Sharp as a Marble - New addition to the arsenal

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Guns. Lots of Guns.

Just doing my part to keep America the most armed country in the world.

Meet my new friend, Ugly Betty

Mossberg 500A

Betty is a Mossberg 500A 12-gauge shotgun. I bought her used, so there's a few small scratches here and there, but let me tell you, she's damned effective

I'm not going to lie to you. The last shotgun I fired years ago was a 20 gauge. I forgot how much kick a 12 gauge has. My shoulder was already sore from shooing Sasha the other day, but 5 shells was all I could do to test her out.

And these were "Reduced Recoil" rounds.

So, the Home Defense Arsenal is complete. 3 handguns, 2 rifles, and 1 shotgun. That doesn't mean I'm done buying firearms (although the Mrs. is adamant that there be no more purchases next year. We'll need to work on that a bit), but that should be good enough to keep the homestead secure.

posted @ 10/20/2007 1:39:02 PM

Comments

Gary Anthony says:

on 10/20/2007 5:02:34 PM

Sounds like you need a good recoil pad. Limbsaver makes custom fit replacements at a reasonable price. And you won't believe the difference in felt recoil.

straightarrow says:

on 10/20/2007 5:03:19 PM

You have a damned silly idea of what constitutes ugly. I have the same model and it has light pea green plastic furniture, now that is really ugly.

Kurt says:

on 10/21/2007 12:30:34 AM

I added one of these "Knoxx SpecOps Stock" http://www.knoxx.com/index2.html to My Mossberg 12 ga and I can shoot a whole box now. Had the same issue with you, 5 shots and I was done

Justin Buist says:

on 10/21/2007 9:05:07 AM

I'd make sure you run that thing through the house a few times. Empty it out and run some drills getting yourself into a good defensive position over and over again. I did this with my shotgun and caught myself snagging the barrel on things like a clothes hamper and the door frame.

Robb Allen says:

on 10/21/2007 9:12:04 AM

JB, I've already started considering it. The barrel is very long, so that's definitely a consideration.

I used to live in this ancient house (built in 1920 something) that was two stories. The best part of that place was that I had the perfect defensive position naturally built in. Downstairs was just the kitchen (nothing much to steal there) and upstairs was my living quarters. The only way to get up there was a narrow stairwell. If I heard anything, I could simply point at the stairs and I had the perfect advantage.

My house now is tricky. It's L shaped with my daughters' rooms at the opposite ends of the L from me. The middle is broken up and poses a hassle of getting a well defensible route to them (which is my main concern). However, I know my house better than any goblin who thinks they have a right to my stuff, so I'll be able to navigate with an advantage.

Peter says:

on 10/21/2007 2:18:28 PM

(although the Mrs. is adamant that there be no more purchases next year. We'll need to work on that a bit)

Bribery! 18K Bribery, I tell you! Sparkly stones!

A day-spa thing is pretty effective too.

BobG says:

on 10/21/2007 2:23:08 PM

I have a Mossberg 500 military and police model, so it has the minimum length barrel, and holds 6 or 7 shells. It also does quite well for pheasants and grouse, by the way.

Gregory Morris says:

on 10/21/2007 3:22:43 PM

Wimp! heheh. When I used to do more trap shooting, I'd go through boxes of shells in one afternoon. We always used the light target loads, mind you, but the fun we had more than made up for the bruised shoulders. Oh, and I did get one of those squishy butt-pads for my dad's shotgun... it helps a whole lot.

Speaking of which, there are some sporting clays facilities my wife really wants to check out soon. One down near Gandy and 19, one just up the road from me in Odessa, and there is supposed to be a really nice one in Land O'Lakes (although, it might be a members-only club, not sure...)

Once I find a shotgun my wife is happy with that I can afford, we should take an afternoon and do that.

Papa Ray says:

on 10/21/2007 4:57:57 PM

Good choice for a SG. I have the 590 and an ol' Maverick which is almost the same as the 500. I put a Knox system on both of them.

Link here: http://www.knoxx.com/products/SpecOps_Stock.php

You might find out what your is legal in your state and have the barrel shortened a little. That is if your just going to use it for HD.

I'm pretty old and shooting with a big recoil got way old and painful. I can shoot all day with the Knox stock mods.

Papa Ray
West Texas
USA

Robb Allen says:

on 10/21/2007 7:53:03 PM

PR, I've already thought about shortening the barrel. It's only a matter of finding someone to do it. If there's a law against it, I'm not that concerned. A shorter barrel isn't going to force me to slaughter a bus full of nuns, no matter what Paul Helmke says. A shorter barrel will make cornering easier.

Rob K says:

on 10/22/2007 2:58:45 PM

Keep your long barrel and have a short one too.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0005579212148a.shtml

Mossberg Replacement Shotgun Barrels

18.5" Blued Cyl. Bore $74.99

straightarrow says:

on 10/23/2007 6:41:35 PM

Mossberg sell a 500 with a 20" barrel, pistol grip butt and a seven shot capacity. The only modification you might want to consider would be a pistol grip forearm. The regular forearm is very hard to hang onto when she is fired. Fortunately the pistol grip forearm for the Mossy 500 is ubiquitous.

Robb Allen says:

on 10/23/2007 9:55:00 PM

I just took off the barrel a few minutes ago. Too easy to do and with the added feature that a new barrel is like $75, not worth it to shorten it.

Don't want a pistol grip. Gotta learn to shoot like a man.

I definitely want some of those Polyshoks though. Too bad their insurance company won't insure them if they sell it to the public. Think of the increased safety just in the house?

I'll stick with the 00 Buck, but still will need to ensure I'm not pointing towards the girls' rooms. Even 00 can go through many, many walls.

straightarrow says:

on 10/24/2007 5:48:25 AM

suit yourself on the pistol grip forearm, but I have seen the entire shotgun jump out of the hands of a shooter and flip over the head behind the shooter.

Hasn't happened to me yet, but my hands are getting stiffer by the damn minute and I am thinking seriously about cheating and shooting like a girl. Just as long as I win, it's fine with me.

Robb Allen says:

on 10/24/2007 7:43:49 AM

;)

Comments have been closed on this topic.