Mossberg 185KC

[Aaryq]

Howdy, folks. When I was a kid, I bought my first weapon, a Mossberg 185KC 20ga. I primarily use shotguns for phesant and grouse hunting. The problem is I'm a lefty and if I don't hit the bird on the first shot, it's a pain in the hiney to chamber the next round.

Should I sell it, keep it for when my daughter gets old enough to shoot, try to trade it for something I can use...what do you think?

 

[Aaryq]

Any takers? If it were some other shothgun that the shooter who owned it couldn't use but it was his first gun, what would you recomend?

 

[Dave McCracken]

A BA shotgun is basically a single shot with a couple extra rounds handy rather than a repeater.

They have little market value, you won't get much for it.

They tend to be durable and reliable.

In your shoes, I'd keep it fr future use.....i

 

[Aaryq]

How much is not too much? The stock is good and there's no corrosion on it. Where can I find out about the gun, like when it was made, to whom it was marketed, and whatnot?

 

[Oldnamvet]

According to the 2006 Standard Catalog of Firearms, value for the mossberg BA shotguns are:
Exc - $90
VG - $65
Good - $50

 

[Aaryq]

So in theory, I could trade this off for a Mosin Nagant? Does anyone know how to do trades with pawn shops/gun stores?

 

[zinj]

Don't sell your first gun, you will only regret it. Especially when you consider that a dealer would give you jack on a trade. He probably wouldn't even trade you straight for a Mosin-Nagant, as bolt action shotguns will sit on the rack; there isn't much demand for them.

 

[vesmcd]

If you buy the Mosin, you have the same problem, left handed shooter/right handed B/A firearm. If you don't want the Mossberg, get rid of it and get the Mosin, but like I said, you'll still have the same righty/lefty problem. My suggestion is to buy a bottom eject shotgun, maybe an Ithaca?

 

[Aaryq]

If you buy the Mosin, you have the same problem, left handed shooter/right handed B/A firearm. If you don't want the Mossberg, get rid of it and get the Mosin, but like I said, you'll still have the same righty/lefty problem. My suggestion is to buy a bottom eject shotgun, maybe an Ithaca?

If I get a Mosin, I'll be firing 1 shot at a time. More than likely, if I shoot a Mosin at a target (deer, moose, elk, whatever the ammo's rated for), I'll either hit or else scare it away. Deer run pretty fast and it's not worth taking a second shot, whereas if I'm hunting phesants/grouse, it's rather common to shoot 2 or 3 shots when they're flying by.
It's not the ejecting shell that bothers me, it's just getting that next shell into the chamber.