Family Tradition (with Colonel Smoothbore) 10.30.16
By angelamontana

Posted: October 30, 2016

Emigrating from Sweden, Oscar Frederick Mossberg arrived in the United States in 1886. Mossberg worked for several firearms manufacturers in the New England area. Iver Johnson, C.S. Shattuck Arms Co., J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co, and the Marlin-Rockwell machine gun manufacturing company all benefitted from his expertise and ingenious, patented designs.

After the end of WWI there was little market for machine guns and the Marlin-Rockwell company failed. At 53 years old, Mossberg found himself unemployed. So, in 1919, Oscar and his sons, Iver and Harold, started their own company, O.F. Mossberg and Sons. Today, nearly 100 years later, the company is still family-owned and is producing quality firearms at very affordable prices.

Mossberg® guns have been a staple of American shooters since its inception. My dad’s first gun was a bolt-action single shot Mossberg® .22 rimfire rifle. Currently, Mossberg’s lineup includes rifles, shotguns, and a pistol whose origins start with AR rifle.

Mossberg® has a fairly large line of rifles. The Patriot™ rifles are primarily hunting guns. The bolt-action guns are available in many calibers from .22-250 Remington to .375 Ruger. In between are nearly all the popular short, long, and magnum cartridge favorites of American hunters. The guns can be had with either walnut or synthetic stocks and are also available with a scope in a combo package. The bolt-action MVP™ guns offers 8 models for varminters and law enforcement. There is even a Flex™ model. The Model 464™ is a classic lever action rifle chambered in .30-30 Winchester and available in two walnut and one synthetic stocked models. The MMR™ is an AR style rifle that is a great entry level MSR; it is chambered in 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem. Finally, for rimfire aficionados, the Mossberg™ offerings include the Mossberg International™ 801 Half-Pint™, 802 Plinkster™, and the very sexy 817™. Two .22 rimfire lever guns are available, one walnut and the other synthetic stocked guns. Mossberg® also offers some semi-auto rimfire rifles including cool AR and AK variants.

The Mossberg International™ 715P™ pistol is chambered in .22 Long Rifle and is available with a red dot optic. This gun is an AR style plinker.
Mossberg® has offered quality affordable shotguns almost since its beginnings. The Model 500™ has been used by the U.S. Military for decades. It is a solid, reliable firearm that has been used in combat around the world. The 500™ is available in many models including the innovative Flex™ system. Forearms, stocks, and barrels are interchangeable. Set up your gun for USPSA competition, then swap the components and you have a waterfowl or upland bird smoothbore. Other models include dedicated tactical, youth, and magnum choices. The 835® Ulti-Mag is the perfect medicine for geese and turkey hunters.

The 930™ series of shotguns offers models similar to the 500™ series only in semi-auto form. The 930™ JM Pro Series guns (JM being the great Jerry Miculek) come in three different models and are in my opinion, great 3-gun options. 930 & 935 Magnum Pro-Series Waterfowl shotguns just might be the best affordable guns available to American shooters. And for those who don’t need the big bang of 12 gauge guns there is the Mossberg International™ SA-20™ available in 8 different models including a very cool Muddy Girl camo gun.
Mossberg® is the oldest family owned gun company in America. They produce quality, very affordable, American made firearms and I suggest if you are in the market for a new gun, give Mossberg® a good look.

 

Be safe and good shooting.
Colonel Smoothbore
www.guncoach.net

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