blackout5150
Inactive
K so here's my story quick, I've been looking into an all-purpose, versatile shotgun that I can use for turkeys, as well as home defense. After MUCH searching, I've narrowed it down (I hope lol) to the Mossberg 535 ATS turkey series. What I'm hoping to get here is some opinions on it, hoping I'm making the right choice for my intended purpose.
What I want is a gun to practice with (above all), hunt with, and lastly be an HD 'problem solver'. Here's how my thought process got me all the way here...
I like the 20" barrel, I'm a big guy and a slightly bigger gun doesn't bother me. I have friends who swear the 18.5" is the ONLY HD length, but what they don't grasp is that my home defense plan never includes 'hunting down the intruder'. My life and every life worth defending is upstairs, all I want is a good reliable gun to defend my area until someone with a badge shows up. I don't need an ultra short barrel to take aim at entry points, but if I need to I would still feel comfortable maneuvering a 20".
The load versatility is a plus. 2 3/4 up to 3 1/2, and I plan to get an IC choke from Mossberg for when the gun is NOT turkey hunting. I understand the turkey choke is so tight as to be limiting on anything but a turkey load (dur) so the majority of the time the gun will have an IC choke anyway.
The available camos make a difference to me. Are they a little more expensive? Sure. But I know it makes a big difference hunting turkey, and honestly, I don't really want my new shotgun looking all 'tacticool'. I'm not LE or military, and while the standard black synthetics are cost effective vs. wood stocks or camo'ing, I'm not interested in pretending I'm the Terminator.
FIBER OPTIC MID AND FRONT SIGHTS. LOVE THEM. They are easily my favorite fixed gun sights.
The ONLY snag I have here, is wether to get a standard or thumbhole stock. The thumbholes are very comfortable to me, but I don't know if it would affect operation of the safety or slide release. I doubt it, but maybe your an owner and can give me some feedback?
SO. Do I have my bases covered? What are your thoughts? I should also mention I have looked at some Remington 870's and so far have been turned off by the location of the slide release. I know it's a miniscule gripe and they are fine guns, but I just like the Mossberg set up better.
So help me out here please
I want to make sure I've thought of pretty much everything before I 'pull the trigger' on buying one of these...
EDIT: I felt I needed to clarify how I know the thumbhole is "comfy" but I don't know about the safety/release. I haven't actually handled a Mossberg thumbhole stock. Just similar stocks to get an idea...
What I want is a gun to practice with (above all), hunt with, and lastly be an HD 'problem solver'. Here's how my thought process got me all the way here...
I like the 20" barrel, I'm a big guy and a slightly bigger gun doesn't bother me. I have friends who swear the 18.5" is the ONLY HD length, but what they don't grasp is that my home defense plan never includes 'hunting down the intruder'. My life and every life worth defending is upstairs, all I want is a good reliable gun to defend my area until someone with a badge shows up. I don't need an ultra short barrel to take aim at entry points, but if I need to I would still feel comfortable maneuvering a 20".
The load versatility is a plus. 2 3/4 up to 3 1/2, and I plan to get an IC choke from Mossberg for when the gun is NOT turkey hunting. I understand the turkey choke is so tight as to be limiting on anything but a turkey load (dur) so the majority of the time the gun will have an IC choke anyway.
The available camos make a difference to me. Are they a little more expensive? Sure. But I know it makes a big difference hunting turkey, and honestly, I don't really want my new shotgun looking all 'tacticool'. I'm not LE or military, and while the standard black synthetics are cost effective vs. wood stocks or camo'ing, I'm not interested in pretending I'm the Terminator.
FIBER OPTIC MID AND FRONT SIGHTS. LOVE THEM. They are easily my favorite fixed gun sights.
The ONLY snag I have here, is wether to get a standard or thumbhole stock. The thumbholes are very comfortable to me, but I don't know if it would affect operation of the safety or slide release. I doubt it, but maybe your an owner and can give me some feedback?
SO. Do I have my bases covered? What are your thoughts? I should also mention I have looked at some Remington 870's and so far have been turned off by the location of the slide release. I know it's a miniscule gripe and they are fine guns, but I just like the Mossberg set up better.
So help me out here please
I want to make sure I've thought of pretty much everything before I 'pull the trigger' on buying one of these...EDIT: I felt I needed to clarify how I know the thumbhole is "comfy" but I don't know about the safety/release. I haven't actually handled a Mossberg thumbhole stock. Just similar stocks to get an idea...