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Monday, October 29, 2018

Next Firearm



I'm thinking about picking up another firearm. A 12 gauge pump shotgun would really round out my collection. A major consideration is that it would have to be extremely weather resistant.

The two major contenders out there are the Mossberg Special Purpose Model 500 Mariner and Remmington's Model 870 Special Purpose Express Marine Magnum. Both are solid choices from well known companies. There are some other marine shotguns out there, but I don't really know much about them. There was one from Turkey that looked interesting. The price was right, but I didn't feel good about dealing with a company from Turkey that I didn't know anything about.

The Mossberg is a better buy than the Remington. For that reason alone it's the one I'll probably eventually go with. On the other hand, should a good used Remington at the right price come my way I'd have no problem buying it. There are pros and cons to both guns, but either one will do the job.

In the past I've had firearms on my boats. It was a real pain to keep them rust free in a marine environment. Of course, salt water is the worse than fresh. A well oiled firearm in a special waterproof case keeps them safe enough, but the gun isn't very easy to get to. I think a shotgun built for harsh conditions right from the beginning is the way to go.

It's not too early to thing about Christmas, right?

-Sixbears

14 comments:

  1. You can always get it for your wife. ;-)

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    1. Absolutely!

      But I have admit I'm not the typical wife, either. :>)

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    2. Gorges, I got away with the wife gift just one time! :-)

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    3. You've got to be careful there. If she's unhappy with the gift, she's armed! My lovely wife is a pretty good shot, but not fond of 12 gauge.

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  2. i have had my mossy 500 fo4r years now. it's a good solid gun. the only thing wrong with it is the nylon stock. not the stock itself, but the weight. it's so light that if you load up turkey loads, or slugs in the slug barrel, you BETTER be ready to get your world rocked. anything heavier than field loads has a pretty good kick. but then, you kinda want that from a shottie …. lets you know you have your hands on a REAL gun.

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    1. I'm a pretty big guy. As long as the gun is well shouldered, I'm fine. Good to hear from someone with the mossy.

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  3. I do prefer the tang safety position of the Mossberg, but if you intend to have a pistol grip behind trigger, the triggerguard safety is easier to handle. At least, from my own past experience. I have a Mossberg 20 gauge Camper that came from factory with pistol grip - its very awkward to release that safety quickly is all I'm saying.

    A cousin of mine has the Remington Mariner and its proven to be a solid gun. He boat in the Gulf near the mouth of the Rio Grande (Boca Chica) and the area is prone to some issues he feels the need for security.

    Good luck with your choice.

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  4. Hunters use a VacMaster vacuum sealer to protect guns from rust and moisture.

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  5. Dollar for dollar, at under 200$ new, the Mossberg Maverick can't be beat, though it is not available in a SS/Marine version. I still favor the old H&R Pardner single shot.

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    1. I've got an old H&R too! Got it super cheap and got great service out of it. However, I've my heart set on a pump that I can take on the water.

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  6. Both are good, both have a huge bundle of accessories and parts to allow you to play adult-Lego with them.

    But... Which one fits you better without having to buy a new stock or pieces-parts? You may be able to buy one cheaper than the other, but if you have to buy new pieces-parts to make it feel good, well, that can quickly add up to over the price of the other one.

    See if you can find someone with either model, and try them out. See which action feels better to you, which controls are better for you.

    Just like a boat, cheaper sometimes ain't better.

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