Shotgunners, I could use some input.

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I have tons of experience behind an 870, unfortunately, it is all military shooting. I am looking to get a shotgun for trap, skeet, and various forms of hunting. The Mossberg 500 has a 3in. chamber and the 535 has a 3.5 in. If I go with the 500, will I regret not being able to use 3.5in?
 
My 500 has done me well for 20 years, 28" removable choke barrel for skeet and upland, 24" slug barrel with rifle sights, and an 18" for should I need one. Never found a need to shoot a 3.5" shell, if I miss with 2.75", I would just miss with more recoil with 3.5"
 
You'll probably find that the only time you might ever "wish" for a 3.5" chamber is waterfowl hunting with steel shot.

Other than that, for clay games and small game/upland birds, 3" will do you fine.
 
My Mossberg 500 has been 100% since day one, only cleaned it about 3 times in over 9 years now. Busts up clays, takes small game, and with the 18" barrel keeps me feeling warm and fuzzy at night. [smile]
 
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Check out the Winchester SX3. Its a solid auto-loader. Very light weight with very little recoil. It was a little pricey but well worth it.

Curtis
 
Pump for For Clay games get you there but with a handicap on Skeet, 5 stand, and sporting clays for follow up shots. Trap usually uses a high ribbed gun but is not necessary. Pros are reliability and cheap, cons are slower follow up shots and inability to change chokes on multi-shot stations.

A semi auto can also be used. Pros: Faster follow up shots usually a little less felt recoil middle of the road pricing. The draw back will be reliability of the semi auto platform with target loads is not always great. Not able to change chokes on multi-shot stations.

O/U has the benefit of changing chokes to accommodate different targets on multi-shot stations and are reliable. Cons are pricing if you want a good quality firearm.

Here is my advice. Get out there and find a club. See if that club has a club gun and use that for a while. If you like the game then decide on what style of shotgun you like best and works best for you. Try as many guns as you can as they all fit different. I have found shotgunners tend to be good folks and fairly free with their guns. If you are in the market they will almost all lend out their guns for you to try once they get to know you.

When shopping make sure that what ever shotgun you go with has changeable chokes. You will probably settle in on a choke that works good at whatever targets the club you attend / or game you are shooting call for and not change it out, but if you go different places may want a tighter / more open choke for various targets.
 
you need to really norrow your end use a bit, you can always bring your "hunting gun" to shoot trap or such. With a 870 or 500 the accessories to turn your gun into something else are endless. Style and types of barrels,stocks,grips ect ect

You can do this with the common auto loaders as well but a tad bit more money for the most part.

O/U is a great choice to BUT is a lot more costly to buy different stocks or barrels to achieve a different set ups
 
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