A few months ago, I had a pretty serious car accident that left me with a back and neck injury. What it means for me today is that I have trouble shooting shotguns I never had before. However, I didn’t want to let this stop me from enjoying my newly purchased Mossberg 500. I started researching mods for my shotgun that would make it more comfortable for me to shoot, even with my injuries. That research brought me to ATI.
I wanted a pistol grip for my Mossberg, and needed a little extra comfort to shoot like I did before my accident, so ATI’s Talon shotgun stock and Scorpion butt pad especially caught my eye. So, I gave them a call. I spoke with a representative named Jon and told him about my particular interest in their new X2 Scorpion butt pad. He was gracious enough to send out the whole Talon stock with the Scorpion butt pad for me to keep.
Installation
To install the ATI Talon on my Mossberg, I needed a few basic tools:
- a set of Allen keys/hex wrenches
- 3/8 inch ratchet
- 6 inch extension
- a set of sockets (cannot remember the size to save my life right now, and my dog decided to eat the instructions)
I found the install of the new ATI Talon stock a bit more trickier than some of the older stocks that sell for the Mossberg 500 tactical, but after reading the instructions and using the right tools, it only took a couple minutes from start to finish.
Range Performance
I took out my Mossberg 500 field gun, and my new Mossberg 500 with the ATI Talon stock and Scorpion butt pad, and went to the range to go shoot some heavy recoil loads. When shooting 3 inch magnum loads out of the Field 500, the recoil would cause the forward grip to come out of my hand, and push me back a good bit. With my injuries, I could only shoot 4 rounds before needing to give my back a rest. When I used the Mossberg 500 with the new ATI Talon stock, and Scorpion X2 butt pad, I shot the same 3 inch magnum loads, and it felt as though I was shooting low recoil 2 3/4 inch 00 buck. The punch of the recoil felt like a hard push, but not violent, as was my experience shooting the Mossberg 500 without the ATI stock. The difference was remarkable. When I shot the Federal 2 3/4 inch 00 Buck low recoil loads (same as used by local police), it felt as though I was shooting bird shot. The perceived recoil was minimal. In fact, it was a pleasure to shoot. After a range day on the Mossberg with the new ATI stock, my back didn’t hurt, and I didn’t have the big bruise on my shoulder that normally occurs after a day of shotgun shooting.
Pros and Cons
Cons
The only real issues I had with the ATI Talon stock have to do with installation.
- The mounting adapters that attach to the receiver are connected to the stock with only one screw.
I prefer two screws to ensure a tighter, more secure fit, and to help balance the tension on the mounting adapters.
- The screw that attaches the mounting adapter to the stock was short and took time to correctly position during installation.
A retaining clip would have made the installation process a bit easier (and quicker) so that the short mounting screw wasn’t prone to falling out while I was trying to line it up with its matching nut.
Pros
- The Talon’s pistol grip is comfortably ergonomic.
The pistol grip improves perceived recoil both in its padding, but also in the angle of the design. The grip felt more natural to me than the stock grip that comes on the Mossberg 500 Tactical shotgun. In comparison, with the original stock, I noted discomfort in my wrist after only a few rounds of 3inch 00 buck.
- The ATI Talon fits well, and features a cheek riser.
The key components of the stock are constructed with military grade type III anodized 6061 aluminum, so it is sturdy. It also fits the receiver well and shoulders comfortably. I especially appreciate the cheek riser when shooting with optics.
Price
The price of the Talon Stock is $109.99 and the Scorpion x2 butt pad is $24.99, which is competitive with the current market for comparable components.
Final Thoughts
I am impressed with the advances ATI has made with their stocks over the past few years. Their Talon stock with the Scorpion X2 butt pad brought back the enjoyment of shooting my shotguns that I thought I’d lost forever. Especially for someone with injuries like mine, the ATI Talon stock and Scorpion X2 butt pad are well worth the cost. The performance in the ergonomics and recoil absorption improved what was a painful experience into a fun one. The only problem is, now I want to put ATI Talons on all of my shotguns.
You can see all of ATI’s products at https://atigunstocks.com/
Featured image courtesy of atigunstocks.com
