Mossberg Silver Reserve Sporting O/U (Pics/Video Added)

[trippledigitss]

Anyone have one or experience with one? I just bought one onlinein 12ga and picked it up yesterday as a starter trap gun. Havent shot it yet but 1st impressions are not great. Not really impressed with the craftsmanship, nothing glaring, I cant put my finger on it but it is just not what I was expecting I guess.  Its really stiff which I guess is expected to an extent. The trigger on it is really heavy on the 1st pull and the 2nd pull lightens up a bit but there is a fair amount of play/take up on the 2nd pull. While looking online for a replacement trigger assembly (none found) I found some less than favorable reviews, mostly regarding the trigger and some firing pin issues. It sounds like the firing pin issues were on models pre 2005 so I hope those have been fixed by now. There was also a few good stories too but I just got a bad feeling. So now since I'm pretty much stuck with it I guess I'll just shoot the heck out of it during the 1yr warranty and send it back for replacement if something goes wrong. If the trigger doesnt loosen up I may take it and have it worked on? In the meantime I'll be saving up more money to get a real trap gun by Browning.  Even though I havent shot it I am just a bit disappointed.... I'll put some pics of it up in the next couple of days. Thanks for any useful feedabck you can offer? 

[SkookumJeff]

Well, why don't ya take it back before you shoot it??  Why did you buy it in the first place?

I've bought a few guns that were not well liked by some folks.  In fact, it's been my experience that you can always find people that hate whatever product you're trying to learn about.  IMO that's important to keep in mind.  I bought a Russian 12 gage O/U years ago, what Remington now sells as their Spartan line.  Online reviewers trash talked this thing like crazy claiming the gun was a POS that nobody should own.  I loved it.  For what it was, and what I paid for it, it was a great gun.  No Beretta for sure but I never expected it to compare to a Beretta.  I shot the hell out of it and it never gave me any trouble, dusted a LOT of clays with that gun.  After using it for a couple of years and putting a few thousand rounds through it I sold it for what I paid for it.  I ran into a guy with a Mossberg O/U a couple of years ago hunting pheasants.  I happened to be hunting with my Rizzini O/U that morning.  We talked about shotguns and hunting for quite a while that morning.  He'd recently acquired the Mossberg and he was really happy with his shotgun.  Mossberg is a good gun company, I hope it works out for ya.  Let us know if this shotgun 'grows' on ya...

Skook

[trippledigitss]

I bought it online after looking at the field version in the shop and it seemed OK then. It fits nice and looks OK but for some reason I was less than impressed when it arrived. The store said no returns on firearms or ammo - something about it being the law?  My wife says about the same thing - dont let other people make up my mind, for every bad story there is probably 10 good ones you dont hear, the problems probably have been fixed, I havent even shot it and I say I dont like it, etc, etc, and you are both right. I just have a bad taste hearing all the negatives and am expecting something to go wrong. Its pretty much only the trigger that I know I am unhappy with but again, I havent shot it yet either. Maybe it will wear in, maybe I can get it worked on - maybe I will end up liking the gun and this was all just a waste time?  I guess I should quit stressing and shoot it! Maybe it will grow on me! If I dont like it after awhile, oh well, its only money right?  I'll just go get a Browning XT!

Thanks for the feedback - I'm heading to the trap range this weekend - I'll let you know how it shoots!

[SkookumJeff]

I bought it online after looking at the field version in the shop and it seemed OK then. It fits nice and looks OK but for some reason I was less than impressed when it arrived. The store said no returns on firearms or ammo - something about it being the law? 

I don't know about it being the law, that might be true in a few cases, but certainly not everywhere.  Plenty of online gun sales DO allow returns.  A no return policy is a bunch of crap  , I refuse to do business with gun sellers that have that policy.  They could ship you anything, and then your stuck?!  Not me, there must be some kind of inspection period and return policy to work with.  Many online sellers DO offer a no shoot three day inspection period, if you don't like it you can return it.  You might be out a few dollars shipping, but not the price of a gun that you hate.  Just a thought for the future.  I've done some private sales online too.  Everything is negotiable there, so working in a inspection clause is not a problem, if it is, I RUN from the deal 

Hope the next deal turns out better, chalk this one up to a learning experience.  We all have em, that's for sure. 

BTW, after you get some time with the Mossberg, post your impressions.  Curious to know if you like it after all.....

Skook

[trippledigitss]

Yeah now that you mention it I have seen and bought things online from GunBroker and there has been a short inspection period where you can return it - I'll have to double check and see. I bought this one from LowPriceGuns.com in Bellevue and could have sworn I saw the no return clause on the email invoice. Funny thing is at this point I dont even know if I would return it even after all my whining! I definitely want to shoot it before I make a final decision but then that could ace any return chances. I am going to take it out to the trap range this weekend, maybe tonight so I will check back in after I shoot a few lines with it.

[trippledigitss]

Here is what I found on the website about returns. Too bad too because they have some GREAT prices! But I have never bought a gun before that I regretted buying and wanted to return....    I usually at least find one to hold & look at before I order online - actually pretty much with anything I can before I buy it online. If I end up not liking this gun I guess like you say I'll have to chalk it up to a learning experience. Worse case I'm sure someone will buy/or trade with me...

  "Firearms Returns Firearm returns are only available for firearms found defective upon inspection before Firearm is transferred from your FFL Dealer. Inspect the firearm for defects and to make sure it is correct item before accepting transfer. Lowpriceguns.com will either replace item, or fully refund and pay return shipping cost on any firearms found defective upon receipt before transfer. If this occurs, contact lowpriceguns.com at support@lowpriceguns.com or call 425-614-GUNS to arrange free shipping pickup and return from your Transfer Dealer. Once a firearm has left the transfer dealer, there are No Returns to lowpriceguns.com. If firearm is transferred through dealer to you, and any defects are discovered, you will need to contact the manufacturer directly for any assistance with replacement or repair in accordance with the manufacturers warranty. All gun manufactuers of new models offer repair or replacement if defective. If the manufacturer repairs the firearm, they can return it directly to you without additional FFL Fees. If the manufacturer replaces the firearm, the serial number changes and the replacement would be through an FFL with associated fees. Lowpriceguns.com does not refund or pay any FFL Transfer fees."

[JKEEN33]

No experience with the mossberg, but with O/U's I've found under 1000 you are getting what you pay for. Starting at the 1000 range you get a nice quality hunting shotgun. I've had several people tell me they love their lower end O/U's until they start using an upper end model then they start to see what they didn't get. If it shoots it may make a great behind the seat gun that you don't have to worry about banging around. I tell everyone get the best you can afford. There are some great deals on used out there if you wait and look around. I'm sure I will get a lot of responces again about how great someones Spartan is, but I personally don't like the lower end O/U's. My 

[trippledigitss]

Well all my whining & worrying may be for not.  I took it out and shot 2 quick lines last night and my 1st impressions at the range are FAAAARRRR better than when I pulled it out of the box! It shot great! 

The trigger is not as bad as I thought, I dont know if it has a smoother pull when there is a cartridge in but I didnt notice anything bad when I was shooting it. The gun seems to fit nicely and lines up with my eye great. I am still really new at shooting clays, like maybe 8-10 times at most. But I seem to do better at 5 stand than trap. 5 stand my best is an 18 and anywhere from 9 up to that. Trap my best was an 11 and usually hit 9. Last night in 2 lines I shot a 16 and a 20! 

I dont know if it was a fluke, I guess I'll find out next time - but I was pumped after the 1st line and then when I left. Now I'm loving it!

To put this into perspective, up until now I have been using my Escort Magnum auto-loader - so this is a nicer step up for me - its not a $2500 Browning Citori but it seems alot better than my Escort...but hopefully someday soon in the next few months I'll be shouldering that new Browning! I thought about spending more money on a nicer gun but I figured just starting out and not knowing how much I'd get into it, I'd start small and work my way up. The Browning's, Beretta's, and etc are nice guns but as a beginner I didnt want to spend 2k and heck, I can buy and wear out 3-4 Mossberg & Remingtons for the price of one of those!

[D-Rock425]

I have that gun and have never had a problem yet.  Last duck season my 11-87 was broken and I hunted the whole season with the mossberg.  Did you go shoot at granite falls last night?  I was going to go but was kinda worn out after working twelve's all week.

[trippledigitss]

I have that gun and have never had a problem yet.  Last duck season my 11-87 was broken and I hunted the whole season with the mossberg.  Did you go shoot at granite falls last night?  I was going to go but was kinda worn out after working twelve's all week.

Good to know after hearing some of the bad reviews on the earlier guns. Now I am really liking it!

Yeah - that was the 1st time I've been there. There was a good amount of people there but it wasnt too busy and they had 4 trap lines going. I liked it alot out there - and it helped my impression of the place seeing that I shot better than I had before! 

[trippledigitss]

Here are some pics of my Mossberg. Its a bit too long to get any good close-ups but you can see it well enough. I went out to Kenmore yesterday and shot a line of trap and got 15 then a line at 18. I was doing really well and got 5 at a couple stations but when I move to the last 2 spots on the right I missed a bunch. Oh well I'm still happy as I can do a lot better with this new O/U than my Escort auto-loader. Trap scores are up but my 5 Stand scores went down, an 11 and a 10 when I can usually get 14-16 with the Escort. But the 2 cards we shot were hard and had 1 single then 2 true pairs and I never know where they are coming from. I took some video with my iKam glasses and I'll post some from the trap line that I got 18 on.

I bought a half doz new chokes for it too. I got a couple of pairs of Briley extended chokes, a set in IC and a set in Mod. And a I got a couple of Mossberg Pro-Factor ported extended chokes, IC & Mod. Besides the holes, what is the difference between ported & not? Looks like most guys at the range use non-ported... Is that what I want for clays?

[uplandhunter870]

glad it worked out for you

ported barrels such as yours have holes "ports" drilled into the barrels just behind the tube threads. non ported barrels dont have any holes drilled into the barrel.

 i personally love ports on guns i have to shoot doubles with, i havent ever tested this theory but i think that ports help decrease the amount of felt recoil. the main idea behind porting is that they expel some of the gasses away from the muzzle at equal angles in the upward direction to help decrease muzzle jump and aid you in a smoother transition between 1st and 2nd targets when shooting doubles. its more of personal preference some guys love them some hate them.

clay target shooters are like archery hunters we all have our superstitions and preferred gear. ports are also something else to clean, why some guys hate them. ive found the easiest way to clean ports is with the arts and crafts flexible pipe cleaners, just dip them in some nitro solvent and run the fuzzy pipe cleaner through the ports you dont have to do this after every session just keep an eye on them and clean them when the start getting gunk built up.

good looking gun

check your stance on posts 4 and 5 when shooting trap you may be standing to square to the house and blocking you hips off. swing with your hips not your shoulders. ive shot a fair amount of ATA trap if you have any questions feel free to pm me

uplander

[trippledigitss]

Thanks Uplander! So the ported chokes are basically a preference thing and wont matter much on pattern or effectiveness? I kind of like the way the ported chokes look but they are black and the non-ported ones I got are silver and I like that contrast on the end of the barrel. And thats what's important to me - #1 looks and #2 effectiveness!     

[trippledigitss]

Here is that video taken with my iKam Glasses from the line I shot an 18 on. Sorry about the fast & shaky head movements - it is very hard to remember to move slowly with these video glasses on!! (disregard the date/time - the setting is wrong on the glasses)
 
New Mossberg O/U

[uplandhunter870]

ported chokes would be overkill since your barrels are ported already for clays that is, if you take the new gun out in the field the ported chokes can act as a muzzle brake of sorts when shooting heavier field loads. when done correctly ports will not effect the guns pattern.

i hear ya on the looks part of it all, if im going to miss im going to look good when i do