Ammo recommendations

[REN]

if you are running lead then shoot 5's or 6's (whichever pattern best in your gun)

TSS shoot 9s. I personally would ditch the 3.5 in either lead or TSS but especially for TSS but to each his own.

If running lead the best patterning ones out there are the Longbeards.

 

[OakHillHunter]

I'll never own or shoot a 835 ever again. But I shot magnumblends with mine. Best pattern I've ever had from a shotgun. Went through a frw different chokes mine loved a jelly head
Just didn't like getting punched by Mike Tyson every time I shot it. 3.5 tss well the turkey will no doubt be dead really dead. I shoot a lot of different tss. I like apex the best but been impressed with the federals as well. I shoot nothing but 20 gauges and just got a 28. Never shot any out of a 12 gauge. You can play with it.

For 30 yards long beards will suit you well I'm sure.

Imo tss is more geared towards the sub gauge shooters and making them very deadly.

I have a 20ga that ill be using some but hopefully the wife will be going with me often this year to kill her first bird, so ill be stuck with the 12 gauge mule.

 

[waterman]

The 3" #5 longbeards patterned better than the 3 1/2" for me.

 

[timberjack86]

#5 in longbeards with a 670-675 choke in a 835 is murder in em. My son shoots #9 tss out his 835 with a 670 pure gold choke and its unreal at 40 . If shoot 40 and under and just have to shoot a 3.5 id go with longbeard xrs in the #5 just for cost effectiveness

I shoot #5 longbeards out of my 835. It's almost unfair to the turkeys

 

[OakHillHunter]

I shoot #5 longbeards out of my 835. It's almost unfair to the turkeys

Key word is "almost" I see a good shot gun shell as a great equalizer to how well they see lol

 

[timberjack86]

Key word is "almost" I see a good shot gun shell as a great equalizer to how well they see lol

The longbeards are a really good load. I've killed hogs with them broadside at 35 yards. They are also excellent in 20 gauge.

 

[Spurhunter]

I shoot 3.5 inch Federal TSS #9 out of my 12 gauge. I limit my shots to 50. I'm not a very good turkey hunter and don't have great places to hunt so if I get one inside 50 I need to know I can drop him like a bag of hammers.