Mossberg forend questions....

[AcceptableUserName]

So, I've modified a Hogue to fit on a shorter 6 3/4" 500 tube before (thin out the forward area so the Hogue adapter nut can clear and thread), my question is can most any forend designed for the longer "tactical style" slide tubes be modified to fit with the adapter nut in the same way? Or is just the Hogue?


And what is the purpose of the longer tube vs. the shorter tube performance wise? You would think it'd be the other way around, would you not? Any synthetic forends you know of designed for use with the smaller tube?

 

[RyanM]

I would guess 99% of forends can be modified, but you also have to thin out the back so that it can clear the receiver.

I think the reason for the difference is that the forend itself is the same length, but the "sporting" tube puts it closer to the receiver, so that the back of the forend overlaps. That could theoretically catch on a sling or whatever. So high speed low drag operators need a forend that can't catch there, even though it's farther forward on the gun.

 

[RandKL]

And what is the purpose of the longer tube vs. the shorter tube

Higher quality guns always have had longer, better wood. The longer the forearm, the better the gun was in a nutshell. The original Mossy was designed first and foremost as a hunting gun. All this "tactical" crap didn't exist. The 7 5/8" forearm tube was designed to fit the hunting aspect. Several higher end Mossies even came with an even longer 8 3/4" tube and a longer walnut forearm. When the tactical wave hit in the late 90's, *all* the aftermarket forearms were designed to fit that 7 5/8" tube beause that was all there was.

The Tacstar grips, the ones molded off the old Thompson subgun, were originally molded just for the 7 5/8"....folks with shorter tubes simply cut the forearm off an inch and a quarter and opened it up a bit as you did. Later on, the Tacstar forearm came with a molded in line to guide cutting and an internal mold that was already opened. Later Tacstar grips are simply molded shorter. That's one example of an interim design change.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tacstar-81151-Front-Forend-Shotgun-Grip-Black-12-Guage-/310220253113 Notice the cut guide line at the right end of the forearm. That's a second version.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TacStar-1081151-Rear-Pistol-Grip-fits-Mossberg-500-/140345276770 The current model.

Those Tacstar Thompson grips are fitted to the shorter modern tubes....so is the ATI front pistol grip and the ATI "standard forearm".

http://images.andale.com/f2/122/127/12301129/1143481731467_Image72.jpg Notice the cut guide lines on the right most end of the grip.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ATI-12GA-0R-20GA-PUMP-STANDARD-FOREND-SHOTGUN-BLACK-/110509683678 The AtI "standard" forearm. It's designed only for the shorter tubes.

Dinner time. I'll have to get back to this later.

rich