Elevate Your Turkey Hunting Success: The Ultimate Guide to the Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke for Mossberg 835/935

Are you a dedicated turkey hunter looking for that crucial edge to improve your shot placement and extend your effective range? Do you frequently wonder how to achieve denser patterns with your shotgun, especially when using advanced ammunition? For Mossberg 835 and 935 shotgun owners, the answer lies in a meticulously engineered accessory: the Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke. This specialized choke tube is not just another piece of gear; it’s a performance enhancer designed to optimize your shotgun’s capabilities specifically for taking down gobblers.

This comprehensive guide will delve deep into the features, benefits, and practical applications of the Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke, explaining why it's a must-have for anyone serious about turkey hunting. We'll explore how this choke, in combination with specific ammunition, transforms your Mossberg 835 or 935 into an incredibly precise and devastating turkey-tackling machine.

The Challenge of Turkey Hunting: Why a Specialized Choke Matters

Turkey hunting demands precision. Unlike other game, a turkey's vital zone – its head and neck – is relatively small. To ensure a clean, ethical kill, hunters need a dense pattern of shot concentrated exactly where it needs to go. Standard full chokes often fall short in delivering the pattern density and consistent spread required for optimal performance with modern turkey loads, especially at extended ranges.

Traditional lead shot can deform upon ignition and while traveling through the barrel, leading to flyers and inconsistent patterns. This deformation reduces the number of pellets that reach the target, diminishing your effective range and increasing the risk of wounding instead of cleanly dispatching the bird. This is where specialized turkey chokes, like the Carlson's Long Beard, come into play, meticulously designed to mitigate these issues.

Introducing the Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke: A Game Changer

The Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke (UPC: 723189701604) is engineered specifically to maximize the performance of today's most advanced turkey ammunition, particularly Winchester's Long Beard Turkey loads featuring Shot-Lok Technology. This choke isn't just "fuller" than a standard choke; it's a precisely crafted component built to enhance pattern density and downrange energy transfer.

Key Features and Design Philosophy:

• Type: Extended: An extended choke tube protrudes beyond the muzzle of the shotgun barrel. This design offers several advantages:
  • Protection: It helps protect the end of the barrel from dings and scratches.
  • Easy Handling: It allows for quick and easy changing of chokes without special tools in the field.
  • Optimized Forcing Cone: The extended length often incorporates a longer, more gradual forcing cone transition, which helps to reduce shot deformation as it enters the constriction, leading to tighter, more consistent patterns.
• Gauge: 12 Gauge: Specifically designed for the widely popular 12-gauge shotgun, ensuring compatibility with the most common turkey hunting platforms.
• Finish: Black: A durable black finish provides a non-reflective, stealthy appearance crucial for remaining undetected in the turkey woods. It also offers corrosion resistance, protecting the choke from the elements.
• Ported: Yes: The choke features porting – a series of small holes or slots near the muzzle end. These ports serve a critical function:
  • Recoil Reduction: They vent gas upwards and outwards, redirecting recoil energy and making follow-up shots faster and more comfortable.
  • Muzzle Rise Mitigation: Porting helps to counteract muzzle jump, keeping your sight picture on target for improved accuracy.
  • Reduced Barrel Whip: By allowing gases to escape, porting can also contribute to a reduction in barrel vibration, further enhancing pattern consistency.
• Series: Long Beard: This designation highlights its specific optimization for Winchester Long Beard ammunition, though it performs exceptionally well with other premium turkey loads.
• Choke Size: Turkey: This isn't a generic "extra full." A "Turkey" specific choke indicates a very tight constriction (often around .660-.670 inches for 12 gauge), meticulously designed to squeeze the shot column into the densest possible pattern at typical turkey hunting ranges.
• Configuration: Mossberg 835/935: This precise fit is paramount. A choke tube must match the internal threads and dimensions of your specific shotgun model to ensure safe and effective operation. The Carlson's Long Beard choke is purpose-built for the Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag and Mossberg 935 Magnum shotguns.
• Chokes Included: 1: Each purchase provides one high-performance choke tube.
• Recommended For 40 yds: While capable of extending range, this choke is specifically engineered to deliver devastating, dense patterns at 40 yards, a common and ethical range for turkey hunting. With the right ammunition, experienced shooters can often achieve ethical patterns beyond this distance, but 40 yards represents the sweet spot for reliable performance.

The Synergy with Winchester Long Beard Turkey Loads and Shot-Lok Technology

The true brilliance of the Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke shines brightest when paired with Winchester's Long Beard Turkey loads featuring Shot-Lok Technology. This isn't just a recommendation; it's a partnership that unlocks unparalleled performance.

What is Shot-Lok Technology?

Shot-Lok Technology is a revolutionary resin applied to the lead pellets inside the shell. During the shot, this liquid resin hardens almost instantly, encapsulating the lead shot column. This creates a buffered, solid mass that eliminates air space between pellets. The benefits are profound:

• Reduced Shot Deformation: By binding the pellets together, Shot-Lok prevents them from crushing or deforming as they travel down the barrel and through the choke. Undeformed pellets fly truer and retain more energy.
• Increased Pattern Density: With minimal pellet deformation, more pellets maintain their spherical shape, leading to incredibly tight and uniform patterns downrange.
• Extended Range: The combination of reduced deformation and superior pattern density means a higher pellet count on target at longer distances, translating to increased effective range compared to traditional lead loads.

When the tightly constrained shot column from a Shot-Lok load exits the precision-machined Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke, the result is a massive increase in pellet count within a 10-inch circle at ranges out to 50-60 yards, depending on the specific shotgun and ammunition. This devastating combination ensures maximum energy transfer and an ethical, instantaneous kill.

Why Choose the Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke for Your Mossberg 835/935?

For any turkey hunter owning a Mossberg 835 or 935, investing in this specific choke tube offers tangible advantages that directly impact success in the field.

1. Unmatched Pattern Density: This is the primary reason. The tight constriction and optimized internal geometry of the choke, especially when paired with Long Beard XR ammunition, produce patterns so dense they can significantly increase the pellet count on a turkey's vital zone, ensuring a clean kill.
2. Extended Ethical Range: While 40 yards is a common benchmark, many hunters report highly effective patterns at 50, even 60 yards with this choke and the right ammo. This extended range can be a critical advantage when a wary gobbler hangs up just out of reach of lesser setups.
3. Recoil and Muzzle Rise Control: The integrated porting is a significant comfort feature. Reducing felt recoil allows for more confident shooting, especially with magnum turkey loads, and helps hunters maintain their sight picture for potential follow-up shots (though with this combo, often not needed!).
4. Durability and Longevity: Carlson's Choke Tubes are known for their high-quality materials and manufacturing. This choke is built to withstand the rigors of hunting season after season.
5. Made in the USA: Supporting American manufacturing means you're investing in a product crafted with precision and dedication right here at home. This often translates to higher quality control and ethical production standards.
6. Lifetime Warranty: Carlson's stands behind their products with a LIFETIME WARRANTY. This exceptional guarantee provides peace of mind, knowing that your investment is protected against manufacturing defects for life.
7. Ethical Hunting: A tighter pattern and increased confidence in your equipment lead to more humane, ethical kills. Wounded game is avoided when you can place a dense pattern reliably where it needs to go.

Optimizing Your Setup: Tips for Maximum Performance

While the Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke is a powerful tool, maximizing its potential requires a holistic approach:

• Pattern Your Shotgun: This is non-negotiable. Every shotgun, choke, and ammunition combination is unique. Before heading to the woods, you must pattern your shotgun at various distances (20, 30, 40, and 50 yards) with the specific ammunition you intend to use. This will show you exactly what your effective range is and where your shotgun is printing its pattern.
• Test Multiple Loads (if desired): While optimized for Long Beard XR, you might find other premium turkey loads (e.g., Federal Heavyweight TSS, Hevi-Shot) perform exceptionally well too. Patterning will reveal the best combination for your specific shotgun.
• Practice Your Shooting: No choke can replace practice. Practice shooting at turkey head targets from various positions you might encounter in the field (kneeling, sitting, standing).
• Proper Installation: Ensure the choke tube is clean and properly seated in the barrel threads. A light coating of anti-seize lubricant on the threads is recommended to prevent galling and make removal easier. Never over-tighten; hand-tight plus a quarter turn with a choke wrench is usually sufficient.
• Cleanliness is Key: Regularly clean your choke tube and barrel. Fouling can build up, especially with heavy lead loads, and negatively impact patterning.
• Consider a Red Dot or Optical Sight: For ultimate precision, many turkey hunters opt for a red dot sight or a low-magnification scope. These optics eliminate the need for traditional iron sights, providing a single point of aim that can greatly improve accuracy, especially at longer ranges or in low light.

Maintaining Your Carlson's Choke Tube

Proper maintenance ensures the longevity and consistent performance of your Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke:

1. Regular Cleaning: After each shooting session, remove the choke tube. Use a brass brush and a good quality solvent to clean the inside and outside of the choke, paying attention to the threads and the porting. Carbon and plastic wad fouling can accumulate and impact performance.
2. Inspect for Damage: Check for any signs of wear, cracks, or dings, especially around the forcing cone and the threaded section. If damage is present, replace the choke immediately.
3. Lubricate Threads: Before re-installing, apply a thin layer of anti-seize lubricant or choke tube grease to the threads of the choke tube and the barrel. This prevents galling, makes removal easier, and protects against corrosion.
4. Proper Storage: When not in use, store your choke tube in a clean, dry environment, preferably in a protective case or pouch.

Understanding Choke Constriction and Its Impact

Choke tubes work by constricting the barrel's diameter at the muzzle, forcing the shot column into a tighter pattern. Different levels of constriction are used for various types of hunting and shooting.

• Cylinder/Skeet: Wide open, for very close range, spreading patterns.
• Improved Cylinder: Slightly tighter, good for upland birds, closer waterfowl.
• Modified: Mid-range constriction, versatile for many applications.
• Full: Tighter constriction for longer range, common for pheasant, ducks.
• Extra Full/Turkey: The tightest constrictions, designed for maximum pattern density at extended ranges, ideal for turkey hunting.

The Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke falls into the "Extra Full/Turkey" category, with a precise internal diameter specifically chosen to work optimally with modern buffered and bound turkey loads. Its design ensures that as the shot column exits, it is contained and focused, leading to a much higher pellet count within the critical pattern diameter.

Why Trust Carlson's?

Carlson's Choke Tubes has established itself as a leader in the industry for several compelling reasons:

• Specialization: They specialize in choke tubes, dedicating their research and development to perfecting these critical components.
• Precision Manufacturing: Their chokes are CNC machined from high-grade stainless steel, ensuring precise dimensions and consistent performance.
• Innovation: They continuously innovate, developing chokes like the Long Beard Turkey Series to meet the demands of new ammunition technologies.
• Customer Support: Backed by a lifetime warranty and a commitment to quality, Carlson's provides excellent customer support.

When you purchase a Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke, you're not just buying a piece of metal; you're investing in decades of expertise, American craftsmanship, and a commitment to helping hunters achieve their best possible performance in the field. This product, like many other high-quality firearms accessories, is readily available at DEGuns, a trusted retailer for all your hunting and shooting needs.

Conclusion: Your Path to Gobbler Success

The Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke for Mossberg 835/935 shotguns (UPC: 723189701604) represents a significant upgrade for any serious turkey hunter. By understanding its design, appreciating its synergy with advanced ammunition like Winchester Long Beard XR with Shot-Lok Technology, and committing to proper patterning and practice, you can transform your shotgun into an incredibly effective and ethical turkey hunting tool. This choke tube provides the critical advantage needed to consistently deliver the dense patterns required for clean, humane kills, ensuring more successful hunts and unforgettable memories in the turkey woods.

Are you ready to optimize your Mossberg 835 or 935 for peak turkey hunting performance? The Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke is the answer.

Carlson's Long Beard Turkey Choke Specifications

Feature	Detail	Compatibility
Type	Extended	Mossberg 835/935
Gauge	12 Gauge
Finish	Black
Ported	Yes
Series	Long Beard
Choke Size	Turkey
Recommended Range	40 yards	(Optimal Patterning)
Warranty	Lifetime
Origin	Made in the USA
SKU	70160
UPC	723189701604