multiple questions (mods let me know if I should break these up)

[Detritus]

Howdy all,

Today I began looking into shotguns again, and have come across some questions that the internet has not offered up the answers to (if only my car wasn't dead :(). So I thought I’d ask you gentlemen (and ladies since I know there are some on here).

Question 1. decent price on both new and used Remington 870 "express" shotguns in 12ga?? I am hoping to buy new, but may wind up finding a price on a used example that I can’t pass up. And I want to know what's good and what's a rip off in both cases.

Question 2. is it possible to mount a longer (like 26") barrel on a Mossberg 590 (the one with the 9 round mag and bayonet lug)?? Wife wants a 590 to be one of the next few firearms purchases we get (long story), and I want to know if I have to get a third shotgun for her to use if or when she tries out "clay games" . I know that a 20" barrel is plenty long for a lot of the shooting done in skeet and 5-stand, and I’ve used a SxS with such a set up but I kind of figure it's easier to learn if the gun being used is more in line with the use it receives....


Question 3. how hard is it to install a "dead Mule" or other similar mercury filled recoil reducer in the but stock of BOTH the 870 and the 590?? last time I had such work done it was installed by the guy who sold me the gun and I never took the butt pad off to take a look (sold the gun to pay bills a few years ago). I want one of these b/c I like the recoil reduction they produce and it would be an aid to my wife (along with light load shells) in getting into shooting a shotgun, seeing as how she's recovering from shoulder surgery (we do NOT intend to shoot even a .22 till after the doc OKs it)

well anyway,

thank you for you time an all input and advice is appreciated.

Detritus

[DML]

?1....Check the prices on auctionarms or gunbroker.com and see what they are going for. I never try to squeeze the last penny out of a deal, so I'm not an expert on prices.

?2....No. The 590, from day 1 was designed for military/police use. I have seen a few variations, but never a barrel over 20". It doesn't take much to convert a 590 to 500 configuration. All you need is a 500 magazine tube and a sporting type barrel. They are fairly cheap. If you are going to buy a new shotgun, it would make more sense to get the 500 with the short magazine tube. You can still use it for HD use with a short barrel and it would double as a sporting shotgun with a longer barrel.

?3.... IMHO, the mercury type recoil reducers don't work any better then a lump of lead. They add a pound of weight and little else. I have gotten good reports on the Knoxx stock. It has a built in shock absorber and probably costs about the same as having a recoil reducer installed.

[Dave McCracken]

Okay......

1,Hereabouts, $200 on a used WM is possible. #6 was under that, but I had to wait a while to find that good a deal. Shortly thereafter, a two barrel combo WM showed up for not much more. While just a 2 3/4" gun, it was a good all rounder candidate. Expresses new run a bit more than that at the chain stores.


2,They're not common. Maybe DML, our smith in residence can give a better idea of how hard it would be.

3, He might be better at this too, but I do not think installation is much more than drop in. You may want to review the TFL thread we did on homemade recoil reducers. Superlight loads, good fit and form will help your spouse more, IMO.

HTH....

[Detritus]

to clarify a few things, just to be all up front about my intentions etc.

first off, if i can't easily find a longer barrel for a 590, i'll simply suck it up and get another 870, my wife fell in love with the 590 while in a shop one day while we were browsing around adn looking at various guns, she has her own reasons for wanting a military/police type shotgun (she's ex-Army) and radical surgery to make a 590 a better 'sporting" gun is not in the picture


as for the dead mule not being much better than a lump of lead, that may just be the way i go anyway, i just remembered how good it (dead mule) worked on the cut down 870 that i had built for a friend. BTW i'd rahter not go the Knox route stock wise

now if i could find a place that will fit a shotgun for us.... (for a reasonable price that is)

[Preacherman]

Detritus, you're in luck... Mossberg lists a 28" barrel for the 8-shot Model 500 on their Web site - see here (http://www.mossberg.com/acatalog/pricebarrels.htm) for details, and scroll down the page until you get to the 8-shot model barrels. The details are: 12ga., product code 90241, 28" vent rib PORTED barrel (which will help reduce muzzle jump), blued, for 8-shot magazine. It takes screw-in Accu-chokes too. The best thing? Price - $133!!! That's a pretty good price in my book. You may find it cheaper at various dealers, but Cabela's and Gun Parts Corp. don't list it. Mossberg lists it as a barrel for 8-shot Model 500's, but I'm assuming it will also fit a 590. Call Mossberg for more information.

As for recoil reduction, may I strongly recommend either Kick-Eez (http://www.kickeez.net/) or Limbsaver (http://www.limbsaver.com/limbsaver/home.aspx) recoil pads? I much prefer the Kick-Eez units myself, but others speak well of the Limbsaver, and I'm planning a side-by-side test. I know that from my subjective perspective, the Kick-Eez reduces felt recoil by better than 50% compared to a factory pad. Highly recommended, and will probably be even better than a recoil reducer.

Finally, used Expresses. Around here (Louisiana) they go for $150-$225, with the really good condition guns being at the upper end of that range. Used Wingmasters are available in good condition (sometimes) for about $250-$300, although they're often higher than that. You have to know where to look! :D

If you're interested, right now, there's a very good condition Express in 12ga. with 26" vent-rib Rem-Choke barrel available for $195, and a good-condition Wingmaster with 26" barrel, modified choke (not screw-in), available for $250.

[Detritus]

If you're interested.......

unfortunately, for now (for the next month or two) i am still in the "look around weigh options, generally cogitate the ways to go" phase. so far everything seems to be about what i was expecting price wise.

and yes i was planning to put either a kick-eez or a decelorator(sp?) on the guns as well.

[DML]

Well, as the song goes, "You can't always have what you want."

Forget a barrel longer then 20" for a 590. They don't exist. You could probably have one made for $$$$$$.

Reasonable priced gunsmithing? You get what you pay for and usually less. Where I live, auto repair costs $75 per hour. A good gunsmith who has $50K in tools and machines plus $900 to $2000 per month for rent isn't going to stay in business very long on $10 jobs. Maybe rent is cheaper in TX, but if you don't want your gun butchered, expect to pay a fair price for the work. How much do you make an hour?

As far as the price of a gun goes, you have to decide what is the most you can afford and go from there. If all you can spend is $200, expect to get a $200 gun. If you keep looking long enough or you are lucky, you may come across a real bargain. It happens all the time.

[Detritus]

Forget a barrel longer then 20" for a 590. They don't exist.

well that settles that, gonna be a second 870 in the house then..... now SHE'S gotta decide which she want's FIRST :evil: