I was looking at the Maverick 88 but I don't mind spending more if I can get more suggestions.
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I was looking at the Maverick 88 but I don't mind spending more if I can get more suggestions.
The Maverick is a good gun. I have a 500 and one of the main differences I can think of is the 500 has dual action bars to cycle the action and the Maverick has one. I will have less expensive furniture to lower cost. It should be the same receiver. My buddy has a maverick and says it's just as good.
I have owned a Mossberg 500 for thirty years and have shot hundreds and hundreds of rounds from bird shot to 3" OOO buck magnum rounds to slugs with absolutely no malfunctions. Quick barrel change and it goes from hunting to home defense.
FWIW, not only from the perspective of being a 'lefty', but for home defense and instinctive action, I don't think you can beat a top-mounted safety! Good hear someone has a ton of rounds through a Mossy 500.
If you are a lefty, I would get a Mossberg 590A1, and replace the plastic safety and the magazine spring with a new Wolff unit.
If you are a righty, I would get a used Remington 870 Police Magnum for less than $250 from Mark at Summit Gun Broker, clean it, replace the magazine spring with a new Wolff unit, and call it good.
I have a Mossberg 590A1, 870, and a Super Nova. Hands down the Benelli super nova.
No issues at all, from a tactical stance I prefer the little button on the hand rail that blocks a shell from dropping into the chamber is a nice option for a slug select drill. That alone makes it worth it
my wife thinks I only have 3 guns
Doesn't the 590A1 come with a metal safety and trigger guard?
I could have sworn I have seen some older 590 or 590A1's with a plastic safety. But being an old fossil, it's entirely possible I'm wrong.
I carried one for a bit when they were first issued in the USMC. I thought it was a good shotgun, and stood up to field conditions pretty well.
The first gun I ever bought (1982, Eielson AFB Alaska Base Exchange, $189.00) was a Mossberg 500 "Sportsman Combo". Wood and blues...it came with a long and short barrel, three screw in chokes, pistol grip, and a sling.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lefty223
I carried and hunted with that gun in Alaska, Montana, and New England. I've shot upland birds, waterfowl, deer, fox, coyote, and thousands of clay pigeons with it using all manner of ammo.
I have only recently replaced my magazine spring because it was original, but it still worked fine. But I figured it may give out on me some day and wanted to fully vette a new one at the range rather than have 'old reliable' fail in the field.
It's got some minor rust on the barrel, and the wood stock has some dings and scratches (it wears a plastic stock and fore grip now) but that gun has never failed me, even as I have neglected it from time to time.
The first gun I bought, I expect it to be last gun I will part with unless it gets passed on to one of my kids.
Not sure what today's Mossberg quality is, but I have no complaints about my old scatter blaster....
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Did you ever buy a slug barrel for it? A good shotty with a shorter slug barrel would seem to be a great combo up in Alaska.
Another member here named GJM lives up there, and always has such a beast handy.
I don't live in Alaska anymore. I moved outside in 2001. The short barrel with my gun was an 18 inch smooth bore, I believe they used to call it a buckshot slug combo. Without the plug, the gun holds five in the magazine and one chamber and it was basically my companion whenever I was out in the boonies fishing, hiking, goofing off.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeriousStudent
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Trading mosquitoes in Alaska for awesome food in San Antonio - sounds like a smart choice!
I have a Maverick 88 and it's great, especially for the price, but if you don't mind spending a bit more you might as well get a Mossberg 500 or something along those lines. Still, the Maverick 88 is a great deal.
Unless you want a pistol grip, then they suck.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lefty223
As mention above the Mossberg tang safety sucks with pistol grips regardless of which hand you use. Also the 590A1s come with a metal safety and trigger guard along with the heavy barrel construction, standard 590s do not.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeriousStudent
As a left-hander, I have discovered an 870 with a pistol grip (I have a Speedfeed IV-S on mine) and a Vang Comp Dome Safety will allow left-handed operation ala similar to a 1911 style safety swipe.
I personally would spend a couple more bucks and get an 870P, 500 or 590/590A1.
Not sure if you live in a Gunshow state, but a used Remington 870 Wingmaster with rifle sights (18.5 smooth bore) is my goto pickup. They have a chromed bolt that will last forever and the fit & finish are excellent regardless of use. Can be had for <$300, a major cleaning and lube (youtube videos), springs, hi-viz follower replacement and you are GTG. The stock will be wood and you can cut to length and add a Decellerator pad (Youtube videos). Smooth and great with all ammo including slugs which are easy peezy with rifle sights.
Or you can buy a junky 870 and send it to wilson for their 870 package entry level and get back a perfectly good 870.
No one else asked. What are you wanting to do with it?
Buy something cheap, learn how to use it. Get something better later.
The intended use of the shotgun will help narrow down choices. This guy's opinion is if you're doing serious tactical work, stack some pennies up and get a Benelli. If it's for home defense and/or hunting, get a Mossberg 500.
This.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron3
Also, if you get the Mav....make sure it has 2 action bars on the forend slide. Some models only have 1...probably not the end of the world...but 2 is preferred.
Ive had really great luck with the IAC 982 Hawk...these things are usually dirt cheap around black friday. I got mine for $125 couple years back (new)
Its an 870 clone.
I just snagged a used Super Nova Tactical w/PG stock for $349 shipped (barfcom EE), and am waiting for it to arrive. 50 rounds through it supposedly. I have also shot 590A1, cheap Stevens 320, and 870 Wingmaster from the 70's. I am anxious to see how the SNT compares!
+1Quote:
Originally Posted by Achilles11B
I used to be a Remington 870 fan, but the QC is lacking these days to say the least. I bought an 870 express about 6 years ago that I sold after one range trip. Don't know how they f*cked up such an old and proven design. You'd swear the one I bought from a dealer new was a BAD made in somewhere other than China clone. Chinese knockoff are better built than the 870 express I got (lowest end model).
I am personally a fan of the tang safety over the cross bar. I hate crossbar safeties with a passion, even having owned many guns with them and practiced/trained/used them for years. Only learned to hate them more.
Indeed. I only buy or recommend used 870P or Wingmasters these days. Relatively easy to find from the pre-Ceberus days, and so easy to refurb.Quote:
Originally Posted by voiceofreason
Regarding the crossbar safety, I find that the Vang Comp Big Dome safety makes an enormous difference. It is very easy to take "off safe" with the knuckle on your trigger finger.
And I agree the tang safety is very easy. I'm not a lefty, but am seriously considering buying one of these: http://www.mossberg.com/product/590a...-handed-59815/
It would be very fast and easy to feed. But I already have four 870's, and decades of work with them. That's a lot of practice sessions I'd have to override.
Still, it is intriguing......
I like the S&J hardware safety...Looks very similar to the Vang.
https://sjhardware.us/product/reming...-jumbo-safety/
Best I can recall, I got it in a package deal with an S&J extended hi vis follower and one of their Velcro side saddles and all 3 work well.
Very hard to beat the Remington Supercell butt pad. Usually easy to pick up take off synthetic stocks with that pad for cheap.
Yep 100%.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeriousStudent
For lefties, it works fine with the left handed thumb as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeriousStudent
I am a lefty and I wouldn't buy one nor do I don't own any left handed guns.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeriousStudent
Those look pretty good, if didn't already have a Vang I'd pick one up to check out.Quote:
Originally Posted by JasonB1
I understand. My point being that I'm right-handed. With a left-handed shotgun, I can just keep my right hand on the stock, controlling the trigger and slide release. My left hand can pull shells from the Velcro side saddle on the right hand side of the receiver, and drop them into the chamber. They can also just as easily stuff them into the mag tube.Quote:
Originally Posted by titsonritz
It might seem counter-intuitive, but when I tried it on a timer I was pleasantly surprised.
I know you probably have, but, have you ever tried this with a standard shotgun: running the first shell (closest to muzzle) in the sidesaddle brass up for the chamber load and the others brass down for the tube. For chamber empty roll the shotgun to the left so the ejection port is up to 'drop' the shell in, roll the shotgun to the right to bring the tube into your vision to load it.
This method involves more movement with the support hand to run the action forward, and from a tactical standpoint doesn't offer the 'second chance' that the under the receiver and curl into the ejection port method does if you miss the ejection port.
As a lefty, using right handed shotguns, I'm not surprised that you found right handed combat loading a left handed shotgun faster.
What I like to work on is getting two out of the sidesaddle while the shotgun is pretty much in firing position then shoving the bottom shell into the receiver and continuing forward with one motion, using the heel of my hand to run the action forward. Then load the second shell into the tube as you roll the shotgun to the left making the loading port and bases of the shells in the sidesaddle visible.
Yup, I have practiced "load two, shoot two" with both a shotgun and a J-frame quite a bit.
I never run any ammo brass down, I always run it brass up. Two reasons - one is consistency, the other is retention. I have seen more than one shooter lose shells when they slowly wiggled out of a polymer Side Saddle or one of the newer nylon and elastic shotgun cards. As I'm already dealing with a weapon that carries fewer rounds (although quite effective ones) I'm not wishing to fumble or lose any of them.
Regarding consistency, I am basically feeding the pig on autopilot. I do lots and lots and lots of dry practice and live fire to build what John Hearne called "automaticity". I don't ever want to think about reloads, malfunction clearance, moving a cover garment, footwork, etc. Operating the safety on an 870 is the same way. I have that down to an automatic movement - shotgun aligned on target and a fire decision is made? Safety comes off. Muzzle comes off target? Finger aligns on receiver and safety comes back on.
I just want to be focused on threat recognition, threat avoidance and threat management. Not "How does this bloody thing work??"
Shotgun rounds are kinda like frags, I want to know exactly where each one is, and not drop any of them. :cool:
That was meant as sort of an explanation of my thought processes, not any kind of lecture, by the way.
That kind of surprises me out of the side saddle. When you first mentioned lefty shotgun being easier to reload for a righty I was thinking caddy or other on body spares to be more of a straight path instead of doing the reaching under/over world of the side saddle.Quote:
Originally Posted by SeriousStudent
Understood, but the shotgun is realistically an "oh poop" weapon for me. I'm not planning to have on-body ammo, just what's on the gun. If I had that amount of time, I'd likely be carrying a rifle.
Understood. I have a side saddle for that reason and just recently(in terms of time spent using) got a caddy for 3 gun. The caddy is probably faster, but almost without fail I will load from the saddle in matches till it is empty.
Wonder if the pump only divisions go with the lefty 590 though.
Don't be afraid to buy a used shotgun. There are bargains to be had, you just have to beat the bushes. You might consider a police surplus shotgun. I picked up one that was in serviceable condition for under $200.
If you are going to carry 00 buckshot, you may want to consider the reduced recoil ammunition if you are the least bit recoil sensitive.
I ran some 6n6 drills today at 25 yards with my 870 Police shotgun and the reduced recoil buckshot appeared to plant more shot on target than the hotter ammunition. You start at low ready, then fire 6 shots in under 6 seconds. Finishing in under 4 seconds is doable for a lot of people.
I shot Winchester 00 buckshot (1325 fps) on one target and Federal reduced recoil 00 buckshot (1145 fps) on the other target. Both shot shells hold 9 pellets. I fired a total of 24 rounds on each target. (The green wad is from 1 Remington shell I threw in with the Winchester to make it 6 shots.) Some of the buckshot from the Winchester loads did not hit the cardboard. I suspect part of that is due to recoil and part of it is due to shot speed.
I still like the 870, but my choice is the Benelli Nova or Supernova. I bought the Nova and replaced the stock recoil pad with a limb saver and its the softest shooting gun in the closet. Bought mine for $300.
Lotta good shotguns out there, love them. Cant get enough shotguns.
And I do like the federal with Flight control for that type stuff.
PB
The first firearm I purchased when I turned 18 was a Mossberg 590 Special Purpose. I have since added a 590A1 to the cache. IIRC only the 590A1's come with the "mil-spec" metal trigger assembly and metal safety button. On my 590 SP I upgraded from the plastic trigger assembly and safety button.
I'll mirror above posts stating that you should just pony up the extra dough for the 590 over the Maverick 88, also used Remington 870Ps (Police Magnums) are good to go.
Also mirror what SeriousStudent said about Wolff magazine springs and I'll add to that pick up a high visibility follower while you are at it, I like GG&G's. Or you could just paint the OEM one neon green Krylon.
I use the VCS SS follower, it is highly visible, functionally tactile when a visual is unavailable or impractical and is pretty much indestructible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moose-Knuckle
Nice, looks like the GG&G except theirs as a high vis red insert. I like the hole in the end so you can tell in the dark by touch when you reached the follower, i.e. empty.Quote:
Originally Posted by titsonritz
https://www.gggaz.com/mossberg-590-s...-follower.html
Exactly why I run one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moose-Knuckle
I can quickly check that the chamber and mag tube are both empty, with a simple swipe of a finger. Day, night, cold, wet, with gloves, no worries.
Maintenance is important with any shotgun. Some shotguns require more than others, but maintenance is something you do not want to overlook.
As a test, I wiped all the oil off my well worn Remington 870 and fired buckshot and slugs through it to determine how far I could push it until I had a malfunction. The shotgun has been dropped on the dusty ground quite a few times over the past week while practicing transition drills. Today I hit 275 rounds without a failure and will pass the 300 round mark tomorrow. If I do not have a malfunction, I will conclude the test.
Choose your equipment wisely.