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New project gun - OLD 500C Cruiser

Picked this up on Gunbroker during church a couple weeks ago when I should have been listening instead. Didn’t realize it was an old single arm pump until I picked it up from my dealer though. I was gonna fix it up with a Hogue stock, AO epoxy on tritium big dot, and some duracoat for a recently singled lady friend of mine, but good judgment says she deserves better than a truck gun from the 60s.

So, this might be my new project gun. Was talking to Virginia at the OFM parts desk to buy a “spacer” for the heat shield on my Persuader from 20 years ago, and somehow ended up with a 20” 20 ga. barrel and mag tube combo... :rolleye:

It’s a toss-up between putting them on this receiver or bastardizing a 20 ga. Shockwave to end up with a 20” “590” 20 ga. to go with the 12s. Since the mag tube on the Cruiser was already loosened up, I tossed the parts on to take a look-see.

The Cruiser test fired just fine at the range, but loading wasn’t as smooth as some newer guns I have. There’s probably a burr or two somewhere to address... I kinda want to drill & tap the receiver and use it as practice fodder to open up the loading port before taking tools to my 930. The 20 ga. receivers could definitely use the attention... Maybe an Aridus Rob Haught Mount and a Holosun 507C on top to go with the factory GRS front sight? Also toying with the idea of trying to mold some spare kydex to make up the forend tube gap between the 12 and 20 tubes to see if a Streamlight TL racker might be adapted to work on it. Not at the top of the priorities, but definitely orbiting the project bench. Time will tell...
 

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I got a UTG mount, 8-40 tap, and #28 bit off Amazon. A #8 center punch and some plug screws arrive from Brownells on Friday. I plan to just use the lines on the top of the receiver to mark centerline and the mount to provide spacing. The holes in the mount are a little big though, so I might need to wrap the punch in a bit of speed tape to get a snug centered fit in the mount holes. Hoping to make some metal chips over the weekend.
 
Good approach.

It's basically the same as I use when tapping a receiver for a scope mount. I just use a sharpie marker to mark the holes though. It fills the holes quite well and gives a nice visible mark where the holes need to be centerpunched so the bit doesn't walk.

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Tools arrived early. Didn't take too long and everything went together like it should. Just went one hole at a time, assembled, marked, center punched, drilled at 1/16", drilled #28, and then tapped.
 

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Scope mount fit fine, of course, and my factory ghost ring sight did as well.

Attached a spare chopped down stock instead of the pistol grip. With a decent normal sized recoil pad, it will actually fit my wife pretty well.
 

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Good approach.

It's basically the same as I use when tapping a receiver for a scope mount. I just use a sharpie marker to mark the holes though. It fills the holes quite well and gives a nice visible mark where the holes need to be centerpunched so the bit doesn't walk.

I just noticed your project is an auto - is that a 935? Now, you're prompting me to go drill & tap the SA-20. :nofibn:

Not sure why, but now that I have the tools... What is it that they say, "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail"?

I think the .410s might get some attention soon too. :D
 
No sir. That one is a Charles Daly maximag (3 1/2" chamber).

There is no reason why you couldn't install rails on every shotgun that you own if you want. Just plan out where the holes need to be drilled accordingly.

Here is a 2000 model Mossberg 500A that did not come with receiver mounts.

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And another Turkish import semi:
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And you don't even have to stop with shotguns. Here's an old savage bolt action 22
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Thank you sir.

I get a lot of enjoyment from it. That's just another one of my hobbies.
 
The old .410 was the next victim. I'll have to look into something to touch up bare aluminum specs at some point. There's still one more .410 and one more 20 that aren't perforated yet... Mental note, next time buy plug screws with a top lip. IMG_20190914_104358.jpg IMG_20190914_104457.jpg
 
OK, I wasn't sure.

I had some left over 6-48 plug screws that I would've gave you for it.

Yeah, I would've ordered from Mossberg too. After shipping, those dozen tiny screws that you can barely see probably costed more than $1 a piece.
 
I picked up a speedfeed stock and tri-rail forend off of fleabay and got to play a little dress up with the shotties tonight. Put the speedfeed on the newest 590 and swapped the takeoff onto the 500C. I trimmed off a section of kydex and formed it around the 20 ga. forend tube. Took a couple tries to get the kydex to cooperate, but it worked like a charm to fit the 12 ga. forend to the 20 ga. tube. Looks like a TL Racker might work just fine. But now I'm thinking more and more about swapping out receivers to a 590...IMG_20190917_191446.jpg

Here's the side-by- side:
 
I have one of the old ergo tri rail handguards on my 500. It's been on there probably more than 10 years and has worked out fine.
 
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