GUN STUFF

So, I gave the Blackhawk Knoxx recoil suppressing stock are try last Saturday.

Can't say that I'm a fan, but I can't really write it off yet, for a number of reasons.

1) The spirit of full disclosure requires I mention that prior to taking my Mossy 500 to the range on Saturday I had never, ever, fired a shotgun before.

2) It didn't help that I used Remington Magnum 12 gauge 00 Buck in 3 inch shells.

My buddy had a Remington 12 ga with some bird shot of some sort or other. It kicked pretty good, but nothing compared to what I experienced with the Mossberg and 00 Buck "Magnum".

I've replaced the OEM stock on the Mossy and will give it a try with some bird shot as well as a couple of the Magnum 00 Buck shot.

(Question: Is the Remington "Magnum" Buckshot really a stronger charge, or is it just marketing? Anyone know?)

Another problem with the Blackhawk recoil stock is that the stock and the rest of the shotgun are moving in relationship to one another.

I'm not he-man, but I'm no wimp either.

When I fired the thing I sought to control the front end with a firm grip on the forend. Yet, when you fire off a round the front of the gun (everything but the stock) moves backward MORE than the stock does. It slides about 1 to 2 inches.

The problem is that my two arms and hands are trying to control this monster and in so doing are kinda locked in position relative to one another. So my left hand is trying to control the front of the gun, the front of the gun is moving back MORE than the stock in my right hand.

The first problem here is that my left thumb runs into the mini picatinny rail on the forened (I have the "Tri-Rail" 500. So, this REALLY hurts like a Mo Fo. It kinda shreds one's thumbnail. Subsequent efforts to hold down the forend are pathetic. My thumb gets busted up pretty good.

After about 4 shots I remove the dam mini picatinny rail on that side of the forend.

The other interesting (in a bad way) thing to happen is that as I try to control the front of the gun while it is recoiling backwards the I loose my grip on the forend a bit, but my grip re-establishes itself as soon as the recoil absorbing springs send the front of the gun back forward. This means that I'm pumping the gun and ejecting the spent shell all at the same time I'm firing the weapon.

This may sound very efficient, but to me it is nothing other than a lack of control. NOT good.

So, the OEM stock in back in place, I've got a couple of boxes of bird shot in shorter shells, and when I get the chance I'll try them out for a comparison. Then I'll probably reinstall the Blackhawk stock and try the bird shot.