Introducing The Versatile Mossberg FLEX Shotgun
May 14th, 2012 | By Ben W | Category: Guns & Ammo, Self Defense | Print This Article
Looking for a truly versatile weapon system that isn’t an AR-15? How about one that is reasonably priced and can be used in the field as a home-defense weapon or as a sport shooter?
Are you in need of a one-gun setup that can go from turkey to deer to home defense to the sporting clays field? Do you want to save a bit of money by customizing a gun on your own without the need for a bunch of tools and time?
The Mossberg FLEX is essentially a multipurpose shotgun setup, designed to change furniture for your individual whims or your changing needs as determined by you. It does so affordably, with excellent results and without a ton of tooling.
It’s a concept released at the 2012 Shot Show,allowing a ton of customization in the recoil pad, length of pull, drop, comb, butt stock configuration and fore end. It uses a tool-lessconfiguration so the changes are easy, fast and cheap. Mossberg calls its system the “TLS” which stands for tool-less locking systems.
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You can get patterns (camo and others), rails, or just about anything else you can imagine for the fore end and buttstock, with the recoil pad system making use of the adjustability built into its configuration to help with custom fit scenarios like shooter size, preference, or clothing. It’s built like just about everything else that comes out of the Mossberg factory—not necessarily pretty, but usable, functional, and built tough. It comes in the newest and “coolest” patterns, with the Realtree portfolio and the Mossy Oak portfolio just a couple of the name brands.
Of course you will still get the interchangeability of the Mossberg barrel system for the 590 and 500, ranging from long rifled barrels to short vent-ribbed varieties, home-defense setups, or turkey barrels with chokes built in. You can even get the barrels in camo for specific purposes.
The FLEX idea is built around a crescent-shaped retention clip made to keep things in place. It requires not only the release of the latch, but also a ninety-degree manipulation to free the stock from the receiver, which is mated on a “star like” gear protrusion to ensure multiple locking points. This stub that comes off of the receiver is a male end that fits into the female end on the stock. There are six varieties of stocks, ranging in length of pull from 12.5 inches to 14.25 inches with a multi-positional “M-4” type stock,with an integral pistol grip and a fully adjustable hunting type stock also available. Of course, the pistol grip Mossberg made famous is also available for snapping onto the shotgun chassis. All of the fixed stock variants are available with LOP adjusting recoil pads that are affixed via a multi-location locking button on the back of the buttstock. The pad thicknesses go from .75 inch to 1.5 inch, and they are made of a decent synthetic rubber. The fore-end setup is a bit different and is more like a thin veneer for the underlying skeleton of the action. The shells that you can get are snapped into place on a framework that covers the manual part of the front end. Mossberg makes a variety of front ends, including their novelty chainsaw handle fore end and the standard rail front end, which, for a home-defense gun, can come in handy for mounting lights and other accessories.
The point of the system is modularity on the cheap. The guns that utilize the system are about $65 more expensive than standard models, but the possibilities are virtually endless. For a first-time shooter, such a system makes some amount of sense, as a day in the field turkey hunting can easily be swapped out to provide a good home defense shotgun, and then on the weekend can be seen doing triple duty as a clay shooter. It’s a win-win for end users and for Mossberg. More incidentals are sold from Mossberg,and the consumer doesn’t have to spend as much money to get as much gun as they want. From a shotgun perspective, it’s a bit of variety for not so much extra money.
If you are already a fan of Mossberg or have a need to utilize more than one specific shotgun setup, this might be a good system to look at.
From an off-the grid-perspective—sure, the Mossberg isn’t as pretty as the Remington and isn’t as nicely appointed in standard configuration, but the price point is good, and the toughness, durability, and reliability is excellent.
The speed of changing out the furniture and the quality of the underlying components are excellent on the Mossberg FLEX system. There isn’t any play or sloppiness, no concerns about function, fit, or toughness, and the argument can certainly be made that a one-gun man is much more proficient with their weapon of choice than with a bevy of firearms they rarely get to shoot with any real depth.
The FLEX system fills a need for a certain type of person, many of which exist in the off-the-grid lifestyle, and that is why this gun makes sense for these readers in many cases.
©2013 Off The Grid News
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I tried several times to get to the article about raising chicks to healthy hens. Each time I was presented a plethora of interesting articles, but not the one about raising chicks.
On another subject, speaking of the Mayan calendar doomsday date, I speculate that aligns with the Biblical prophecy concerning the stone cut without hands striking the foot of image in Daniel’s dream interpretation. The image was a timeline, starting in Daniel’s day with King Nebuchadnezzar being the head of gold, and the foot being the last generation (that’s us). While Christian preachers imaginatively announce that the prophesied event is the return of Jesus and the rapture, that isn’t what the Bible says. Look for a stone cut without hands, i.e., a meteor, to strike the earth in our day.
It’s not a toy. It says right on the packaging how these are never a toy. You don’t wear saftey goggles and tactical gear to play with toys. The orange tip is to show off how it’s not a lethal weapon. My 480 FPS Crossman Phantom BB gun has no orange tip. That is a lethal weapon. It shot through my 3/4 inch thick wooden fence.
Agreed,,,,, I think the business of christian religion is involved in decyphering prophesy, but over looks the obvious. Similarly, the morons who beleive in the religion of evolution overlook the actual data, and instead leap to wrong conclusions. By knowing the bible yourselves and thinking what it means, maybe discussing with several knowledgable friends, you can arrive at the right conclusion.
It also says that a remnant will survive in the mountains………
The Col
Oh yeah, and while in the mountains,,,, I would like to have a mossberg 500,,, cause they are very reliable, cheap and they work. The replaceable barrels are the best.
I like 12 guage cause the ammo is cheaper, availabe at Walmart.
so, there is my unsolicited advertisement for Mossberg……..
The Col
Looks like a very nice setup. I went to the Mossberg website, and I see “Coming Soon”– do we have a date it will be released? I don’t have a shotgun yet, but I’ll be in the market soon and I like having one shotgun to fill the different needs.
I appreciate your thoughts BuggyDriver, but I politely disagree with your interpretation and I’ll give my reasons why. In Daniel 2:44, Daniel tells us: “…the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed…, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”. I believe that this is more consistent with revelations given in other books of scripture (like revelation, Ezekial, etc). There is the ‘wormwood’ that is cast down from heaven in Revelation, but it doesn’t destroy the nations. Certainly, I agree that we need to study the scriptures, and determine what they mean for themselves. I also appreciate the idea of looking at prophecy through a different perspective, challenging conventional thoughts on prophecy, and stretching for any possible meanings or fulfillments of prophecy; however, I also feel that they need to stay in context of the scriptures that they are given in.
The Col– I appreciate your advice on the Mossberg 500– I’ll have to take a look at them and I agree on the 12 gauge. It is hard to beat.
I’m curious where it says a remnant will be saved in the mountains (not that I doubt, but I’d like to look more into it).
Thanks,
–Regneva
Its in there, cant remember where (cause I am not that great a christian) but I can recognize mountains when I see them, that is why I moved to Colorado.
Folks,
This is a great site, but you’d do well to practice inclusion, rather then the exclusion of group think. It may strike you as odd, but people who don’t share your beliefs may be the ones who come to your aid in the future. Morality is not defined by words, but by actions. Just because I don’t go to your church, doesn’t mean that I won’t save your life. We all know whats right and wrong, most of us just rationalize away our morality by spouting some mumbo jumbo and closing off to the rest of the world. Nature is the only thing we can be 100% sure about, as we live in it everyday. God should be a private, personal relationship. You demean it by telling others what you believe to be the word of God. Remember, no chapter in any bible is headed with “God”, just the names of men. Do good, and you do the will of God, no matter who’s God that may be. Even the Atheists. Keep up the good work.
The Col– Too bad you don’t remember. I’ll have to watch for it. I love the mountains as well, and I also believe that these Rocky Mountains will be a protection to us as well, but I didn’t have anything biblical to back it up (the Rockies or mountains in general)
Ed– I’m not sure if you’re referring to me or the people who run the site (who haven’t seemed exclusive in beliefs to me). I’m not sure what would make what I said would constitute practicing exclusion, unless you feel that disagreeing with someone’s thoughts are excluding them– I mean to be as polite and gentle as I can in disagreement, and I certainly hope that it comes through. It is always harder in written word than when spoken in person.
Personally I feel that group think means you share what you think, even if it disagrees with someone else. As you mentioned, God himself didn’t write the Bible, but men whom he inspired did. If they didn’t share what they learned and believed, we wouldn’t have the bible today. I feel that I honor God and our relationship by sharing Him and that relationship with others; but I do agree with you that relationship needs to be personal. It needs to be in our hearts (feelings) and in our minds (thoughts).
I also agree we need to be inclusive to those around us and show our faith, not by words but by our works.
I’ve been looking too, in the evenings. I’ll find it and get it back to you.
Ed: I respect your opinion, however I disagree with your conclusions. What are you going to do with John 1: 1-3 which says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” (scripture, nature, all creation including time) John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory , glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
2 Timothy 3: 16 & 17 ” All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
Lastly, we do need to assemble together as Christians. Read 2 Corinthians, the whole book, also Hebrews 2: 25 ” …..not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another: and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” Studying the Word of God and obeying the Word of God is true secret to peace, contentment, eternal hope, happiness, etc.
Isaiah 24
I have never excluded anyone on life saving missions, nor in the combat action I have been in. I come to the aid of Islam as well as christian or atheist. I never stop to ask, what country you are from, what your religion is or who you voted for. And when I build a unit it matters not one iota what you believe of how you act. Be careful that when you “feel” excluded that it is not just your “Feeling.” Feelings can be misleading. I have saved hundreds more lives than I have taken. I have been on 3 erupting volcanos, 5 typhoons/hurricanes, shipwrecks, crashes, riots, some pirates in the Philippines, and of course wars, like I am doing right now. Not once have I excluded anyone, and I doubt I would you. Which is what I like about christians, they tend on the whole to be very, accepting, and I am here to tell you, they are much more gracious and generous than the other religions I have encountered, to include aetheists. Dont allow the media to paint an impression in your head about us. Still, your feeling that you would be excluded is not warranted, intead of feeling excluded come over and chat, you will find us very much like you felt we were before you knew we were christians. Because that is how we are. Dont be afraid of us, and we wont be exclusive of you.
But just like I like to talk weapons and war with the old salts on here, I speak also of our common religion. Come on in there is no membership and no clique, just US.
The Col
Mossberg 500′s can be had in pawn shops for around 200-250, buy yourself something called snap rounds that look like a shotgun shell only they are plastic and have not powder or primers. Buy 2 3/4 inch rounds, 3 inch magnums are not necessary, and cost a lot more. But if you intend to hunt say Turkey try to get the 3 inch. On the barrell on the left side, (if memory serves) is some writing that says either 2 3/4 or 3 in chamber, but be careful because Mossberg barrells change very easily and the barrel might not be the original. Buy five of them, load them in the tube and run them through the gun to see it;
1. It loads and retains ammo on the tube
2. it cycles rounds through the chamber
3. It seats round correctly in the barrel and ejects them
There is a little button on the front of the trigger guard that you push with your trigger finger (do not put your finger on the trigger!!!) and the pump will cycle for you without firing.
Mossbergs are good economical guns, the choices in barrels are huge to include a black powder version that I personally have never used. But if you are ever in a fire fight, or even a confrontation, nothing but NOTHING changes the snotty tone of trouble makers like the sound of a pump shotgun being charged,,,,,,, lets them know that your intentions are serious. Buckshot rounds are getting cheaper and can be had on line for around 50 cents each. They are good for defense cause they will flat kill, but bird shot (5 or 6 shot) is available at walmart 100 for 30 bucks, It will do both jobs,,,defense and putting a bird on the table. Dont worry about the barrel size it the SHTF just take a hack saw and cut it off to NO LESS than 18 inches. That is what the FBI and BATF killed the people on Ruby Ridge for,,,,, but if the gubmint is done for, you still dont want a barrel shorter than that it really decreases the utility of the weapon for hunting, and besides, nobody know what you got in that barrel
The very heart of your writing whlist appearing reasonable initially, did not really settle properly with me personally after some time. Somewhere throughout the paragraphs you actually managed to make me a believer but only for a very short while. I however have got a problem with your jumps in logic and you might do nicely to help fill in those breaks. When you can accomplish that, I could definitely be fascinated.
Like what Junior,,,, I have been on this post for years, and I try not to boor people with things I may have said before,,,, what can I help you with.???
Right now I am fighting in Afghanistan,,,, so I dont get back to the site as often as I would like….
Mossberg 500′s on sale for $299 at Cheaper than Dirt, for a week… That is for a brand new gun.
the Col
The Mossberg 500 is a damn good buy for the money. I have two now, one setup as a turkey gun and the other in riot configuration. Both are very functional work guns. Not fancy, but well designed and make a good addition to anyone’s kit.