Just bought a Big 5 Special

[The Cable Guy]

Everyone always forgets to mention the ammo details when posting target ammo prices, please post shot size and gauge when posting information on ammo.

People post details on slugs and OO buck (i.e. 9 pellet low recoil) but when it comes to target bulk packs, not a single detail except brand and qty.

Thx

MOst of the wal-mart stuff is 7.5 or 8 shot.

[CalNRA]

In any case, my HD load (since I live in an apartment with some thinass walls) is 2 #4 birdshot followed by 2 00 buck followed by a couple slugs (for whatever reason).

dude, if you are living in Berkeley, don't load slugs or buck shots. The walls in apartments around here is so thin even 00 would over penetrate.

You might look into loads like #4 to avoid hitting someone on the other side.

[Travis8128]

You're looking for a lawsuit it seems.

no more like im bored and messing around

[mydogsmonkey]

so regarding shot size and all that for ammo. what suits what for purpose?
i guess there are 3 general types right? slugs, buckshot and birdshot right?
then what do the numbers mean? Thanks

[akjunkie]

Everyone always forgets to mention the ammo details when posting target ammo prices, please post shot size and gauge when posting information on ammo.

People post details on slugs and OO buck (i.e. 9 pellet low recoil) but when it comes to target bulk packs, not a single detail except brand and qty.

Thx

Who cares.. its cheap TARGET ammo.

but, i believe the specs are (going off memory here, at work now)

2 3/4in
1 1/8 oz
7 1/2 shot
3 Dram

[gunn]

I think this perception that there's somehow a '2nd class' mossberg is like the same people (on other forums) wondering why Walmarts could sell Ruger 10/22s (in other states) for so cheap.

Please stop spreading FUD and think about this for a second. The product liability alone of selling a cutrate product labeled the same thing as the "good" product would negate and additional profits they would make by trimming costs.

For reference: my Mossberg 500, NOT purchased at Big 5, has a hollow synthetic rear buttstock. You unscrew the rear pad and there's a hollow area similar in size to an AR-15's A2 rear area.

If there was a change in the stock quality, it would affect all mossberg 500s and not just the ones shipped to Big5. Big 5 could reflect the new version as they probably push more 500s than the avg gun store. You could have been comparing a "new stock" Mossberg 500 that has been 'cheapened' vs. an old stock mossberg 500 at the gun dealer. A good example of this would be the Ruger 10/22. In early 2008, they went from cast aluminum trigger assemblies to plastic ones and the barrel went to a matte finish. Before, they went from walnut to birch stocks, double internal bolt rails to single, and annodized finish to painted. All these "enhancements" were of course to help the mfg maintain their profit margins.

2) My fore-end held by a nut that requires a pin wrench (I guess similar to an AR-15 carbine's stock nut). If the Mossberg 500 fore-end is held by pins, that sounds like another "enhancement".

If you find definitive proof of these changes, please let me know. Perhaps my old synthetic furniture could command a premium now

3) Birdshot as a defensive load. I used to consider this for the first few shells in the magazine but after my last weekend at panoche, I've replaced all of them with #4 buckshot. We were plinking at tin baking sheets (pans) with pistols and I decided to let the sheet have a couple of shells from the Mossberg + 28" trap barrel. At 10-15 feet (a little close i hindsight but the sheet was at a 45 degree angle vs. perpendicular to the barrel), the lead shot would deform but not puncture. I was surprised because we are talking about thin, unhardened metal here. The 22s and buckshot had no problems sailing through. Reduced recoil #4 wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Lesson learned: If someone is shooting at you with birdshot, run to the kitchen and grab a baking sheet.

[valleyguy]

psh id go for 23 a box anyday. if i don't drive much i'd have to go to big 5 for the 6.99 a box. i think im making a drive. anyone konw any place near SFV/LA area that has these at their local walmarts?

The Simi and Oxnard Walmarts both sell ammo, and have ample shotgun ammo at those prices. Be warned -- the Oxnard store is a ZOO on weekends Stick with Simi if you can.

[Von Mikey]

Last year Mossberg changed the 500 series forend & action tube assembly to the pinned style found on the Maveric 88. This I assume as a cost saving change to keep there margins down like in the Ruger 10/22 example posted by gunn. This is being done to all the new production 500 guns, and not just for big 5. Mossberg is no longer making a all steel action tube assembaly.

To make things even more complicated for new mossberg owners and the companies who make aftermarket forends for 500 shotguns in addition to the new production guns with the pinned forend ( cant be removed/replaced, is part of the action tube assemb.) it seems that the last big run of 5ooA shipped to dealers with the old style tube had the weird "medium lenth" action tubes. Mossberg changed the lenth of the action tube over the years,
there is a 6 3/4 or a 7 3/4 " tube found on most models, there was also some 5oo sold with a action tube that was in between these two sizes and most forends ( Surefire, Promag, Hogue) will not fit without fabricating an adapter.

So all the companies who make stuff for Mossbergs are scrambling to come up with solutions for the New style pinned forend, and odd style med. tube 500A owners.

[Bizcuits]

But it sure did tear up the dummy model they fired at.

It also tore up Dick Cheney's friend and nearly killed him. Birdshot is deadly, just people want the extra power.

[mydogsmonkey]

alright thanks for your help guys, i think im picking up some ammo today!

[TZL]

I have a Moss 500 combo (Big5) special

its a good deal if you want to leave it stock and use the two barrels

the only real problem comes when you want to tacti-cool it out

The forearm is the cheap Maverick one, so you need to order a new tube with arms to mount any kind of aftermarket forearm or a forward pistol grip. a new tube with arms and nut runs $60-70

Often the action bars break off from the plastic forearm, can't fix, just need to get a new one

Plus Moss 500's forearms inherent flex more than other shotguns, so if you want to trick it out and run a forward pistol grip, get something else

Also the screw on cap design of the barrel/tube interface limit the capacity to 5 shells, you can't extend the capacity without major dough $$$$ ( new barrel, new tube = $200-300 )

[scrappy]

Here's some stuff to read about home defense loads and you can make up your own mind instead of listening to us knuckleheads. There seem to be a lot of heated arguments on the subject, but I kinda doubt you bought a HD shotgun because you're worried about being attacked by little birds.

quick HD shotgun ammo guide:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

quick all around guide:

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm

more detail than you probably want about what 12ga ammo does to ballistics gel:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=109958

paterning 101:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=11817

the box o truth, all around fun site to surf:

http://www.theboxotruth.com/index.htm

[HDRDR]

How about this Moss

[PorkLover]

I have not had any problems with the "Big 5" special, the combo. So far I have shot over 1000 rounds of birdshot through it for trap and maybe 100 rounds of 00 buck......I keep mine bone stock and have not had any issues with it........sure it's not the prettiest or smoothest shotgun out there, but for what I paid for it and use it for.....it has been perfect......

[mydogsmonkey]

Here's some stuff to read about home defense loads and you can make up your own mind instead of listening to us knuckleheads. There seem to be a lot of heated arguments on the subject, but I kinda doubt you bought a HD shotgun because you're worried about being attacked by little birds.

quick HD shotgun ammo guide:

http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs10.htm

quick all around guide:

http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ/index.htm

more detail than you probably want about what 12ga ammo does to ballistics gel:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=109958

paterning 101:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=11817

the box o truth, all around fun site to surf:
http://www.theboxotruth.com/index.htm

thanks scrappy, those links cleared up a bunch of the questions i had,
much appreciated