Sight for a Moss 500A

[rk246]

I want to put different sights on my HD shotgun, Mossberg 500A, I have a bead right now. I am considering a Holo sight of some sort, ie aimpoint or Eotech.

I was wondering what is needed to add to the top of the 500A to mount one of these units?

Does anyone have one on the HD shotgun?
would you do it again?

Will it hold up to the abuse of the Shotgun?

Do you think these are better than Ghost ring sights for a HD shotgun?

Do you need to turn the sight on at night when you go to bed?

How long does it take to come on? ie if you are awakened in the middle of the night by broken glass, grab the SG how long to make them active?

Thanks for any replies.

[lumberjack]

Originally posted by rk246
I want to put different sights on my HD shotgun, Mossberg 500A, I have a bead right now. I am considering a Holo sight of some sort, ie aimpoint or Eotech.

I was wondering what is needed to add to the top of the 500A to mount one of these units?

Having a rail mounted to the reciever would be the easiest way I believe.

Does anyone have one on the HD shotgun?
would you do it again?

I dont.

Will it hold up to the abuse of the Shotgun?

Yes

Do you think these are better than Ghost ring sights for a HD shotgun?

Depends on the application. For HD, no.

Do you need to turn the sight on at night when you go to bed?

Depends on what kind of optic it is, I don't.

How long does it take to come on? ie if you are awakened in the middle of the night by broken glass, grab the SG how long to make them active?

Instant

Thanks for any replies.

[rk246]

thanks.

[Bullman]

A lot of Mossbergs come from the factory drilled and tapped for rail mounting, I think the originally did this to mount ghost rings, but there are additional holes for mounting rails. If your receiver happens to have these taps in place already, you can get a rail at this site

http://www.sidearmor.com/cart/catalog/category_8_Shotgun_Equipment_page_1.html

[rk246]

Thank you.

Why would you not recommend a HOLO sight for HD?

[lumberjack]

The distances that define HD are normally quite short. My house has 2 lanes that are 18 yards long, longer than most. At such a range normal buckshot (magnum loads) won't pattern spectacularly, but slugs will do the job. A more common 10-12 yards is easy point shooting with an average shotgun, regular sights are adequate.


If I were regularly shooting slugs out to say 100 yards, a red dot would be nice, but for the rest of the shooting its not really practical. The money spent on the red dot might be better spent on ammo or training.


My nova has a front post and a rear ghost ring, assuming I do my part I can deliver slugs to 100 yards with reasonable accuracy. The only thing I would change would be a night sight front post on my nova and a better trigger. After that the shotgun isn't what slows the rig down.

Mounted a Limb Saver recoil pad on my Nova tonight, going to try it out tomorrow, planning on adding a mercury recoil reducer also.

A red dot would be cool on a dedicated slug gun, or other similar niche gun. For HD I like little more than a full length tube and a Side saddle, mounted on a familar platform. (870's and mossies don't go well together) For an all around shotgun, I believe my Nova fits the bill. It's a well rounded simple platform.

[Bullman]

Originally posted by rk246
Thank you.

Why would you not recommend a HOLO sight for HD?

Don't really have any experience with any of them to make a good recommendation I guess. I think if I was to choose one I would get an Armson OEG sight (sold by trijicon) Doesn't need batteries and should work well as a shotgun sight.

[jerkeejoe]

I actually just ordered a rail and a C-More red dot for my mossy a1. I'll post some pics and my opinion after I get it mounted.

-Joe

[SKYWLKR]

Where did you get the rail?

I saw Side armors rail but its over a 1/4 of the cost of the gun...

I have a ruger rail that has a three hole match ,but finding screws to fit has been problamatic.

[jerkeejoe]

Midway USA has a Mesa Tactical rail for $44. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=878283

It appears that I ordered the last one in stock. It says back in stock on 1/28/07 though.

How much did you pay for your gun? The side armor is only $50. If it's a quarter of your gun cost, that's $200 for a Mossy A1?

[SKYWLKR]

I paid $219 NIB for a Mossy 500 Persuader with a pistol grip and regular stock.I sold the pistol grip for $20 .

It still has the Heat sheild ,but I think I might take it off to lighten the gun up a bit.

[desertram800]

Originally posted by rk246
Thank you.

Why would you not recommend a HOLO sight for HD?

I have an eotech on my mossy 500 mounted on a mesa tactical picatinny rail. the rail bolts right up the the predrilled/tapped holes on top of the reciever. Easy as pie, and the eotech is by far one of the BEST CQB optics ever! I used one in Iraq, and I use one at home and on the range!

[CTfam]

I just purchased my first shotgun two days ago. A mossy 500a as well. I picked up a TRU-GLO fiberoptic sight for 9$. It is red and just screws on where the bead is. I haven't put it on yet. I like to shoot my guns before I go swapping out parts. It looks like it would be easier to see than the bead.

[MrMurphy]

As a HD gun, I would use ghost ring with a tritium stripe front (the XS Sight Systems model is good) because dot sights take a second to turn on (try hitting the button or rolling the dial while half awake, in the dark) and have a white light fore-end from Surefire.


For a SWAT team, dedicated entry gun etc the dot scope is fine. I use an Aimpoint on my M4 every day, actually i was doing a building interior sweep in the dark about two hours ago. :) They really work well. But for an HD "need it NOW!" gun, the ghost ring will work fine.

MMC, LPA or XS do well, i'd personally go with the tritium model from XS because it IS tritium (Otherwise, the LPA model is excellent, i had them on a Benelli).

[Bullman]

Hey Murph, have you ever used or have any experience with an Occluded Eye Gunsight? I have never used the Armson with the tritium inserts sold by Trijicon, but I have used an OEG before and I think they are great for shotguns. They are basically on the same lines as a red dot sight, it is a red dot on a black field, you shoot with both eyes open so since you see in stereo, you see the red dot on your target.

[jerkeejoe]

Here's a newer pic with my finished 590A1 and a couple of ARs.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c102/jerkeejoe/SHTFGuns002.jpg

[desertram800]

hey, jerkeyjoe, on your knoxx stock, on the shell holder on the stock, does it REALLY hold the shells TIGHT??? Mine is almost to the point where it pinches the shells. It's a pain putting them in, and even more of a pain removing them!

[jerkeejoe]

It is very tight. I actually spent a few minutes the other day trying to loosen them up by inserting and removing shells. It worked somewhat. The tightness is why I've got them so far down in the holder. I just use my thumb to start and my last 3 fingers and my palm to pull it the rest of the way. (Hopefully that makes sense. Try it and you'll see what I mean.)

[Blitzer]

You can buy a Mossberg barrel with a cantilever scope mount attached to the barrel, it will add a bit of accuracy for slug shooting. The scope stays with the barrel for quick swaps to a bird or rabbit hunting configuration. :thumbsup: :supergrin: ;)

[MrMurphy]

I got to play around with an OEG once but it wasn't on a loaded weapon so i just snapped it to my shoulder once or twice.

Good idea, but personally I'll stick with dotscopes. :)

[13bullets]

Originally posted by desertram800
hey, jerkeyjoe, on your knoxx stock, on the shell holder on the stock, does it REALLY hold the shells TIGHT??? Mine is almost to the point where it pinches the shells. It's a pain putting them in, and even more of a pain removing them!

Originally posted by jerkeejoe
It is very tight. I actually spent a few minutes the other day trying to loosen them up by inserting and removing shells. It worked somewhat. The tightness is why I've got them so far down in the holder. I just use my thumb to start and my last 3 fingers and my palm to pull it the rest of the way. (Hopefully that makes sense. Try it and you'll see what I mean.)


You can cut into the plastic between the holders to loosen them up a little. Mine came with an instruction sheet that showed you where to cut. Just use a hacksaw and all your problems will be solved. Don't cut too much!

[desertram800]

I actually just left some shells in there for about week, and then after using it at the range once, it loosened itself up so that they're snug, but still easy enough to pull out. The only thing I don't like about it now is that it makes shooting weak-sided (left handed) very uncomfortable!:)

[slugger6]

I have the Knoxx on my Mossy 590, but without the cheek piece and shell holder.