Gun Thread

[Ryan...]

To an extent, true. But if it's too huge and clunky to even handle she's more likely to miss entirely and/or hurt herself trying to shoot it awkwardly. I just went through this with my wife who is 5' 1.5" and we concluded that my AR was a lot easier for her to shoot than my shotgun. That said, with something that fit her better and with more practice, we could have made a shotgun work.

I'd go to a local gun store and have her hold an 18" Mossberg 500 just to see if it feels more comfortable for her. If she likes it, I'd find a replacement barrel or chop the current one down and have a gunsmith install a new bead sight. If the stock is still too long, you can find cheapo used 500 youth model stocks that have a shorter LOP. I'd avoid pistol grips on 500s as the top mounted safety makes mechanics clunky and they really don't make it easier to aim/shoot in general, especially for inexperienced shooters and with anything other than low brass loads.

All good advice, didn't even really consider the pistol grip/safety configuration..

From what you describe I would have suggested a shockwave for her.. However you can just as easily shoot the 500 from your hip as well. No need for her to shoulder the gun based on your needs, sitting/standing static in a corner waiting for perp to break down the door. Work on the load/rack/fire/clear the gun properly and she should be fine. Have her practice with some 7/8oz number 8 birdshot to get her familiar with the firearm without scaring/beating her up to much....(but she isn’t going to enjoy it if she is like my wife) Buy her a padded shirt so she doesn’t say the hell with it after the first 3 shots if your set on firing from the shoulder.
Like you said the key in your situation is going to be verbal commands/responses so she doesn’t blast just anyone who walks through that door.

My wife is tiny as well, unable to rack most 9mm pistols. We’re going to go the tried and true wheel gun route for her when she is ready. Maybe an option for you. Especially if you think her having to take more than one shot may be a possibility. That said if she can operate the G43 let good be good, it’s already setup with a light.

I like the idea of low recoil/smaller weight rounds to get her used to it.

The 43 is a good fit in her hand, but I miss having my CCW :-(

[naplesE30]

From what you describe I would have suggested a shockwave for her.. However you can just as easily shoot the 500 from your hip as well. No need for her to shoulder the gun based on your needs, sitting/standing static in a corner waiting for perp to break down the door. Work on the load/rack/fire/clear the gun properly and she should be fine. Have her practice with some 7/8oz number 8 birdshot to get her familiar with the firearm without scaring/beating her up to much....(but she isn’t going to enjoy it if she is like my wife) Buy her a padded shirt so she doesn’t say the hell with it after the first 3 shots if your set on firing from the shoulder.
Like you said the key in your situation is going to be verbal commands/responses so she doesn’t blast just anyone who walks through that door.

My wife is tiny as well, unable to rack most 9mm pistols. We’re going to go the tried and true wheel gun route for her when she is ready. Maybe an option for you. Especially if you think her having to take more than one shot may be a possibility. That said if she can operate the G43 let good be good, it’s already setup with a light.

[myinfernalbmw]

Then again, she is only going to have to use this in the most dire of situations so having to make it "comfortable" doesn't really matter. Just as long as she knows how to use it, rack it, clear a malfunction, hold it and aim...these are the most important.

To an extent, true. But if it's too huge and clunky to even handle she's more likely to miss entirely and/or hurt herself trying to shoot it awkwardly. I just went through this with my wife who is 5' 1.5" and we concluded that my AR was a lot easier for her to shoot than my shotgun. That said, with something that fit her better and with more practice, we could have made a shotgun work.

I'd go to a local gun store and have her hold an 18" Mossberg 500 just to see if it feels more comfortable for her. If she likes it, I'd find a replacement barrel or chop the current one down and have a gunsmith install a new bead sight. If the stock is still too long, you can find cheapo used 500 youth model stocks that have a shorter LOP. I'd avoid pistol grips on 500s as the top mounted safety makes mechanics clunky and they really don't make it easier to aim/shoot in general, especially for inexperienced shooters and with anything other than low brass loads.

[Ryan...]

Pattern your gun with the ammo you want to use in the most extreme distance you have. You will see that the shot(pellets) will be maybe size of your fist. You will still need to aim with a shotgun.

Try and teach her how to hold the gun, i.e. lean in, keep away from corners, use distance. You know all of this stuff as a LEO.

I have a shotgun and a bat by my bed lol plan A and plan B

If you can shoot outside, take a watermelon or something and have her shoot that at the most extreme distance that she would encounter in the home. Most likely would be about 20-25ft.

Then again, she is only going to have to use this in the most dire of situations so having to make it "comfortable" doesn't really matter. Just as long as she knows how to use it, rack it, clear a malfunction, hold it and aim...these are the most important.

We're definitely going to be doing some practice shooting, clearing jams, etc. I don't think she can comfortably hold the gun for more than 5 seconds with how big it is in her hands. My comfort statements should have been explained better, I want something she can realistically aim/hold if she ever needed to. My starting point with her is simply going to be getting her to hold it, rack it, practice clearing jams, etc For that she needs to be able to hold it or she'll give up.

With her, it will be for sitting in the master bedroom or bathroom with the barrel pointed at the closed door until the polis show up, so realistically any spread the size of a large fist at 20ft would suffice.

Between the racking of the gun (if they're within hearing distance), the announcements, and the shrieking alarm I can't imagine anyone would stick around too long.

[TeXJ]

She has never shot anything other than my G43 pistol. She'll likely never develop into a "shooter" in any sense, she simply doesn't like the experience of firepower. This is going to be a "oh shit, someone's in the house that doesn't belong" type of tool. We have inner and outer security cameras that have great night vision as well, so that combined with working on announcements ("identify yourself, I have a gun" etc) to prevent any sort of accidental shooting is likely the route we have to go with her.

Haven't decided on ammo yet, still researching that aspect of the gun.

If I do end up having to go the route of new stock, new barrel, etc, I might be better off buying a new gun altogether, which I would like to avoid :D


She currently has my G43 with streamlight in her nightstand, but I would prefer she have the shotgun so it's more of a "point in the general area" and pull the trigger vs having to aim and fire multiple times at a moving target.

Pattern your gun with the ammo you want to use in the most extreme distance you have. You will see that the shot(pellets) will be maybe size of your fist. You will still need to aim with a shotgun.

Try and teach her how to hold the gun, i.e. lean in, keep away from corners, use distance. You know all of this stuff as a LEO.

I have a shotgun and a bat by my bed lol plan A and plan B

If you can shoot outside, take a watermelon or something and have her shoot that at the most extreme distance that she would encounter in the home. Most likely would be about 20-25ft.

Then again, she is only going to have to use this in the most dire of situations so having to make it "comfortable" doesn't really matter. Just as long as she knows how to use it, rack it, clear a malfunction, hold it and aim...these are the most important.

[Ryan...]

My wife has a m500 as well. She uses it for clay busting.

I would say have her shoot it and then see if you have a friend with a pistol grip and let her shoot that.

What ammo are you gonna use for HD? Can she take a training class with it?

For me, a pistol would be a more viable option as it's easier to weld.

I would try and get a shorter barrel as well. For me, I bought an 870 knock off gun for about the price of a shorter barrel. That gun came with a 18 1/2' barrel.

Is the barrel on your m500 ported? My wife's m500 is from the factory and that makes a huge difference in felt recoil.

She has never shot anything other than my G43 pistol. She'll likely never develop into a "shooter" in any sense, she simply doesn't like the experience of firepower. This is going to be a "oh shit, someone's in the house that doesn't belong" type of tool. We have inner and outer security cameras that have great night vision as well, so that combined with working on announcements ("identify yourself, I have a gun" etc) to prevent any sort of accidental shooting is likely the route we have to go with her.

Haven't decided on ammo yet, still researching that aspect of the gun.

If I do end up having to go the route of new stock, new barrel, etc, I might be better off buying a new gun altogether, which I would like to avoid :D


She currently has my G43 with streamlight in her nightstand, but I would prefer she have the shotgun so it's more of a "point in the general area" and pull the trigger vs having to aim and fire multiple times at a moving target.

[TeXJ]

^reading what I posted...I'm all over the place lol

[TeXJ]

My wife has a m500 as well. She uses it for clay busting.

I would say have her shoot it and then see if you have a friend with a pistol grip and let her shoot that.

What ammo are you gonna use for HD? Can she take a training class with it?

For me, a pistol would be a more viable option as it's easier to weld.

I would try and get a shorter barrel as well. For me, I bought an 870 knock off gun for about the price of a shorter barrel. That gun came with a 18 1/2' barrel.

Is the barrel on your m500 ported? My wife's m500 is from the factory and that makes a huge difference in felt recoil.

[Ryan...]

Got a Mossberg 500 for free from the future father in law.

I wanted it as a home defense gun, given the rash of burglaries in the county. It's reached the point where my fiance is scared to be home alone when I leave for work at night.

I want to make this a manageable home defense gun that we can leave by her side of the bed. She's small, about 5'3 and 125lbs, so I want to try to make it easier for her to hold and use in the scenario where she might actually need to use it.

Looking for suggestions on how to do that. Pistol grip? Foregrip? In its current condition it's too long for her to comfortably hold it.



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[TeXJ]

Nice! I like my sparrow as well.

[ttrousdell]

I purchased a WASR-10 last year. If you do buy one I really recommend inspecting it before you take it home. The first one I purchased had messed up barrel threads under the slant brake. I took it home and it turned into a hassle shipping it back and waiting a few weeks for a refund. After that I decided to give it another try and get one from my local gun store. I stripped it and stained the blonde wood and now I shoot it all the time. It needed to be sited but its now one of my favorite guns,






Also my sparrow 22 finally got approved. Only took a year from the initial purchase to when I was able to pick it up. I love it.

[myinfernalbmw]

Quality AKs are more than capable of fist sized groups at 300 yards. I don't really know how much more accurate you need for a fighting gun. That said, if you're looking for just a range toy, the PSA or WASR are probably fine and will provide just as much fun as a higher dollar gun. It's all in what you're buying it for. If I am only going to have one though, I'll go for the highest quality while being realistically priced. You can occasionally find Arsenals at or under $1k. While that isn't cheap, I think that when comparing that to a new $650-700 WASR you're getting your money's worth out of that extra $3-400, especially if you ever sell it.

[Rob]

Aren't these considered some of the best AK based blasters available? https://rifledynamics.com/

I sure do miss the days of $300 yugos underfolders, $79 SKSs, and dirt cheap cases of surplus 7.62.

I guess I'll take the current salad days of ARs as a good replacement.

[naplesE30]

I can’t justify Arsenal type of money on any AK just based off of the accuracy of the platform. I am in the sub $500 market when it comes to the AK.

[TeXJ]

as for arsenal, my budget, i.e. my wife, says otherwise lol