Moved shotgun to bedroom

[SwampWolf]

The other 2 grands (4&8) have had firearm awareness training.

But I don’t trust any 4 or 8 yo.

Firearm safety training should always be mandatory for anyone who might have occasion to handle one but it should never be a substitute for keeping an unloaded gun safely secured and separate from ammunition if there's any possibility of children being present. No matter the training, most toddlers (and teens, for that matter) can never be fully trusted in the near proximity of a loaded gun-and most of them have playmates and friends whose "training" might be limited to watching/playing videos where shooting a gun at someone else is the in-discriminative objective of the game.

 

[kalielkslayer]

Firearm safety training should always be mandatory for anyone who might have occasion to handle one but it should never be a substitute for keeping an unloaded gun safely secured and separate from ammunition if there's any possibility of children being present. No matter the training, most toddlers (and teens, for that matter) can never be fully trusted in the near proximity of a loaded gun-and most of them have playmates and friends whose "training" might be limited to watching/playing videos where shooting a gun at someone else is the in-discriminative objective of the game.

I think we are on the same page.

You quoted me saying I don’t trust 4-8 year olds.

My daughter insisted on their training because she remembered what I had taught her at a very early age.

But I wasn’t there for their “training” which further negates my trust.

I get the “safe” thing. But having a gun in a safe isn’t safe for me and my family. So my solution is to put them in a safe place during the day.

But the fact they aren’t even allowed in our room without either my wife or me in the room, is precaution #1. Being out of reach, without a method for them to reach them is #2. Covering them so they are unaware they are there is #3.

 

[SwampWolf]

There is one "safety strategy" I employed when we had kids in our house a long, long time ago : Keeping a semi-auto pistol having a magazine "disconnect/safety" loaded with a round in the chamber and the safety (if the pistol has one) turned off out of reach but having the loaded magazine hidden yet readily accessible in another area. It doesn't take much time to quietly reunite the mag with the pistol.

I didn't mean to imply that we don't have the same safety concerns and act appropriately. Defending yourself with a firearm at home and away always involves some kind of compromise, ranging from sitting in a chair with flashlight and loaded shotgun in hand to having the firearm locked in a safe and everything in-between, all depending on the situation and circumstance. And I'm sure you agree that the circumstance most germane in terms of gun safety in the home is when children and young adults are in close vicinity of a weapon.

 

[gitarmac]

Welp, got that spring changed. What a difference! I started a different thread about it. I took it all down and carefully heated it with a torch and it easily came off by hand, which was good because my strap wrench slipped too much.

Getting it back together was a little frustrating, it's deceptive because it's easy, but only if the parts are in the right position.

Check out the difference between the old and new spring, the old one is half the length.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Nice! My 500 ran like a sewing machine once I got that spring changed. Ultimately I sold it for more than I paid and applied the cash towards a Beretta 1301 Tactical. No knock on the Mossberg at all, I just really wanted the Beretta and don't have enough "shotgun work" to justify keeping both.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

After experiencing a weak mag spring on a 590 which I kept fully loaded for an extended period of time, I replaced it and now keep both 590s downloaded by at least one. I had the same thing happen with a Henry lever action.

But the good news is this: If you have a weak spring on a tube magazine, the gun will still function if you turn it vertical to cycle the action. Gravity can be friendly that way.

In the case of the spring in my old 500, it was pretty worn out but it still fed the first four reliably, just didn't have enough oomph to feed the last one. Obviously one wants the gun to be well-maintained but I suspect if you use the gun for HD you probably won't get past the first shell or two.

 

[DustyGmt]

I have both a heat gun and strap wrench. What I'm lacking is ambition. But if I can't find a gunsmith to do it I'll give the old college try.

Same here. I have an old mossberg that's seen better days. The spring is shot although it still cycles. I need new extractor springs as shells just drool out the port with no oomph. I'd like to pick up $30-$50 in parts and get it back in good working order but I already had a go round with it a couple years ago. Tried to refinish it, rushed the job it came out poorly and I want to just redo everything but I kind of think spending $220 or so for a nice used one might be more sensible.

I just hate to retire a gun that I know I could get back up and running but I too am lacking ambition, it was also the first long gun I ever got, my ma bought it for me so I'd like to keep it in "good" working order . Besides I have a few other good pump shotguns. My 590 sits next to my bed always. Basically a 500 except it's way easier to add an extension or replace a spring. The 500 is better for hunters or combo setups where you might swap barrels for different tasks. You can find 590's for a deal if you're looking in the right place. I found mine LNIB never fired from my LGS for $250

 

[.455_Hunter]

(and teens, for that matter)

I guess it just depends on the teens...