Mossberg 500 a good gun?

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dman86

New member
Hey guys. New to forums and this is now my second post! I'm in the market for a decent shotgun (on a budget) and recently took a trip down to the local Big 5. They have what they call the "security combo" which is a Mossberg 500 with two barrels: an 18.5" plain security barrel and a 28" Vent Rib Barrel with bead sight. My purposes for the gun would be trap shooting, which I just tried a few weeks ago for the first time with my friend's gun (an older Mossberg), and home defense. The two barrels of the combo seem to fit the bill. Just wanted to know what your 2 cents are on the Mossberg 500 and on whether or not it is a reliable, working shotgun. The combo altogether was $219.99 which was significantly less than the other guns there like the Remington 870. I've heard and will probably hear again on this thread that the Remington is the way to go, but I've also heard that the quality is about the same and that Remington is just the name. Would going cheap and getting this Mossberg be a bad idea? Thanks in advance for your input!
 
From what I've read it sounds like the Mossberg is a pretty good gun, especially for the money. I have recently been looking into shotguns for the first time so am learning as well. If you do a search on the forum under "Mossberg vs" you will find all kinds of info. What I've taken away from the discussions is that some feel the action of the Mossberg is not as smooth as others but it comes in a lot of different configurations and add ons are readily available. Go here: http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/content_nonsub/shotguns/compare_870_590.html
for a good review of the Mossberg. Note that the Mossberg is being compared to the Remi 870P which is the "police" version of the gun and built a little heavier than regular 870s. Personally I am leaning toward the Benelli because I like the look of the gun and it has a recoil reducer insert to dampen recoil when shooting magnums, but I think to a degree it's a matter of preference. A lot of these folks recommend you try lots of guns out and see how they feel and how they shoot. Good luck!
 
First, the 500 is a darn good shotgun.

Second, there's something to be said for trying out some shotguns before you buy.

Try the 500, 870, 37 and 1300 for American shotguns, the Benelli is also a decent choice.
 
Mossberg shotguns are fine shotuns. My brother uses one and has not had a problem with it. Mossy's are a lot cheaper than most other brands but offer pretty much the same features. I have 2 870's and like them and they have a little better finish on them than the Mossy's. I wouldn't plan on an Ithaca 37 (87) since Ithaca closed their doors a couple of months ago.. I love near their "new" plant and go by occasionally,, NO ACTIVITY.. I think they are finally through making guns. Too bad as I own 2 of them too.
 
Mossbergs OK?

Another approval vote for the Mossberg guns. These are well designed, well built, durable guns. I have 4 of them that get very regular use, two of them are nearly 20 years old and have been used for skeet and trap and dove and quail. squirrel and the occasional bunny rabbit, have burned through more shells than I care to remember, and have required nothing from me other than regular cleaning and lubrication.

Remington and Winchester spend more time on finish, typically are "prettier" and may have better looking wood in the stocks. I always found Remingtons too bulky looking for my taste, compared to the slimmer Mossy design. If a gun is going to be a display piece, or having the best looking or most costly shotgun in your peer group is a matter of importance, then go upscale.

If you are looking for lots of brush beating, bird shooting, 100% reliability, then the Mossberg is as good as anything you can buy. Wish they'd hire somebody that knows how to do a nice deep Smith and Wesson bluing job, though.

I'm betting they could sell a buch more of the exact same 500 model if it had a darker blue barrel and a "real purty" MonteCarlo stock....... :D
 
Not being a sportsman I cannot tell you how it'd do at skeet, but they sure are good fighters. The 500/590 series are my pick for defensive shotguns. To put it in context I have a personal Benelli M1S90 and the company bought me an 11-87, both of which are moderately tricked out, but I still prefer my trusty rusty 500.
 
Mossy 500 for HD

Sendec,

I only mentioned the 2 guns used for sport before. The other 2 are HD weapons, one full size surplus Md Police standard riot gun, the other about the same except rifled barrel and sights. Either of those and one of my 1911's for final innings, and I'm pretty comfy about who's gonna be doing the walking away if there's a SHTF situation over at my house. :eek:
 
Mossbergs 500 is a keeper. I bought mine in 1977 under the Western Field label. Been shot over a thousand times at the trap range and various hunts. Never a single misfire or problems at all.

Mossberg makes a unique muzzle-loader barrel and several other replacement barrels and chokes. Improved modified is my favorite for trap. Mossberg has a rifled barrel for sabot slugs that is highly rated by several writers.
Jack
 
I like the Mossbergs. The location of the controls on the Mossberg is the way all shotguns should be. The shell lifter on the Mossberg is up and out of the way until needed. If you have ever caught a thumb between a shell lifter and a magazine while attempting a quick tactical reload, you will appreciate the Mossy design. The only thing that can be said bad about the Mossberg is it uses an aluminum receiver. I really don't see that as a bad thing. Here is a good page on the Mossy vs the Remmy.
 
$220 for a 2 barrel combo? Go buy it!

I've been very happy with both my Mossbergs (both bought used) so far.

Trap, unless you are shooting doubles, is shot one round at a time so action choice is a non-issue. Go with what feels comfortable. If you decide to upgrade your trap gun in the future, you still have an excellent HD and/or field gun very cheaply.
 
One of my very good friends just bought a Mossberg 500 Persuader model at a gun show - a very very nice gun. Has the pistol grip, heat shroud, adjustable AR-style stock, 7+1 mag (could be 8, I don't remember), all synthetic. Shortish barrel, but he's gotten good results shooting trap and skeet with it... surprisingly good, given the barrel length. He earned a lot of funny looks at the local range, though... which is almost exclusively Rem. 870s, 1100s, 1187s, traditional Mossberg 500s, and the odd Browning and Winchester.

I'm impressed with it, though. Perfect, perhaps, for HD uses - yet surprisingly good for sporting as well. Would be even better with a longer barrel.
 
Mine is a Maverick 88 [Mossberg's value-priced line]. Works well, goes BOOM! every time. Came with the 28" modified choke barrel, bought the 18-1/2" cylinder bore later. So, I have both a 'field-n-woods" shotgun, and the Homeland Security gun, with about 2 minutes to change barrels.

I really like the looks of the Classic 870 Wingmaster, but the Mossy guns 'fit' me better. And I torque off my brothers every hunting season...I put just as much game on the table with my Maverick 88 as they do with their much pricier 870 & 1100 Remmys. :D :D :D :D
 
Never owned anything else

but Mossberg 500s, in 35 years of shooting, many thousands of rounds fired, zero malfunctions...Hard to beat for the price
 
Mossberg Cruiser 500 20" Barrel

Does anywho know where in Greenwich, CT (or anyplace nearby), I can purchase a Mossberg Cruiser 500 20" Barrel?
 
I got my Mossy 500 when i was 16 (im almost 23 now)
I have put about 5-6k rounds through it doing everything from upland bird to clay busting with it (26" barrel) and have never had a malcanical disfunction. It will reliably feed any 2 3/4-3" shell i give it. I have used it for deer hunting on occassions also with good results.
Within the past 2 years i retired it to homeland defense with an 18" barrel, and have yet to get a malfunction.
In my opinion it is the equivalent of a 302 Mustang--- give it the proper attention and maintenance and it will give you decades of use.
The gun was $229 new and has yet to give me a single problem, plus there is a huge aftermarket for it, which always rocks ;)
 
I don't know if you've purchased this yet, but I wouldn't hesitate myself. Personally I like the Mossberg much better than the remington. It shoulders better in my opinion, the safety is better located for all shooting purposes, and the barrel change is easier to get through.

The only drawback? I don't like the plastic trigger assembly that came with mine. It's a pain in the ass to strip and put back together, but so was the 870 I used to own (compared to my 50 year old Western Field which takes 5 minutes to strip clean, and put back together).

The Mossy is solid, dependible, and will take abuse in geese and duck blinds that makes you rather wonder how any guns function afterwards.
 
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