Traditional Looking "Tactical" Shotgun

[SandHill]

I am a big fan of traditional looking guns and love walnut and blue steel. My primary HD weapon is a completely stock Mossberg 500 that I got with the combo 28 inch field / 18.5 inch barrel. I like it a lot and find its easy enough to swith barrels when I want to go trap shooting, but for HD, I would love to have more in the magazine.

I read a post somewhere about someone building up a "stealth tactical" shotgun using a 20 inch vent rib barrel. Would this be possible on a Mossberg 500? Is it possible to buy the magazine from 590 and fit it to the 500? Does anyone make a 20 inch smooth bore vent rib barrel for it (couldn't find on Mossberg website). Would it be better to start wtih a 590 and put a wood stock on it? Or use a Remington 870 so you don't have the issue with the magazine nut?

My goal is to have a gun that looks traditional, maximum magaizine capactiy, barrel no longer than 20 inches, and KISS with no sidesaddles or tacticool doohickeys hanging off it. I want it to look like I just got back from hunting turkeys, or something, with it.

Anyone done anything like this?

[reidnez]

I'm not sure you'll find a vent-rib barrel that short (though I suppose you could have one cut down.) Why the insistence on the vent rib, when you already have a suitable barrel for HD? Just for aesthetics? No offense, but I think you're overthinking this a bit.

As for the magazine issue, just get an extension. You ought to be able to find a +2 that will work just fine with your current 18.5" barrel. Problem solved...

[reidnez]

Whoops-dupe.

[Dakine_surf]

I have a Winchester 1300 that I run in the He-Man division for USPSA tactical shotgun. It has a 22" vent rib with a choate extension. Right now I have Houge Overmold stock so it is a little softer on the cheek and shoulder over the course of a shoot where I fire 150+ rounds.

But sometimes I throw the wood on just because I like the way it looks. I also love to go shoot skeet and sporting clays with it cause it gets the old timers panties all in a bunch. Last sporting clays event, I started with my gun empty and loaded weak hand after the pull. The old dudes in my squad were heckling me for about 2 stations about my "long *** tube" and "pointless gun." Then at the midway point when I had only missed 3 shots, crickets... Too bad my second leg wasn't as good as my first... still shot a 74, all starting unloaded, not bad in my mind

[Biigg50]

My "Traditional looking" wood and blued HD shotgun is an old Browning A5 Light Twelve with a shortened barrel.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1354926655.280706.jpg

[wjc]

Something like this?

[tbhracing]

Tagged

[Ribkick]

My "Traditional looking" wood and blued HD shotgun is an old Browning A5 Light Twelve with a shortened barrel.
[ATTACH]183597[/ATTACH]

Sacrilege

[Biigg50]

Sacrilege

I still have the original Belgium barrel complete with poly-choke sitting in my safe. The cut one is a cheap Jap made barrel. I like it.

[SandHill]

Part Way There

Some good looking guns, guys! Thanks for photos.

Reidnez had soem good questions. My reasons for wanting to do this are (i) I just like the looks and the sporting associations of the vent rib, (ii) I feel that sighting is easier with the vent rib, and renders ghost rings or other sights unnecessary, and (iii) I have an urge to customize and not into the black plastic look.

Although I will concede I may be overthinking this

One part of this got easier - not seeing any guidance to my specific quesitons, I did soem searches, and found that Mossberg does indeed make a 20" vent rib barrel: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/3-0407624

THe problem with thsi one is the postion of the magazine nut. It will prevent me from getting any additional magazine capcity. Reidnez, with the Mossberg , you can't just add a magazine extension, the magazine nut is welded to the barrel and limits you.

So if I stay with the Mossberg 500, would it be feasable to cut the magazine nut off this 20" vent rib barrel and have it rewelded further down the barrel?

Anyone have an idea for a simpler way to do this?

[border.bandito]

just curios, why the need for the mag tube extension?
HD wise, 5 shots in the tube and one in the chamber is plenty...at least when you are talking about 00buck or slugs...hell even birdshot.
i dont know ANYONE that will keep coming at you after 1-2 shots of birdshot at close range...much less 5 + 1.

[Vz58man]

Sandhill- I think you and me share similiar tastes in Shotguns. Youre looking for a magazine tube that is similiar in length to the barrel, with a vent rib, and wood furniture.
That is the description of a VERY good looking pump-action shotgun.

Truthfully its all aesthetics, as others have posted 5 shots in the tube is great, however its best to be happy with your gun and theres no reason why not to be.

Look into Remingtons....I believe there are much more parts available for remingtons, and you can get a wingmaster with wood furniture, a short mag tube extension, and cut down a vent rib barrel to 18.5 inches and be set to go. Would look awesome.

[bigcasino]

I did this to to make my 5+1 into a 7+1 easy fix.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/AMM-822?pagenumber=2

[knucklehead0202]

anyone has a winchester they need the wood furniture for, i have it in pretty good shape and will not be putting it back on.

[Dakine_surf]

Some good looking guns, guys! Thanks for photos.

Reidnez had soem good questions. My reasons for wanting to do this are (i) I just like the looks and the sporting associations of the vent rib, (ii) I feel that sighting is easier with the vent rib, and renders ghost rings or other sights unnecessary, and (iii) I have an urge to customize and not into the black plastic look.

Although I will concede I may be overthinking this

One part of this got easier - not seeing any guidance to my specific quesitons, I did soem searches, and found that Mossberg does indeed make a 20" vent rib barrel: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/3-0407624

THe problem with thsi one is the postion of the magazine nut. It will prevent me from getting any additional magazine capcity. Reidnez, with the Mossberg , you can't just add a magazine extension, the magazine nut is welded to the barrel and limits you.

So if I stay with the Mossberg 500, would it be feasable to cut the magazine nut off this 20" vent rib barrel and have it rewelded further down the barrel?

Anyone have an idea for a simpler way to do this?

First off, I agree with you on sighting with a shotgun... I like the VR barrel. It is probably why most guys run them in 3-Gun. Super quick and easy to get a good sight picture..

As far as the whole barrel nut issue, Sounds like a lot of work...I would look at a Remington 870 or a Winchester 1300. Both can come with wood, both can be ordered with blue VR barrels, and most importantly, both have a barrel lug that the magazine tube slides through so that extensions can be used.

I am partial to the Winchester because it is such a slick action... they used to call them "semi-auto" pumps because of how quickly they can be shot. It is because of the rotary bolt that locks into the barrel extension similar to a AR-15. Once you fire, the bolt unlocks and starts cycling. The recoil will actually operate the pump, so all you really have to do is pull the action closed. Also makes for a soft shooting pump since much of the recoil is adsorbed by the bolt opening.