Basic Shotgun questions

[JReedEsq]

I had a bit of fun shooting a friend's 12 gauge at some clay's a while back and I have a few shotgun questions. The gun would be for occasional informal clay shooting as well as back-up HD. I say backup because I prefer to keep everything locked up and I have a pistol safe I can get to much quicker than I can access anything else.

A few questions:

1. The bead sight on the Mossberg 500s I've seen look like they would unscrew with a hex wrench. Is it easy to srew on a fiber optic in its place?

What would be pros and cons of a simple fiber optic versus buying one of the models that come with rifle sights?

Anybody use a folding stock? How about the Knoxx stocks?

Edited May 5, 2010 by JReedEsq

[peejman]

As for replacing the sight... dunno. Should be pretty easy.

Rifle sights are for rifles. (Technically a slug gun with a rifled barrel is a rifle).

Folding stocks are good as long as you never fold them.

[JReedEsq]

Any opinions on this?

Mossberg 590SP 12ga 20" 9 Shot CB w/Heat Shield for Sale at Buds Gun Shop $359.00

[Magiccarpetrides]

The Knoxx Stocks are the sh*t...imho...since your in knoxville youre more then welcome to try out my 870 Police Magnum with Knoxx stock before you make a purchase decision. (shoot me a PM though...i rarely check threads).

Edited May 5, 2010 by Magiccarpetrides
pm me if interested

[molonlabetn]

Any opinions on this?

Mossberg 590SP 12ga 20" 9 Shot CB w/Heat Shield for Sale at Buds Gun Shop $359.00

I had one... great shotgun. I busted a few clays with it too, but it was only good close in, because of the short-ish 20" barrel and no choke.

I would buy another.

[Guest The Cat]

Folding stocks are good as long as you never fold them.

+1 on that.

I have a Speedfeed on my 870. I like it fine, but I like the Knoxx better. One of these days I'll be upgrading.

[peejman]

Any opinions on this?

Mossberg 590SP 12ga 20" 9 Shot CB w/Heat Shield for Sale at Buds Gun Shop $359.00

Home defense, yes. Clays, no.

[Mad_Squirrell]

Barrels for the Mossberg are affordable and easy to change get one with a 26"-28" barrel for starters and then get a cylinder bore short barrel for home defense you can have the best of both worlds . You don't need all the fancy stocks and stuff to have a good reliable home defense shotgun . Also consider a Mavrick(cheaper) they are made by Mossberg and accept the barrels suited for Mossbergs as well. for about 350 bucks give or take you would have both a field gun and home defense gun .

you can buy fiber optic sights that mount on shot guns as well wally world may have em and I know bass pro or gander mountain would.

[JReedEsq]

Barrels for the Mossberg are affordable and easy to change get one with a 26"-28" barrel for starters and then get a cylinder bore short barrel for home defense you can have the best of both worlds . You don't need all the fancy stocks and stuff to have a good reliable home defense shotgun . Also consider a Mavrick(cheaper) they are made by Mossberg and accept the barrels suited for Mossbergs as well. for about 350 bucks give or take you would have both a field gun and home defense gun .

you can buy fiber optic sights that mount on shot guns as well wally world may have em and I know bass pro or gander mountain would.

Just playing around with Google and I found this:

Walmart.com: Mossberg Barrel/Scope Combo (For 12-gauge, 500 Shotguns): Optics

Couldn't I just buy a short barreled model to keep at home and then switch to this barrel for plinking around?

[Guest Drewsett]

Have a Knoxx stock on my maverick 88. The recoil reduction is amazing, truly. My 5'0 100lb wife takes the recoil like a champ, especially with the stock adjusted for her shorter length of pull.

[Mad_Squirrell]

Just playing around with Google and I found this:

Walmart.com: Mossberg Barrel/Scope Combo (For 12-gauge, 500 Shotguns): Optics

Couldn't I just buy a short barreled model to keep at home and then switch to this barrel for plinking around?

Yes! but that barrel you listed is rifled You need to look else where unless you want to shoot slugs only.

You need to buy a gun with the standard barrel length in 26"-28" inch length (most common and cheaper too ) and then find a smooth bore barrel in about 18 3/4" for home defenseAmazon.com: Mossberg Matte Blue Cylinder Bore Barrel w/Front Bead Sight Md: 90015 .: Sports & Outdoors . You don't need a scope for home defense or shooting clays .

[JReedEsq]

I thought the scope seemed pretty silly for a shotgun. I've shot other peoples shotguns but never owned one.

Thanks for helping me figure out what I want.

[Mad_Squirrell]

It seemed by your first post that you wanted a gun for double duty that's why I suggested the extra barrel .I don't know what your budget is but that's the most economical route . Like I said earlier the Maverick 88 shotguns($200 Ball park ) are almost Identical to the Mossburg 500 minor differences I have owned both and the Maverick was a great gun and it accepts the Mossburg barrels.

[Guest Letereat!]

Put a set of ghost ring sights or by a truglou glow set which is almost as good. Its all youll need. a skilled shotgunner can easily hit targets to 100 yards with slugs and set of ghost ring sights. Knox adjustable or other adjustable length stock is more flexible

[peejman]

Maybe I'm just lazy, but I don't like the idea of switching barrels back and forth. These shotguns are pretty inexpensive so just get two. If you get deeper into shooting clays, I suspect you'll quickly decide the pump gun isn't the proper tool and want to upgrade anyway.

[Seaslug]

Another +1 for the Knoxx stock. You're welcome to try out my tacticool 18.5" 870 anytime, as well.

[Mad_Squirrell]

Maybe I'm just lazy, but I don't like the idea of switching barrels back and forth. These shotguns are pretty inexpensive so just get two. If you get deeper into shooting clays, I suspect you'll quickly decide the pump gun isn't the proper tool and want to upgrade anyway.

I agree as well an over/under is in the plans for myself in the future, but I'm not going to settle it will be a good one, so I'll patiently wait. Shooting clays with a pump gun is a great way to increase your field skills . Where else can you guarantee a bird will fly by.

[JReedEsq]

Do you guys think this is a decent deal?

Used Mossberg 590 Mariner 12ga 9 Shot for Sale at Buds Gun Shop $359.00

I decided I wasn't going to spend any more money on toys for a while but I've got some ebay auctions ending soon and it it looks like I might end up with enough to cover one of these. I think simplier will be better than too tacticool for my purposes. Whatever I get I'll probably just put a little fiber optic on in place of the bead and then maybe upgrade the stock later.

Is this a decent deal? I'm always time challenged, so I'll probably never get around to browsing pawn shops etc....

[crossfire]

Home defense, yes. Clays, no.

+1 on that!

[fastbs]

this my do all mossberg 835 used $250 (pretty sure it's the $320ish wal mart model). sold factory stock -$30. added ati tactical stock $65. i also got a slug barrel for it. gotta piece together 2 drop spacers to get the cheek weld right. i have since put limb saver slip on recoil pad on it.

the slug barrel with scope is just fun to play with.

if i did it again i would have got a remington 870 super mag.

Edited May 11, 2010 by fastbs
i can't spell

[JReedEsq]

Thanks for all the info guys. I decided that I'll buy this one for now. It will handle HD needs and informal target shooting. I'll decide later on if I want a second gun for clays or second barrel.

http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/firearms-classifieds/39752-rare-remington-870-police-magnum-12ga-extras.html

[Magiccarpetrides]

A good choice if I do say so myself :-D