[gunman42782]

I have been toying with the idea of taking my plain Jane stock Mossburg 500 and making it "tactical". But, I keep thinking I could probably buy another shotgun for just a little more than all the stuff would cost to transform my gun. By the time I buy a new stock, forend, and shorter barrel, I am pretty sure I could buy a gun off the shelf, especially a used one. I don't want to cut my barrel, as it has screw in choke tubes, and it is nice to use the gun for hunting and clays every now and then.

Also, do any of you guys have one of the pistol griped shotguns? How about a folding stock? How do you like them? I am leaning toward a solid pistol griped stock, instead of a folder. All the folders I have seen look like they would kick like a mule. I also am going to get one of the side saddle doo-hickeys that stores more shells on the side of the receiver. That seems like a good idea even for just hunting to me. Better than shoving your jeans full of extra shells like I usually do!

Right now, I am just in the dreaming stage. I just wanted to hear from you what you think.

 

[Johngoboom]

I really like the looks of the AR style telescoping stocks. I think most of them have a built in recoil reducer. I have never shot one though, so I don't know how well they work.

 

[sheepdog]

Even for clearing a house, I've found my youth model Mossberg 500C 20 not too big...factory bead....6 shot-light-swings smooth....and I have an older one with side saddle and cuff for 10 or 11 extra rounds...I have a sling with about 15 rounds on my 500C...and I just brought home a 7-shot 12.....Winch 1300----just had to have a 12 in the truck....I wouldn't buy another with pistol grip or folding unless I had to hide it...used to carry a short 20 with pistol grip in a capped length of 4" P VC drainpipe...into all my jobs in "that part of town" where I didn't blend in...when I had to crawl under the house...took it with me.....for accuracy you can't beat a solid stock...

 

[deputy125]

+1

a pistol grip only shotgun is harder to control, harder to hit the target with, and you loose effectiveness in accuracy as distance increases------purty much kiss slug shootin' goodbye as well for accurate distance fire.

I've tried some folders and while they worked ok and gave you the advantage of storage, they were down right painfull on the shoulder and the cheek, made it off-balanced, and generally not pleasureable at all. But back then we only shot full power loads and today's current "reduced recoil" loads were not available to us so it might be a different story today.

my idea of a tactical shotgun is rather plain vanilla. To me the most important piece of add-on equipment on a tactical shotgun is a sling. 2nd is a butstock shell carrier w/flap for slugs. 3rd would be optional sights---some like them and some don't. Everything else is window dressing and in my out-dated obselete opinion is gadgets/dollars/xtra weight with no "tactical" advantage.........i'd rather spend the gadget money on a pile of shells...............

I've seen the side saddle mounts loose shells and get in the way on baracade shooting.

"speedfeed" stocks constantly drop and loose shells while handling

heat shields causing rust issues

forend lights break when the shotgun is dropped to transition to the handgun(sling helps here)

pistol grip stocks getting hung up comming out of a gun case and out of a vehicle.

i'm guessing an extra 18" barrel for the mossy is around $70. add a sling and butstock shell holder w/flap and it would be very cost effective to convert. It might not win any beauty contests, but it will get the job done very well. Smooth lines, minimal obstructions, and fast handlin' is what i like.

 

[sheepdog]

Only thing you didn't cover, Deputy125, is ammo....I agree on the rest...I quit using mostly buckshot and now load only 2-after 4 slugs...older I get, more I think about where all those pellets are going...with the full stock, I'll know where the slug's going...the last two I figure might be useful if it got really nasty...after 4 rounds, a head shot's not too likely....it's impossible to predict but I just want to put it where I want it...not spray...seen too many fat lawyers...some of 'em named Murphy!!!! Just last week, I took the heat shield loose on my bud's and slathered it with remoil...rust on the barrel and shield...wouldn't have one...still use my light with my free hand...learned to shoot the 870 one-handed to keep the light away from me....can shoot, pump, and load with one hand...if need be....I like the slings that take the spare ammo-better than sidesaddle and stock cuff...keep a bandoleer of 50 rds with the gun....laugh at me....but if you need to reload at all...help may be faaaaaaaaaaaaar off....I ain't gonna be outa ammo...not today......maybe not tomorrow.....old habits don't die.....

 

[Bountyhunter]

I've seen lots of short 12 gauge pumps at my local shop for around $300 or less. I'm going to pick one up eventually. I'd go with the full stock, 5 or 7 shot, with a sling and ammo holder on the gun. Keep the one you have for hunting.

 

[gunman42782]

Guess I should've clarified what I meant by pistol griped. I mean the full stock with pistol grip. I would not have one of those with just a pistol grip, as it's usefullness would be minimal, IMHO.

 

[deputy125]

like this frome choate?

personal preference but i don't care for them.

For me it requires too much movin' around/hand repositionin' to activate the action release and safety---the controls are no longer handy---at least for the 870. i like them slim and trim.

 

[Snuffy]

I have a 20 ga. 870 with a pistol grips its only for when all is lost and I am against the wall. Solid stock is the way to go.

 

[Wizard]

I also have a Mossberg 500C in 20ga. When I first got it (years ago), I put the pistol grip on it, shot 12 rounds, took it off, and it's never been on again. I really don't care that much for the Mossberg, but, it is very effective. I like my wife's Winchester 12ga pump much better.....

 

[Caveman]

Only thing you didn't cover, Deputy125, is ammo....I agree on the rest...I quit using mostly buckshot and now load only 2-after 4 slugs...older I get, more I think about where all those pellets are going...with the full stock, I'll know where the slug's going...the last two I figure might be useful if it got really nasty...after 4 rounds, a head shot's not too likely....it's impossible to predict but I just want to put it where I want it...not spray...seen too many fat lawyers...some of 'em named Murphy!!!! Just last week, I took the heat shield loose on my bud's and slathered it with remoil...rust on the barrel and shield...wouldn't have one...still use my light with my free hand...learned to shoot the 870 one-handed to keep the light away from me....can shoot, pump, and load with one hand...if need be....I like the slings that take the spare ammo-better than sidesaddle and stock cuff...keep a bandoleer of 50 rds with the gun....laugh at me....but if you need to reload at all...help may be faaaaaaaaaaaaar off....I ain't gonna be outa ammo...not today......maybe not tomorrow.....old habits don't die.....

Thats opposite of what I do. I'm shot first, then the slugs.

 

[sheepdog]

Kinda messy if you need to make a head shot on someone holding a hostage....but I went a lotta years doing #4 buck first...then slugs....hard to predict the situation....that's where the old double sXs had an advantage...I loaded one of each...

 

[gunman42782]

Well, boy, I just ordered a short 18 inch barrel, cylinder bore, a Knoxx Adjustable pistol griped stock (looks similar to the AR M4 style stock, although with a rubber butt pad) and ATI forend and a TacStar side saddle shell holder. I think that will do me. Now, if I want to bag some tree rats, shoot a round of clays, or play mall ninja I can just swap the barrels.

 

[Johngoboom]

I really want the review on that stock Deputy...That and pics!

Let us know how you like all the "mods".

 

[sheepdog]

now I gotta get a pistol grip for 20 ga and buy a defender-8-shot hogleg....18" barrel and it'll ride on the seat beside me....didn't know they made them in 20---this will be a buckshot gun.....the 12 will be behind the seat for more accurate shots....what's one more shotgun...that'll make me 4 20s and a 12.....

 

[Snuffy]

I was also never a fan of the Mossberg 500 but ended up with one in a trade a dang god trade. The 500 set in the case for years then they have a sell on barrel's and I was able to get a 30 full choke barrel for it. When I got it I fell in love with the barrel had a double beed on it and so i took it dove hunting that next season. I just knew I wasn't going to have much luck just sort figured I would have troubles with it. I was wrong it never failed and I only shot 20 shell out of a box and had my limit that years. Guess I was wrong about that 500, I don't hunt any more but if I was going to hunt with a shotgun the 500 would be going and the 1100 would be stayin home in the safe.

 

[sheepdog]

That 1100 sure is a nice gun, though...one of my uncles had one....he'd poop out and gripe when we'd quail hunt...he was a little fella....about 45 at the time, and I was 19---I had my Stevens 311 double 12---I told him to give me his 1100 and quit bitchin'...he was rattlin' the dogs....I became his gun bearer...till the dogs pointed or flushed....he bought me some of the best lunches and all the shells I could shoot....whatatrade....and he enjoyed the trompin' more without the 1100 to carry...

 

[Snuffy]

Glad ya got fed well.

 

[deputy125]

I really want the review on that stock Deputy...That and pics!

Let us know how you like all the "mods".

that stock is from choate machine and tool and has removable spacers to adjust length of pull.

for those that like side folders,over the top folders, and straight stocks, they build them as well

http://www.choatestocks.com/

 

[Johngoboom]

This is the kind that I would REALLY like to try out, they work so slick on the AR platform, I bet they would work just as well on an 870. But I'm not willing to plunck down that much money with out hearing a review from someone I trust.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0012785224733a.shtml