But it is more likely to apply more of its radiated power on receivable center frequency and less wasted on harmonics that no one hears. Your money is not wasted.
You should also be thinking they are holding their radio sideways instead of antenna straight up. Antenna polarization is a real thing. Not important standing right under the repeater, but it makes all the difference in the world out in the fringes
In 1963 my father bought a CJ6A (same chassis as the M170) with a worn out motor and put a Buick V-6 in it. We used it for decades until it was totaled by an idiot driving on the wrong side of the road. No one was hurt other than the Jeep.
I agree, you can't go wrong with a Mossberg. I have a 590
Now that we have derailed this thread, the question is whether to start a Radios/Jeeps/Guns thread or to continue to mutilate this one.