Tweet
My 1987 Mossberg 500 - not old school, not tacticool, it is FFF(F)
Form Follows Function (Frugally)
After 20-ish years of using my Mossberg 500 (a basic Field/Security combo with 18.5 inch and 28 inch barrels) for upland birds and various clay games, I treated myself to a Browning White Lightening Classic Over/Under 12ga and later an Ugartechea M40 Upland Classic SxS 20ga; the 500 became my HD/camping shotgun. While there was nothing wrong with the 500 all this time, I came to realize that it was not set-up optimally for its relegated role. My goal was modest improvements and to not go overboard with unnecessary do-dads on this $186 shotgun. I researched what supposedly makes an ideal HD shotgun from numerous sources, and ultimately pieced together a frugally utilitarian shotgun that works for me. The first thing I knew was it needed a shorter stock but I did not want to chop-up the original. I started looking at options and came across a great deal (like 50% off) on a Magpul SGA Stock - but it was orange! Being an older watch the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves kind of guy, I thought what the heck, I want function not beauty. But the orange stock did look like hell with the wood forend, so my sequence went something like this:
So thats it, and I am happy with the result - when it stops raining I will be taking it out to see how it all works together.
After 20-ish years of using my Mossberg 500 (a basic Field/Security combo with 18.5 inch and 28 inch barrels) for upland birds and various clay games, I treated myself to a Browning White Lightening Classic Over/Under 12ga and later an Ugartechea M40 Upland Classic SxS 20ga; the 500 became my HD/camping shotgun. While there was nothing wrong with the 500 all this time, I came to realize that it was not set-up optimally for its relegated role. My goal was modest improvements and to not go overboard with unnecessary do-dads on this $186 shotgun. I researched what supposedly makes an ideal HD shotgun from numerous sources, and ultimately pieced together a frugally utilitarian shotgun that works for me. The first thing I knew was it needed a shorter stock but I did not want to chop-up the original. I started looking at options and came across a great deal (like 50% off) on a Magpul SGA Stock - but it was orange! Being an older watch the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves kind of guy, I thought what the heck, I want function not beauty. But the orange stock did look like hell with the wood forend, so my sequence went something like this:
Magpul SGA Stock (needed shortness, cheap, but orange!)
Magpul MOE M-LOK Forend (to visually balance the stock and better light-mounting ability)
Rust-Oleum 279176 Camouflage 2X Ultra Cover Army Green Spray Paint (the 500 had 20+ years of wear, down-to-the-metal in some spots)
Streamlight 88058 ProTac (mounted at 6 o-clock, tape switch at 3 o-clock. My first long gun light, I am very impressed)
NDZ Performance Enhanced Safety (upgrade to aluminum and more assured operation - cannot crack/break like OEM plastic, sort of orange to match the color scheme)
NORDIC NCEXT-SP-12-45 Extension Tube Spring (replacing the rusted OEM, was 40 inches+ and larger diameter than OEM - cut to length. They suggest 8-12 inches beyond tube length for pumps, that seemed excessive; cut it 4 inches beyond and it works fantastic)
Choate Shell Follower CMT-02-05-02 (orange, of course, resin composite, had to chop down the spring saver / boner extension a bit to get full tube capacity)
Mepro TRU-DOT Self-Illuminated Tritium Front Sight ML-34044 (enhanced visibility day over OEM brass bead due to size/whiteness, twilight, & night)
Hightower Armory M-LOK Grip Plugs (grippier grip on the forend)
I did ponder an optic, but again, holding myself back to more economical/reasonable necessities, not liking the extra height-over-bore, and given that my 500 action is not tapped, I stayed with the eyeball & front sight method I am used to.Magpul MOE M-LOK Forend (to visually balance the stock and better light-mounting ability)
Rust-Oleum 279176 Camouflage 2X Ultra Cover Army Green Spray Paint (the 500 had 20+ years of wear, down-to-the-metal in some spots)
Streamlight 88058 ProTac (mounted at 6 o-clock, tape switch at 3 o-clock. My first long gun light, I am very impressed)
NDZ Performance Enhanced Safety (upgrade to aluminum and more assured operation - cannot crack/break like OEM plastic, sort of orange to match the color scheme)
NORDIC NCEXT-SP-12-45 Extension Tube Spring (replacing the rusted OEM, was 40 inches+ and larger diameter than OEM - cut to length. They suggest 8-12 inches beyond tube length for pumps, that seemed excessive; cut it 4 inches beyond and it works fantastic)
Choate Shell Follower CMT-02-05-02 (orange, of course, resin composite, had to chop down the spring saver / boner extension a bit to get full tube capacity)
Mepro TRU-DOT Self-Illuminated Tritium Front Sight ML-34044 (enhanced visibility day over OEM brass bead due to size/whiteness, twilight, & night)
Hightower Armory M-LOK Grip Plugs (grippier grip on the forend)
So thats it, and I am happy with the result - when it stops raining I will be taking it out to see how it all works together.
Comment