Opinions on Mossberg 535

[Viper22]

So I was flipping through the Cabela's catalog that came in the mail, and there's a Mossberg 535, 12ga pump, with a vented rib barrel and a slug barrel for $280. It looks like a decent first shotgun, and I plan on doing some deerhunting next year. Does anyone have experience with this shotgun?

I originally was looking to get a semi-auto, but those tend to be more money. BTW this'll be a Christmas present from the parents...if it gets decent reviews.

Any other ideas, other than a Mossberg 500 or Rem 870?

 

[zenprop]

I have a 535 and it's ok. I used it for one season of duck and turkey hunting. It is picky with the kind of skeet/trap target loads it will cycle (drop the next round right out the bottom). The safety sticks. A buddy of mine has the same gun and pretty much the same problems. For the price can you really go wrong. It's a good "starter" all purpose shotgun and I killed a whole bunch of geese and ducks last waterfowl season. A couple of those mornings it was in the single digits and I had zero problems.

 

[RB101]

For the price can you really go wrong. It's a good "starter" all purpose shotgun .

Zenprop has got it right. I have owned both the 500 and 870, both great guns. I started hunting on an 870 20 gauge, lasted me many years with open sights, but looks like you have figured out, they are more $$. I'd recommend either of those (since you mentioned them).

Get as much gun as you can afford, I had a few minor problems with my 535, but nothing necessairily wrong with it.