Today, www.artofmanliness.com published an article written by Creek Stewart on their site about How to Build the Ultimate Survival Shotgun. You have to check it out at: http://artofmanliness.com/2011/07/11/how-to-make-a-survival-shotgun/
Below are also 2 videos with Creek reviewing THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL SHOTGUN.
Below is a parts list w/ prices for the major components. Let me know if you have questions about any of the other mods:
Receiver Side Saddle: Holds Six Shells Price: $29.97 Link to order: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SHT003-1.html Stock Side Saddle Price: $19.97 Link to order: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SHT025-1.html Tri-Rail Barrel Mount Price: $19.97 Link to order: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SHT071-1.html Pistol Grip Butt Stock Price: $39.97 http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/SHT035-1.html Picatinny Rail Forend Price: $22.32 Link to order: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/60536-1.html Vertical Foregrip Price: $19.97 Link to order: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ARR073-1.html Ka-Bar Rail Knife Price: $39.97 Link to order: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/DBA895-1.html Braided Paracord Shotgun Sling Price: $47.82 Link to order: http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/products-page/survival-necessities/paracord-braided-adjustable-gun-sling/ Gerber Vise Multi-Tool Price: $16.92 Link to order: http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/products-page/bushcraft-survival-multi-tools/edc-gerber-vise/ 12 Gauge Specialty Flare Rounds Price: $9.50 for 3 rounds Link to order: http://www.americanspecialtyammo.com/12_Gauge.html Ultiamte Arms Tactical Light/Compass Combo Price: $21.95 Link to order: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390330710789 Engraved Receiver Plate Price: $5.00 Where: Local Trophy Shop
About The Art of Manliness Blog (direct from their about section):
The Art of Manliness is authored by husband and wife team, Brett and Kate McKay. It features articles on helping men be better husbands, better fathers, and better men. In our search to uncover the lost art of manliness, we’ll look to the past to find examples of manliness in action. We’ll analyze the lives of great men who knew what it meant to “man up” and hopefully learn from them. And we’ll talk about the skills, manners, and principles that every man should know. Since beginning in January 2008, The Art of Manliness has already gained 75,000+ subscribers and continues to grow each week.
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- How to Build a Get Home Bag (GHB): When you’re away from home and things get CRAZY!
- How To Field Dress a Squirrel – an article by Creek Stewart on ArtofManliness.com
Hey Creek,
That’s an awesome survival shotgun. I think you really did a great job of compacting everything you could into one easy-to-carry and useful tool. Can you give any specs on the gun? I’m interested in the brand of stock, pump grip and the ferro rod used. Thanks and keep up the great work.
Charley,
Thanks for the visit & comment. I just posted a list of the items w/ prices as an update to this post. The ferro rod was a blank I purchased from bensbackwoods.com a while back. I buy blanks and use them for special projects here and there – like my Deer Antler Ferro Rod project seen here: http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/willowhaven-videos/how-to-make-pine-resin-glue/ . Be sure to subscribe to the blog and if you can get away I would love to have you at one of our clinics this fall/winter.
I just bought a new Mossberg 500. The forend is not compatible with the new Mossbergs. Cheaper than Dirt is sending me a different one. Fingers crossed I will be up and running in a couple of days.
Dean- How did it turn out? Creek
Cheaper than Dirt does not have anything compatible for the new Mossberg. I could only find one on ultimate fire arms on e-bay. The forend wobbles a little bit more than I would like, but it will do until someone comes out with a better one.
Great post. I read it on AOM this morning and enjoyed the follow-up videos here. I’m curious how much you have wrapped up in that rig. I know Mossberg sells those Just-In-Case tubes, but I like the customize-ability of your approach. I agree with Charley, a list of the mods would be great. Are you planning to post on a survival sidearm sometime?
Wade,
Thanks for visiting the site. I appreciate your comments. I’ve seen those tubes – very cool. They make great burial caches. I just posted a list of the items I used on this project w/ prices as an update to this post. Survival Sidearm – I feel another post in the pipeline
All the best and keep in touch.
Creek
I just came over here to thank you for sharing with us over at AOM Your very cool shotgun project, hoping to see more posts from You.
Michael
Michael-
Thanks for taking the time to visit. You will for sure see more from me. If you liked the survival shotgun post I’ve got a few in the pipe-line that you’ll really enjoy.
Stay tuned – Creek
I read this over at AoM and I’m glad it led me here. This site is just what I’ve been looking for.
Creek, I like it.
Tell me a bit more about the plastic bag “solar still”. How does that work?
Also, would there be some difficulty with the aluminum pan creasing and breaking in the corners from folding, making it unusable as a water container? It’s definitely useful as a reflector, etc. But I wonder if something else more durable might substitute.
Thanks, very cool!
AJ-
Here’s a link to a tree branch style solar still: http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/general-survival/lessons-from-pathfinder-survival-gathering-ohio-spring-2011/ **NOTE: These work best using clear bags. The other method is done by using a hole in the ground. Maybe I will demonstrate these in more detail in a future post…
Good point with the aluminum pan. Hopefully you wouldn’t be stuck out so long for that to happen but over time it would fail. It was the only metal, foldable boiling container I could think of. I’m open to suggestions. Thanks for stopping by!\
Creek
Re: How to Build the Ultimate Survival Shotgun
This was indeed an excellent and thought provoking article.
My comments regard only the author’s selection of the model 500 series from the Mossberg line up.
The only real weakness of selecting the Mossberg 500 shotgun is magazine tube access. Such things as leaking buffer from a defective shell crimp, dirt and rust can turn a repeating shotgun into a single shot. The model 500 has to have the entire magazine tube removed in order to replace the follower spring or clean the magazine tube.
The 590 series Mossberg designed for military use, uses a conventional magazine cap to address this problem.
The 590A1 with six shot magazine, metal safety, metal trigger guard and fixed three dot sights would be my choice from the Mossberg product line. A simple pull through type cleaning kit with a small container of CLP type gun lube should also be included for shotgun maintenance.
.
Ralph~
Sounds like I need to UPGRADE – thanks for sharing. I did a few minutes research and it seems all of the mods are easily trasferable over to a 590. I guess I better start saving…
Thanks for stoping by – be sure to subscribe!
Creek
Compass is all well and good..but you do realize that the metal from the shotgun is likely to throw off the reading rendering it useless unless you take the flashlight off the weapon system..
Kevin-
Yes, I do. The nice feature about that flashlight compass is that the compass is built into the screw on cap. It just takes a couple seconds to screw it off and put some distance between it and the gun. I actually tested its accuracy on the gun when I put everything together and the metal does indeed throw off the reading as compared to one I had placed several feet away.
Good insight – thanks for sharing.
All the best-
Creek
I want one. Do you sell these? If not, know of anyone that would build me one? Thanks.
I’ll be glad to include/combine your build with mine. Let me know if you are serious.
BAM- Sorry – I don’t sell them. There really isn’t anything too difficult about building one. Most of the components are simple bolt on pieces. The survival kit inside takes the most time – just getting everything together. I think you’d be just fine tackling the project yourself.
Good luck!
Creek
Hi Creek,
A well put together package indeed. A quick and cheap way to boost ammo capacity would be to use either a bandolier sling, or accompanying bandolier belt. That way in addition to the 18 shells, one would have room for an additional 50, or one could also use the pockets in the bandolier to store additional supplies.
Francis
Francis- Thanks for the comment. That is a great idea! An extra 50 would be a huge bonus.
Thanks!
Creek
Exactly. I have a Remington 870 Marine and I would never fasten ammo directly to any gun I was going to carry, I mean who needs the extra weight on the gun? I have a 25rd belt I wear around my waist. Extracting ammo from a belt is smooth and intuitive but from a side saddle is awkward at best.
you’d be better off carrying alot of these items you put into your shot gun on your person than putting all your eggs in one basket.
Have you ever shot it with that knife attatched? I think you will stab yourself while you have it slung or it will fly off when you shoot it. It was designed to be mounted on a pistol.
If you drop you rifle somewhere all your supplies will be lost. I hope you dont point the muzzle at yourself when you use that “saw”:
Optimus-
Thanks for visiting. You can always transfer items from the kit to your person – as with any survival kit. Have I fired the shotgun with the knife attached? Yes, over 100 times by now. I target shot and skeet shot over 50 rounds just this past weekend. This knife doesn’t budge – nor does the compass. It is a picatinny rail mount knife so it locks into place – it doesn’t just slide on and off. You are correct, this knife is designed for a pistol. It doesn’t get in the way at all when used with the sling either – I hiked about a 1/2 mile to our target area this past weekend with no problems – up hills, through creeks and brush. In regards to pointing the gun at myself, it is imperative to take every safety precaution when working with firearms regardless of how you use it. You certainly would not want to use the built in bow saw with a round chambered or even rounds in the magazine for that matter. Hopefully I’ve addressed your concerns. Glad you enjoyed the project.
All the best-
Creek
Hey Creek!
Here from AoM, and just wanted to thank you for the post! I’ll probably be putting this together by the end of the week. This is exactly the website I’ve been looking for, and have read quite a few posts already tonight. I’m looking forward to seeing more from you!
Adam
Have a question on your build. We are almost complete with our bug out bag and have already prepared for a long term hold up if necessary. My on person defense choice is still my Glock 23 but having seen your survival shotgun I decided you can never have too many fall backs especially in a survival situation.
My question is this, I know that you used a Mossberg 500 for this project but which one? There are several styles of the Mossberg 500.
I really enjoy all of your posts and everything Willowhaven has to offer. Please keep it up. It has given me a vast amount of information and tools to provide for and protect my family in the event of a catastrophe.
I am new to the whole bug out concept, and have found your site extremely useful and informative.
This shotgun is a great project, but one thing I felt was missing is a scope.
While it would completely useless for shooting, with the concept of the gun being a grab-and-go type item, it would be like adding a set of binoculars.
Thanks for all the great info.
Pete
Pete – I agree! This would be a great addition. Good point and thanks for adding. Creek
Where could I find a good tutorial/ video on how to braid a paracord sling? Love the concept.
My daughter sent me the link on The Art of Manliess a few months ago (she was researching mustaches….haha) and finally contemplating building one of these. I’m leaning towards a Mossberg Maverick M88 rather than the M500. Despite some parts being made in Mexico, the M88 is assembled here in Texas and offers a more inexpensive option than the M500. In addition, I personally prefer the crossbolt safety (a’ la Rem 870) of the M88 as compared to the tang safety of the M500.
@Creek – I considered picking up some Orion boating flares at the sporting goods store, but was concerned about the all plastic construction as well as the short shelf-life (2-3 years). I suppose they would work, but I’m guessing the specialty ammo would be substantially better. Which specific flare rounds do you carry, and what color flare do you recommend (red I’ld assume…)? Also, does American Specialty Ammo have a shelf-life date on their flare rounds?
@Pete and Creek – Adding an optic would not be useless for shooting! Optics are commonly used when shooting slugs (for large game) or heavy shot (for turkeys). If the shotgun is drilled and tapped (maybe I better rethink the M88 and go with the M500 or M590), then a Picatinney rail can be added atop the receiver (for $25 or so) and a low-powered scope (maybe 1-4X variable) could be added and could still be quickly removed.
@Greg The M88 is an awesome gun. I use the RED Super Flares from ASA. I don’t know about the shelf life – I guess that would be a ? for ASA. I don’t know that ASAs flares would be better than the Orion brand. I might pick a pack up and test to see for myself out of curiosity. I like your picatinny rail variation idea. Send pics if you get it built. Just an FYI, some of the parts I’ve listed don’t fit the new Mossbergs. I’ve had mine for few years.
Creek,
Awesome ideas and post. I have a couple of questions. What kind of sling mounts are you using?
I’m just using the basic screw in studs. I had to drill tap a small hole then they just screw in. I bought them a Gander Mtn. for just a few bucks. Hope this helps!
Creek,
Does your Mossberg 500 have a magazine extension on it? I’ve had mine for 20 years and it looks a little different than yours.
Yes, it does – that may be the difference. 20 Years and still kickin’ !
In the spirit of firearms just wanted to throw out this site/recipes for firearm cleaning/maintenance.My friend has been using the “Ed’s Red”recipe for years.I have just made up a gallon and will give a qt. each to friends,will let know down the road how it works,cost as had none of materials on hand$22,those savings can go towards more ammo/firearm or whatever else you have your heart set on,has recipes also for serious lead/copper fouling.These are volatile compounds(as is store bought brands)so use a level of care.Here is a site with recipes http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm ,hopes this helps with saving a few dollars.
I have a Winchester Ranger 120 pump with a 28″ barrel, interchangable chokes,mag tube extended to 11 rounds, and a skeletonized stock with pistolgrip.Extra rounds are carried on a bandolier.Considering adding a single point binocular site.