Don’t you like it when it begins to get somewhat cooler? Jackets, sweatshirts, and extra make carrying bigger weapons a bit simpler. This brings me to my new winter EDC, the Mossberg 500 Compact Cruiser, which is the closest a 12-gauge will get to being concealed-carry pleasant. It’s legally an “Any Different Weapon” (AOW), but when I name it a shotgun, forgive me.
I can tie my love of those weapons again to watching reruns of Miami Vice with my dad, the place Detective Tubbs carried a wide range of short-barreled shotguns with pistol grips.
The Compact Cruiser sequence was Mossberg’s temporary tackle the micro-sized AOW class. Mossberg didn’t make these for very lengthy, and based mostly on how few are on the secondary market, it didn’t make many. Now, they appear fairly collectible. The one itemizing I discovered was on Gunbroker, priced at a gap bid of $3,500.
Mossberg made two of those shotguns: a 590A1 model with a ten.25-inch barrel and the Mossberg 500 mannequin with a 7.5-inch barrel.
Inside and Out With the Compact Cruiser
The Mossberg 500 Compact Cruiser has an general size of 17 inches. It holds solely 2 rounds of two 3/4-inch ammunition however can maintain 3 mini shells. The barrel alone on a regular Mossberg Cruiser is definitely 1.5 inches longer than this whole gun.
Since I discussed mini shells, I added the Defender Tactical adapter to make them run reliably. I additionally added a mini shell from a facet saddle from Pew Pew Koncepts to prime off Mossberg’s mini monster. To me, mini shells are a enjoyable novelty, however so is this whole gun.
The Compact Cruiser replaces the usual pump with a vertical grip. A standard pump is simply too massive to work on this ultra-small gun. It could hit the receiver, stopping the motion from biking. The vertical grip additionally folds out of the best way, making the weapon straightforward to retailer and decreasing its profile.
I like vertical grips on shotguns; in reality, I choose them. It makes it lots simpler to do an excellent push-pull, which is how we’re going to mitigate recoil with a shotgun. Mossberg went with an ATI pistol grip that’s significantly better than the everyday arduous plastic on the opposite Cruiser platforms. It’s softer, has a rubberized again strap, and is wider, serving to to dissipate recoil higher than the previous design.
We get the traditional Mossberg Tang security, which I discover is awkward with the pistol grip. It requires a hefty thumb motion to entry; it’s sluggish and never very ergonomic. So, the protection is a multitude, however general, the ergonomics are high-quality.
Ringing Metal With the Compact Cruiser
Shotgun accuracy is at all times an attention-grabbing dialogue. We usually focus on patterns, however I wish to concentrate on accuracy as a result of the gun has point-of-impact/point-of-aim points. That is frequent with Mossberg shotguns and bead sights as a result of they place the bead straight on the barrel. This usually makes Mossberg’s seem to hit excessive.
With buckshot, it’s not usually a difficulty, however it’s noticeable with slugs. On the Compact Cruiser, it’s a reasonably large drawback as a result of shorter sight radius. If I needed to hit an FBI Q goal within the chest area, I’d must intention at the place the belt buckle would sit on an individual. The purpose of affect and the purpose of intention are poorly aligned, and this gun is certainly extra of a point-and-shoot weapon.
The patterns are additionally pretty broad; at 12 yards, they lined a 12-inch goal. I’m betting the dramatic barrel taper is what’s inflicting the huge sample. Nonetheless, with a gun this brief, you’d be utilizing it at shut vary, and admittedly, the broader unfold is helpful. Is it correct? No, probably not, however you’ll hit your goal with a load of buckshot, and that’s what issues.
Driving the Recoil
I fired some commonplace buckshot by way of the gun; I fired quite a lot of Fiocchi Protection Dynamics reduced-recoil buckshot. Firing this ammo was a literal and figurative blast. You’ll be able to really really feel the gasoline leaving the barrel. With the diminished recoil ammo, recoil wasn’t that dangerous in any respect, and I might put two of these Fiocchi rounds on course in about 1.1 seconds. With out a inventory, you will sacrifice some efficiency and cope with some recoil.
I primarily fired mini shells by way of the gun as a result of it’s a enjoyable gun, and with mini shells, it’s a ton of enjoyable. There’s barely any recoil. Slugs, buckshot, and birdshot are all very straightforward and enjoyable to shoot.
The Compact Cruiser shines in maneuverability. It’s extremely small and potent, making it straightforward to maneuver the gun round close-quarters environments. I additionally discover it’s quite a lot of enjoyable to interact close-range targets from the hip. I purchased this gun pondering it might be enjoyable, and it turned out to be a really, very enjoyable gun.
I had no reliability points, and the Compact Cruiser is a ton of enjoyable. It cycles the whole lot with no drawback, and the brief motion makes brief stroking a difficulty.
Now, let’s play fake: if I needed to go to a gunfight and I needed to carry this gun, would I really feel comfy? I assume, however I’d nonetheless choose a stocked preventing shotgun. It’s higher than harsh language, however it wouldn’t be my first alternative for dwelling protection. If the world ever ends, I’d toss this within the backpack after I head to work.
Mossberg’s Compact Cruiser 2.0
The Mossberg 500 Compact Cruiser is about as brief as a pump shotgun can get. I doubt they bought nicely once they have been launched, however I do assume Mossberg might re-release these weapons, given the renewed curiosity in “tremendous shorty” shotguns.
The truth is, I’ve a design in my head that I feel would make for one of the best compact cruiser. What I would like Mossberg to do is make the 590 RM variant into an AOW:
“R” (AR-style security): This could repair the ergonomics points.
“M” (Journal): This could repair the capability drawback.
Wait, Mossberg already made this gun. They developed a breaching gun, the Vanisher, for the UK Army.
Why Mossberg hasn’t introduced the Vanisher to the market is past me, however it might be a improbable addition. I’d choose one up, and there’s acquired to be just a few different individuals on the market who’d choose one up.
The place to Purchase
