Maverick 88 Security 8 shot

[Planedude]

...However, I'm split on the M4 collapsable stock with the pistol grip now. Some seem for and some seem against it. Why?

I'm also now considering the 20Ga which I haden't before.

Should I get the 1.5" shorter barrel and sacrifice 2 extra rounds that I PROBABLY wouldn't need? My thought is that the 1.5" won't be enough to matter, and I'd rather just have 2 extra rounds. Opinions?...

The M4 stock was concived for a Male shooting a mild kicking .223 round in combat, with the juices flowing. The combo of a Lady (even scared) an M4 stock and grip and a SD 12gage load would be a bad combo. I agree on the 20gage but I would go for a 18 1/2 bbl and a Speed Feed (or like) stock for "me Lady"...
Train her on 7/8th oz skeet loads and she'll do fine.

You also stated that you have the "Turkey gun" already. I know it might seem like your mucking with it, but you already own it and a BBL and stock set might be cheaper than a whole new gun. The one you own would work good, unless she plans to hunt Turkey while your overseas...

My wife shoots trap and skeet with her own 11-87 and momma don't want no whimp loads. Your wife might stand up to more than she thinks... (Shrug). You can get some Win AA lites skeet loads with 1oz of #8 shot that my grandma could shoot (recoil wise). These would do okay for "in the house" type SD stuff. As I said in another thread I'm sitting next to Six flats of the stuff (1500 shells). It's only bird shot, but it's alot of birdshot, zombie hordes be danged.

Good luck and Thanks for your Service.

[Popeye]

That combo stock in the picture is quite a bit like the one I have on my MB crusier. Gives you the best of both worlds.

[Planedude]

Just one more thought here. I bought my son and his new wife a simple H&R single shot 20gage, sawed off to 18 3/4 at a local pawnshop for $90 bucks, out the door. Bought an Uncle Mikes elastic ammo holder for the stock and a box of five buckshot loads at the local Academy sports and they were ready for SD work for under $115, counting my gas. The new Daughter-in-law had never even fired a .22 in her life. We went to the pattern board at my shotgun club, rolled out some paper and backed up 15ft (the longest shot they could make in their apartment). The gun shot fine making a pattern of shot under a foot in dia with NO choke.
My Daughter-in-law did great learning to shoot and reload from the shoulder, in less than a box of 7/8oz skeeters. Easy, cheap and utterly effective in a house. They still have it and depend on it today.

My next SD shotgun is here: http://www.stoegerindustries.com/fir...le-defense.php

Also see this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhgwHQCJwWw

And the man himself, KISS in all thing SD...

[el_chupo_]

I, too, am pondering the purchase of a home defense shotgun. I have qualified and narrowed the field with the decision to go for a semi-auto in 20 guage. Here is what I am looking seriously at:
the Weatherby SA-459™ TR.

See my post above about the Mossberg SA20.

By most accounts, its the same gun with minor differences. I dont know what the Weatherby will run, but you may save a few bucks.

I picked up the SA20 Bantam for under $300 at a show.

[MO_Soldier]

Ok...so I think im looking up barrels and stocks for my 500a now. Before I was never confident enough, but now with a bunch of pundits like yourselves, im ready to take this on.

I took my Dow rod out, so now I'm packin 5+1 with my 500.

Now for a barrel...I want to be able to fire slugs, buckshot, rubber bullets, and bean bags. Do I get a rifled 18.5" barrel or a plain 18.5" barrel? I found some for around $90.

I will just check pawn stores locally or something for stocks that will fit I think.
What is that speed loader stock you guys mentioned? I have only seen pics and it didnt seem like anything special.

[Infidel proud]

The speed feed stock is nice, think it holds 3 extra shells, I prefer a side saddle that holds 6 extra...think mine is made my mesa tactical...they also make a polymer version that is a lil less $$...

I also shoot slugs out of my smooth bareled 870 and can make consistent hits out to near 100 yards...so prob be ok either way IMO...

[JFootin]

Good advice given, IMO.

I purchased a 18" "Home Defense" shotgun as well, and the wife hates it. Too much recoil. So I had the perfect excuse for another gun - I went with a Mossberg SA20. This is a semi-auto 20ga. You can get it in Bantam, with a 24" barrel and a 13" LOP, or in "Home Defense" mode, with a 18 or 20" barrel (dont recall), pistol or standard stock, 14" LOP.

MSRP is around $500, but you can find them cheaper at gun shows. A very reliable little gun (some reviews online, personal use): http://www.mossbergowners.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=66 has some info.

A quick video on 12 vs 20ga for HD use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMv2z_PX7s0

Dang! Looks like it's twin! Thanks!

[MO_Soldier]

Thanks infidel. "I keel you!" (couldn't resist) lol

So I just read that my 500A's forend can't be interchanged because it's attached to the rails. @ http://www.shotgun500tactical.com/mo...ault.aspx#P105

can anyone confirm this?
If that is true, I need to try and figure out some other way to attach a light. For under $200 I'm gonna be able to get a stock and pistol grip combo and new barrel though. That's pretty dang good. Just wish I could get a forend with picatinny rails for a light with a pressure switch....that would turn a B+ gun into an A in my book.

[MO_Soldier]

Just found a barrel/mag tube mountable picatinny rail!!!

[Infidel proud]

If that is true then any after market forends should have pre attached rails too...pretty sure (not certain) that I have seen after market forends on the 500A...could be wrong though, wouldn't be the first time and deff won't be the last...

[Infidel proud]

Oh yeah..."not if i keel you first" haha

[tv_racin_fan]

Ok...so I think im looking up barrels and stocks for my 500a now. Before I was never confident enough, but now with a bunch of pundits like yourselves, im ready to take this on.

I took my Dow rod out, so now I'm packin 5+1 with my 500.

Now for a barrel...I want to be able to fire slugs, buckshot, rubber bullets, and bean bags. Do I get a rifled 18.5" barrel or a plain 18.5" barrel? I found some for around $90.

IF you plan to use any sort of shot you need the smoothbore barrel

I will just check pawn stores locally or something for stocks that will fit I think.

If you get one with a wooden stock I would just cut it off to fit her better myself and I might also install a thicker recoil pad. I intend to cut my stock off and install a thicker pad.

What is that speed loader stock you guys mentioned? I have only seen pics and it didnt seem like anything special.

Speedfeed stock stores extra ammo in the stock... Tho I can not find one for a 20 guage.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/441...ynthetic-black

Currently my 870 has a pistol grip on it, my son wanted to try one out so one day at a LGS he handed me one and said merry christmas. It still has this grip on it because my wife has been enjoying shooting some Aquila mini shells. It also has a 20" cylinder bore barrel with rifle sights (I found it for $100 at the same LGS and wish I could find another for that as my son needs one). It also sports an extended magazine tube (not sure if it is the 2 or 3 round extension) but you really don't need an extension.



My sons 870 currently sports the longest magazine extension he could find under what I believe is a 26 inch vent rib barrel. It also sports a side saddle and a stock cuff.



As for the light I believe you might be stuck with something like this.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/690...aluminum-matte

I was thinking about that myself but balked at the price. Now thinking I might get a couple of these and build my own mount.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/634...1200-1300-blue

[Bawanna]

The Speedfeed stocks I got and use at the dept carry no extra shells. Just a fixed buttstock with the molded in pistol grip.

Greg brought up a very viable concern with the tang safety not really being ideal with a pistol grip.
I do prefer a tang safety and the location of the slide release on the Mossberg over the Remington but both will work if you get used to them.

[gb6491]

Thanks infidel. "I keel you!" (couldn't resist) lol

So I just read that my 500A's forend can't be interchanged because it's attached to the rails. @ http://www.shotgun500tactical.com/mo...ault.aspx#P105

can anyone confirm this?
If that is true, I need to try and figure out some other way to attach a light. For under $200 I'm gonna be able to get a stock and pistol grip combo and new barrel though. That's pretty dang good. Just wish I could get a forend with picatinny rails for a light with a pressure switch....that would turn a B+ gun into an A in my book.

The wood or plastic forearm can be removed from the slide tube. The forearm is held on by a nut.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=0.../500A-12-Gauge
You'll need a special wrench to remove the nut (Google "mossberg forend wrench" ). I made one for my Remington. It or something similar would probably work on a 500A. It's just a suitable size dowel with a hole drilled through it. I cut a piece steel rod to size and put it in that hole. The tool works by sticking the dowel inside the slide tube, aligning the rod ends with the cuts on the tube nut, and screw the nut out.

Here's video that shows a guy taking the forearm off his Mossy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTHPDtqAGdI

Regards,
Greg

[Planedude]

Don't get too fancy on the barrel, plain and smooth. The slug barrel most often has rifle type sights, useful at 50+yrds, but distracting at 15ft. One good bead on the end is good enough for 99% of situations. The "speed feed" brand stock has great ergo for most folks and I have shot an 870 so equiped, with the stock under my armpit/forearm like a stable pistol-grip shotty. Other "like" stock brands (for example ATI) can be had for less money.
Try not to over think the SD shotgun. Remember the 12ga, one ounce Win AA skeet load I talked about before is a potent deterant. One ounce of shot is aprox 485gr and the lite skeeter out of a 18 1/2 bbl is cooking along at 1185fps. Try to match that with a "glazer" from any pistol...
You still have to aim it pretty well at the 95% SD distances, and they all still have a "manual of arms" to operate. At 10ft you could miss the target compleatly as the shot has no time to spreadout. Your target though, will be impressed...
Train with the cheap "Lite" loads, carry the buckshot, but never worry if all you have is birdshot field loads. When I kept a Mossy cruiser in 20ga for home defence years ago, I had five in the gun. Round one, #8 shot skeeter, Next two "0" buck and the last two were slugs. I now know that was over the top, but it felt cool back then.
As for the light mount, unless your SWAT doing a house clearing, follow the KISS concept. I had a co-worker that made a mount from a 2 1/2in block of basswood, an inexpensive AAA batt tactical flashlite from Costco and a 3in length of shrink tubing. He wraped the BBL with some sandpaper, sliding his block back and fourth till the basswood matched the BBL contour. Next he did the same for the flashlite till it nested in the basswood as he liked it. A coat of sanding sealer and a coat of black paint went on the basswood last. Final assembly consisted of putting the block and flashlite where he wanted under the BBL of the shotgun, sliding the 3in of srink tubing over the whole combo and hitting it with a heatgun till it was tight. To use you grabed the gun at the BBL/flashlite and clicked it on at the base. Not as cool a set-up as some have, but the light, block and shrink togeather cost only $27 bucks and he got two taclights (with batts) in the pack from Costco.
Worry less about what it looks like, unless your doing it as a "hobby gun", as the BG looking at the wrong end of it could care less. All he'll remember is the poo-in-the-pants feeling he got at the sight of it...

See ATI stock: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/286...ynthetic-black

And here cheap, but no recoil pad (ouch): http://www.midwayusa.com/product/760...ynthetic-black

And a simple BBL: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/748...ght-steel-blue

Have a good one.