Shotgun Foreends and "the troubles I've had" (Mossberg 500)

[alfsauve]

[We don't have a "shotgun" forum, so I thought this one might be a good place for this.]

Had some experience recently with shotgun forends.  Actually, to be specific, with forends for Mossberg 500s.  First I'll post a brief review of the two fore ends then I'll regale you with my tales of woe with my Mossberg.

SUREFIRE SHOTGUN FOREND

Surfire makes a whole line of replacement shotgun forends for various guns.  They are all of the same basic design with the light screwed into the front bottom of the forend.  For the Mossberg 500/590 they make two models, the "623" for basic model 500s and the "621" for model 500 with 14" barrels!  Since I have your basic model 500 with 18-1/2" barrel, I got the model "623".    My observations are that the design lends itself to the flashlight being broken off.  The built in switches, of the FGA version, are just to much.  On/Off, Momentary/Steady.  I'm afraid when the push-comes-to-shove, I wouldn't be able to turn the light on.  The pressure switches located along either side are nice, but I think a bit over kill.     The forend also does NOT provide any other mounting points for lasers or pistol grips or anything else.   There are also NO markings of any kind on the forend, not "Surefire" or the model number or anything else.  I felt like I had a cast-away product. Surefire must not be particularly proud of this product.  I do not recommend this forend.

MAKO SHOTGUN FOREND

It's just the forend with Picitinny rails left, right and bottom.  Very neat.  Clearly labled.  (Made in Israel!)  Plastic and light weight.  Feels good in the hand, with the left and right rail mounted on the foreward 3".  The left and right rails are removable if you don't need the rail.  (Or replaceable with something else.)   I've mounted a Streamlight TLR-1 on one side and it fits very well.  This is a good basic replacement for the Mossberg forend.


MY PROBLEMS

Neither forend fit my Mossberg!   I have a standard 500A.

FIRST THE SURFIRE.   It was too long for the forend tube.  I couldn't fine any help on Surefire's site, so I called the dealer who couldn't figure out why and also couldn't get any help from Surefire.  The dealer (Shoot Straight in Tampa) took the forend back and gave me full credit!  One problem was that there were no markings on the forend, so the dealer and I weren't sure it was the correct forend in the box.   If you have 2 or more of these out on the counter, how do you know which one goes in which box.   Surefire didn't return the dealer calls for 5 days, so the dealer gave up.   He said, he'd insist on fitting it to the shotgun before he sells it again.

NOW THE MAKO.  It doesn't fit either.  Same problem as the Surefire.  The forend is too long for the nut to reach the forend tube.   So, I asked my self, what am I doing wrong?   Mossberg 500....check.  Forend is correct model?  Check, BECAUSE MAKO MARKS their products.   Went to the Mako site.    THEY HAD HELP.   Installation instructions AND an explanation of why mine doesn't fit!  It seems Mossberg has used various lengths forend tubes on their 500.   Most common is a 7-5/8" tube which is what all the aftermarket manufacturers build for.  The other tube Mossberg uses is 6-3/4".   Get out the ruler and sure enough that what I have.   Mako doesn't know what rhyme or reason is behind this, but they have an answer.    You have buy an extended forend nut from Hougue and then drill out just a little of the forend.    Okay, I wish mine fit.  I really like the Mako forend and the Streamlight TLR-1.  BUT I WISH both companies would have been more up-forward in their literature.  AT LEAST MAKO had a solution on their web site.  Surefire was no help at all.

That's my tale of woe.  Now going on almost 2 months trying to attach a tactical light to my shotgun.   Getting close...Maybe next week.

Alf

[cookie62]

Two words..........Duck Tape

[Big Frank]

Decking/drywall screws should outlast duct tape. 

[twyacht]

Caught this, maybe it helps.



from another forum...

I use a modified mount for the M3 weaponlight, with a G2 held in a fobus flashlight holder. The light can go from my Mossberg to my AK to my XD with the picatinny mount.

I had a pressure switch on it, but it's easier to just twist it on or push the tailcap with the thumb for momentary activation. You have to keep the switch depressed pretty hard, and I found it hard to keep the light on when cycling the action. Those switches are nice on paper, but I like to stick to the KISS principle.

Also, ProMag makes a 3-rail forend for the 500, if you want to go that route instead.

Some even mount on the receiver,...

http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/non-xd-other-gun-discussion-area/43641-mossberg-500-tactical-light-help.html

[alfsauve]

Decking/drywall screws should outlast duct tape. 

I'm about to think I could take the original wooden forend and add a rail to it.

I really like the Mako forend and I really like the Streamlight TLR-1.   I'll make them work. 

Everybody duck, while I go tell the wife, just one more little, ittsy, bittsy, teeny, weeny order from MidwayUSA.

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

I'm about to think I could take the original wooden forend and add a rail to it.

I really like the Mako forend and I really like the Streamlight TLR-1.   I'll make them work. 

Everybody duck, while I go tell the wife, just one more little, ittsy, bittsy, teeny, weeny order from MidwayUSA.

I'm facing the same dilemna with a Maverick 88 (in theory the same specs). I was just looking at something to clamp onto the tube. Did you look at those options and if so, why did you reject them?
FQ13

[Walkeraviator]

Problem could be the shotgun.  I have never fired a Mossberg 500 that didnt rattle like a can of marbles after 100 rounds.  I know I know, it is a good gun, very reliable at a great price.  Just after you shoot a Benelli, you get kinda spoiled.  Wish I could afford my own Benelli.   

[alfsauve]

Walker,  yes a Benelli would be very nice.

OKAY.  BACK TO THE MAKO FOREND.

Had to order the Extended Action Tube Nut from Hougue.  Of course, since I ordered it by itself, there was a $3 special order fee and shipping.  Had I known I needed it I could have ordered it with the forend and saved $6.50.  [HEY MAKO:  Make sure your dealers know about this and warn buyers, even online.]

But now I had to ream out part of the forend.  Wouldn't you know it, I didn't have 1-1/4" hole saw.....and neither did we at work.  Every size above and below.....SOOOOOO another trip to Home Depot, another $6...

Fortuately the tolerances aren't critical and I probably ended up reaming out, and scraping and using my wood carving knives, about 1-5/8" (which duh, I had a hole saw for).  Cleaned up all the plastic burrs.  SUCCESS!

I really like the forend.  Rails on bottom and both sides.   The SureFire one wouldn't have worked anyway, because when you put the light on the bottom, the sling gets in the way!   Mounted my light on the left side where it is accesable with my left thumb.

Here's pictures.  Looking down on barrel.  Stock to the left.



And here is it in operation.  The rear switch of the TLR2 falls right by the thumb.  I've got it on momentary mode in the picture.



Love the little StreamLight, too.
So far, new forend with light.  Soft ammo holder and a fiber-optic bead sight.   When I can afford it, I'll get the Mossberg Ghost ring set (if they're still making it)

[m25operator]

I am glad you worked through your dilemma, and you did work for it, your setup is good, I do like the surefire better, but if it didn't fit and you got no relief from the factory, then by all means press on, and give it back.

Your now updated personal set up is great, don't do the ghost ring route, been there done that, your current setup is good to 50 yards quick, a ghost ring can be more accurate, but slower, and I mean much slower, with a light and in the house to the front or back yard, ( for most of us ), your shotgun has got it dicked, period.

If you like I have a MMC ghost ring setup, but for remington, that I would give a forum member a great deal on, good stuff, but after a lot of shooting, not what is needed, now if I lived in a state that I could not hunt deer with a rifle, then I would dedicate this sight to a good slug shooting shotgun and have no remorse.

PS, how is the spider bite??? Best of luck with the healing.

[Ping]

Benelli's do spoil you. I miss my Supernova. But I have a personal/professional relationship with the Remington and Mossberg. I love the ghost ring and my younger boys, ages 14 and 12 do too. I want them to be able to take their first deer with iron sight prior to getting a scope. If they can master iron sights, the rest comes natural or with little training. Just my two bits.