One Comment

1. Toby Curley says:

   November 16, 2009 at 5:47 pm

   This stock is very well constructed, and makes my shoulder much happier with magnum shells. I am extremely pleased with the overall fit and finish of this stock and will probably never go back to the factory stock. The length adjustment is easy to operate, and the pistol grip allows for a much easier carry. I also like the attachment for the sling swivel on the forward face of the stock as it seems to stay out of the way better than the one on the bottom of the original. There are other options for sling swivel mount studs on the sides of the stock or you can use the slot for other styles of sling.

   The packaging includes a ball-end allen hex wrench to install the new stock which is convenient, but the installation guide/manual does not reference the correct size socket to remove the old one. Trivial, but information that it would not have been difficult to provide. The manual also has a couple of diagrams with a numbered key below – but none of the arrows have numbers to match them up. It’s a minor editing issue, but may be confusing to some customers.

   There are only a few things that would make this a better accessory for the Mossberg 500A:

   1) The rubber butt pad on this stock feels very square on the edges – the stock pad also has a slightly larger radius that allows it to nestle into the hollow of the shoulder better. The reduced recoil negates any potential discomfort, but it doesn’t seem to “set” or line up with my shoulder as quickly or easily when initially bringing to aim. I fully expect this issue will be resolved after I’ve had more practice with the upgrade.

   2) The slide release lever on the left side of the trigger guard is now almost impossible to operate without bringing the gun down or removing your hand from the grip. Previously, I could just reach it with my thumb effortlessly. Not that one needs to press this switch often, but dumping a shell or unloading is now much less convenient. It can be operated by the index finger but that is a potentially dangerous technique since it involves reaching through the trigger guard. This could possibly be remedied by a lever on the pistol grip or a thumb switch. Not a deal-breaker at all, just a slight nuisance that you should be aware of before buying this stock.

   3) Finally, this stock came with a replacement slide grip that is significantly larger in diameter than the factory part. I think that it would be fine, except for that it actually is LESS grippy/knurled/textured than the original. It is made of a relatively hard plastic and feels awkward. I have larger hands than most, and it still seems too large. I removed it and returned the slide to a standard configuration. The instructions make this sound easy, but the regular slide tube grip is somewhat difficult to switch out. If the included grip were made of a softer compound (Hogue grips, etc…) I would probably put it on in a heartbeat! It does make the gun appear slightly “meaner”, if that is important to someone purchasing this product… Also, if you have any sharp edges on a metal heat shield, it might help spread your fingers further away from it to avoid getting sliced when racking the slide.

   None of the above issues detract significantly from my satisfaction for this part. Overall it’s almost but not quite a 5 star item, and I’m very happy with it for the price.

   Rating: 4 / 5