[Gunner23]

Greetings all, this is yet another "hey I'm new here, what gun should I get" posts. :o

I've been perusing the local gun stores for the last several weeks - it seems as though I've finally talked my wife into letting me spend some money on a shotgun. I was torn between the Rem 870 and the Mossberg 500, and I think that I've decided on a Mossberg 500 Persuader. I've used 500s before, I like the way they handle, and they seem to have a pretty good track record for reliability. On top of that, they cost a little less than their Remington counterparts, so that was a big factor.

Now, this won't be a "hard core" gun in any capacity; it will be used for HD 97% of the time, and once or twice a year I'll take it with me out to Nevada to hunt the jackrabbits off of my familys 15,000 acre ranch (god that's fun :D).

Gander Mountain has both the 20" and the 18" persuader right now for about $270 and $280 respectively, both with $50 instant rebates in the form of gander mountain gift cards. Are those decent prices? I figure that I could use the gift card to stock up on ammo and really familiarize myself with the gun. I'm leaning toward the 20" mostly for the extra capacity and barrel length; it just seems like a better "all-around" gun. Is that assumption incorrect based on my goals? We engage those damn jackrabbits at distance sometimes...I mean nothing too terribly far away for a 12ga, but I'd like to keep the pattern a little tighter with the longer barrel so I can reach out a bit more (all the ones I've shot were 18" models).

So, basically I've decided on the Mossberg, now I just need to hear some pros/cons on the 18" vs. 20" persuader models.

Sorry for the long introductory post, thanks in advance for your replies, gentlemen (and ladies of course, if there are any of you on here).

[ugaarguy]

Gunner23, welcome to THR. Since this shotgun will be a "97%" HD gun I think either the 18" or 20" persuader will be just fine. The bbl. length and capacity between the two is not significant for your stated purposes. Best bet is to handle both and see if one balances better than the otherfor you. Have your wife handle them as well and see how they fit her. Since it's a HD gun, she may well have to use it too; so best to make sure you're both comfortable with it. Familiarity with the 500 is also a good reason to go with, it'll be easier to get comfortable with. I'm overseas at the moment, so I can't comment on price. Your thought of buying ammo with the gift card is a great idea. Getting out there, you and your wife, and shooting the gun and getting really familiar with it is one of the smartest things you can do. If you want to persue more hunting with it later you can always get an appropriate plug for the magazine and extra barrels aren't very expensive.

And yes, we have several ladies who actively post; we've even got THR Moderator PAX who runs a great family oriented firearms website. Take a look at www.corneredcat.com when you have some free time.

Again, welcome, feel free to ask lots of questions, and enjoy your time here.

[toivo]

You might think about a "do-it-yourself" combo. What I mean is that you can get a standard 500 12-gauge for $199 at Gander now. You can get an 18.5" cylinder-bore barrel direct from Mossberg for $74 plus shipping. So for about what you'd pay for the Persuader, you'd have both the hunting and HD set-up. The one thing you wouldn't have is the synthetic stock for the tactical look.

[Dave McCracken]

Welcome, Gunner23. Either Mossie will do, though I prefer 870s. Either/or, I'd get the 20", but that's me.

If you were totally new to shotguns, I'd suggest you try a few out before buying any6, but it sounds like you have used Mossies and like them. Confidence with a tool makes a big difference starting out.

Barrel length doesn't affect patterning. Choke and load do.

Those prices aren;t bad, but you may do better. Look around, and check for used stuff. Few good shotguns are ever worn out.

[wdlsguy]

If you take a look at this page (http://www.maverickarms.com/pages/barrels.htm), you will see that there are a lot more barrels available for the 6-shot models than the 8-shot models.

I would probably go with a 6-shot field model and pick up an 18.5" barrel for HD use.

[Gunner23]

Thank you for the replies so far everyone. Ugaarguy, good luck overseas - I'm assuming you are in the military, and if thats the case then be sure to come home safe. I was over in the sandbox myself last year, so I know how that whole situation is (read: it sucks). Thanks for the link too, I'll be sure to check that out.

Toivo and wdlsguy, I was thinking about doing that type of setup at first, but then the 20" persuader caught my eye at GM. Being that I'm a military/cop type guy, the aesthetics and tactical look of the synthetic stock and forend really appeal to me. $200 flat is a good price for a standard mossy, but $269 + $50 instant gift card roughly equates to $219 for the actual gun. An extra $20 over a standard mossy seems reasonable to me for the look I want. I do appreciate the suggestion though. I don't really need two separate barrels anyway - the only real "hunting" I'd be doing is taking out those jackrabbits a couple times a year. I don't hunt other than that. If I ever decide to get into real hunting (deer and whatnot), I'll invest in a separate slug gun.

Dave, thanks for the info regarding choke/load vs. patterning. I'm from the handgun camp mostly, where barrel length = accuracy lol.

OK, now on to a rather stupid question, but being that I've never owned a shotgun before, I need to ask:

Are slugs and buckshot able to be fired out of the same barrel, or do you need separate barrels for each (rifled vs smoothbore)? I've shot buckshot out of those Mossie 500s for a couple years now, but I don't own one yet so I've never had to know the differences. I need to play dumb dumb for a minute...:o :rolleyes:

[ugaarguy]

Are slugs and buckshot able to be fired out of the same barrel, or do you need separate barrels for each (rifled vs smoothbore)?
In the case of your persuader, which I believe is a cylinder bore (i.e. no restriction) choke, buckshot is just fine, and you'll want rifled slugs. The slug itself has rifling cut into it. With a rifled slug bbl. you use saboted slugs, where the slug is encased in a two piece sabot that falls off upon exiting the muzzle. This sets you up with smooth sides of the sabot for the rifling to grab and spin, and a subcaliber projectile that develops some nice velocity.

[Rob1035]

I have both a 20" and 18.5" 500, and both are fine shotguns. The 20" with full length magazine is a bit heavier than the 5 shot in the same condition, which makes it less willing to swing quickly, but also soaks up some recoil.

I'd say play with both in the store, and see which you like the feel of better

[swampgator]

Go with the 18". The six shot tube gives you more options than the eight shot. Makes it an all around gun than just a one barrel gun.

[Gunner23]

In the case of your persuader, which I believe is a cylinder bore (i.e. no restriction) choke, buckshot is just fine, and you'll want rifled slugs. The slug itself has rifling cut into it. With a rifled slug bbl. you use saboted slugs, where the slug is encased in a two piece sabot that falls off upon exiting the muzzle. This sets you up with smooth sides of the sabot for the rifling to grab and spin, and a subcaliber projectile that develops some nice velocity.

Bingo, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks man.

I have both a 20" and 18.5" 500, and both are fine shotguns. The 20" with full length magazine is a bit heavier than the 5 shot in the same condition, which makes it less willing to swing quickly, but also soaks up some recoil.

Thanks Rob. I did play with both of them a *little* in the store the other day, but I was on my lunch break so i didn't have a whole lot of time to really move them around. I do like the more "hefty" feel of the 20" (just my personal preferance), and while I don't think it would hinder me too much in a tactical HD situation, it might be very different if, god forbid, I actually had to use it in that situation. The next time I go, I'll take the wife along with me and have her look at it too.

[Dave McCracken]

One thing,Gunner. If your dept issues shotguns, getting one to match your cruiser gun makes lots of sense. That way, shooting one is training with both....

[Gunner23]

One thing,Gunner. If your dept issues shotguns, getting one to match your cruiser gun makes lots of sense. That way, shooting one is training with both....

Thats an excellent point Dave...something I hadn't considered, although it doesn't matter too much since my employment right now doesnt involve law enforcement. I'm still finishing school, although it's ground to nearly a halt - I've got my full time job (sales), a wife, and a son who's nearly a year old. School has been put on the backburner for now, unfortunately. I've had a couple of summer non-bonded police jobs, and I did a volunteer active duty stint with my Security Forces squadron earlier this year, but no real long-term fully-certified police jobs. Yet. I'll get there eventually though...and when I do, I'll invest in the same type of shotgun that the dept. issues.

Sheesh....why do I always write a novel to repond to a two line comment...:rolleyes:

[B yond]

If you take a look at this page, you will see that there are a lot more barrels available for the 6-shot models than the 8-shot models.

I would probably go with a 6-shot field model and pick up an 18.5" barrel for HD use.

+2
The 6-shot is far more versatile once you consider all the available barrels.

[ArmedBear]

You can find 6-shot combos (18.5" and 28") for pretty cheap. For under $300 NIB, you can defend your home and hunt anything you can get with a shotgun. Not at all a bad deal, and I'm generally a Remington guy.:)

[swampgator]

Another thought, if you do go with the 20" you can always pick up the five shot mag tube from Gun Parts Corp (http://www.e-gunparts.com/product.asp?chrProductSKU=242430A) part number 242430A.

Then you could have a 20" HD gun and change out the tube, spring and barrel to any other configuration you want. A little more work than just a barrel swap but you're not completely limited with the 20"

[Dave McCracken]

Negative perspiration, Gunner, we all tend to fill in more blanks than needed.

Much as I like Govt Model 1911s, for 20 years my carry guns were K frames. So were my agency sidearms. Use of one meant training with all.

My current tool kit for work includes a Model 64, and any shotgun I choose. That's an 870 of course, nigh 50 years of use has grooved in the "Chops" nicely.

[Gunner23]

Bear, we all have our preferences - thanks for the Mossy support though. (Is this kinda like a Ford vs Chevy debate, or not quite that nasty? :D)

Swamp, I'm pretty much sold on the 20" at this point, thanks to your suggestion (as well as everyone else's help). That pretty much gives me all the versatility I'd need, all out of the same gun. Swapping out mag tubes doesnt phase me - I've been a USAF machinist and a welder for more than a couple years now...if I can weld $40K flameholders out of a 229 F-16 engine and machine parts for the landing gear, I doubt I'll have any horrendous issues figuring out the workings of a Mossy 500...provided I take my time at first. :)

Dave, I'm right there with you on the 1911s. I'm a huge Kimber fan. I've actually been working on my wife to let me get a TLE/RL Custom II after shooting my first NOCPC/IPSC match a couple weeks ago, but I think that I need to start with a lower price tag. I've wanted a 12ga of my own for quite a while now, so I think I'll start with that and work on her more from there, haha. I know that Kimbers have a bit of a departure from the traditional colt gov't design (added safeties and whatnot), and that bothers some people who carried the tried and true original...but I still think they are exceptional handguns. As far as the K frames go, I don't have a whole lot of experiance on wheel guns. I've blasted a few watermelons apart with a buddy's .44 Super Redhawk, but that's about the extent of it.

50 years on an 870 is a hell of alot of time to hone your chops...that would do it for me too, if I had that kind of experiance. I'm just going with what I know on the Mossberg, and even after some comparison shopping, the Mossy has a few features that I prefer. But hey, personal preference makes the world go 'round, right?

Thank you everyone once again for all of the valuable tips and suggestions you've given me so far. I think that the first thing I'll do with the M500 is buy an oversized metal safety from Brownell's, and a whole lot of ammo. And of course, I'll post pics when I actually get my hands on the gun, probably around Xmas time. Until then, I'll be reading and learning...theres obviously a wealth of human knowledge on this board.

[swampgator]

Swamp, I'm pretty much sold on the 20" at this point, thanks to your suggestion (as well as everyone else's help).

It's a good one. My last Mossy purchase was a 20" and a whole slew of buck and slugs. I'm happy with it, as well as the 28" sitting beside it.