heat shield?

[RolinThundr]

Is it worth it, besides the tacticool factor, to put a heat shield on a pump-action shotgun?

[repubconserv]

Tacticool factor aside, will you be shooting it enough to where the barrel will get hot enough to be uncomfortable or even burn you? That is my definition of "worth it" for that particular item. YMMV

[Mesa Tactical]

The purpose of a heat shield is to protect the hands from the barrel when using the bayonet (which is why you see them on Mossberg 590s, which also have a bayonet lug).

The barrel gets too hot to touch pretty quickly, so some reckon a heat shield could be useful for holding the barrel during reloading. But far better is to practice "tactical reloads," with the shotgun pointed downrange and clamped up under your strong arm, while you slip shells into the magazine by feel. Then there is no need to turn the shotgun over or touch the barrel.

[Richard Erichsen]

Is it worth it, besides the tacticool factor, to put a heat shield on a pump-action shotgun?

There is endless speculation why the heat shield was even added at all. Some hypothetical situations were concocted, consisting of tactical reloads of the entire loadout carried by the soldier, fired continuously in high ambient temperatures found in some of the current hotspots. However, the heatshield doesn't really prevent the "mirage" effect that can affect sight picture with a very hot barrel, in the opinion of many experts, it's dead weight.

As a practical matter, you just won't fire enough rounds through it in anything resembling a realistic scenario for the barrel to get more than very warm to the touch. There are more important things to be worried about on a shotgun, focus your attention there.

R

[ponderosa]

I put one on my old mossberg 500 because they look cool, but mainly because i do shoot it enough to have burned my hand on the barrel.

[Trapper]

Waste of money IMHO

[HonkingAntelope]

Unless you regularly shoot 10+ rounds in a rapid succession, the barrel won't get anywhere near hot enough to require a heatshield. Next time you hit the range, try to shoot 20 or so shells as quickly as you can without getting chewed out by the RSO. If you find yourself getting burned by the barrel in the process, there is no real disadvantage to putting on a heat shield, either.

[zhyla]

Useless unless you're bayoneting something.

[therza2071]

I've always had them on my shotguns, and always will. It makes the gun a whole lot easier to handle when hot.

[OutlawStar]

When I shot 250 rounds through my new 590A1 it most definitely got hot enough to burn my hands. Never did see any "mirage effect". Around the 100 round mark and burning my hands twice I learned to keep my hand away from the barrel. I have a feeling I was trying to carry over a thumb-over-bore hold or high hand hold on the foregrip which put my thumb on the barrel. I was interested in a heat shield but I would imagine it too would get hot (after sustained firing) and add weight to an already heavy gun.

I keep seeing talk of it being necessary for bayonet use but I can't imagine needing a heatshield for the top of the gun if I am gripping it by the foregrip. Maybe I'm picturing bayoneting incorrectly?

I know field loads are fun to shoot at the range and you simply cannot fire fewer shells than what is in the 100 count box but do as I do: wear gloves and be mindful of the barrel to prevent burns.

[Mesa Tactical]

I keep seeing talk of it being necessary for bayonet use but I can't imagine needing a heatshield for the top of the gun if I am gripping it by the foregrip. Maybe I'm picturing bayoneting incorrectly?

Imagine gripping the shotgun with your strong hand just behind the receiver, and around the barrel with your support hand. You can't get a good grip on the barrel without putting your hands all the way around it.





This is the same reason military rifles have had upper handguards for as long as there have been repeating rifles.

[penguinofsleep]

yeah they look mall ninja but ive been glad i had one a few times as well. imo for ~$15 shipped a few of the plastic heat shields out there may be worth a try - very lightweight + won't scratch the barrel. might block a bead sight attached directly to the barrel though (ie no pedestal or metal block under it)

[-hanko]

Shotgun heat shields are like anti-rotation pins for the hammer and trigger on ar15's...useless for any practical situation, as well as a waste of money, imo...though realize it's mine and not yours, necessarily.

I'd suppose if you plan on using the bayonet you really need one.

Again, only my opinion, but they have all the mall ninja / tactifool in their gheyness.

Waiting for the post to say "it's good insurance".

Your money, spend it like you want.

-hanko

[paratroop]

I dont use my shotgun for hunting, or for home defense, or plan on using it for any tactical situation. What i do use it for is shooting a whole bunch of shells through it while im on blm land or whatnot. With that said, I am glad It has a heat sheild, if it did not I would be burning my hands a lot more often on that hot barrel.

[RolinThundr]

Any suggestions on what heat shield to use?