Hello Gang, I just wanted to take a moment to discuss the set-up on one of my 870 Express's that I used to harvest a beautiful Osceola on public land in Fl. The place that I hunted is a very dense mixture of cypress swamps and palmetto heads, which means the action is going to be generally up close and personal. Shots tend to be at gobblers that can't be seen until the moment they pop out, which is usually between 15-40yds. I chose this gun which I named Shorty(Due to it's short length), because it is very light and can be pointed easily without hitting all kinds of brush that is encountered in the Swamp during fast set-ups.

The gun is a standard 870 Express that is fitted with a Boyd's Sterling Thumbhole Laminated stock. I replaced the factory 28" barrel with a Factory 21" Rifle sighted Remchoke bbl.
I tested many chokes and found the TruGLO Strutstopper Xtreme tube to provide the ultimate pattern for the majority of loads I tested. This gun patterned well with 3in Hevi-13 #6 1 5/8, Old School Remington Hevi Shot #6, and an experimental load from Federal that was used to kill this gobbler with extreme results. Any questions on this gun or loads/chokes tested, please feel free!

Nice bird! What kind of federal did you use? I have had bad luck with them. so i switched ower to heavyshot heavy metal. and the first time i shot it, i got 2 jakes with one shot! i wrote a little story on my day, here...
http://www.mossbergowners.com/viewtopic ... 2&start=75

did you fill you tag? i have one left.....

The load I used is what is now known as Prairie Storm. I am now on the Pro Staff of Hevi-Shot, and shoot their products exclusively. I am glad to hear that you had success with our new load.

Just thought I'd mention I use a TruGlo SSX .643 e.d. choke w/#8 for turkeys entering my home unwelcomed. Good for 25' urban, ajoining bedrooms, no stairwell.
Hevi-shot makes a great frangible HD shell, also. Hevi-shot will soon be the go to non-toxic, as lead is on the way out, eventually.
"Last Lead Smelter To Close Soon" >http://allaboutshooting.com/article_info.php?articles_id=632<