Hurricane Katrina provided a glaring example of the jeopardy that can become present when typical municipal services are disrupted by a natural disaster. A successful terrorist attack could cause a man-made disaster of greater proportions, resulting in even lengthier disruptions of services. Current economic turmoil and political tension present realistic concerns regarding civil unrest and images of the mayhem of the Los Angeles Riots of 1992 easily come to mind. In such situations, a reliable and effective firearm could be invaluable to the preservation of self and family. Those who have not included a firearm in their emergency or “survival” preparations due to tight, recessionary budgets should consider the Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Persuader.
Introduced in 1961, the Mossberg 500 has proven itself to be a reliable pump action shotgun that remains popular with hunters and law enforcement agencies alike. With the addition of a metal safety, metal trigger guard, and bayonet lug, the Mossberg 500 became the 590A1 which is used by the U.S Military. In its Special Purpose Persuader form, the Mossberg 500 provides a proven, no nonsense, defense ready 12 gauge platform with an 18 inch cylinder bore barrel, three inch chamber, five shot magazine (with 2 and ¾ inch shells), and a bead front sight that can occasionally be purchased new for under $300 and for substantially less when found used. This is quite a bargain, considering the well regarded effectiveness of the twelve gauge shotgun as a short range defensive weapon (about twenty-five yards with buckshot and about forty yards with rifled slugs shot with a bead sight).
While primarily configured for defense, (i.e. as a “riot gun”) the Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Persuader does have the flexibility to take a variety of game from squirrels to deer with proper ammunition within the modest effective ranges provided by its cylinder bore and bead sight. Some, who interpret survival as foraging for food and living off of the land, may criticize these limitations. However, for most, survival will mean either weathering the storm until services are restored or evacuating to a safer location, perhaps to the homes of friends or relatives, as quickly as possible. In either instance, taking game will be happenstance at best, dictated by opportunity, circumstance, and individual hunting skills (or lack thereof). Thus, while the option to collect game could be valuable, the primary purpose of a firearm that is incorporated into emergency preparations (especially if only one firearm is available) should be defense and the Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Persuader is well suited for this role.
Sometimes, the Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Persuader comes with a pistol grip that can be optionally installed in place of the butt in order to convert it to the more compact, Cruiser version. Some will be tempted by this because it looks “cool”, allows the shotgun to be stored in a tight space, and perhaps even carried in some duffel bags or backpacks. Unfortunately, this greatly compromises the effectiveness and utility of the shotgun by rendering it awkward and best suited for extremely close ranges. A better solution which provides a compact package without sacrificing serviceability is a folding or collapsible stock as manufactured by Knoxx SpecOps and ATI, respectively.
Shotguns are occasionally recommended for the unskilled and chosen for defensive applications with the erroneous belief that all that is necessary is to point one in the general direction of the target, pull the trigger, and the scattering shot will do the rest. Nothing could be further from the truth and it is quite possible to miss with a shotgun, even at very close range. Shotguns require the same commitment to safety and the acquisition and maintenance of fundamental marksmanship skills that are necessary for the effective use of any firearm. Additionally, if a pump action shotgun such as the Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Persuader is chosen for a defensive application, combat loading from a shell carrier is a skill that must be learned and practiced so that the shotgun can be kept in action in the event that the magazine runs dry.
The Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Persuader is a proven design that is reliable yet inexpensive enough to be acquired despite the constraints of a lean budget. It offers the flexibility necessary to provide for both opportune foraging and effective self defense in emergency situations, provided one develops the skills necessary to effectively use it. The Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Persuader should not be overlooked as a viable tool for self defense and survival, especially if one is limited to just a single firearm.
No comments:
Post a Comment