High-Shooting Mossberg

Achilles11B · January 27, 2011, 08:19 PM

I have a Mossberg 500 with an 18.5 inch barrel that shoots pretty high. At what I call 'home defense' distances (between 5-10 yards), it shoots about a foot high. A shot aimed at center-mass will impact roughly around where the head meets the neck on a practice silhouette. Point of impact is much closer to point of aim inside 5 yards. The offset between POA and POI gets worse as the distance increases. I have put 00 buckshot, rifled slugs and target loads through it, all with the same results. I won't say I'm new to shotguns but I won't claim to be an expert, either. Would a new barrel remedy the problem or is the cause of this something else? Does barrel length have anything to do with it? Thanks in advance for any information.

oneounceload · January 27, 2011, 08:43 PM

Sounds like a fit issue. Are you seeing a lot of barrel when you shoot? While YOU may be looking level at the target, if the stock fit is incorrect will have you actually raising the barrel to shoot high

Doyle · January 27, 2011, 08:56 PM

I agree. Sounds like your eye is sitting too high in relation to the barrel.

zippy13 · January 28, 2011, 11:23 AM

Barrel length won't change a thing if your face is too high on the stock. But, a target barrel with a mid rib bead will give you and indication of how you're mounting the gun by the alignment of the beads. If you see a lot of daylight between the beads, then you'll know your fit is way off.

hogdogs · January 28, 2011, 11:40 AM

For it to be a case of "The gun is shooting a foot high at HD distance...", you would have an OBVIOUSLY visible upwards swoop.

For a long time I had let my POA creep up as I had softened my range estimate accuracy. Got that squared away with a dozen rounds on a patterning style target.

Brent

hogdogs · January 28, 2011, 11:42 AM

Fergot to mention... For me, at HD ranges with the way I particularly mount the gun, I have a good solid inch or better of daylight from the top of the barrel to my intended POI.

Brent

Achilles11B · January 28, 2011, 07:48 PM

From what I'm hearing, it sounds like a training issue as opposed to an equipment issue. Thanks to everyone for the help.

hogdogs · January 29, 2011, 09:09 AM

Yep exactly... if you lay the gun on the sofa and step back a few feew... look it over... Still look straight? Definitely not the gun...

Make your self some cheap cardboard target sheets...

I use cheap slugs to work on my point of aim/ point of impact concerns... At HD ranges, the flight path is similar enuff...
I am really sorry when it comes to explainin' it but these dirt dove shooters have good ways to explain how to mount the gun and what you should be seeing in your view.

Brent

kozak6 · January 29, 2011, 11:03 PM

If it is actually a gun problem, fitting a taller bead might also help.

Achilles11B · February 1, 2011, 11:05 PM

Do you think installing a rear sight would help?

the rifleer · February 1, 2011, 11:35 PM

Installing a rear sight would help because it would force you to have your head in the correct position in order to line up the sights.

January 27, 2011, 08:19 PM	#1
Achilles11B Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Posts: 595	High-Shooting Mossberg I have a Mossberg 500 with an 18.5 inch barrel that shoots pretty high. At what I call 'home defense' distances (between 5-10 yards), it shoots about a foot high. A shot aimed at center-mass will impact roughly around where the head meets the neck on a practice silhouette. Point of impact is much closer to point of aim inside 5 yards. The offset between POA and POI gets worse as the distance increases. I have put 00 buckshot, rifled slugs and target loads through it, all with the same results. I won't say I'm new to shotguns but I won't claim to be an expert, either. Would a new barrel remedy the problem or is the cause of this something else? Does barrel length have anything to do with it? Thanks in advance for any information. __________________ Good equipment will never be a substitute for good training.

January 28, 2011, 07:48 PM	#7
Achilles11B Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Posts: 595	From what I'm hearing, it sounds like a training issue as opposed to an equipment issue. Thanks to everyone for the help. __________________ Good equipment will never be a substitute for good training.

February 1, 2011, 11:05 PM	#10
Achilles11B Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Posts: 595	Do you think installing a rear sight would help? __________________ Good equipment will never be a substitute for good training.

February 1, 2011, 11:35 PM	#11
the rifleer Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2008 Location: Sunny California Posts: 1,281	Installing a rear sight would help because it would force you to have your head in the correct position in order to line up the sights. __________________ There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people.

January 27, 2011, 08:43 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Sounds like a fit issue. Are you seeing a lot of barrel when you shoot? While YOU may be looking level at the target, if the stock fit is incorrect will have you actually raising the barrel to shoot high

January 27, 2011, 08:56 PM	#3
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	I agree. Sounds like your eye is sitting too high in relation to the barrel.

January 28, 2011, 11:23 AM	#4
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	Barrel length won't change a thing if your face is too high on the stock. But, a target barrel with a mid rib bead will give you and indication of how you're mounting the gun by the alignment of the beads. If you see a lot of daylight between the beads, then you'll know your fit is way off.

January 28, 2011, 11:40 AM	#5
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	For it to be a case of "The gun is shooting a foot high at HD distance...", you would have an OBVIOUSLY visible upwards swoop. For a long time I had let my POA creep up as I had softened my range estimate accuracy. Got that squared away with a dozen rounds on a patterning style target. Brent

January 28, 2011, 11:42 AM	#6
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Fergot to mention... For me, at HD ranges with the way I particularly mount the gun, I have a good solid inch or better of daylight from the top of the barrel to my intended POI. Brent

January 29, 2011, 09:09 AM	#8
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Yep exactly... if you lay the gun on the sofa and step back a few feew... look it over... Still look straight? Definitely not the gun... Make your self some cheap cardboard target sheets... I use cheap slugs to work on my point of aim/ point of impact concerns... At HD ranges, the flight path is similar enuff... I am really sorry when it comes to explainin' it but these dirt dove shooters have good ways to explain how to mount the gun and what you should be seeing in your view. Brent

January 29, 2011, 11:03 PM	#9
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	If it is actually a gun problem, fitting a taller bead might also help.