| Posted: Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 09:51 AM |
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4seasons
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| Joined: | Sat Apr 7th, 2007 |
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| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
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I am thinking of getting a shotgun for home protection and ran across this Mossberg 500
http://www.newguns.net/proddet.....mp;cat=107
I like the idea of a pistol grip without having to always use it. Then I went to Mossberg's website and found that barrels can be interchanged to a 28" w/accu-set choke or 50 cal muzzleloader. Well I was almost sold as I need to get a muzzleloader to either sex deer hunt this year. My question is does anyone have some experience with these? How hard is it to change barrels and stocks? What kind of accuracy could I get from the muzzleloader barrel? Is there anything else I should consider? All opinions welcome as I have never owned a shotgun before.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23rd, 2007 01:32 PM |
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2nd Post |
The_Mountaineer
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| Joined: | Fri Feb 4th, 2005 |
| Location: | USA |
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| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle | | My favorite chambering is:: | |
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Hello!
I can't speak to the muzzleloader barrels.
As for the Mossy 500 shotgun, I can. My brother has one with the extended tube and all and it is a workhorse gun. Lots of accessories available for it, as you've seen. As far as the function goes, they're great and reliable - a good defensive or truck gun. They ain't the prettiest thing in the gun rack IMO but that's entirely subjective.
Dunno what the situation is for your state but some states won't allow shotgun-muzzleloaders for hunting season so it might be good to check your reg's to be sure.
Anyways good luck!
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Montani Semper Liber - Mountaineers are always free
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24th, 2007 01:39 AM |
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Rockydog
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| Joined: | Tue Jul 26th, 2005 |
| Location: | Wisconsin USA |
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I have 2 Mossberg 500 shotguns. One is a 1960s model, the other was new in about 1994. Both have been very dependable and servicable guns and were my main shotguns until I won a Remington 870 Express in 1998. I'll admit that the 870 handles and balances a little better but the Mossbergs are still very adequate. I've killed ducks, grouse, pheasants, rabbits and turkeys with the 500s. My neighbor killed a nice doe with one of them in shotgun season. I've shot a lot of trap with them too. I also have a 50 caliber ML barrel for the Mossberg. This barrel has been very accurate and comes with decent open sights. It is limited to about 100 grains of powder but that is more than enough to do the job behind a 200+ grain sabotted pistol bullet. There are a couple of downsides to the barrel though. The breechplug is not removable and it can only be cleaned from the muzzle. The breechplug flash hole leaks enough powder or primer residue to make the action and bolt face need a thorough cleaning after each use. The biggest downfall however, is that the fore end on my 500 rattles like crazy. More than once I had a deer hear it as I tried to stalk or bring my gun to shoulder on a stand. I took to wedging a chunk of paper towel on one side of the fore end after I had primed the barrel. I bought my barrel new for $50 after I watched it sit on a local retailers rack for 3 years. Does it shoot well..yes. Does it have downsides.. yup. Do I regret buying it.. not really, it's another gun in a way and you can't have too many guns. Would I buy another? Let's put it this way. A new Austin Halleck stainless now resides in my gun rack to supplement my old Mowrey Ethan Allen sidelock. RD
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"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~ Thomas Jefferson ~
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