Hardware: Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag Duck Commander

by
posted on November 20, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

There is little doubt America has taken a liking to a certain family of bearded duck hunters. In fact, big, bushy beards have become so synonymous with this beloved family that for the first time in waterfowling history, scraggly, camo-clad men are being accused of being "trendy," and women are swooning. And while I more than appreciate what the Duck Commanders have done to promote the joys of hunting, and what they've done for my dating life, I take a little bit of pride knowing I was a fan before this bandwagon got rolling. The average viewer of the hit reality TV show may wish to spend a day building duck calls or attending one of the great family dinners surrounded by the antics of Willie, Jase and the ball of fun that is Uncle Si, but my Duck Commander dream was created the first time I saw Phil chew an old cigar, tumble a doe in a moss-covered swamp and call in greenheads as if he knew them by name in the original "Duckmen" video series.

Though the viewing public probably wouldn't take as kindly to those old VHS videos as they do the current show, it's from those humble, grainy beginnings that the Robertson legacy is built. It's why you can now get the Duck Commander logo etched on just about everything from T-shirts to shotguns. It's also the only reason I still own a VCR.

Mossberg is the latest company to realize the appeal of the Robertson boys and has introduced a specialty line of firearms with Duck Commander-style accoutrements. Among them is the 835 Ulti-Mag Duck Commander edition with Mathews Recoil Reduction. While the base for this pump-action workhorse is not new to consumers—it was the first 3 1/2-inch pump shotgun to hit the market back in the late 1980s—it's been given several pieces of waterfowling flare that will appeal to the duck hunter and wears the family's stamp of approval.

The 835 is a 12-gauge pump overbored to 10-gauge dimensions and allows the use of 2 3/4-, 3- or 3 1/2-inch shells without the need for modification. While today its 3 1/2-inch capability may not sound impressive, in 1988 it was revolutionary. The 10-gauge overboring reduces pellet deformation, according to Mossberg, though I have yet to put fired pellets through a microscope for comparison. To soften the recoil of heavy-hitting magnum loads, Mossberg drills ports high in the 28-inch barrel, a simple fix that not only reduces muzzle climb, but also, at least to my eyes, is visually appealing.

In 2013 the company teamed up with the archery gurus at Mathews SoloCam to design a harmonic-dampening system in the synthetic stock, which includes two interchangeable combs (high and low). Mossberg claims the Harmonic Damper Technology will accomplish the same feat on its pump-action shotguns as it does on Mathews' high-end compound bows, namely reducing vibration and felt recoil by as much as 20 percent. Now, having shot both low-brass dove loads and shoulder-thumping 3-inch No. 2 duck loads through the 835 Duck Commander, I can say reduction in felt recoil was not enough to notice in action, but enough to bring my after-shot attention to the fact that I was able to stay on target extremely well between shots, dropping a pair of wood ducks. Without any other factors at play, I will give credit to the innovative system and barrel porting. (An 835 Duck Commander version without the Mathews system is also available.)

The 835 receiver, an aluminum alloy that helps keep weight down to a manageable 7 3/4 pounds, along with the barrel and synthetic stock are dipped in Realtree's newest waterfowl camo, Max-5, which disappears in a cornfield as good as it does in the Louisiana swamp. Mossberg replaces the standard front brass bead with a highly visible dual-color, fiber-optic sight from TruGlo. Dual action bars and extractors account for reliable cycling, and though the fore-end does have some wiggle, I never experienced a jam or malfunction through 50-plus rounds of various loads.

So, despite the hype and trendy appeal of America's favorite duck hunters, this is still an 835, one of the most tested and reliable pump-action shotguns ever developed, and that should be reason enough to pick up one. The fact that it comes complete with a Willie Robertson-style American flag bandanna is simply a bonus. Just don't wear it in a duck blind.

Technical Specifications:

Type: pump-action shotgun
Gauge/Chamber: 12/31/2"
Barrel: 28"; vent rib, ported, threaded for Accu-Mag choke tubes
Sights: TruGlo Tru-Bead dual-color fiber-optic front
Safety: two-position, tang-mounted
Trigger: 7.5-lb. pull weight
Stock: synthetic, Realtree Max-5 finish;  Mathews Recoil Reduction; LOP 14 1/2"; drop at heel 2" (low comb), 3/4" (high comb); drop at comb 1 1/4" (low comb), 3/4" (high comb)
Metal Finish: Realtree Max-5
Overall Length: 48.75"
Weight: 7.75 lbs.
Accessories: 3 Accu-Mag choke tubes (IC, M, F); low and high comb; sling; American flag bandanna
MSRP: $749

Latest

44 Mag HST LEDE
44 Mag HST LEDE

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Member's Hunt: A Tale of Two Moose

This month's Member's Hunt comes from John R. Bean of Tucson, Ariz.

Breeding Duck Numbers Decline Again in ND

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s 78th-annual spring breeding duck survey conducted in May showed an index of about 2.66-million birds, down from 2.9 million in 2024 and 3.4 million in 2023.

2025-26 Pennsylvania Migratory Game Bird Seasons Set

Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 migratory game bird seasons have been set. There are two significant changes to waterfowl seasons. The regular season daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Atlantic Population Zone has decreased from three to one, and for northern pintail, there will be a flat daily bag limit of three.

New for 2025: Christensen Arms Evoke in 450 Bushmaster

Christensen Arms has announced the release of the Evoke rifle chambered in powerful 450 Bushmaster.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.