Performance 
5/5 Love everything except the left handed slide release.
Features 
intuitive safety, common parts and accessories, can be had for cheap by buying used, tough as nails, shoot straight, easy choke selection, pre-drilled reciever and easily available scope bases. with a scope base on though, it is harder to use the bead sights. I guess you can find taller bead sights if you need them and scope capability.
Appeal
I think it looks tough and reliable, the factory stocks have classic hunting appeal and fit in the hands nicely. The array of aftermarket grips, forends, and pistol grip stocks w or w/o shoulder stock are sure to make one fit you and please you. I like the Butler Creek steel folder. The fit of the factory shoulder stock might look a little sloppy where it joins the reciever, but you can sand it or just not worry about it.
Summary
Mossberg owns!
5/5 Love everything except the left handed slide release.
intuitive safety, common parts and accessories, can be had for cheap by buying used, tough as nails, shoot straight, easy choke selection, pre-drilled reciever and easily available scope bases. with a scope base on though, it is harder to use the bead sights. I guess you can find taller bead sights if you need them and scope capability.
I think it looks tough and reliable, the factory stocks have classic hunting appeal and fit in the hands nicely. The array of aftermarket grips, forends, and pistol grip stocks w or w/o shoulder stock are sure to make one fit you and please you. I like the Butler Creek steel folder. The fit of the factory shoulder stock might look a little sloppy where it joins the reciever, but you can sand it or just not worry about it.
I'd buy a dozen if I had the money. It works and you can get a used one for $200-250 and deck it out with accessories. The only thing I've had trouble finding was a choke tube wrench, so I made one. I've enjoyed hunting with this gun and shooting clays. I like the gun very much and enjoy the capability to shoot 3.5" shells and steel shot with the ported factory long barrel. I think its great how I can change to slug barrel in 1 minute.
The computer is saying I need at least a hundred words in this paragraph, so I don't know what else to tell you but buy it, at least one! I hope to capture a bunch of rabbits and hogs with this machine, and maybe even the elusive chupacabra.
2 Comments
PBR Driver
Wish I still had it.
At one time the shotguns I owned were very expensive shotguns from Winchester M21,and on and on.
Every time I went hunting I was concerned about scuffing or other wise damaging one of my fine shotguns.
So I bought a 835 Ulti Mag and the dumb thing fit me very well!
Any time it got mud in it from jump shooting ducks and Geese I just went to the river and washed it off.
My time in the field was much more enjoyable.
The 3 1/2" @2 was my favorite load that is until my new son in law wanted it.
Replaced it with a Beneli Nova, nice pump gun but did not fit me nor could I shoot it near as well.
Have not hunted duck since but next year my plan is to get another 835 or try the 935.
Mossberg makes an inexpensive shotgun and it is worth more than they charge.
Reaper308
Mine takes everything I dish at it. The only downside is the 12 ga barrel is over bored to 10 ga, so shooting slugs is a no-no.