My friend bought this ..what can you tell me about it?

ProtectMyself_NoFear

She sent me a pic but I don't know much about it as she just bought it. What can you tell me? It looks pretty cool 

HappySquid

If she bought it at a Gunshop:  avoid that place !!!!!
In short; if she shoots it she will hate it and scare her away from firearms ( Hell, I aint even in the US but this tops stupid/cruel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYWzMDVgweg

gunner81

Its a Mossburg 12 ga Shotgun it has a nickname but I can't think of it so look up Mossburg website

sakodude

gunner81 said:

Its a Mossburg 12 ga Shotgun it has a nickname but I can't think of it so look up Mossburg website

Mossberg 500 Persuader as i recall. Fun to look at, not much fun to shoot.

Gene L

The recoil is absorbed by the wrist and the pistol grip design ensures that it's going to be very hard to hold onto under recoil.  It will recoil up and probably be pulled from the grasp.  I wouldn't want one, myself.  Even in 20 gauge. 

Jayhawker

A really crappy design for a HD/SD shotgun...recoil is uncomfortable, its near impossible to aim and despite what the gun shop commandos say...accuracy matters...even with a shotgun...the only real use it has is breaching doors...so unless you are planning on blowing doors off the hinges best stick with a shotgun with a conventional stock...

Johnny reb

Have a buddy that has one it’s not really my cup of tea. They are actually not hard to shoot with any target load. With 00 buckshot you needed to grip the gun more but it is easily manageable. 

bullsi1911

Aside from what others have said above, I will add some rays of hope-

First, a pistol-grip-only shotgun is awesome.... if you are filming a 1980’s action movie.  They hurt to fire in real life, and are almost impossible to aim.  Yes, you do need to aim a shotgun- the pellet spread at defense distances will only be fist sized (at most), and you can miss. 

Here are the rays of sunshine.  First, the 12Ga is an awesome fight stopper.  Second, back when I bought a Mossberg Persuader, it hame with a full stock that you could swap out for the pistol grip.  If this came with a stock, swap out the PG for the stock now, and dont look back.  If you ever get the idea to go PG only, swap it out, fire one round of buckshot with the PG, then swap back to the full stock.
If it did NOT come with a full stock- well, shotgun stuff seems to be the only thing NOT affected by the current gun and ammo panic!  Order a Turkey stock (pistol grip with a full stock) slap that on, and you are ready to train!  Get some reduced recoil buckshot or #4 loads, and start shooting stuff to get familiar with the gun.

Yes- you/she need to spend some time at the range, shooting and familiarizing yourself with the gun.  A Shotgun is an awesome tool, but it is not as nearly as Biden-proof as people think.  There is a unique manual of arms for loading and firing.  Get used to it to the point of “unconscious competence”.  Have a few dummy rounds, and practice loading, unloading, making safe, etc...

I know this is insane times, and 12Ga shotguns are just about the only ‘fighting gun’ one can find in stock and just about the only ammo available.  This is a decent choice, and one that will work... when you get a real stock on it.

Jayhawker

Johnny reb said:

Have a buddy that has one it’s not really my cup of tea. They are actually not hard to shoot with any target load. With 00 buckshot you needed to grip the gun more but it is easily manageable. 

Keep in mind we're talking about novice shooters here....pistol grip shotguns are not the best thing for a new shooter to start with...whomever sold that to her needs a kick in the nuts...

Johnny reb

Jayhawker said:

Johnny reb said:

Have a buddy that has one it’s not really my cup of tea. They are actually not hard to shoot with any target load. With 00 buckshot you needed to grip the gun more but it is easily manageable. 

Keep in mind we're talking about novice shooters here....pistol grip shotguns are not the best thing for a new shooter to start with...whomever sold that to her needs a kick in the nuts...

I would agree this is defenitely not the best thing for someone with no fire arm experience. As for whoever sold it and recommended it I would agree. We’ve all seen and talked to gun “experts” at some of the big chain stores. All the firearm knowledge they have is from when they started said job. 

Linefinder

I've fired one 12 Ga. shotgun in my life that was illegally short on one end (barrel end) and cruelly short on the other (stock) end. I won't be doing that again. 

My advise to your friend......ditch the pistol-grip and get a real stock. They're pretty cheap and will turn this "Hollywood Special" into something I'd be confident in while shooting at a home invader. (Added benefit.... with that modification, you can now use both of the ends as an effective weapon).

Pistol grips on shotguns are not only very ineffective......they scream "newb". Nobody that knows what they are doing would employ one in any situation other than as comedy.

Mike

Michakav

Have that exact same model. Shot 3 loads of buck and promptly ordered a stock. I recommend she does not fire it with that grip.

tv_racin_fan

I guess I am going to be a contrary voice here, sort of.

I do not particularly like the thing however my son and I were at a local shop and he convinced me to pick up a pistol grip set for my 87. I want the other style short grip like what is on the Mossberg Shockwave or the Remington Tac 14.

Took it to the range and the wife wanted to shoot it. "She thinks it is cool." First words out of her mouth is how is she supposed to aim. So I gave her a couple minute block of instruction and her first shot was in the black, not dead center but close enough. She preffered the Aguila mini shells to target loads but handled the target loads fine.

Were I intending to use it for home defense I would find a low recoil light load otherwise I would find a regular stock and sell the pistol grip, yet I hold on to mine for the wife to have some fun at the range.

tennmike

I have shot one of those with 1 oz. birdshot field loads up to 3" Mag. buckshot. It sucked shooting all of them and is really hard on the wrist after that first shot. What everyone said about aiming and recoil is spot on. Get a normal or a pistol grip buttstock for that thing ASAP! The pistol grip with normal buttstock actually helps with recoil.
And from now on I'd advise the friend to avoid that gun shop like the plague.

Michakav

knitepoet said:

Just checked, and you should be able to get a full sized stock for well under $100.

The others have already covered why it's not a good idea

 Got mine off ebay for $25. Several on there now for the same.

Linefinder

And to clear the air a bit.....we're not ganging up like a wolf pack here....

It's just that that configuration is a really bad idea for HD.

Jayhawker  said it best...the guy that sold her that gun for its stated purpose needs to get kicked in the nuts....multiple times.

Mike

Michakav

Linefinder said:

And to clear the air a bit.....we're not ganging up like a wolf pack here....

It's just that that configuration is a really bad idea for HD.

Jayhawker  said it best...the guy that sold her that gun for its stated purpose needs to get kicked in the nuts....multiple times.

Mike

It is also one of the best affordable HD shotguns! Just not with that grip.

Freezer

Mossberg had a sub brand named the Maverick that came with a sporting barrel and home defense barrel for sub Mossberg prices.

Linefinder said:

And to clear the air a bit.....we're not ganging up like a wolf pack here....

It's just that that configuration is a really bad idea for HD.

Jayhawker  said it best...the guy that sold her that gun for its stated purpose needs to get kicked in the nuts....multiple times.

 

Gene L

Well, you got to sell a person what they want.  For all we know, the OP's friend could be a seasoned veteran.  A bad idea in most circumstances without the stock and shoulder to absorb recoil.  But a lot of people buy them.  I wouldn't buy one or recommend one for myself and a new shooter, but that doesn't mean other ones shouldn't.  I hope the OP doesn't feel ganged up upon.  That's certainly not the purpose of this forum and she didn't say she wants one for herself.

Jayhawker

The OP asked specifically " What can you tell me?" Why would one feel ganged up on...her question was answered...

rberglof

I have shot many rounds out of a Remington 12 gauge with pistol grip, used them at the cement plant I worked at for shooting out material build up.

The big thing to be aware of is do not hold it up and try to aim it like it had a stock on it, guy at work did that and busted up his mouth when it recoiled an hit him in the face.

Tugar

I've had both the 12ga and 20ga. Kept the 20ga. The 12ga got a full stock. 

Spk

Not the best platform to learn on for all the reasons mentioned above. Without carefully considered supervised instruction, your learning experience will be part comedy, part bad experience. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MhfF7ek_Jww

ProtectMyself_NoFear

Wow! You guys are amazing! Great responses and the one where I tell her she should kick the guy in the nuts multiple times was so funny! (but true) I asked her how she would shoot it and she said at the waist. I just don't get that. She does have some shooting experience she said when she was a teenager but she is taking gun instruction classes so she can get familiar with guns again. I, on the other hand, have never handled a gun and I am taking an 8 hour class to get me familiar. I know I have heard you should take more classes as to not get rusty but not sure if you agree. Thanks for telling me more about the Mossberg! I personally would not choose that one.

I really appreciate all your advice and can't wait to get started. What do you think of hollow point bullets? They told her at the store (yes, she bought hers at a small gun store) that hollow point is good? Do you agree? I am getting mine for protection and I don't want the perp to come after me if I had to unload on him. Will these do the job?

Gene L

Depends on the caliber, but generally speaking hollow points are good for self defense.  OK for anything, really, unless it's a .32 or .380 which don't have the oomph to expand a bullet, which is the reason for HPs.  

Diver43

knitepoet said:

Yes, for most SD situations HP are good. Though with the current madness, good luck finding any

KP is more than right about it being crazy.  I just decided to do some reloading.  If it wasn't for the goodness of members of this forum, I would not be able to load one round.  You can find some powder, but good luck with bullets, brass and primers.
Around here you can purchase a box of 9mm if you buy a gun. The little that some have is limited to one box

Linefinder

First off, nothing wrong with a Mossberg shotgun for HD.  It's just the pistol grip that isn' a good idea.

HP's for HD are always a good idea.

Mike

Jayhawker

HPs are generally desirable for SD/HD in most cases...unless you live in New Jersey where it's illegal for the common scum to own hollow point ammunition

Spk

Hollow points designed for hunting or defense are meant to expand if you push them fast enough and there aren't to many barriers between you and the target. Not all hollow points are created equal! Some work well over a wide range of velocities and situations, others, not so much. Finally, there's hollow points designed primarily for accuracy (mostly available to reloaders).

The one above is a HAP bullet (Hornady Action Pistol). Not meant  for defense or hunting but for accuracy.

Just stick with factory loads meant for defense and you'll be fine.

Remember to test your wonder bullets for function and Reliability when you get home.

tennmike

Linefinder said:

First off, nothing wrong with a Mossberg shotgun for HD.  It's just the pistol grip that isn' a good idea.

HP's for HD are always a good idea.

Mike

I have two shotguns for HD. Both loaded with 2 3/4" high brass  shells with1 oz.  slugs. One is a Rem 870 with 8+1 mag tube and the other is a Mossberg 500. Don't care for buckshot. I live way out in the country with no other houses to worry about. And seeing what they do on deer make me feel comfortable in that choice of round.
I still have about 300 rounds of 00 buck I used for dogs chasing cattle, but I don't have cattle anymore.

Make_My_Day

I bought one of those back in the 80's and it came with the same stupid hand grip. I shot it once and realized it was stupid, so I bought an M-16 style stock with pistol grip combo, and it works just fine....no control problems at all.