My New 500A Tactical (Say Hello to My Little Friend)

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Sad & pathetic if ya ask me, and even if you didn't! What is the personal problem?

A fella posts pics of a great looking gun, fully effective for it's intended purpose, very well executed, with a lot of time and some considerable amount of cold hard cash invested. It is a PERSONAL weapon, built for a particular purpose.

Next thing folks roll out from under the woodwork to not just state an opinion of a differing overall view of functionality of certain iterations of shotguns, no, but in your face scathing insults to a man's intelligence! To me that's unacceptable and entirely uncalled for!

I was attacked elsewhere for simply inquiring about an extended magazine for a shotgun, with much the same level of direct insult. The whole point of the dissenter's views focused around how lame brained it is to think somebody needs more than 3-4 rounds of shot to take out any bad guy.

Well, a 4-shot gun is going to feel pretty puny when faced with a 400 lbs sow blackbear and 2 nearly full grown cubs who all want to have an evening snack at your expense. No matter which one you take down in an ultra-high stress extremely fast action low-light event you still may need quite a few more rounds for the other two! "Hold on, boys, let me open this spare box of shells and reload, just take a minute here, thanks..."

And where is there a Geneva Convention covering rules of engagement for home invasions, that states that only 1 perpetrator is allowed per event and must first knock on the door during regular daylight hours? How about 3 speed freaks spun out to crazed maniac on crank and God knows what else, desperate to do anything necessary to steal what they want, how they want, and kill in the process, with maybe just a little rape & torture for the 'fun' of it? Oh, and they're well armed, and may be wearing tactical armor.

To assume that everyone that builds a special purpose shotgun, for special purposes, is a 'mall ninja' or other insulting derogatory name reveals a very narrow mind, far too little imagination and a distinct possibility of getting your butt shot off or being a Happy Meal for bears in the middle of the night.

That's my 2....
 
Bears arent' a real concean where I live :)

Seriously though, it was not attacks personally it just that some here may feel the the add-ons may have been a misguided solution to a problem that never existed. The OP seemed that they would be a genuine improvement to the overall practicality of the firearm. To at least me, they are not, but I don't have years of experience one way or the other on a profesional level with a firearm, just about 25 years spent dove hunting, deer huntting and other outdoor activities. I can only go off the experiences of other professionals and their publications and tutorials. I think that anyone who wants to keep a firearm for self defence needs to seek the advice of someone who makes a living with a gun, not making parts for guns.
 
"Bears arent' a real concean where I live

Seriously though, it was not attacks personally it just that some here may feel the the add-ons may have been a misguided solution to a problem that never existed. The OP seemed that they would be a genuine improvement to the overall practicality of the firearm. To at least me, they are not, but I don't have years of experience one way or the other on a profesional level with a firearm, just about 25 years spent dove hunting, deer huntting and other outdoor activities. I can only go off the experiences of other professionals and their publications and tutorials. I think that anyone who wants to keep a firearm for self defence needs to seek the advice of someone who makes a living with a gun, not making parts for guns."

As you say, none of the activities you engage in would call for a gun like this, and that would be a good answer, without sarcasm or insult.

As for the need of advice from a professional hunter or armorer I can't see that. Some math that can be done on the fingers of the hand will quickly indicate a shortage of firepower in 2 very realistic and possible scenarios I described. That rates right up there with 2 broken hands in a fist fight: little chance of success.

I know my own needs for a high capacity shotgun are valid so it's not a stretch to think that they might apply to someone else. Then too, we don't see too many 4 shot pistols or revolvers enjoying an avalanche of popularity, never have. The reasons are simple and obvious and may apply directly to other firearm platforms.

We all know that about the worst thing you can do in a gun fight is not bring enough gun, one way or another.

My Ithaca 37 as a trench gun [similar to the above Mossy] is adequate to the situation up to at least 100 yds in a variety of events, including hunting, sometimes much more so than many other shotguns, rifles or handguns. To each his own, and his own perceived needs.
 
That looks awesome! Out of curiosity, is it a stretch to reach the safety on top of the receiver when you're holding the pistol grip?
 
Nice looking Mossberg. I have 7 Mossberg shotguns, including one of those unwieldly Knoxx Sidewinder versions, can't wait to get yelled at for wasting my money. I will say that I had a 500 with that ATI stock like yours and I was happy to replace it, a little too flimsy feeling for as tough a weapon as a Mossberg 500. I replaced it with a Knoxx NRS stock but a factory, SpeedFeed or Hogue would do well too.

Just be sure your side saddle screws stay tight but no so tight they bind the action.

Also, I hear the Mossberg safety/pistol grip thing again and again and again. Does not seem like an issue to me. If I pick up my shotgun to use in a defense situation the safety is off and staying that way till it's "all clear". I'm guessig you will not be hunting with this gun so I see no reason why having to take the safety off before you assume a firing grip is an issue.

Again, good looking scattergun.

FFMedic
 
I have a 500 that came with the Mossberg GR sights, too.

Love 'em. :D

The only change I've made is substituting a shorter stock for the over-long factory, and adding a sling.

And, yes, Justin, I hunt with it, too. :neener: Since I'm a slug guy, cylinder bore works just fine.

The old man with lots and lots of factory stock handguns that have awesome POA/POI
Click to expand...

That's great, but if you have lots and lots of handguns, and no appropriate longarms for home defense- barring physical limitation- you are wrong. Longarms are quicker for repeat shots, are more accurate (even unsighted) due to the stock, and usually considerably more powerful but less likely to overpenetrate a threat than a handgun (poorly understood by many is that higher velocity and expanding bullets usually equals less penetration, not more). And, as far as being concerned about appearance, which could look worse: a dead home invader that's been shot twice with a shotgun, or 5 or 6 times with a handgun? Personally, I tend to shoot fast and often by habit (and it's good training in general), but with most shoulder arms you really shouldn't have to. With handguns, you almost certainly need that second shot from the controlled pair, and even that may not be enough.

John
 
Nice Gun. I just bought a used 500A. Plan to use the knoxx stock, but I was wondering do these guns usually have play in the barrel? The barrel will move slightly if I try to twist it with my hand. Is this normal? The bolt on the barrel is tight, and the barrel butts up against the receiver all the way. Thanks.
 
Why do so many people seem to like to dismiss heat shields as novelty or "just for looks" items?

Am I the only one who's ever burned a hand on a hot barrel after cooking through a 100 round walmart value pack?
 
Why do so many people seem to like to dismiss heat shields as novelty or "just for looks" items?

Am I the only one who's ever burned a hand on a hot barrel after cooking through a 100 round walmart value pack?
Click to expand...

There's no real reason to be grabbing the barrel though unless your're using a bayonette.
 
That came out great, I was looking at some similar models on Buds for a couple of hours last night. Some of us married guys spend Sat night looking at stuff we need or think we need. The guns I looked at were very similar, other than the Stock, which I like a lot. so it helped me decide on what stock I want. Also I use ghost ring sights on my Glock 30, I found a front night sight and a ghost rear works great in most lighting conditions. Had them on that pistol for a decade now, and I need to replace the front one, but it's a great combo.
 
There's no real reason to be grabbing the barrel though unless your're using a bayonette.
Click to expand...

Funny, I touch the barrel every time I flip it over and reload it....and I like heat shields.

r
 
Why would you flip to load? :confused: That's not only not necessary, you're teaching yourself to do the wrong thing in an emergency.

J
 
Why do so many people seem to like to dismiss heat shields as novelty or "just for looks" items?
Click to expand...
Good question.
I've read numerous threads here and elsewhere where far too many people almost ridicule someone for having a heat shield on a shotgun.
[WARNING--RANT ON]
It seems that every fancy stock, or flashlight, or the various shell holders, or lasers, or red dot sight, or seven-point-sling, or ported barrel, or this, or that, etc. is okey-dokey, but somehow a heat shield just seems "silly".
It would seem that no one needs to justify the side saddle.
Or the $200 light.
Or the $300 fore end to attach the light.
But the heat shield....whoah there cowboy....what the heck were ya thinkin"?
Sorry, but I just don't understand.
I bought a Mossberg 500 in '92 (my first of three) that came with the shield.
I left the dang thing on there.
And it has never been a hindrance. Ever.
All these years later, and many thousands of rounds later and it's still there.
I have trained with that gun several times.
I've had that old barrel hot many times.
Several of those times I was glad to have the shield.
That particular gun is still my go-to defense shotgun.
It has never failed me in any way. Ever.
Other than replacing the original plastic trigger group for an aluminum one recently (for no other reason than the "feel good" factor, and to have a spare group on hand for any of the three 12ga 500's), it sports no other enhancements.
No fancy stocks.
No fancy pistol grips (front or rear.)
No fancy sights, just the brass bead.
No fancy shell holder. (OK, it has a 5 round butt cuff.)
No fancy sling.
No fancy light, laser, or holographic-light-up-the-bad-guy-in-the-dark-around-corners sights.
Just the heat shield. And i really, really think it'll be OK.
Sooooo........if you have a shotgun with a heat shield, don't be ashamed. Say it with me now....it's OK.
[FINALLY-THANKFULLY--RANT OFF]
Thanks for listening, and yes I DO feel better.
And as the flaming begins, I'll be hiding behind the filing cabinet. (With said M500)
 
I don't think that it is nessasary to have one on a gun without a bayonet lug. If you have one on there now, why bother taking it off. If you want the military look, then get it now...thats how capitalism works. If you think it is a mandatory item on a defensive gun, I think you are mistaken. Thats all.
 
If you think it is a mandatory item on a defensive gun, I think you are mistaken.
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Nope. Not mandatory.
But OK to have.
Side saddle....not mandatory (I have never found them to be necessary). But OK to have.
Tactical light....not mandatory(Again....I've never needed one). But OK to have.
Pistol grip stock....not mandatory(I tried one, still have it on my 870, but as soon as I find a factory stock it's gone!). But OK to have.
Laser, red dot. etc.
You see, whatever floats one's boat should be OK.
But don't hang every imaginable piece of tactical crap on a weapon and then criticize another person's choice of accessory.
Absolutely NONE of the above are MANDATORY, but I'd bet that most people browsing this particular forum have at least one (probably several) of them attached to their weapon as I'm typing this.
But still an accessory that doesn't meet their criteria is "foolish".
Go figure.
It reminds me of all the Mossberg "Road Blocker" and "Rolling Thunder" threads.
Some folks will actually spend several hundred dollars for a plastic fore end to mount a very expensive flashlight on their shotgun, then laugh at another 's choice of weapon.
Again, go figure.
I believe that if you like it and it doesn't hinder your use of the weapon then more power to you.
If you like gadgets then by all means buy gadgets.
 
Youngster said:
There's no real reason to be grabbing the barrel though unless your're using a bayonette.
Click to expand...
Its not so much that I had an issue being burned from grabbing the barrel, its that having a hot barrel in close proximity to your fingers, hands, and arms, there are lots of ways that barrel can brush up against you and give you a nasty burn. $20 and 10 minutes of fitting later, I now have a shotgun I would really have to try to burn myself on, and hey, it looks pretty slick too, don't you think?
 
Why would it? My specific gun is coated in 500 degree engine enamel to keep rust off permanently, so i have no use for cleaning/applying oil to the outside.It breaks down the same as when new, the heat shield is fixed (not permanently mind you, but solidly) to the barrel. Even if I had to for some reason take the heat shield off to clean it its a simple matter of unscrewing a pair of hex nuts, maybe 2 extra minutes if i took my time?
 
Really, how many shot does it take to end a home invasion? Someone said they burned them selves on a barrel with a 100 round pack. If you are shooting that much, you don't need a heatshield, you need a fire mission.
 
Why would you flip to load? That's not only not necessary, you're teaching yourself to do the wrong thing in an emergency.
Click to expand...

I don't have any misguided fantasies about fighting off armed gangs of crack heads, John. Most folks on these forums do....I don't. I don't use "side saddles", or extended magazines, or recoil reducing collapsible super duper stocks, either. I've never had a "shotgun class" training me in something I don't need. I collect single shot break barrels and still suggest them as great home defense weapons. I have no doubt that I'll be just fine in an emergency. ;)

richard
 
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