First HD shotgun purchase (Mossy 500, with photos)

[HungSquirrel]

I found this little zombie-killer at a local pawn shop for $200. It has a real stock...none of that silly pistol grip gangster wannabe nonsense that seems to be all the rage these days. Its previous owner also installed after-market ghost ring sights, and for some reason felt compelled to glue a shiny USMC crest on what was otherwise a nice matte black home defense scattergun. I think I'll remove it because it looks silly and I don't want to misrepresent myself as having served in the Corps. (I actually tried to enlist about a year before the war, but I was half a pound overweight at MEPS.)

Back to the topic at hand:

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/8774/photo27hq2.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9488/photo33bc6.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/5494/photo36dg6.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/5872/photo39fu8.jpg
Be advised, the "cameraman" in the above business-end photo is actually a webcam, and as such I did not violate Col. Cooper's rules.

This has the smoothest pump action I have ever felt. Most Mossies I've tried have extremely wobbly pumps and really loose actions. Not the case with this particular zombie-slayer.

Before now, I had never felt compelled to own a shotgun for home defense. However, after SWAT was called to my apartment complex for the second time in four months, I felt I ought to get something that would adequately defend myself from my neighbors. Now my only worry is SWAT will get the wrong door and kill me for defending myself, like they did one year ago in Atlanta.

[Dave McCracken]

Nice shotgun, but it needs wear marks, Please rectify ASAP....

[flip180]

Wow! that's a steal. The pawn shops around here don't have any problem asking greater than new prices for used guns.

Flip.

[Shadowangel]

Off topic, but I find it sad that while complaining about not having enough soldiers, they're turning people down for being half a pound overweight.

[Creature]

Nice shotgun. Let us know how it patterns.

BTW I was a recruiter and I am scratching my head over that 1/2 pound disqualification thing.

[Rob87]

May I ask why the SWAT team had to respond to your complex twice?

p.s. Nice shotgun. :) I've always liked the black/synthetic look.

Edit: I think it's odd they'd disqualify you for being overweight. I thought basic training was supposed to help you get in shape? Or is the Marine Corps different?

[HungSquirrel]

Off topic, but I find it sad that while complaining about not having enough soldiers, they're turning people down for being half a pound overweight.
This was before the war, when they could afford to be picky.
BTW I was a recruiter and I am scratching my head over that 1/2 pound disqualification thing.
I went all the way up to MEPS and did all the health pre-screenings and whatnot. I got my body fat percentage score, and it was less than a percent over the maximum allowed at the time. I asked the doc giving the test for the formula he used to calculate the percentage. I forget the formula now, but I calculated that if I had weighed half a pound less, I would have made it. Then I got a scholarship, thus having no need for the G.I. Bill.

Back on topic, I will be shooting it Friday. I'm still stoked about the deal I got. Home defense barrel with ghost ring sights for less than the cost of a new Mossy! :D

May I ask why the SWAT team had to respond to your complex twice?
Once for a guy threatening to kill himself with a .38 special. (It's supposedly standard operating procedure to send SWAT to such situations here.)

The second time was when a man robbed a bank just up the street and fled to his apartment here. SWAT had the place surrounded for hours before he gave up.

[hexidismal]

Very good pawn shop price for a gun with aftermarket ghost rings. Nice find.

[Avenger29]

Nice 500. Ghost rings are good to have- shame you don't see more SGs with them in stores.

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal. Most pawn shops and gun shops around here believe that a SG with an 18" barrel automatically makes it worth $300+, even if it is a beat up, rusty POS...

[10-Ring]

Well done! :cool: Now go get it dirty!

[Markbo]

Excellent find. You don't show it so I am not sure what it has, see what you can do about putting a Big Dot or a Tritium front sight on it. Of course a surefire forearm light is a must have. Mine wears one and I know from practicing with it, it is absolutely blinding.

[John917]

That's a nice-looking honker-killer. I'd like to get a pistol-grip stock with an actual stock for my 88, similar to the ones used on the Tactical Turkey guns for better control/handling.

[ShowMeState1977]

Nice shottie and Amen on your sig line!

[1BLINDREF]

Nice shottie at a great price!

BTW Nice t-shirt :evil:

[rantingredneck]

Nice find. Now put a few cases of ammo downrange with it. :)

[HungSquirrel]

I just did. First round was Remington 00 at about ten yards. (I'm using this gun purely for home defense, and I don't expect to have to shoot any farther than that in my tiny apartment!) The group was about the size of two of my fists put together, with one flier a bit high and to the left. Acceptable!

I then tried Remington slugs, and they went right where I pointed.

Then I fired 50 or so of the cheap bulk Winchester #7 stuff.

When I went back to 00 buck, I had one empty jam in the chamber. Not sure why. I'm about to take it apart for the first time to be sure everything is in order.

Oh, on a lighter note, I won't have to worry about removing the USMC crest. It flew off of its own accord after about the 30th round of Winchester. Thing actually hit me in the forehead! Confused the hell out of me, too, as I'm a righty and the shells eject away from my face. It was only when I noticed the spot where the crest used to be on the shotgun that I realized what had hit me in the face. Moral of the story: if you're going to glue silly emblems on machines of war, at least use some decently-strong glue. :D

[Dave McCracken]

Good start, HS. A coupla things...

Ten yards is probably a good distance, but make sure. Measure the longest possible shot in Casa HS, add a yard for GPs and pattern at that distance. That will give you very good data to work with.

Some folks like spread. I like, ideally, patterns of 5" or less.

Work with and learn your shotgun. After a few more cases through it, you'll note that it has become a very effective HD tool.

[The Deer Hunter]

Oh, on a lighter note, I won't have to worry about removing the USMC crest. It flew off of its own accord after about the 30th round of Winchester. Thing actually hit me in the forehead! Confused the hell out of me, too, as I'm a righty and the shells eject away from my face. It was only when I noticed the spot where the crest used to be on the shotgun that I realized what had hit me in the face. Moral of the story: if you're going to glue silly emblems on machines of war, at least use some decently-strong glue.

The minute I saw that I though:"that things going to fly off the gun with the first slug he shoots"...

Nice gun at a nice deal!

[unreal45]

HS, I like that last pic and the fact that you clarified it was a web cam before the flames started. :D

[357wheelgunner]

Now my only worry is SWAT will get the wrong door and kill me for defending myself, like they did one year ago in Atlanta.


Um....So SWAT killed you a year ago in Atlanta?!?

Are you a zombie?

[Ed Ames]

Plainclothes cops killed some auntie in Atlanta about a year ago as they busted down her door and she tried to defend herself. I think that's what the poster was talking about.

[zerosignal]

A Mossy 500 like that is just about what I'll be looking for at the gun show tomorrow. I'll be looking for one with bead sights though since it's going to double as home defense and informal clay shooting.

Nice taste in shotguns and equally nice taste in rock bands :)

[TimM]

Yeah, I love pawn shops. Yesterday I picked up a like new 590 with heat shield and speedfeed stock for $250. :)

[HungSquirrel]

Now THAT is a deal! :D

Fellow Mossberg owners: the screw holding the barrel is extremely tight and won't come off so I can strip the weapon. Suggestions?