Ultimate shotgun project

I have always been a big shotgun fan.  I believe them to be the most versatile firearms ever made.  Given proper ammunition, there is literally nothing in North America that a hunter cannot harvest effectively using a shotgun.

This fact, and my very small budget, inspired me to build my ultimate tactical hunting shotgun. Keep in mind that the result will be what I think is the perfect hunting shotgun – it may not be your ideal.  I call it a tactical hunting shotgun because I want the result to be a single gun that can effectively harvest every game animal in North America with very little changes.  My goal is to be able to go from squirrels to high-flying geese to caribou in Alaska just by changing shells and choke tubes. 

This will be an ongoing project which I will document along the way.  I will start with the shotgun itself.  I will be working with a Mossberg 500 in 12 gauge.  I have owned this particular shotgun for over 30 years and it has been very reliable.  The gun is plain as could be and has more than a few battle scars.

 

One feature made this gun a favorite of mine is the top mounted safety.  The safety is in a natural position on top of the rear of the receiver, where it can be easily activated by the shooter’s thumb.  Being an older gun, the safety switch is made of aluminum, instead of the plastic used in newer versions.

 

Since this will be a continuing project, there is a great possibility that I may make a change and not be satisfied with it; my intent is to build the gun to suit me, not someone else.  Still, I welcome suggestions and comments from my readers.  Maybe I will include your idea and will give you credit for the results!