My HD shotgun setup pictorial (mossberg 590 mariner, eotech foreend, shotlock)

[thorium]

I'm picking up my new HD shotgun from jail today. Many pics will be added later today as I install my setup.

Always amusing to read the handgun threads (and handgun forum always has like 200 currently viewing vs shotgun 10 currently viewing!) where the mall ninjas debate calibers, then say it's all about shot placement. Agreed. Where they go delusional is thinking they're going to pull off 2 to the chest 1 to the head during an adrenaline infused fit of tunnel vision that a real self defense incident would bring. I've been in a hairy situation or two, and while I love my handguns and practice with over 10k rounds/year, I'm also not delusional about my abilities, and I'm a (relatively) higher risk individual due to circumstances. If you're special forces, this does not apply to you. Everyone else, read on!

Mossberg 590A1 mariner (I live down by da beach, salty air rots wood fencing etc quick here) this version has the shorter 6 round tube which is fine by me (lighter weight for the wife)

I'll be installing an eotech (formerly Insight before acquisition) foreend light

Add a limbsaver airtech pad (so when I train my wife on it she doesn't get too pissed)

no additional tacticool (love seeing the pics of crazy accessorized shotguns, they will look great as Exhibit A in the DAs manslaughter case against you or at minimum the civil litigation that WILL follow the most justified of self defense)

Then mounting it in a shotlock. I will post the pictorial later today of the gun, foreend light install, shotlock mounting. Maybe pictures can convince the hand gunners to go long.

Stock photos to start it out:



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Practical home defense

[aippi]

Solid KISS set up which is the right thing to do for a fighting shotgun. You did good.

[cqbpro]

Cant go wrong with Mossberg. I have the same fore-end and it works like a champ.

[SandHill]

OP, you're probably preaching to the choir here on the shotgun vs handgun for HD. I like shooting handguns, but I view it as a hobby. If I'm reaching for a gun for real, I'm gonna grab a shotgun. Each round = a full magazine from a handgun.

[thorium]

All the pieces

Some mall ninja rated this 2 stars before I even had a chance to add the pictorial! That is what I get for using (rather valuable) time to post practical content. I owe it to the community though, been leeching too much good information!

Here are all the pieces fresh from their packaging.

Step 1 - install eotech fore-end light
Step 2 - install limbsaver airtech recoil pad
Step 3 - mount shotlock

[thorium]

Step 1 - Eotech fore-end light

To install the fore-end light on the Mossberg 590, you have to disassemble (field strip) the shotgun pretty much all the way. I don't think that is the case with a Mossberg 500 (says professor YouTube).

Here are the instructions I used since this was a new gun to me:

#1 General Disassembly Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oahhxCMDFB8

#2 Fore-end Disassembly Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOlH-_Ky2oU

#3 General Reassembly Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX8GsZNQpds


I'm not an anal person, but since I had to disassemble it anyway, and it was noticeably dirty (they must really 'test' it well before it leaves the factory!) I cleaned up the visible residue with patches & CLP.



Eotech Fore-End Light on action bars




Eotech on Half Reassembled Gun



Eotech on Fully Reassembled Gun

[thorium]

Step 2 - Limbsaver Airtech Recoil Pad

On the Mossberg 590, this was an incredibly simple install.

My particular Mossberg 590A1 was Mossberg Item # 51273, which needed the limbsaver airtech titled "Mossberg All 5 3/16..." which I ordered correctly...

In the interest of full disclosure, I ordered the part direct from limbsaver through their web site (the 'airtech' version is pretty new, not a lot of retailers have it). And, they sent the wrong part (for the wrong shotgun). I called them, and got a live person immediately after a couple rings (excellent, no pressing more numbers on the phone!) and they took care of me within a couple minutes, shipping the correct one with no further hassle, including a return label to send them back the wrong one. Bottom Line = Zero Hassle. As a business person I can live with that for sure - as a consumer I judge a business not by what it does right but what it does when it does wrong.

Install process = unscrew the stock recoil pad, use the same screws to install the new limbsaver pad. There were additional parts (a back plate and screws) in the limbsaver package, but I can only assume those are only needed for other Mossberg models.

Only trick is to lube up your #2 phillips screwdriver with whatever (instructions recommend armor all or water... I had armor all so used that). Gun oil or vaseline or whatever would work fine as well, I'm sure. This prevents you from getting the rubbery stock recoil pad twisting with your screwing.

[thorium]

Step 3 - Shotlock mounting

Best instructions I found for mounting the shotlock: http://gunsafehaven.com/assembling-a...shotgun-vault/

Final Product


Mounted

[csMaverick]

they sent the wrong part (for the wrong shotgun). I called them, and got a live person immediately after a couple rings (excellent, no pressing more numbers on the phone!) and they took care of me within a couple minutes, shipping the correct one with no further hassle, including a return label to send them back the wrong one. Bottom Line = Zero Hassle.

Finally, a business that knows how to right a wrong.

I hate it when they ask you to return the wrong part first, that's just azzbackwards (I'm surprised by the level of censorship on this site).

[shortyforty]

That's a nice set up! Thanks for taking the time to post your project.

[roger1022]

Looks great.

Just wondering, what made you choose the EoTech light over say a Surefire?

[thorium]

Looks great.

Just wondering, what made you choose the EoTech light over say a Surefire?

Both are absolutely quality products so I think it's largely a nit. My (marginal) reasons:

1. I like that it's now owned by a major defense contractor (L3) who has quality standards such as ISO9001 which is entrenched into their organization due to their primary customer being military, they need to have six sigma quality or they'll lose so much business (fed) they'll go out of business. Other companies don't rely on fed for such a large proportion of their sales so they do not have the same business incentive for quality.
2. I like that the light and everything is 'flush' and more streamlined

[aippi]

Why the EO Tech over the Surefire in a dedicated forend light? Because he made a good decision in my view and I am a Surefire Professional Dealer. Surefire now offers only the DSF and they FUBAR'ed that release and blamed the customers for the issue. They have since fixed it because Surefire Dealers like me posted the issue on many forums. It was a client of mine that discovered the issue so I gave them pure hell. They had a stellar rep for customer service till that mess. Yet, I am not impressed with the DSF and will only offer it if requested. I recommend the EO Tech even though my profit margin on the DSF is twice what it is on the EO Tech. They are both made in China as are all LED bulbs and most all of the other parts. So the price difference can not be justified in my view. You will not go wrong with the EO Tech as it is. Let's hope they stay on the QC over there in China and keep them coming well built.

[Che762x39]

That is really awesome. Thank you and everyone for sharing.

[Tenacious-B]

Looks great, and awesome write-up. Congratulations on the build.

Both are absolutely quality products so I think it's largely a nit. My (marginal) reasons:

1. I like that it's now owned by a major defense contractor (L3) who has quality standards such as ISO9001 which is entrenched into their organization due to their primary customer being military, they need to have six sigma quality or they'll lose so much business (fed) they'll go out of business. Other companies don't rely on fed for such a large proportion of their sales so they do not have the same business incentive for quality.
...

This.