I went back and forth on the thread title. I really wanted to call it Un-screwing a 500, but thought that would be a bad example to set.
Nonetheless, I'm taking my old 500 back to somewhat stock configuration.
I no longer need the front grip sticking out of the bottom of the handguard.
The front vertical grip did come in handy for carrying the gun through the woods. I used it a lot while I was working as a lineman to dispatch rattlers, copperheads, and maybe even chase off a bear or two. But when I had to walk the line, sometimes it went for miles off the beaten path. Used it that way a bunch of times. At night and bad weather and even in a forest fire once. It worked good for what I used it for.
The vertical grip did make it easier to carry, especially with the receiver and stock tucked up underneath of my armpit (which you can easily carry it that way with a vertical front grip).
But, I've passed that torch on to younger men now. I've paid my dues. It's someone elses' turn to do that now.
The cylinder choke now has an interchangeable choke so I can hunt with the short gun. I don't need a 28 inch barrel to kill a squirrel or rabbit or turkey. 18" in plenty long enough.
The big ole' BSA scope mount and the Bushnell 4 reticle red dot is going to be retired to something more appropriate for it. Now the 500 is going to get a simple receiver rail and a small Bushnell TRS25.
After some back and forth, I'm going to keep the Ergo tri-rail handguard on it, but it will have a Magpul Gen 1 AFG on the bottom and a magpul xtr rail cover on both sides. Right now they're all black, but I think I'll go with fde covers and will paint the afg because I think I will be refinishing the old girl and give her an appropriate water camo dip. After all, it started out being that ugly woodland camo that looked like someone spray painted it back when companies were first starting to camo their guns almost 20 years ago.
The ATI ar style stock and magpul ctr will be coming off when I get the extra money to get a traditional stock for it. The Mossberg controls just suck with AR style stock components. It just messes everything up, so it's going back to a stock-stock. I have liked this configuration because a lot of young hunters could adjust the LOP to fit them better, but I have always like the factory stock better for this particular gun.
Anyway, this project has been a long time coming. It's sat under the bed for the last couple of years while I was deciding whether I wanted to fool with it or not. Now is its' time.
Nonetheless, I'm taking my old 500 back to somewhat stock configuration.
I no longer need the front grip sticking out of the bottom of the handguard.
The front vertical grip did come in handy for carrying the gun through the woods. I used it a lot while I was working as a lineman to dispatch rattlers, copperheads, and maybe even chase off a bear or two. But when I had to walk the line, sometimes it went for miles off the beaten path. Used it that way a bunch of times. At night and bad weather and even in a forest fire once. It worked good for what I used it for.
The vertical grip did make it easier to carry, especially with the receiver and stock tucked up underneath of my armpit (which you can easily carry it that way with a vertical front grip).
But, I've passed that torch on to younger men now. I've paid my dues. It's someone elses' turn to do that now.
The cylinder choke now has an interchangeable choke so I can hunt with the short gun. I don't need a 28 inch barrel to kill a squirrel or rabbit or turkey. 18" in plenty long enough.
The big ole' BSA scope mount and the Bushnell 4 reticle red dot is going to be retired to something more appropriate for it. Now the 500 is going to get a simple receiver rail and a small Bushnell TRS25.
After some back and forth, I'm going to keep the Ergo tri-rail handguard on it, but it will have a Magpul Gen 1 AFG on the bottom and a magpul xtr rail cover on both sides. Right now they're all black, but I think I'll go with fde covers and will paint the afg because I think I will be refinishing the old girl and give her an appropriate water camo dip. After all, it started out being that ugly woodland camo that looked like someone spray painted it back when companies were first starting to camo their guns almost 20 years ago.
The ATI ar style stock and magpul ctr will be coming off when I get the extra money to get a traditional stock for it. The Mossberg controls just suck with AR style stock components. It just messes everything up, so it's going back to a stock-stock. I have liked this configuration because a lot of young hunters could adjust the LOP to fit them better, but I have always like the factory stock better for this particular gun.
Anyway, this project has been a long time coming. It's sat under the bed for the last couple of years while I was deciding whether I wanted to fool with it or not. Now is its' time.
