Mossberg 500

C

CampLo

Inactive
Hello all. I am not a current gun owner and have little experience personally. I've been searching for a defensive shotgun for a while now and based on many of your comments, believe I've settled on the Mossberg 500. I have two questions. One, while this seems to be the go to model, would the 535 ATS be a better option with its shorter barrel? Second, while I'm not concerned about the recoil myself (I'm 6'5", over 200 lbs), I would like my wife to learn to fire the gun as well. However, she is barely 5' and probably 115 lbs. Is she going to be capable of using the 500?

Thanks.
 
The 535 is a 500 with a 3.5 inch chamber... You will never need anything bigger than 2 3/4 inch for SD/HD.

Many small, light folks are fine with a 500. But there are 250 pound men think they are brutal.

With a traditional stock, I don't mind them with a typical recoil pad.
Brent
 
I prefer the 500 for many reasons of which you are probably well aware...You may want to consider a 20ga instaed of a 12ga for use by your wife...20ga buck shot in the BG's chest will stop him in his tracks just as fast as a 12ga. will.
You may also want to consider a 20ga double barrel shotgun...simple to operate and also effective.
 
Recoil

This matter of shotguns for home defense has been beaten to death. The view points/opinion are multiple and diverse. The question that you put forth precludes that particular discussion. The recoil of a Model 500 or 535 is the question at hand. You didn't mention the gauge if 12ga or 20ga. If 12 ga and your wife works out 3 or days a week (strength training) and are willing to fire it once or more per month I'd say she would be fine. If 20ga and in fair physical condition I'd say she'd be fine. Do you have friend with a 12ga or a 20ga.? Remember, she has to "buy in" to get her over the hump. It's like buying a kid a clarinet because you think that's what he/she should play. In fact they want to play drums. IMO
Oh, by the way, I've been a self defense firearm instructor for ~27yrs.
 
Greetings CampLo, and welcome aboard.

There are women of your wife's stature who compete with 12-ga shotguns; but, their guns are properly sized to them. A proper stock fit is very important in gun control and recoil management. Before you make your final gun selection, you (and your wife) need to try as many different guns as possible. Obviously a gun that fits you will be too large for her. A Mossberg youth model stock may fit her better than the standard model. An adjustable stock is an alternative to the youth stock.

A defensive shotgun is useless unless you're properly trained and a proper fitting gun is the first step toward your training. If you're concerned about the recoil being too much for you wife, there are low recoil loads that you can use in her initial training. Also, there are stocks with integral recoil reducers. Don't let a fear of recoil let someone talk you into a 20-ga gun. A 12-ga can be down-loaded to a 20-ga equivalent, but a 20-ga can't be up-loaded to a 12-ga.
 
The Mossberg 500 was my choice for a defense/hunting shotgun, in my case it was a combo that included two barrels: 18 1/2" for defensive use and a 28" for hunting or clay shooting

You could try "reduced recoil" 00 buckshot loads for home defense and for your GF, but it is VERY important that both of you know how to handle the recoil, both in stance and technique.

It is instinctive for many new shooters to naturally lean BACK when preparing to shoot a shotgun, so teach her to lean INTO the shot and brace and shoot with authority, which can make all the difference.

I definitely agree on the above opinion about the 3.5" shells. You do not need shells that size, and 2 3/4" will do just fine. Also, if you GF could possibly have an instance where she would be using the shotty in self defense, that it is important that you load it with the same ammo as she has practiced/trained with.

You can also start her out on light target loads until she is comfortable, then move up to the reduced recoil 00 buck that you might choose to keep loaded at home. Just don't do like some of those idiots on youtube that think its funny to watch their lady friends fall over from recoil that they were not prepared for.
 
2 3/4 inch for SD/HD
Click to expand...

I don't know much about shotguns so please bear with me... but if a 2.75" round (which I'm just going out on a limb guessing packs less power than a 3" or 3.5") is sufficient for SD/HD applications, then what are 3", 3.5" typically used for?
 
3-3.5 inch shells are hunting rounds. They allow more powder and/or shot payload for various reasons usually where extended range will be incurred. For HD the longer range is not a concern but the ability to keep the muzzle under control better for a faster follow up negate any desire to fire the larger shells.
Hope this helps...
Brent
 
Rattlehead, to add a little background to Brent's description: The larger shells became more popular with the laws prohibiting lead shot in some hunting situations. Before the modern non-toxic loads, steel shot was the first replacement for lead shoot. Steel is way less dense than lead, so 1 1/4 oz of steel has a larger volume than 1 1/4 oz of lead. The larger capacity shells are used to get the same weight of steel shot down range. And, there are magnum lead loads in the larger capacity shells for uses as described by Brent. Rest assured, a 2 3/4-in 12-ga can deliver a more than adequate defensive lead load.
 
I won't say whether you should or shouldn't buy a shotgun as a defensive weapon ....but there are pros and cons to every weapon.

Personally, I think picking any weapon that will fit you ( and I'm a big guy too ) and your wife is a chance somewhere between slim and none ... But having said that / I don't know that its critical that she learn or be able to shoot a shotgun...especially if she has no interest ( whether you think she should or not / let her make that choice ) - but like others said, make sure it doesn't beat her up / because if you do - I'll guarantee she won't shoot it again.

In my house / my wife has the combo to the safe ...has listened enough to me as I teach the kids and grandkids to shoot ... that she could shoot a revolver or most any weapon in the safe if she had to ...but she won't ...and she won't ever touch them either .....thats just the way she is / and for me to whine to her about it is a sure path to getting my big butt kicked. Just because I have weapons in the house / and will use them if I have to ( in the one in a gazillion chance that I need to ) / and I will often carry a handgun ...(usually a 1911 ) ...but she will never carry one let alone go to a range and shoot one. Its the way it is ! If she changes her mind someday / then I'll train her - send her to school, whatever she wants ...and buy her whatever she wants to carry and shoot.

Only my opinion / but I will rely on my handgun ...for any defensive situation ( but I also train with / and shoot my handguns twice a week --- because I like it ). I was shooting double taps, triple taps and some reload drills last nite for a couple of hours with some buddies ....and one of my 1911's - and pizza, a couple of beers and lies afterwards. I live in a city / where police response is under a couple of minutes max .... but I might go to a long gun / or to a tactical shotgun if I was out in the country or police response might be slow ....but something just makes me feel warm and fuzzy with a 1911 and some .45 acp loaded in it ... But please don't insist your wife fire your weapons - unless she really wants to !
 
Thanks for all the replies and opinions. Very much appreciated. Since I didn't mention, I've been looking at the 12 ga. While I the chances of my wife having to use it on her own are slim, I want to make sure she's at least gone through the training in case she ever HAS to use it, and she has expressed interest in learning if we're going to have one. I live in the People's Republic of Northern Virginia, so finding a friend that owns one to try is only slightly less than impossible, and my father and brother both own double barreled shotguns. From what I understand, you can take the NRA shotgun class in the area and the instructor provides guns if you don't have your own, so maybe I'll try that first.

Thanks.
 
Camp, if you can make it up to MD, PGC Trap and Skeet Center near Goddard has beginner classes. The instructor is Rhys Arthur, and he's a crackerjack. The focus there is on sporting use, but nothing breeds expertise like empty hulls.

PGC also has shotguns to rent and to use for the class, mostly Beretta Autos and O/Us.

HTH.....
 
The quality of a Benelli Nova, Remington 870 or an older Ithica is much better than that of a Mossberg. As far as recoil for your wife is concerned, let her practice with 2 3/4 inch, 7/8 oz target load for a 12 ga. They don't kick at all (I shoot 150-200 rounds a day at the trap range just fine). When she gets enough trigger time in with those, she will be ready to handle 2 3/4 in buck shot, because honestly it isn't bad at all. Just make sure she stays in the gun. When you start leaning back and picking your head up, the gun will start beating you up. Take this into consideration also. I started shooting trap when I was 11 using a 12 ga shotgun, and I probably weighed 70lbs soaking wet. The recoil bothered me more back then, but was never intolerable and never made me not want to shoot a gun.
 
The factual inaccuracies abound... or are they biased opinion?
The quality of a Benelli Nova, Remington 870 or an older Ithica is much better than that of a Mossberg.
Click to expand...
What are the substandard quality issues with a Mossberg 500.

2 3/4 inch, 7/8 oz target load for a 12 ga. They don't kick at all
Click to expand...
A .22 short don't kick at all... the round you mention is a "soft hitting" round as 12 gauge shells go but it recoils noticeably. It may not cause discomfort for the shooter but to tell them it don't kick at all is a sure way to have your honesty questioned by the shooter making it much harder to help and train them.

I know my wife is likely to lump me up if I lie and say "it don't kick at all" and so much as one of her auburn locks be jostled out of place.:D
Brent
 
My buddy has a Mossberg 500 in 12 gauge, 18 1/2 inch barrel self-defense shogun. I tried to shoot it, I am 45 years old, 5'7" and 190 pounds. I've been shooting rifles and handguns my whole life, but never shot a shotgun for some reason. Anyway, I hated the 12 gauge. A lot. WAY too much kick for me. The shotgun would ram backwards in my hands, lacerate my shooting hand with the tang safety. So, for home defense, and to defend the nation, I got a Mossberg 500, 18 1/2 inch barrel, in 20 gauge. I absolutely love it. It is so nice to fire it and I can handle any ammo in 20 gauge. The recoil is so managable. I love that shotgun. I keep it loaded up with Federal 20 gauge 3 inch magnum shells, #2 Buck. I can shoot those all afternoon, and not feel any pain or discomfort, and if BG comes to town, I am not going to be afraid or hesitant to mount that 20 gauge and do what's needed to stop the BG from causing me death or serious bodily harm. From what I've read, getting hit by a 20 gauge, 3 inch shell, #2 Buck, is like getting hit with 2 simultaneous rounds of 44 Magnum. That's plenty for self-defense, as far as I am concerned.
 
With proper planning, grip and technique most guns can be handled by most.
I am guessing that the reason you got bad results with the 12 was inexperience. By the time you got behind the 20 gauge, you had made decisions to hold things firmer.
I am a regular average at 5'8" and 135-45 in my prime (a bit more now that 40 is behind me) hands are not large and I have no problem shooting hot 2 3/4 inch buck shot one handed with arm fully extended. Your trigger hand has to have a firm grip and draws the gun tight into the shoulder while the forward hand pushes a slight forward. If it is drawing back, the action could open thus negating the effect you were trying to have. The gun is then only held fast by the trigger hand...

I hope this helps and am always willing to try helpin' so feel free to ask!:D
Brent
 
MR Camplo,

Your Choice of the Mossberg 500 is a Fine one.
Remember you know your wife better than anyone, You will know if she is intimidated by shooting a shotgun or not.
You can adjust the load you shoot, for instance, let her practice with light bird shot loads (which are actually good for home defense )
If an intruder is breaking in your home, and your life is in danger you wont be worried about recoil.
Good luck Sir.
 
Let her shoot a .410 first. See what she thinks about it.

Some have a lower pain tolerance threshold than others. She is the only 1 that can make that decision.
 
Your right it does have recoil but it is very mild, and comparable to a 410. By quality I'm mostly talking about fit and finish, and Mossbergs is dreadful. They're very ugly guns, but honestly so are 870 expresses, and Nova's. When I was first writing, I had the 870 Wingmaster in mind. Also the 870 trigger breaks cleaner and the action is smoother. The same goes for older Ithica's. I didn't say the Mossberg 500 is not reliable, because it is. So those are my substandard quality issues with a mossberg 500 1. ugly 2. trigger had a lot of creep, over travel, and broke at probably 5lbs and 3. action feels rickety and stiff.
 
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