Pimp my ride
Rich:
I just acquired a new bare bones, nothing special, 12 gauge Mossberg 500.
Now I want to kick it up a bit. Stocks, lights, pistol grips, whatever. I’m not really interested in lasers or major optics because, well it’s a shotgun. Effective firepower without supreme accuracy is kinda the point.
I would check out Les Jones’ post on tactical shotguns.
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:48 am
Effective firepower without supreme accuracy is kinda the point.
“Effective firepower”. There is only so much spread to the pattern and only so much energy to the projectiles that hit the intended target. (And where do the projectiles that do not hit the intended target go?) IMO, multiple simultaneous hits (even though each relatively low on the energy side) on the target are kinda the point. I recommend a skeet coach.
June 22nd, 2009 at 10:59 am
*so many projectiles in the spread*?
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
The gun you will use to shoot an intruder – and that the police will take away for your investigation and trial – might not be the gun you would like to pimp to the max.
How will you answer when the policeman asks you, “Did you pimp this up especially to enjoy shooting that 15 year old kid in your hallway? What’s with the folding stock and pistol grip? It looks like a drug dealer’s gun. May I have permission to search your home?”
I would be much more comfortable saying to the DA at trial or to the police investigator in my home, “Yes, that is my wood stocked, Remington 20 gauge Youth Model and my flashlight. I taught my son and daughter to shoot with that gun. Thank god I had it and some buckshot shells available when that man broke into my house tonight. I really thought he was going to kill us all.”
Of course, the choice is yours. I want to look as innocent as possible if I ever have to engage a criminal in a self-defense shooting, which would be the next-to-last thing I ever want to have to do. The last thing would be not being able to save my life or the lives of my loved ones.
June 22nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I’ll never understand why folks think they have to attach all kinds of crap to a firearm. I can see a minor modification like what I did with my Bushmaster carbine, I just changed the grip and trigger guard. Otherwise it’s exactly as it was when I got it brand new out of the box, it puts the rounds where I want them very nicely as is.
Every other gun I have is the same way, no fancy (and unnecessary) do-dads.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I put a Knoxx stock on my 870, which makes shooting it a pleasure. I also added a Surefire forend, and while the light is nice, it has a big negative. It punishes my left thumb when I fire it unless I grip it very carefully.
June 22nd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I dunno, the way they’ve got that FN rigged out that LJ has in the first photo kinda makes my monkey jump.
I’d have to consider getting into 3-gun if I had it, though.
I may stick a Knoxx on my Mossy, or one of the Mesa Tactical CAR adapters, with the Enidine reducers so the wife would shoot it, though.
Regards,
Rabbit.
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:38 pm
In spite of that post on tactical shogun pics my own Mossy 500 is close to stock. I have a nylon butt cuff for spare ammo and a Surefire flashlight clamped onto the barrel. That’s it.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 am
For your Mossberg Defender (worked for mine):
1. Take it apart and clean it well, lube it with a good synthetic gun oil.
2. Install a sling. Uncle Mike’s is fine.
3. Install a slip-on shell holder (or bandoleer sling).
4. Take it to the range with 2 boxes of high-base hunting shells and fire them. Practice shooting from the shoulder, the hip and also marching fire if they will let you. This loosens up the action a bit and gets you familiar with how the gun will kick with full power ammo.
5. Take it back home and clean it.
6. Load it with (in order) 4 slug loads, then 4 buckshot loads (your choice of #4s or bigger).
7. Secure weapon properly.
That is all. You are ready for defense.
An alternative for #6 might be 8 Centurion Multi-Defense loads, they are 6 buck plus one pumpkin ball (.65 caliber). Only load that way if you have a fairly gun-friendly District Attorney.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:39 am
I strongly recommend Knoxx stocks for just about any shotgun out there… especially if you have a recoil-sensitive wife (like mine). Additionally, a flashlight is always a good idea for home-defense shotguns, given that identifying your targets is a mus. Finally, a shell holder is certainly not a bad thing, especially if you do not have an extended magazine tube.