Mossberg recently joined forces with the wildly popular real-TV show Duck Dynasty. Adding to their very popular line of shotguns, Mossberg will now offer a Duck Commander Series.
The Series includes 11 pump-action and auto-loading waterfowl shotguns that will feature the Duck Commander logo, Realtree Max-5 camouflage, TRUGLO fiber optic sights with a variety of stock, barrel and finish options. The Duck Commander line will also include two .22LR semi-auto rifles – a plastic gun that looks like an AR-15, and the Mossberg 702 Plinkster semi-auto rifle. In addition, there will be a .22LR semi-auto pistol (also on an AR-looking shell). Every firearm will come with an American flag bandana.
The newly updated Mossberg SA-20 Field/Tactical autoloader is a 20 gauge shotgun with a 20″ barrel, synthetic stock and a variety of features that might make it a good home defense gun for you. With the updated version shown at the 2013 SHOT Show, I immediately saw the gun’s home defense potential for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is reduced recoil.
The semi-auto action tends to absorb some of the recoil in the mechanical process of moving the bolt, extracting a spent shell and chambering a new one. Combine that with the lower recoil of a 20 gauge compared to a 12 gauge, and one can see how this gun will likely be more tolerable to someone who is more recoil sensitive. I’ve never had a problem training people of all sizes to shoot a 12 gauge, but a semi-auto 20 is simply easier for some people to control.
Introduced at the 2012 SHOT Show, the Mosberg 464 SPX is a tactical, lever action rifle chambered in .30-30. This lever gun is black (of course) and comes standard with a tri-rail and AR-style, adjustable buttstock. Yes, it can be had with a flash hider.
Mossberg is also introducing a .22 LR version of the 464 tactical lever gun. This model can be purchased with a muzzle break to help tame the wild recoiling rimfire.
Michael Bane mentioned the tactical .30-30 on his podcast a week or two ago. I thought it could be very cool or a train wreck. I’ll let you decide for yourself. MSRP starts at $497 and goes up from there.
I’m a big fan of the lever action rifle as a home defense gun. The .30-30 cartridge is more than adequate to stop a determined home invader. Plus, in the aftermath, it is much harder for an attorney representing the “poor victim” to show you were a bloodthirsty killer by pointing to a walnut stocked lever action your daddy gave you. I just don’t know if the 464 SPX is quite what I am thinking for self defense, but what the heck. Different strokes for different folks. If you like it, buy one and don’t worry about what anyone else might think.
The muzzle brake on the .22 LR version of the Mossberg 464 SPX.
2014 Update
Mossberg continues to sell the 464 SPX rifles. It would seem that they are a better seller than some people gave it credit for.
The MSRP has increased to $552 from the original $497. I suppose that is to be expected.
One thing Mossberg did do was the company added a zombie version of the rifle. The 464 ZMB is much the same gun, but with a splash of green for good measure. I do not have a photo of it to post. However, when I get one, I will add it to this page. The zombie version of the rifle has a suggested list price of $581.
Mossberg was showing its new value-priced Maverick bolt-action rifles at the 2010 SHOT Show. The Maverick rifles will be available in long and short actions, starting with .270 and .30-06, and .243 and .308 respectively.
The Maverick rifles have black synthetic stocks and can be had with the adjustable length of pull system. The rifles come standard with Weaver-type mounts for easy installation of a scope.
The Mavericks will have a standard trigger, not the adjustable Lightning Bolt Action system that Mossberg is putting on many of its rifles and shotguns. While the LBA trigger is definitely a nicer trigger, there is nothing wrong with the standard trigger provided out of the box from Mossberg.
