Tractor and Truck Mossberg

[dverna]

I would like opinions and, even better, experience with carrying a shotgun in the cab of a tractor.

I have standardized on Mossberg 500’s for self defense shotguns. I buy them cheap and add 18.5” after market barrels.

With a standard stock, it will still be a bit unwieldy in the cab of a tractor. I am wondering how the “cruiser” grip would work? Has anyone used one and what are your thoughts?

My plan is to reload 2 3/4” light recoil loads using buckshot. Hopefully, with a light load I will not need a stock to “shoulder” the recoil.

I am also considering having guns like that in our trucks.

[BLAHUT]

We always carried a 25/20 or 30/30 in the tractor cabs.

[megasupermagnum]

I hate those grips. Sure, there are people out there that have got halfway decent with the cruiser and shockwave grips. Just imagine if they put that kind of time into a real stock. Have you considered a folding stock? I've seen both top folders and side folders that are decent. By decent I mean they are better than nothing. Compared to a regular stock they are slow, awkward, and cheek weld is not that great. They are super compact, and they aren't that bad though. Myself, I use full-size regular stocks. I just don't expect to get it out in a flash, mines always in a case anyway.

[stubshaft]

For me, it would depend on the range that you are planning to shoot at. Seven to ten yards a pistol grip would be fine. Anything further than that and I would either use a full stock or a side folding stock. UNLESS, you practice extensively with the pistol grip stock! I have been able to break 19 out of 25 birds on a regulation skeet field.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I just shorten the wood stock to about a 12" pull with the thick soft recoil pad I put on them. I have a couple for the tractor, pick-ups, and my shop. I have a .Mossberg pump .410 that came with a wooden stock and the pistol grip. Some think the pistol grip looks 'cool', but only works 'OK' on rattlers inside 10 feet, I tried it but went back to shortened wood stock with recoil pad.

[dverna]

I should elaborate.

I had to draw a gun on a trespasser in August. He is “TROUBLE”. Long rap sheet. The local LEO’s know him too well and want to put him away but who knows what will happen. His trial is coming up. He has served time before. Anyway....a piece of work.

My concerns are this guy and bear protection in case I get between a sow and her cub. I do not need long range accuracy. Of course, if a coyote comes along I will want to take it out. But a miss on a yote is not a big deal.

I am good with a shotgun and shot AAA Trap for a while.

I decided to order a grip and try it out. Less than $30 so worth playing with.

I had a CAS shotgun with a 12” LOP and it was very fast. A short LOP may be nibble enough and offer both less recoil and more precision.

When it comes to serious work, money is not a big factor.

Whatever I go with, I will be doing a lot of testing and practice.

Share your ideas and suggestions...much appreciated.

MostlyLever....did not see your post until after I posted. I think you may be right.

[Texas by God]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230228/572c1e8ce06c91c4aea1794e7f449032.jpg
This Maverick youth model is doing great service 24/7/365 in my Mule. I can shoot the short stock well enough. At 6’ 2” I need the slip on pad to keep my thumb knuckle from my nose(don’t laugh) during recoil.
An 18-1/2” barrel would be even handier, but I like the choke tubes.
It’s carried in a canvas scabbard behind the seat. On my open cab tractor, I have a vertical canvas case for it or a rifle.


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[Sig]

Light recoiling loads will probably be fine on trespassers, but not so sure about bears..................

[MrWolf]

Don,
I think you have two separate scenarios going IF I understand you. Driving a tractor, do you have bears that would attack a tractor or you on one? I can't see an animal attacking me or even coming near me on mine. As far the bad guy, maybe a rifle vs the shotgun for the range. Why let him get close? Sorry if I missed what was being asked.
Ron

Edit: just saw the comment about wanting in the trucks also. Nevermind my rambling makes sense now.

[GhostHawk]

Well in my case it would be a Rem 870, but that is a personal taste thing.

In your state does a firearm have to be unloaded and cased to be legal in a vehicle?

Remember that unloaded = no round in the chamber. Does not say the magazine tube can't be full.

As to the cased, a zippered case with a couple of attachment points, one quick pull on a zipper and your in business.
Rack one round into the chamber and replace the round in the mag and your ready to go.

For the trucks you want good cases and a box of ready ammo with a variety of loads including slugs, hvy buckshot, dueces, and birdshot.
Heck if you reload you can even salvage fired air rifle pellets in .177 and .22. Those would work nicely for both the buckshot and the Dueces.

As to your problem child a rifle zero'd on your gate/driveway would be a good thing. Buy a squash and spike it onto a fencepost. Next time he walks by, blow it with the rifle.
Then tell him, next time its your head.

[dverna]

Light recoiling loads will probably be fine on trespassers, but not so sure about bears..................

Bears here are small. Most averaging about 175-200 lbs and a really big one 350 lbs. Living where I do, bears are not accustomed to people, so they want no part of us. The concern is accidently getting between sow and her cub. I will be doing a lot of tractor work this year close by where we have the dumpster, and they are attracted to the garbage. I have to chain the lids down or they make a mess. Cannot shoot a bear for being a bear and wanting to forage so strictly for SD.

[Rapier]

I carry a 16" AR with bungie cord holding it in the rack. The Bungie cord was added after an unfortunate loss of an AR to a 6' bush hog, they make a mess out of an AR by the way.

[Misery-Whip]

If you have 2 legged issues id make sure you can get to it from the ground just as easy as the seat.

Maverick 88 below. Used to get em for around 200. Holds 7 at 2.75. At 2" oal it holds 10. Handy length.

[rintinglen]

Well in my case it would be a Rem 870, but that is a personal taste thing.

In your state does a firearm have to be unloaded and cased to be legal in a vehicle?

Remember that unloaded = no round in the chamber. Does not say the magazine tube can't be full.

As to the cased, a zippered case with a couple of attachment points, one quick pull on a zipper and your in business.
Rack one round into the chamber and replace the round in the mag and your ready to go.

For the trucks you want good cases and a box of ready ammo with a variety of loads including slugs, hvy buckshot, dueces, and birdshot.
Heck if you reload you can even salvage fired air rifle pellets in .177 and .22. Those would work nicely for both the buckshot and the Dueces.

As to your problem child a rifle zero'd on your gate/driveway would be a good thing. Buy a squash and spike it onto a fencepost. Next time he walks by, blow it with the rifle.
Then tell him, next time its your head.

Not True in all states. In California, that is only legal while transporting a firearm while hunting. Otherwise, a loaded firearm--even if the chamber is empty-- can get you a spiffy fine, as well as cost you the gun.

[HWooldridge]

I bale hay during the summers here (at least when we get enough rain), and carry a pistol in a military ammo box, which is bolted to a fender. I could wear something on my belt, but the box keeps it hidden until needed.

Of course, we don't have any bears in this area - but two legged varmints are found loitering about on occasion. Much more likely that I wind up shooting a coyote or rattlesnake which got stirred up by the mo-co. If I had a mind to carry a shotgun, I'd drop my '97 pump into a scabbard and mount it to the fender.

[Bigslug]

I like the "bantam" 12" LOP stocks for kids, females, or officers wearing a 1/2" to 3/4" thick layer of Kevlar.

I am emphatically NOT a fan of pistol-grip only shotguns; inaccurate, slow rate of fire, and often painful to shoot even with the softer loads. Consider that while your barrel length is dictated by law, your practical overall length includes how far back from the trigger your elbow extends, and that length is going to be the same whether there's a stock on the gun or not. I'll take the version I can shoulder and actually aim effectively with, thanks.

Another problem I have with pistol grips is that these were designed as sporting shotguns with controls NOT designed to be accessed from a grip like that. For the Mossberg especially, accessing the action release and safety get considerably more complicated.

You are on the right track with Mossbergs for carrying on a tractor. I've been an 870 armorer for 20 years now, and that familiarity has bred, if not exactly contempt, then at least frequent frustration with the semi-permanent/solid state nature of many of Remington's components when they break or need attention. With the 500/590, all that stuff is easy out / easy in. Also, while it doesn't matter much with a competent operator, the 'bergs are more forgiving to those for whom it may have been a while.

[Johnch]

Dad had a cabs on the tractors he used for most of the farming
My brother has also gotten tractors with cabs

They both carried shotguns in the cab for groundhogs
All the tractors have pair of straps to hold a shotgun against the ceiling of the cab on the right side
I gave dad a 12 gau 870 with a slug barrel
But the slug barrel takes choke tubes
So I stuck a Mod choke tube in the slug barrel
My brother also uses the same barrel on a 870
They both use 1 1/2 oz of BB reloads that I load

John

[buckwheatpaul]

I would like opinions and, even better, experience with carrying a shotgun in the cab of a tractor.

I have standardized on Mossberg 500’s for self defense shotguns. I buy them cheap and add 18.5” after market barrels.

With a standard stock, it will still be a bit unwieldy in the cab of a tractor. I am wondering how the “cruiser” grip would work? Has anyone used one and what are your thoughts?

My plan is to reload 2 3/4” light recoil loads using buckshot. Hopefully, with a light load I will not need a stock to “shoulder” the recoil.

I am also considering having guns like that in our trucks.

We have numerous tractors. The cab tractor has a single padded mount mounted vertically and holds a rifle or shotgun straight up and down and work well. The open cab tractors have horizontally mounted padded rifle mounts and the rifle or shotgun go horizontally on the brace bars that cross the front end loader....been a cop for over 35 years and truly hate the pistol grips and will not use them!

[lawdog941]

I would go with manufactured low recoil buckshot. Using reloads for inflicting wounds on a known 2 legged problem might be problematic in criminal and civil court. Deadly force is deadly force.

[MarkP]

Look at the Rem TAC 14 or the Mossberg version. They have a 14" bbl and a birds head grip. I have rural land that has my tractor and equipment in a small building and in a 40' shipping container. Meth heads have taken the copper out of my building 3 times and broken into my container twice. The last time it was broken into fairly certain they were there when I arrived. I used to carry just a M 64 S&W when I got out of my vehicle to unlock the gate. Now when I get out to unlock my gate I have my TAC 14 loaded up and my S&W 64 on my hip.
I purchased my TAC 14 for more of a fun thing and had low expectations of it's usefulness. After shooting it on a few outings I realized it is a pretty useful gun. I also keep it in our bedroom. I shoot 3/4 oz 12 ga loads in mine most of the time for practice but load with 000 buck for my land and trap loads at home. Also load the Lyman 12 sabot slug to to an equivalent of a 2-3/4 DR 1-1/8 oz trap load.

I have an open cab tractor and do not carry my TAC 14 just carry my usual S&W 64 either a 4" or a 2" version loaded with NOE 180 WFN over Aliant Power Pistol.

[Chena]

If legal, this sounds like open carry with a holstered hand gun and a moderate amount of weekly practice would be a better solution. I would not look forward to mastering a pistol grip 12 gauge.

[dverna]

If legal, this sounds like open carry with a holstered hand gun and a moderate amount of weekly practice would be a better solution. I would not look forward to mastering a pistol grip 12 gauge.

I have concerns as well, but intend to tailor the load to something manageable, at least for practice loads and have a bit stiffer load for "use". Open carry is legal and has been considered. Two drawbacks on a pistol is how effective it would be on a bear at close range and, for a two legged threat, a shotgun is going to be more of a deterrent than a pistol. On the two legged stuff, deterrence is a high priority as I do not want to shoot someone...just have them go away.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Don: I would suggest a Magpul SGA Stock and Fore End for you M Bergs also do get the Magpul Adapter ($6-8) to be able to run the big Remington Recoil Pad. See my What I did to my Shotguns Thread for pics and explanation.

In your case I would carry the shotgun with a Velcro Side Saddle with a variety of loads to cover whatever you are gonna run into. Maybe a couple more Velcro Side saddles stuck with Velcro Tape around the cab so you have plenty of ammo should you need it. You'd need a sturdy rack or some kind of holder that would solidly hold the gun vertically as it will be getting bounced around when you are working.

You know my aversion to heavy loads and your reloads can be built around your existing Trap Loads, Buckshot /Slugs etc.. Have the gun loaded "Cruiser Ready" IE; Loaded Magazine, Hammer Down on Empty Chamber, Safety Off, so all you do is rack the slide and you are ready to go. If you are going to use the Shotgun, you are going to be out of the cab anyway so why not have a full length stock that you can shoulder normally and be more accurate with?

As a secondary gun, one of your pistols, so if you get surprised up close, you can deal with that threat with a more appropriate gun for close quarters A holster hung in the cab in a quickly accessible place where you can get at it in a heartbeat is the answer...

Since I live in CA and can't carry a gun legally, I have one of these stuck to my Dash Board that is right in front of me and I can grab it quickly and give any wanna car hijackers a face full of love. Once I hit the with that, and they are writhing in pain, I will be going back and shooting some right up their nose for a more lasting effect. $15 at most gun shops or you can get it off Amazon. It shoots a stream instead of a fog. Less blow back like that!

Randy

[dverna]

Randy,

Appreciate the comments and advice. I know you have done a lot of training and that matters.

The pepper gel is intriguing. IIRC there was a time when it was not legal in MI but I checked and we can use it but are limited to 1.2 oz (35 gm) cans. I saw some poor reviews on Amazon so not sure I want to stake my life on it but have not dismissed completely. Not needing to kill a threat is a big plus.

I can carry either concealed or open. Not too shabby with a pistol so it in the mix of options. Like you said, no reason not to have both a pistol and shotgun available. I have a Kahr that I carried when I was working in an office. Might try the Glock 22 but it may be a bit too bulky when working hard and getting on and off the tractor multiple times a day. Pistols are not a great choice as a truck gun as that is considered concealed carry and I cannot have a blood alcohol of more than .02. I reach that level after one drink and that would affect my lifestyle. I need to research if having the pistol in a locked box separate from ammunition would "skirt" the concealed carry regulations.