Hi:
I'm fairly set on buying a Mossberg 500. The primary purpose will be HD.
I realize, thanks to lurking a lot and reading these forums to get some education, that it's not quite as simple as just "getting a gun." I intend to practice shoot quite a bit. Also, I'd like it to be feasible for my wife to shoot it (in a few more years, after my kid is old enough to be appropriate to bring to a range). She is petite, to put it mildly.
A competing consideration is that I'm not 100% confident that she could actually handle a threatening situation without substantial risk of getting in worse trouble than if unarmed. That question may be better resolved however, after she has had a chance to actually practice shooting.
Because of the desire to have my wife be able to handle it, and also because if I want to practice a bit, it would probably be more practical to own and pleasant to shoot a 20 ga, rather than 12ga. However, I am still waffling about what gauge to buy.
I like the fact that there are more ammo choices for 12. I also like the fact that I could play with muzzle loading with the Mossy 500 12ga, which is something I have a bit of fascination about.
I have little concern that a 20ga. is underpowered compared to 12ga.
There's one little thing that bugs me though, about the 500 in 20ga. The "security" 20 ga.barrel appears to be 20 inches, instead of 18.5 inches for the 12 ga. security barrel. That extra 1.5 inch difference makes me unable to resolve away from the 12 ga. since I live in rather cramped quarters.
Well I have to make a decision. I will read your input, if any, with appreciation.
I'm fairly set on buying a Mossberg 500. The primary purpose will be HD.
I realize, thanks to lurking a lot and reading these forums to get some education, that it's not quite as simple as just "getting a gun." I intend to practice shoot quite a bit. Also, I'd like it to be feasible for my wife to shoot it (in a few more years, after my kid is old enough to be appropriate to bring to a range). She is petite, to put it mildly.
A competing consideration is that I'm not 100% confident that she could actually handle a threatening situation without substantial risk of getting in worse trouble than if unarmed. That question may be better resolved however, after she has had a chance to actually practice shooting.
Because of the desire to have my wife be able to handle it, and also because if I want to practice a bit, it would probably be more practical to own and pleasant to shoot a 20 ga, rather than 12ga. However, I am still waffling about what gauge to buy.
I like the fact that there are more ammo choices for 12. I also like the fact that I could play with muzzle loading with the Mossy 500 12ga, which is something I have a bit of fascination about.
I have little concern that a 20ga. is underpowered compared to 12ga.
There's one little thing that bugs me though, about the 500 in 20ga. The "security" 20 ga.barrel appears to be 20 inches, instead of 18.5 inches for the 12 ga. security barrel. That extra 1.5 inch difference makes me unable to resolve away from the 12 ga. since I live in rather cramped quarters.
Well I have to make a decision. I will read your input, if any, with appreciation.
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