They come in quite handy for keeping your hand off a hot barrel when you flip it upside down and reload....and my guns don't sit in the corner *only* for home defense. If I ever took a firearm out to shoot and *didn't* heat it up, I'd feel ashamed, I think.All heatshields do is increase weight and look tactikewl. Ask yourself, do you really need a sling and heat shield for home defense?
Do you plan on getting into an extended gun battle with an army platoon or outlaw bikers? How many shooters at trap/skeet/sporting clays competitions use heat shields? None of them do..They come in quite handy for keeping your hand off a hot barrel when you flip it upside down and reload
I don't plan to have a gun battle with *anyone*. I *do* plan to shoot up some overly large and over ripe watermelons this weekend, though. As I said, my guns aren't ONLY for home defense. As to trap/skeet etc, that's nothing but a supersized order of strawman arguing. They don't do something so I shouldn't do it either. I don't shoot like they do, nor do they shoot like I do. If I were firing one or two rounds and then letting things air out and cool off for a few mins, I'd be fine, too. I, however, can fire more in five mins than they will normally fire in an hour or two. Also, OU guns that most use don't load from the bottom, they load from the top. Turning one over would make it near impossible to load quickly.Do you plan on getting into an extended gun battle with an army platoon or outlaw bikers? How many shooters at trap/skeet/sporting clays competitions use heat shields? None of them do..
A more accurate comparison would be my shotguns to *any* military weapon, not a sporting gun. Off the top of my head, I can't think of *any* mil-used long gun with an exposed barrel other than the rare sniper rifle. Can you think of any?None of them do.
Nahhh, I'm fine with my reloading, thanks. Turning the gun upside down is still the fastest and still the most common method of reloading and it's the one I've gotten used to over the last thirty years or so.You should learn how to top-off your magazine from shooting position in one fluid movement. It's unnecessary to turn magazine-fed shotguns upside down in order to load/reload.
I was looking at the Mossberg heatshield at the local gun shop. It's no different than the ATI that i have. I bet they weigh the same.. The only noticeable difference is the color of the paint. The gun shop was asking $35Not too enamored of the ATI shields, they're just a bit thin for my liking, but if you ever get any Mossy ones, I'll take them from you. I need two. I'll pay $20 each.
The Mossy heatshield is different steel than the ATI steel stock, much stouter (grab one in the center and try to squeeze it in your hand, twist it end to end etc. The ATI has a small amount of noticeable give), and it's not painted. They real blue them and they real parkerize them to match the Mossy barrels. The Mossy shield also has double thick steel bands at the front and very back welded to the shield itself. Those preformed steel bands are why the shields don't fit the 590 heavy barrels....the ATI, you bend the tabs to fit whichever gun you have. The Mossy mounting screws go through those steel bands in the front, not the shield. The only place you can tighten the ATI shield is there at the front and you can't tighten it tight enough to prevent it slipping under recoil. That's why they suggest you use a band of rubber under it. If you overtighten it to stop slippage, you run the risk of tearing through the screw hole itself. Done it twice. It's not very stout. The Mossy part, again, has thick steel bands that you'll break the screw before you tear through the holes. Tighten it all you want. The Mossy shield also comes with a bracing bar so it fits the Persuader without slipping. One of my fav points is also one of the smallest....the Mossy shield has the usual warnings stamped into the steel where the barrel has them under it. The chamber size, the warning about the manual etc. It's a factory part.I was looking at the Mossberg heatshield at the local gun shop. It's no different than the ATI that i have. I bet they weigh the same.. The only noticeable difference is the color of the paint. The gun shop was asking $35
Not trying to argue with the others - if you're experience says "heatshield good" then fantastic. But I'm with Filthy here. I've used various shotguns for various competitive disciplines from CAS(Cowboy Action Shooting) , to Pin Matches, to 3-Gun, etc., and never found the need for a heatshield, even after burning(not pun intended) through many rounds, reloads, etc.All heatshields do is increase weight and look tactikewl. I agree with Clint Smith (from the video i posted above) that shotguns are best kept K.I.S.S. without being festooned with a bunch of geegaws and doodads.
Get a quality side saddle or butt cuff for spare shells, and perhaps even a sling and illuminator. As yourself, do you really need a sling and heat shield for home defense? Spend the money on shells instead
Want a heat shield? I'll sell ya my ATI for $10+ shipping.. PM me