Shotgun for deer update: red dot mount blues, choke tubes for buck and slug

[Okanagan]

Bought a rib clamping “rib rider” mount for Mossberg Maverick 88 12 gauge 3 inch mag.  On the 12th shot the whole mount and sight flew off and hit me in the face.  Despite farmer tight screws and loctite, the design won't hold up to the heavy kick of magnum buck or slugs.  The Maverick is the hardest kicking firearm I've shot.

Switched to a Remington 870 Express in 3 ½ inch magnum, using factory bead sight and shooting the few 3 inch mag shells on hand.  It kicks half as much as the Maverick shooting the same load.  (I should have held out for the Benelli with recoil absorbing stock!)  Used a cylinder (no constriction) choke tube for Federal 00 buckshot with Flite control wad and a rifled choke tube for slugs. 

At 40 yards it put all 12 pellets in a 10x14 pattern with five in a 4 inch group centered on the bullseye.  Using Remington Slugger 7/8 oz. high velocity 3 inch mag slugs, with the rifled choke tube it cut dead center at 40 yards and was four inches low and an inch right at 100. 

After reading many reviews I am leery of the saddle mount handling the recoil.  Nastygunz, it worked for you.  Was that with 3 inch magnum loads?  I deer hunted opening day yesterday with open bead sight, didn't see a deer... and longed to be in a rifle area...   

[nastygunz]

 I have had a Knoxx adjustable length recoil suppression stock on my Mossberg 835 turkey gun for years, this is the Gen-3:

https://www.opticsplanet.com/blackhawk-knoxx-specops-gen-3-shotgun-stock.html

 My saddle mount was specifically made to fit that gen-1 stock and that baby is not coming out believe me.  I have also evolved from the 3 1/2 inch magnums to the 3 inch magnum's and most of the time now I just use regular two and three-quarter for turkey hunting.

 Limbsaver butt pads are supposed to be really good. Have you thought about getting a cantilever scope mount barrel for your 870?

[nastygunz]

 I have seriously been thinking of picking one of these up for a slug gun. They get pretty damn good reviews across the board and cost about $200 and already have sights on them and a rail to mount optics.

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/dickinson-xx3d-m-2-marine-tactical-pump-action-12-gauge-20-barrel-ghost-ring-sight-51-rounds?a=2201513

 I figured one of these might be just like my turkey gun, get shot a few times a year if I'm lucky. I think they have interchangeable chokes too so you could run bird shot buckshot and slugs.

[Okanagan]

Nasty, you are a fabulous resource!  That Dickenson shotgun sure looks like a winner, but the fine print says that it comes with a cylinder bore, no choke tube ability.  Too bad.  I'd rather have choke tube option rather than the muzzle brake. If we could change to a rifled choke tube, that short shotgun looks ideal.  I may phone them and ask.

Ditto re 3 inch rather than 3 ½, and I have some 2 ¾ cheap ammo on hand.  For deer I'll take the 12 pellets of 00 buck in a 3 inch shell over the nine pellets in a 2 3/4 shell.  Ditto for higher velocity with 3 inch slugs.  Not nearly as many options available in 3 1/2 inch.

I got such a deal on the Mossberg that I bought it, and so far have proven that a good deal for the sake of a good deal is not.    By my first coffee this morning I decided that I may change guns rather than pour more money and accessories into what I've got.  A Savage bolt 20 gauge with rifled barrel and scope is another option, accurate to at least 150 yards. 

The main good takeaways from what I've learned so far is that rifled choke tubes work, in this case anyway, and that with a cylinder choke in my gun, Federal Flite Control Wad buckshot holds a tight pattern to at least 40 yards. 

[nastygunz]

Those Savage bolt guns r the beez kneez