Mossberg 500 a cheaply made gun? use for truck gun?

I've had many Mossberg shotguns and several model 500's. No problem with the 500's. They might feel a bit loose or light, but they've always been reliable without malfunction. I favor the controls over the model 870's. I've had issues with the 590A1, but don't recall any problems with any of my 500's. Funny thing though: as I look at the gun rack in the shop, there's a rifled barrel and smooth bore pair of 870's on the wall.
WRONG!
You guys might get a kick out of this: With the lights on in the shop, and the door pulled away, I see the short black shotgun on the left is a Mossberg 590A1, and the shotgun on the right is a rifled barrel 870.
Guess I can't be accused of single brand loyalty or bashing either one.
 
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Beginning clay shotgun

I am a beginner and am looking for a new/used shotgun 12 ga. O/u for use with the clay sports. Any recommendations. I must keep it below $500.00. I was looking at the mossberg silver reserve but have seen a bunch of posts indicating it has firing pin issues at about 1000 rds. Any suggestions??
 
Ed, jmortimer's suggestion to start a separate thread is a good one. You may also want to search old posts re the Mossberg Silver Reserve.
 
The Mossberg just feels and looks cheap, no crome/metal lined barrel, the blued looks cheap on it. My 870 is park and makes it look "more solid". Also the Reciver is Alum not Metal like a 870.
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I'm not sure what a "crome/metal lined barrel" is, but both 870s and 500s have steel barrels. The finish on 870 Expresses is not the guns strongest point. Aluminum is metal and there is no practical disadvantage to an aluminum receiver on a 500, except that the gun is lighter.

A 500 has a better control layout than an 870 in the placement of the safety and slide release. A 500 has the shell lifter up when the bolt is closed and an 870 has it down where it gets in the way of reloading.

Mossbergs are a bit rough out of the box, but if you know which end of a gunsmith's stone is which you can make them into a very smooth, very reliable and still inexpensive shotgun for just about any use.
 
One thing about Mossbergs...so many have been made for so many years, that the chance of finding a great deal on a used one is very good.
I often see them at local gun shows...plain field models with little to no wear selling for around $125.
My own was plucked out of pile of security company surplus riot guns. Stock was missing most finish, barrel had green camo paint...$75. Over the years, I have cleaned off the paint and added a hogue stock, as well as some cold blue and an OEM heat shield that was given to me.
But, regardless of the changes I have made, that Mossberg worked perfectly when I got it, and was super smooth from years of use. For a long time, I kept it just as I got it...ugly, finish worn...a serious looking riot gun.
 
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ive said this in a couple other 500/870 threads...

My huntin buddie uses an 870. I use a 500. We hunt water fowl, deer and coyote with them. I dont know how many years we have been doing this but its over 15. We like to go out and just shoot clay also. neither gun has ever malfunctioned. Neither has had major finish problems - both are looking a touch beat up with even wear. Neither has had any parts wear out to date other than chokes. The 870 reciever has a touch of surface rust now. the 500 is clean

IMO...

his 870 has nicer looking wood (grain and color)than my 500.
The safety and slide release are in a better location on the 500.
The 500 forarm has that "wiggle" - my buddy hates that. I dont mind.
I feel the 500 has a smoother quicker action.
the 500 is a touch lighter.
Easier to remove the mag plug for HD in a 500.
The 500 is less $$

Soo the winner is.?.?
 
I have owned a 500 for close to 15 years and have also shot a few 870's. My opinion between the two is they are both great guns. I have drug my 500through rain, mud, snow and it has never failed me after thousands of rounds fired. It is a gun that I trust with my life if needed for self defense. I also think it would make a great truck gun since I personally would not be heart broken if it got dinged up considering the price I paid.
 
Most of my shotgun use has been with older hammerless doubles with the thumb safety on top. Easy to see the position of the safety and easy to operate. The Mossberg appeals to me for that reason. I do have a 500 and a Remington 870, both lightly used. I do not like the Remington safety. But the Remington cycles smoother. For home defense, I keep the Mossberg with live shell about halfway into the chamber and action about half open, safety ON. To use, the slide is moved forward to close the action and the safety is pushed forward.
 
9mm,

Mossberg/cheap is a great example of an oxymoron ;). Not being sarcastic but that's a fact. Now one might say they prefer the 870 over the 500 because they believe it's better quality but it would not logically conclude, by doing so, that the 870 was chosen because the 500 was "cheap" (IMO).

I have Remington Semis so I am a big-time Remington fan--Yet I have the 500 as well as a Maverick 88 (with over 3K fired for trap) and my Mossy's are great guns.
 
I've owned my M500 pump 12 ga. for 42 years,about 10000 rounds through it mostly buckshot,have never had a problem with it Cheap in price so to say,but cheap no way.
 
any one thought to thank all the stars in all the heavens that you can purchase a quality firearm at an inexpensive cost like a Mossberg. in fact i wrote a letter to Mossberg just today thanking them for not being just another GREEDY company trying to squeeze every dollar they can out of us. I also thanked them for making such a fine dependable weapon such as all the 500's and mavrick88's i have and have had.
scott
 
about to buy it, lgs is getting more in stock in a few weeks. Maybe not a truck gun though, I rather get a cheap $100 single shot for that now. You all talked me into this lol.
 
scottd913
i
any one thought to thank all the stars in all the heavens that you can purchase a quality firearm at an inexpensive cost like a Mossberg. in fact i wrote a letter to Mossberg just today thanking them for not being just another GREEDY company trying to squeeze every dollar they can out of us. I also thanked them for making such a fine dependable weapon such as all the 500's and mavrick88's i have and have had.
scott
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Agreed and you're correct IMO in that it's so rare nowadays to see American Companies offer good quality products at great prices--in particular when the Chinese are dumping (essentially cloned) high quality shotguns (computer chips etc...) onto the U.S. market at rock bottom prices. Even their 930 line of semi-autos are affordably priced :).
 
I got it last week, very happy with it. Modded with Houge grips, way better than hard plastic factory. I like both my 870 and 500, they both are park finish. The 500 has an double extractor which is nice. Only thing I don't like is no ramp to protect the shells from falling out like the 870 does. I have a 410 mossberg 500 which from time to time a shell will fall out when loading.
 
Today, 09:22 PM #58
9mm

...Only thing I don't like is no ramp to protect the shells from falling out like the 870 does. I have a 410 mossberg 500 which from time to time a shell will fall out when loading.
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That's a good point as I have heard people argue both ways--Shooters such as you that like the Remington elevator ramp and opponents of it that love the fact that there is no 'obstacle' to fumble with during tactical reloads and the like. All about personal preference.

-Cheers
 
Yeah, I went to shoot the 410 once, and was like click! and notice a shell on the floor. :confused::mad:

But once I held this, I feel its made well, no rattle or creeps. The 410 feels "cheap" IMO. It's more a hunting gun also, theres the ribbed barrel and not smooth top.

Took a month but worth the thinking about it, if anyone out there wants one you should buy one.

My 500 is different than some of the others I notice. The stock isn't "cheap" it's a solid fill, I notice this combo pack of 18/28 barrels the stock was hallow and could smash it with my hands. My stock is nice and heavy plastic stock.
 
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