As noted, the pins on XLR connectors are usually numbered (molded into the plastic holding the pins), but the numbers are small. Pin 1 is ground, pin 2 is the + lead, pin 3 the - lead (and typically is grounded with pin 1 in simple XLR adapters)

The AT-835b is the best of the three mics you mentioned.

Shotgun mics do not "reach" in the same sense as a telephoto lens reaches to distant subjects. They tend to exclude sound reaching the mic from the sides and back, and often they have more internal amplification which means they are more sensitive. Thus a weaker sound from in front of the mic can be heard and sounds from the side will not be as pronounced. However, sound quality/clarity of distant subjects will suffer as they do with other than shotgun mics. There is no substitute for having the mic near the sound source.