Hunting with a Mossberg bolt action shotgun?

MD

MD

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My father gave me his old bolt action Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun.

I like the way it fits me and points, despite the clumsy and useless bolt action.

I hunt with a Remington 870, but the Mossberg does have one feature my pump doesn't, a poly-choke, so I was wondering if there would be any advantage to having that.

Also, seeing as I usually miss on my 2nd and 3rd shots and just waste ammo anyway, I thought I'd give it a try next time I'm out for ducks.

Anyone here actually hunt with one of these dinosaurs?
 
I have one, a camp or cabin gun. My father used to prefer it, because being a WW2 vet ,I suppose he prefered bolt actions. It used to be his bear defense gun.He could keep the clip loaded & in his pocket & load the gun quickly. Now it's just a cabin relic. I find it long & clumsy & the action ackward.But it's an indestructible, solid shotgun. You sure don't see any in the racks at trap clubs.
 
I too got my dad's Mossberg 195K. Great little bolt gun that Kick like a freeking mule. Has need little blast vents before the poly choke. Want to see a huge ball of flame, light it off in dim light.
 
dmb said:
I too got my dad's Mossberg 195K. Great little bolt gun that Kick like a freeking mule. Has need little blast vents before the poly choke. Want to see a huge ball of flame, light it off in dim light.
Click to expand...

dam right they kick that why i dont have mine anymore :eek:
 
How do you find those poly chokes pattern. A buddy of mine had a shotgun rigged with one of those things on it (not sure what make it was, as I am not sure if it is only a Mossberg option) and it would not pattern worth crap. Maybe his was screwed I am not sure!
 
Mossberg had a tendency to put stocks more suited to rifles than shotguns on the bolt shotguns they made. These bolt guns make great candidates for conversions to slug guns. They already have the high comb and prounounced pistol gripped stock. When using the mossberg adj choke device ignore what the settings say. Shoot it at each until you get the pattern you want. Often they produce patterns that are not remotely near what the setting says. In fact if most shotgunners patterned their smooth bores they would be surprised with the difference in pattern vs choke setting relationship. Even shot size and brand have a huge effect on patterns. That old bolt gun will serve you just fine. Enjoy it.
cheers Darryl
 
Thanks

Thanks guys,

Will I really bugger up the poly choke using steel shot?

I'd love to take it to the range and pattern it.

I have a spare recoil pad around here somewhere too. The butt "pad" on this one is about as aborbent as cast iron.

I haven't really shot it at anything, but my wife used it once to dust a blue jay that was pulling up her peas in the garden.

I'd never shown her how to load or shoot it, she just figured it out herself.

I came home from work and she said "Boy that shotgun of your Dad's kicks. It knocked me over, but it sure took care of that blue jay!'
 
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The adjustable choke will not be harmed by steel shot. Having said that I am referring to BB's 2's and smaller. It would not be wise to shoot larger steel than those mentioned. The biggest concern is the larger pellets getting through the forcing cone. If your device is a brand name Poly Choke the manufacturer warrants the use of steel in the device. Mossbergs' choking system was similiar and I believe it was called " C-Lect choke" Same collet principle. Looks like your wife has figured out how good this old gun can be.
cheers Darryl
 
I used to have one of those guns, had to use it as a single shot because when I opened the bolt all the shells in the mag would fly out of the gun. It was a funny site though. lol
 
By the way, there is no clear indication that i can see on the choke how to set it, other than by looking at the constriction as you screw it down.

So how do I know if it is set at modified or improved for example?
 
An old trick is to use a dime. Imp Cyl will allow a dime to pass through with some play. A good modified choke MAY allow it to pass with little or no play or not at all. Full will not allow the dime to pass and it will sit "proud" on the muzzle. This is an old technique that is not machinist accurate just a quick and dirty way to get started.
cheers Darryl
 
Great old Shotguns!

Here is a great place with lots of info, and parts for them.
Scroll down abit on the site to see a pic of the C-lect choke in use.

http://www.havlinsales.com/bolt.htm

Here in Canada the tend to be a sleeper collector. In the USA they are often sold at some pretty solid prices.

I'd keep it intact as it is and just get yourself a proper slug gun.
 
I had one and regret getting rid of it, but I think my buddy still has it around, maybe I can buy it back. Very nice gun, mine was a 3" sometimes with high powered 3" rounds the shell would stick but only on those very cold goose blind days. I never had a problem with it when hunting with anything other than 3" steel, they would make a nice turkey gun, I had the short 26" barrel.
 
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