Purchased shotgun for additional Home Defense

[goodoboy]

Hello all,

Hope everyone is doing well. I just purchase a Mossberg 88 Security shot gun (it holds 4 bullets) for home defense as an additional gun to our other guns (handgun and AR15, daughter upstairs have a 9mm). It's just me , my wife and daughter. we have home alarm, motion detector and security cameras with motion detection as well.

I just want to make sure I am securing and taking care of my shotgun the right way so it and I am ready when needed.

Let me know if I am missing something or any other advice.

My plans for upgrade to the shotgun is:
1. Add flashlight with pressure switch on the pump grip for easy on and off access.
2. Maybe extend the ammo holding barrel to add more ammunition, 4 is maybe enough.
3. Add the ammo holder to store more ammo.
4. Get alot of practice.
5. Am I missing something?

Fatal Distance
1. How can #4 or 00 buckshot travel to remain lethal?

Ammo
1. What do you recommend for ammo for home defense? We have brick exterior on the home. Currently, I have 00 buckshot in the gun as online articles suggested this. I also have #6 birdshot I am considering. But I was thinking about #4 buckshot to reduce to overpenetration through walls. My static point is bed room and bullet will need to go through about 4 drywalls and front home door before exiting the house.
2. Is there a particular brand recommended for ammo?
3. Am I missing something?


Maintenance
1. How often do you clean and oil your shotgun internals?
2. Do you totally disassemble your shotgun when cleaning?

Storing
1. Do you store your shotgun laying down flat or standing up? Or does it matter?
2. Is it recommended to store shotgun with bullet in the chamber on safe? or just loaded on safe.

Thanks and I appreciate the comments.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I just purchase a Mossberg 88 Security shot gun (it holds 4 bullets) ….

Christmas comes early tonight ….. Unscrew the magazine end cap and take out the wooden dowel. You will increase your magazine capacity by 2 to 4 shells, depending on model. Keep the wooden dowel in case you need it for it's intended use as a capacity limiter for bird hunting, or for sale.


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBc81AuCJ0k[/ame]

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

Ditch the birdshot. #4 is as small as I would go. Box o Truth and YouTube have some great videos showing penetration and sheetrock.

 

[nachogrande]

BARREL DOWN

Let any excess oil run out the barrel vs pooling in the trigger group. (after a bit store how you want) For H/D clean/oil when new (lightly) leave it alone unless fired, mag full, chamber empty. Safety OFF is up to you, grab/pump/shoot. Be aware some add-ons require removal to field strip the shotgun (side saddles).

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...this thread seems ripe for a discussion of "shotgun bullets"...

 

[29aholic]

...this thread seems ripe for a discussion of "shotgun bullets"...

AND, the ammo holding barrel

 

[ParadiseRoad]

AND, the ammo holding barrel

...missed that one...

 

[Bakebfr480]

Rifled slugs are bullets!

 

[Rpg]

Christmas comes early tonight ….. Unscrew the magazine end cap and take out the wooden dowel. You will increase your magazine capacity by 2 to 4 shells, depending on model. Keep the wooden dowel in case you need it for it's intended use as a capacity limiter for bird hunting, or for sale.

Probably not.

The magazine limit for bird hunting (migratory waterfowl nationally and some states for all bird hunting) is 2: one in the chamber, two in the magazine.

If OP’s gun holds 4, the magazine plug has been removed so no increase in capacity beyond the 4.

 

[29aholic]

Christmas comes early tonight ….. Unscrew the magazine end cap and take out the wooden dowel. You will increase your magazine capacity by 2 to 4 shells, depending on model. Keep the wooden dowel in case you need it for it's intended use as a capacity limiter for bird hunting, or for sale.

Probably not.

The magazine limit for bird hunting (migratory waterfowl nationally and some states for all bird hunting) is 3: one in the chamber, two in the magazine.

If OP’s gun holds 4, the magazine plug has been removed so no increase in capacity beyond the 4.

Fixed it to 3 for you

 

[Bakebfr480]

Mag capacity of 4 add 1 in the chamber=5!

 

[Rpg]

Fixed it to 3 for you

Nothing to fix: 2 in magazine, 1 in chamber = 3 = the federal limit for total rounds in the gun.

 

[hkcavalier]

You will find all types of commentaries on shotgun ammunition. I load 00 Buck with some buck & ball and even Brenneke slugs in the saddle. Big slugs are more of a country thing owing to large critters and strangers arriving by vehicle. If all of your shots are inside a home or apartment, obviously avoid using slugs!

Mine are Mossberg 500s. Some 88s have a pinned forend, so getting a replacement that contains a flashlight (or has rails to add a light mount) might be tough. I like having the light way out at the end, it eliminates the shadow created by the barrel and magazine tube. You cannot "add more shells" to an 88 or 500. The magazine tubes hold what they hold and have to have a matching barrel since the cap is attached. Best design? If you remove barrels a lot, yes.

That shell holder stock is still being made by Choate, but a cheaper option is probably a shell holder cheek pad like on my tan gun. The sidesaddles can be tough to install. All and all, I think the best upgrade I made was to add a tritium front sight. It's tricky since the threads don't always match up with the orientation of the sight, but red Loc-Tite is your friend. My Mossbergs have been some of the easiest yet hardest guns to improve.

For those paying attention, yes that's a cut barrel on the bottom pic and no, it's not too short

 

[4506517]

...this thread seems ripe for a discussion of "shotgun bullets"...

Didn't we just have this discussion?

 

[BlackTalonJHP]

The magazines on Maverick 88's hold either 5 or 7 rounds of 3 inch 12 gauge, for 18.5 and 20 inch models respectively. There is no provision to add a magazine extension to the Maverick 88.
I like the Streamlight magazine tube picatinny rail for mounting lights, etc.
Perhaps the nicest thing about the Maverick 88 or Mossberg 500 is the ability to use a S&W rear sight set screw or similar screw to improve the trigger pull.
I would also recommend making sure the front sight bead doesn't protrude too far into the bore.
Everyone has their opinion about ammuntion and I'm no different. I like Federal Flite Control buckshot personally.

 

[goodoboy]

Christmas comes early tonight ….. Unscrew the magazine end cap and take out the wooden dowel. You will increase your magazine capacity by 2 to 4 shells, depending on model. Keep the wooden dowel in case you need it for it's intended use as a capacity limiter for bird hunting, or for sale.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBc81AuCJ0k

Thank you bigwheelzip,

Is removing this wooden dowel to add more shells legal or good gun safety?

I do not want to alter to the shotgun in anyway that it will ruin the mechanics of the gun or cause me grave danger.

Thanks

 

[goodoboy]

AND, the ammo holding barrel

What is ammo holding barrel?

 

[goodoboy]

...this thread seems ripe for a discussion of "shotgun bullets"...

ParadiseRoad,

lol, well its a good discussion. #6 birdshot or buckshot will get the job done

 

[goodoboy]

If OP’s gun holds 4, the magazine plug has been removed so no increase in capacity beyond the 4.

Yes, the shotgun holds 5+1 (in chamber)

 

[SATX]

00 Buck to #4 Buck for self defense. Any distance in your home will be close enough to do major damage. Remember, you still have to aim with a shotgun, the dispersal pattern won’t be that great at across the room distances. Also remember that buckshot will penetrate walls the same as a 9mm. Congrats on the 88, it’s a good gun at a good price point.