Greetings from Greece !

[alexander]

Hello to everybody !

Happy for finding this site.

I am Alexander from Greece , and i am also Cretan . Crete is an island very famous for the hospitality and kind of lunacy from the inhabitants , for the very tasteful and healthy food , for it's ancient history and sights, for the lovely beaches , but above all.... for the number of GUNS existing there ! The average Cretan owns 3-5 guns of different types , and i was one from the few resisting in having one until now.

I am very interested in starting target shooting , and some hunting maybe in the future, and i have became troubled in the matter of choosing the right shotgun for me. One that fitted very good in my arms and shoulder from all that i tested until now ,is the Mossberg 535 turkey, thumbhole stock.. The weight also impressed me.

Still i am not sure if it's the appropriate shotgun for me, because of the fact that i am not going to hunt turkeys at all. Basically i want it for target shooting , home self defence, and less for hunting.

So , i am open to your suggestions, advises , and opinions about the 535.

Thanks for any answers

 

[John A.]

A 535 is equally suited for target shooting.

The longer the barrel though, the harder it is to go through doorways and hallways in homes since you did say home defense was one of your criteria so there is trade off's with barrel lengths.

The shorter barrel lengths are easier to turn tight corners with and things, but are not as suited for longer distances target shooting.

But the longer barrel is more suited for targets and skeets/clays.

I hope I am explaining the benefits and shortcomings of barrel length.

Turkey hunting is very popular here in the U.S. and the "turkey gun" designation is as much for marketing as it is anything else.

It will still go bang if you are not aiming at a turkey LOL

Let me be the first to welcome you to mossberg owners forum.

 

[LAZY EYED SNIPER]

Welcome aboard!

John pretty much said it all, so I can't add much there. We've got a great group of folks here on Mossberg Owners and the atmosphere is very laid back. The only thing we like better than discussing each other's guns is lookin at 'em, so be sure to post pics of your new shotgun when you get it. Take a look atoumd the forum and you'll find that we're into a lot more than just Mossberg around here. Let us know if you have any questions.

Enjoy the site!

 

[Rossignol]

Real good to have you here and from a small town here in Ohio, Welcome to Mossberg Owners!

To me, a good compromise in barrel length would be a 22" to 24" barrel fitted for choke tubes. Its a good barrel length for target shooting, hunting and competition I think. It can also handle Home Defense, though the length is still longer than traditional home defense or self defense barrels. While longer, with some practice, it can be maneuvered effectively through a home to meet a threat.

Just as mentioned above, it may be marketed as a "Turkey" gun, but it can definitely be very well suited for much more!

 

[SHOOTER13]

Welcome to the Mossberg Owners Forum Alexander !!

 

[carbinemike]

Welcome to the forum from Pennsylvania. That's great that you live in an area where guns are so accepted. You picked a great forum to join!

 

[nitesite]

Welcome from Alabama USA.

You live in a fantastic spot on this Earth, and I do not mind saying that I am jealous of you!

 

[mingaa]

Welcome from St. Louis, MO - USA. I have a turkey version of the 930 and it is a great do-it-all kind of shotgun with a 24" barrel. Having choke options is very important to me - even if I had a shorter barrel I'd have to tap it for interchangeable chokes.

I have heard a bit about the folks in Crete and their fondness for firearms. It sounds like a very SECURE place. Unless I am mistaken most of Europe and the region is far more conservative when it comes to guns.

All the best - happy to see you posting on the forum!

 

[MikeD]

Welcome from Michigan, USA!!

 

[ripjack13]

Howdy alexander and welcome to the club.
Have you looked into a 590A1? they also have short barrels, are great for HD as well.

 

[DHonovich]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM1OIMPCCD0[/youtube]

Welcome to Mossberg Owners Forum!

 

[alexander]

First of all, a big thanks to all of you guys for the warm welcoming .

- JohnA , please explain me what is skeets/clays . I am not familiar with special terms , and my english have became rusty lately so to configure it.

-Lazy eyed , as soon i get my shotgun i will post images right away. I think the specific is a beauty. The thumbhole stock is giving a more aggresive appearance which i prefer very much. Of course traditional stocks are charming also, but in another way.

- Rossignol , the representer of mossberg here in Greece, has the 535 -45100 availiable only with 20'' barel unfortunately , but i am considering that is good for starting my shooting expierences , and later on make some changes with extra barels. That will help me also to make a more mature choice in the barel length that is better for my needs. What's your opinion ?

- Shooter13 thanks a lot !

- carbinemike , in Crete we are having a very big tradition in guns , and i think this is something that Americans can understand easily for the same reasons . ''it's just things are in some places'' can't change it. lol

-Nitesite , thank you. I also jealous many things of your country. And now with the economic crisis maybe more. You can't imagine the psychological effect of this, in people here nowdays.

- Minga, very interesting what you said about chokes. I want to learn everything about them, all the advantages and disadvantages of each choke. I imagine that is a big factor for better target shooting besides better hunting oportunities. And yes..., european 'civilization' luckily haven't reached here yet. This has also some negatives issues, but i prefer it mostly ,because people here are remaining genuine and simple. Cretans are either too good ,or too bad, nothing in the middle, and that's very helpful, because you know every time with who you have to deal.

- hello Miked. Thanks a lot !

- Ripjack, i found the 590 A1 very nice , but didn't fitted to my arms that well as the 535. Don't know why . Maybe the thumbhole stock made all the difference , but felted like this shotgun had my name written on .Even Blackwater series didn't gave me this sense of ''compatibility'' , if i can say it like that. It's weird , i know..., but still can overpass it.

-DHonovich , what's your relation with Greece ? Your signature with the Spartan tremendus words couldn't pass unobserved to me.

 

[nitesite]

Alexander,

I am reminded of the tremendous bravery shown in early WWII by the Cretans when Nazi Germany invaded Crete. In one the few 20th Century accounts of local citizens arming themselves and resisting a foreign military invader, the courageous Cretans (including even Clergy and nuns) helped repel an airborne assault by a superior number of heavily equipped trained soldiers and the Cretans very nearly succeeded.

You are not only a well-armed people, you Cretans are some bad-ass brave muther-****ers.

Cretans have my deepest respect.

 

[Rossignol]

- Rossignol , the representer of mossberg here in Greece, has the 535 -45100 availiable only with 20'' barel unfortunately , but i am considering that is good for starting my shooting expierences , and later on make some changes with extra barels. That will help me also to make a more mature choice in the barel length that is better for my needs. What's your opinion ?

In my opinion, I really like a 20" barrel! I didnt know if the 20" would be available to you, and the longer barrels are typically prefered for hunting and for sport shooting. No reason you cant do these things with a 20" barrel though!

-DHonovich , what's your relation with Greece ? Your signature with the Spartan tremendus words couldn't pass unobserved to me.

The Spartan quote "ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ" has become significant here in the US, very much so in recent years. The Spartan Helmet and Lambda shield as well. We use "come and take them" in reference to our firearms as ownership/possession of firearms is gauranteed to us in our constitution, but there is always threat of new laws or sometimes just sneaky legislation that would make ownership almost impossible. It seems the UN always has a plan to disarm citizens and ban private ownership of small arms and conventional arms, such as rifles, handguns, and shotguns. Even sporting arms.

So for us, when we here such things, when we find such pieces of legislation, our almost unanimous response is, ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ.

 

[LAZY EYED SNIPER]

Rossignol put it very well,

I was fascinated reading about the Spartan warrior culture as a kid and carry a Lambda shield on my gear as a reminder of their ferocity in the face of any and all odds. I carry a ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ patch and a few other "Spartan" symbols as well...

 

[alexander]

Alexander,

I am reminded of the tremendous bravery shown in early WWII by the Cretans when Nazi Germany invaded Crete. In one the few 20th Century accounts of local citizens arming themselves and resisting a foreign military invader, the courageous Cretans (including even Clergy and nuns) helped repel an airborne assault by a superior number of heavily equipped trained soldiers and the Cretans very nearly succeeded.

Imagine that Jap's even that were at the side of the axis forces at Worldwar II, they gave the title of samurai to all Cretan people that took part in the battle of Crete , because of the selfdenial they showed . I didn't knew it until last year, and it was kind of shoking, because there is a strange nice feeling when recieving honors from old supposed enemies.

- Rossignol ,

We use "come and take them" in reference to our firearms as ownership/possession of firearms is gauranteed to us in our constitution, but there is always threat of new laws or sometimes just sneaky legislation that would make ownership almost impossible. It seems the UN always has a plan to disarm citizens and ban private ownership of small arms and conventional arms, such as rifles, handguns, and shotguns. Even sporting arms.

So for us, when we here such things, when we find such pieces of legislation, our almost unanimous response is, ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ.

I know....NWO tricks ! Same also here. The police is discovering reasons ,many of them redicilous, for disarming people. It's a worldwide disease !

Rossignol put it very well,

I was fascinated reading about the Spartan warrior culture as a kid and carry a Lambda shield on my gear as a reminder of their ferocity in the face of any and all odds. I carry a ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ patch and a few other "Spartan" symbols as well...

Glad to hear that. I am thinking of putting to my gear the famous quote of your president, Ben franklin : he who sacrifies freedom for security deserves neither !! That would be a good sign Of exchanging and engaged cultures !

 

[carbinemike]

The Spartan quote "ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ" has become significant here in the US, very much so in recent years. The Spartan Helmet and Lambda shield as well. We use "come and take them"

Imagine that Jap's even that were at the side of the axis forces at Worldwar II, they gave the title of samurai to all Cretan people that took part in the battle of Crete , because of the selfdenial they showed

I am reminded of the tremendous bravery shown in early WWII by the Cretans when Nazi Germany invaded Crete. In one the few 20th Century accounts of local citizens arming themselves and resisting a foreign military invader, the courageous Cretans (including even Clergy and nuns) helped repel an airborne assault by a superior number of heavily equipped trained soldiers and the Cretans very nearly succeeded.

Awesome history lesson here guys. Thanks!

Alexander, Ben Franklin signed our Declaration of Independence and was a Founding Father for us but he never became president. His quotation you noted is a great one. He lived about an hour from where I am and it's sad to see what became of his city, Philadephia. The one time ideals of freedom in that city have been replaced with idiotic ideas of socialism. The city is very anti gun.

Great idea:

Glad to hear that. I am thinking of putting to my gear the famous quote of your president, Ben franklin : he who sacrifies freedom for security deserves neither !! That would be a good sign Of exchanging and engaged cultures !

 

[Rossignol]

Alexander, that is a great quote that holds much signifigance here these days...

It seems we are perched and at our tipping point more and more. The socialist, even fascist, philosophies so prevelant in our govt. right now have us as a nation making a decision to give away more and more freedom and liberty as we hand over control, or to vote against those ideals.

I still believe there are more Americans who would rather sink or swim, passs or fail, on their own merrit than to have everything handed to them via the government. More so, I feel more Americans prefer to handle their own money than to give it to govt. to use how they see fit and appropriate.

So in that spirit, in that context, the quote by Ben Franklin is exceedingly appropriate and relevant right now.

I hope you are able to use it in the spirit in which it is intended. We are all born free and endowed by our Creator with the right to persue freedom, liberty, and hapiness. That these things come from God and not from government. Liberty is ours and we are each entrusted with the duty of protecting and securing it. We have no business shrugging off that duty and leaving it in the stewardship of another. Such as government.

 

[alexander]

I hope you are able to use it in the spirit in which it is intended. We are all born free and endowed by our Creator with the right to persue freedom, liberty, and hapiness. That these things come from God and not from government. Liberty is ours and we are each entrusted with the duty of protecting and securing it. We have no business shrugging off that duty and leaving it in the stewardship of another. Such as government.

I know exactly what your meaning. Ancient Greece managerially was divided in autonomus regions because of the fear of a uprising central dictatorship, and the breaking of democracy under the rulle of the ''strong'' nation .But the unity under certain conditions such as national threats was existable although there were many communicational problems due to interests.( see battle of plataies against the persians). This formula of living, served Greece very well for ages until the Athenians made the first attempt with the power of their advanced fleet , to command all Creece by putting all regions under their ''protection'' and engagement to taxe system !!This was the our first and big civil war , because this fact for Sparta was unacceptable and the reason was good . Liberty wasn't on negotiation.

This doesn't means i don't glad my country it's united, or that i don't feel obligated to pay some taxes in order to things keep working, no , but history had showed well what's happening when power is being concetrated to few and the result of it. And the fact is that if someone don't remember his history he is doomed to live the same things again !! Our modern politics never heard people's voice. it's a very sad phainomena, the nation that invented democratic legislations also destroy them. More saddest, that the supposed sophisticated parliament of modern minds didn't learned anything from all that.

They fell to the traps that our ancestors would have seen from miles away. They traded our liberty for the worst. For a temporary and virtual safety that bounded our hands and feet. Slavery came once more disguised and shaped as security. but this time liberty defenders were absent. All we have is some puppets of the world market with only purpose to transfer power from fewer to fewer. People that would never understand Ben's Franklin quote, by heart at least. People who say that Quotes of this kind were only romantic values of older times that don't exist any more. People whom are expert in dissapointing the societies for gaining the psychological control.

I feel sorry for them ,because they will never became real men. Real men can be created in a moment only by believing in quotes like Ben's Franklin, but they probably will never choose that option.

am i interpretting correct ?

 

[Rossignol]

Alexander, I believe you are interpretting correctly! I feel you understand well, and just as you mentioned, our founding father too saw this coming miles away. They wrote about it often, some more than others, but Jefferson and Samuel Adams come to mind.