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[an actual gun]

Mods please delete; double post.

[an actual gun]

Yeah, Im not exactly sure what that thing at the end of the barrel, I know my 88 wont have one.


Yeah Mavericks are thier "economic" version of the 500. Some parts are made in other countries but assembled in US. THe maverick gets good reviews from almost every where you can find.. The only difference between the maverick and 500 is safety position. Maverick has safety by trigger...

http://www.maverickarms.com/pages/88security.htm

Cant wait. The gun Exchange lags on ordering ( or maybe its mossberg thats lagging )

The action tube assembly is also different than in standard 500's, but that is replaceable. On your choice of accessories, I've heard the ghost ring heat shield doesn't hold any zero. I've heard all around bad things about the top folders. Recommend a Hogue butt stock for it and a side saddle.

[savasyn]

The only difference between the maverick and 500 is safety position. Maverick has safety by trigger...

Interesting. I wonder why they bothered to make a completely separate system from all their other offerings. At any rate, that'll work better with the pistol grip.

[Bowser]

ditch the crappy parts and go mesa tactical.

[savasyn]

If you want to really see what works best for SD shotgun, attend a few 3 gun matches and pay attention to what the top shooters are using.

Benelli M1 Super 90s with vent-ribbed field barrels cut down to 20-22", adjustable chokes, really long mag tubes and possibly a holographic optic make for the ideal HD gun? They are certainly accurate and fast, but not sure sure they would be the best for moving around inside the house.

While I definitely compete with my Benelli, I'd rather have a fairly simple pump gun for HD. Less mechanical things to fail, less controls to manage.

As far as the top folder, it's definitely not as good as regular stock for comfort or accuracy, but if your situation calls for needing it stored short, as I said before, they are functional. The ATI model is not overly quick to deploy, in my experience, so I practice with mine both folded and unfolded.

If you are planning on using it for HD, practice with it using the ammo you intend to use for that purpose. I have recently switched to Winchester low recoil 00 buck which, I'm happy to say, has less felt recoil than even bird shot. That certainly helps when needing to shoot with the stock folded up.

[BillCA]

For a defensive shotgun (and let's face it, an 18" cylinder bore 12 gauge pump is not exactly a duck gun) you should really try to follow the K.I.S.S. principle.

Keep It Simple Stupid.

I'd keep the standard full stock on the gun. Modify only for length of pull to fit your shoulder wearing a jacket perhaps. The standard buttstock will do you more good if you end up in close proximity and need to butt-stroke someone. Adding a buttpad for comfort is suggested.

Heat shield? Do you plan on emptying your magazine in rapid-fire mode more than once? If so, you need a different weapons platform.

Ghost Ring sights? Ghost rings are best for battle rifles with rear sights. I have a fiber-optic sight on my Winchester and it works great as long as there is some light. It stands out like a beacon.

Speaking of light... adding a tac-light to the shotgun is not a bad idea. Unlike a handgun, you really can't fire a 12 gauge one handed while the other holds a light. And a light will allow you to ID a target before putting your booger-hook on the bang switch.

If you want spare ammo, either a "Side Saddle" receiver attachment or a simple 3-5 round elastic carrier on the buttstock will do. For HD, no sling is needed and it'll just get in the way for the most part.

Instead of Tactical, think Practical. A shotgun is NOT a "precision" instrument. It is a bludgeon to deliver a powerful blow.

Recap: Leave it almost stock. Add a tac-light to ID targets in the dark. If needed, add a spare ammo carrier for 3-5 rounds. Add a fiber-optic front sight if you like. Use the saved money for practice ammo and making sure the action is smooth & reliable.

Note - one downside of folding stocks is they can be hard to get into operation quickly. Sure, you can fire it folded up. But you're gonna have to work at control for the second shot. I'd feel awfully silly to spend $100 on a folding stock only to be grabbed or shot by a BG while trying to unlock and unfold it in the dark. Especially when the stock Winchester is a grab & go gun.

Just food for thought and my $0.02 worth.

[forgiven]

Very nice. Congrats.

[randy]

[QUOTE=savasyn;3027676]Benelli M1 Super 90s with vent-ribbed field barrels cut down to 20-22", adjustable chokes, really long mag tubes and possibly a holographic optic make for the ideal HD gun? They are certainly accurate and fast, but not sure sure they would be the best for moving around inside the house.

While I definitely compete with my Benelli, I'd rather have a fairly simple pump gun for HD. Less mechanical things to fail, less controls to manage.

Not that it matters but the LAPD is going to a gun you describe the differences are 18" barrel and a M4 Benelli. Complete with Optic on the rail.

18.5 or add an inch and a half to 20" doesn't seem to make a big difference to me but maybe. The chokes aren't adjustable they're interchangeable so that doesn't make a difference. The mag tube extends to the end of the barrel on an HD 870 what difference if it extends to the end of a 20" gun? Remington does make 20" guns they label as Tactical.

Accurate and fast seem like a good thing if you are defending your life. Stocks with pistol grips and semi auto shotguns seem the most practical for HD to me. At the other end of the scale the pistol grip only. With a semi auto ,SPG I can open doors, hold the hand rail on the stairs, hold a childs hand, hold a cell phone etc, and still fire the gun and chamber another round. Talk on the cell phone and open doors fire a shot with a PG only stock.

As far as reliable I've watched lots of people short stroke a pump.

If you are on a boat or a motorhome then shorter could make sense. I'm not including Mil or Police because we are talking HD not hunting BG's.

[savasyn]

this is the type of gun I often see being used by the fast guys at 3gun:



The super long mag tube and speed loader chute don't seem ideal for mobility around the home.

I definitely not saying that semi-autos are bad for HD, just not the ideal for the /average/ user. I doubt I'd have an issue using mine for that purpose, but I have to consider that my wife doesn't compete nor trains regularly, so for my house, the simplicity of a pump wins out.

[randy]

You see fewer of them than the limited guns used. Shorten the mag tube to the end of the barrel and now your shotgun can do double duty. Of course you can go to the extremes.

The fastest 3 gun shooter uses a limited shotgun and loads by hand. Faster than open shotgun shooters.

[CSACANNONEER]

Savasyn,

Thanks for the posting the pic. I would agree that the extended mag tube and is not ideal but, it also goes to show that having a folding stock, heat shield, ghost rings, shell caddies, etc, are not going help the performance of the gun.

BillCA,
Yea, I agree with the KISS principal too.

[BillCA]

I definitely not saying that semi-autos are bad for HD, just not the ideal for the /average/ user.

I dunno about that. I watched a guy trying to show his wife how to fire his 12-bore at the range. Simple hip-weld and fire. She kept forgetting to pump the gun and this wasn't her first trip to the range.

I borrowed my buddy's 20-ga Remington semi and let her try that. Much better. While his holds only 6 rounds with the extended tube, the simpler operation was easier for this guy's wife. (Yeah, I know what they say about a sample of one.) But for non-shooters, a ready shotgun means loaded w/empty chamber. For family members it's simply "pull this lever all the way back, let go. Push the button here to the left, pull trigger until empty."

[Mr. Meeseeks]

To the OP, its cool in an 80's action flick sort of way. Do what ever makes you happy, however for legal matters I don't think it would be a my choice for home defence.

[savageevo]

Looks good to me. It needs the shell holder on top to top it off. just be sure not to have that folded and in your face when you are fireing that. I had to learn the hard way.

[AgentAK]

The best flashlight mounts I've seen are here:

http://www.candewman.com/