mossberg 500

[hammer74]

so i went thru a defense class this weekend using shotgun as primary weapon and pistol as back up.

Went well but i wanted to get feedback from the experts...

1. what accessories would u put on the shotgun for home defense application. i am looking at maybe at least a laser, and maybe a light.
and do u hv recommendation on the mounts.

2. upon finishing the class and getting home, i noticed there is a lot of sand inside the feed. i think when we were doing drills, might hv dropped a couple of shells on the ground and when i loaded these, might hv included some gravel and sand... - shotgun still works great but now, i hv sand and was thinking of disassembly and cleaning the gun beyond just the barrel...

thoughts?

thanks

[Ribkick]

No laser, waste of money on a shotgun. Bead sight is fast and simple. Especially in a close quarter.

Light is not a bad idea although I go lightless on my HD shotgun. There's arguments for either. You choose.

Yes, complete disassemble/field strip and clean your weapon. You do not want mother earth dirt inside. It's the same as sandpaper on working parts.

Remember, on a HD shotgun (or handgun for that matter), less is more when it comes to accessories. The only thing you can't over do on is practice.

[Ribkick]

You're welcome, or not.

[toyotech]

flashlight for sure. i prefer to see and blind the intruder. if its just for HD only. a pistol grip for closer quarter. 18-20 inch barrel
a sling so you can switch to your handgun so you dont just drop your shotgun

[kurby09]

flashlight for sure. i prefer to see and blind the intruder. if its just for HD only. a pistol grip for closer quarter. 18-20 inch barrel
a sling so you can switch to your handgun so you dont just drop your shotgun

Flashlight for sure, you dont want to be stuck trying to roam around in the dark and having to hold the flashlight so a mounted one is IMO a recommended accesorie to have. Shotgun or on a handgun, a mounted light on your weapon frees up your other hand. as for a laser its not really needed but thats just my opinion.

[Ribkick]

flashlight for sure. i prefer to see and blind the intruder. if its just for HD only. a pistol grip for closer quarter. 18-20 inch barrel
a sling so you can switch to your handgun so you dont just drop your shotgun

Well, there are a few things wrong with that. As to the light, forget about blinding your intruder. It doesn't work that way except in movies. Your light has to be directly in his eyes for a directed beam to be effective. If that's the case, so is your barrel at a head shot, not center of mass like his chest where it ought to be in a high stress situation. I run lightless but my home has a few nite lights around to give a dull light in rooms. Much better and you know your home better than any intruder.

Second, a sling is your worst enemy in an HD scenario. It will hang up on everything from door knobs to chair backs. Loose the sling and drop your shotgun if you switch to handgun. WHY would you worry or even think about dropping an empty weapon to gain mobility with your handgun? The only thing I can think of is this is a new gun owner and isn't really looking at his weapon as a tool but a trophy. Big mistake in an HD gun. IT'S A TOOL TO PROTECT YOUR HEARTH AND HOME. Buy an expensive European SxS or O/U to show off with.

[The sarge]

Something that works well to get all of the grit out is canned air dusters. I keep a few around for my guns, bikes, and electronics.

[orlydose1]

flashlight for sure. i prefer to see and blind the intruder. if its just for HD only. a pistol grip for closer quarter. 18-20 inch barrel
a sling so you can switch to your handgun so you dont just drop your shotgun

Such a mall ninja answer. OP, be aware that high lumen lights can also blind the user when reflecting off white or bright hallway walls. You will have much better control of your weapon with a standard shoulder stock. In a stressful situation its easy to get tangled up in a sling when going for your secondary weapon, especially in the dark. The only upgrades ive done are a barrel shroud and side saddle and it works for me. OP, these are just my opinions but I do speak from experience as my mossberg has been called to home defense duty three times in my life, the most recent being around 11:30 last night. Goodluck OP on finding the right setup for you

[billofrights]

Well, there are a few things wrong with that. As to the light, forget about blinding your intruder. It doesn't work that way except in movies. Your light has to be directly in his eyes for a directed beam to be effective. If that's the case, so is your barrel at a head shot, not center of mass like his chest where it ought to be in a high stress situation. I run lightless but my home has a few nite lights around to give a dull light in rooms. Much better and you know your home better than any intruder.Second, a sling is your worst enemy in an HD scenario. It will hang up on everything from door knobs to chair backs. Loose the sling and drop your shotgun if you switch to handgun. WHY would you worry or even think about dropping an empty weapon to gain mobility with your handgun? The only thing I can think of is this is a new gun owner and isn't really looking at his weapon as a tool but a trophy. Big mistake in an HD gun. IT'S A TOOL TO PROTECT YOUR HEARTH AND HOME. Buy an expensive European SxS or O/U to show off with.

Added emphasis is mine. This, more than anything. I'm not a fan of lights for just this reason. Look, anyone that enters your home uninvited is already at a disadvantage because you know where everything is-- how many times have you had to get up and pee in the middle of the night? Start flipping on lights and you 1) kill YOUR night vision, and 2) TELL HIM EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE. Be sneaky till you find him, maybe he isn't alone? Once found, deliver him a shocking level of violence.

[toyotech]

I much rather see who I'm about to shot than shot someone I know. Even the blinding light alone can stop an intruder.
Scratch that. Ill just put on my night vision goggles that I got from my COD limited edition and fly around my heli with a camera.
I already have easy access to see what's outside my house via phone or monitor. Adding a few more on the inside wouldn't hurt now that I think about it.
Oh I haven't been to the mall in years. I buy all my stuff online and from china. Thank you very much.

[hammer74]

thanks for all your input. good information and appreciate the sharing.

[Greenhorn Gunner]

DP!

[Greenhorn Gunner]

Before I got my 500 I was thinking about all the tacticool gear I could put on, then I got it started messing with it and kind of realized it'll be too heavy and bulky but I still like the collapsible pistol grip stock better I feel I have more control and can manage recoil better. To the OP I've always said to each his own it's how ever you feel comfortable as far as a light goes, I say theirs nothing wrong with one if you need it use it if you don't it'll still just be there

[SDM44]

People will vary and so will their options & recommendations, but I've always kept it simple.


For me... XS dot front sight (sits over the bead, great for quick target acquisition), and a Hogue fore end and short LOP stock. I like Hogue because my hands grip onto it well in any weather. The shorter LOP stock will help when maneuvering with the shotgun, while still being able to shoot it under control (try it out in a defensive shotgun class, especially a shoot house, and see how it works for you).

Lights can go either way, depending on who you talk to. I always like a light on my HD weapons, and a shotgun is no exception. But for me, I like it small & compact so I'll use a small barrel clamp w/picatinny rail and put a TLR-1s or X300 onto it, depending on how my hand & thumb will be positioned on the stock to activate the momentary light function.


Whatever you end up getting, train with it and even take a low light course and shoot your shotgun. You'll be surprised to see that some will give off a larger muzzle flash than others.

[dc2integra]

Id skip the laser as for lights id go with a tlr 1 .I have one mounted on my m500.Im using a laser lyte tri rail it holds up great I strongly recommend them.