Something small, rugged, efficient, and reliable - Shotguns

Forum Discussions Shotguns Something small, rugged, efficient, and reliable

1/20/2010 8:30 AM

	leelons
1 posts

Re: Something small, rugged, efficient, and reliable

the 500 is not your only option when looking for something rugged and inexpensive. there are a number of other shotguns that are very similar to the mossberg 500. the maverick 88 is essentially the same gun and can be found at a cheaper price. the remington 870 is a little more expensive but still a great one. DO NOT BUY TRISTAR (a spring loaded pump action. no thank you. why take the fun out of a pump action shotgun?)

all above are american made and pump action. (some mavericks come from mexico)

4/12/2010 6:25 AM

	MikeyMetro
11 posts

Re: Something small, rugged, efficient, and reliable

Modified By MikeyMetro on 4/12/2010 7:30:03 AM)

I own both a military surpluss 500 and a Maverick 88. While the Maverick's are base on the same design as the 500 it is built with lighter parts (e.g. the barrel thichness @ the bore is 2.7mm on the 500; 20 inch barrel & 1.9mm on the 88; 18.5 inch barrel.) The rear stock, bolt & elevator mechanism and some misc. small parts are the only things that are interchangeable. This has it's pro's and con's of course. The only con to me is that the 88 is simply not as rugged. But the 88 has a few pro's. 1) it's cheaper! 2) the lighter weight makes it more manuverable and when fitted with a pistol grip it's excellently suited for home defense. 3) even though some of the parts are made in mexico the 88 is assembled and QA'd at Mossberg U.S.A.
My final word on some of the other models mentioned in this thread. The Remmington 870 is a proven weapon and was the military standard before the Mossy's (1979). It is a little more expensive new but if you shop around you can find one at about the same price. The Saiga 12 is a most impressive weapon but has two drawbacks in my book. 1) it is ($ch-ching$) a lot more expensive! 2) the kalishnakov design makes it a bit bulky for home defense (but also would make it a very solid weapon in the open.) The Bennelli M4... sell your truck to buy one if you can find one (of course once the war is over... all wars do end eventually... both of these problems will be less) otherwise it is one out-f*in-standing weapon. The aluminum weapon mentioned in a previous post, besides being expensive, aluminum is just not a metal that should be used in firearms. Trust me on this this one. I am a retired aviation tech and I know my aluminum :D

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Something small, rugged, efficient, and reliable