain I've exhausted all my options.

 

[Setters4Life]

#4's possess the smack needed, that's for sure; you just need a lot of them to get a dense pattern at the longer ranges. Email Curtis and he will respond to your questions and offer insight. His work is good and relatively inexpensive.