New Stoeger M3500

[America's Marine]

OK shot-gunners, All my life I've shot high caliber weapons. This year, Santa (aka my lovely wife) delivered a brand new Stoeger M3500 shotgun. Never in my life have I owned a shotgun, future plans are to hunt turkey and deer down in Alabama with Brother (aka preacher father in law). Where do I start? What loads to use for clay, target, plinking, etc. What chokes to use with what loads vs type of targets. Any help would be appreciated.

Semper Fi

[ChadAmberg]

Tell me how well it works, I've had this same gun on my shopping list for a while.

[theGinsue]

The bastard hasn't even offered to let me try it out yet (after he gets a chance; of course).

We're co-workers and friends and he's a great guy (for a retired Marine). I've no experience with this make of shotgun and I've never used chokes so I can't help him. All trap, skeet, chukar & pheasant I've ever hunted I used 7 1/2 shot. Never hunted turkey. I'm sure there's smarter choices than my experience.

Any/all assistance you can provide him would mean a lot to me too. Thanks!

[patrick0685]

7 1/2 or 8's for target/clays most people use 4-6 for pheasants/chuckar, 2/3 for ducks 2/BBB for Geese. Skeet chokes have the widest spread and full the narrowest. M3500 takes mobil beretta/benelli chokes. Your factory chokes should be pretty good.