Mossberg 500- Anyone Knowledgeable

[SWR]

Decided I would like to have a small inexpensive shotgun by the camp door at the lake. Felt we needed to keep something close by for the dangerous snakes and other things and the wife needed to be comfortable with it too.

Man !! .410's are pricey !!!! What happened to the $100 shotgun ???

The Mossberg 500 is sort of like the Chevrolet of shotguns in my mind, reliable and simple.

Looked all over for a trade name model, Revelation, Western Field etc, and never found one.

Anyway, I ran across a Mossberg 410 pump for a good price. Cute little pop gun. Looks to be made in the late 1980's. Mint condition. anyone real familiar with this line ? Were there good years or time frames for this line, (desirability, quality, etc) as there have been in other old name gun makers ?

The current manufacture, although of reasonable mechanical quality, appears to me to be "cheaply" made. The wood is absolutely terrible looking. And the metal finish just lacking.

On the other hand mine looks pretty nice with a very nicely shaped and finished stock and the metal finish just a bit more appealing to the eye though still of a durable look

What say you ???

Steve

 

[powder smoke]

My experience with Mossberg is they are bullet proof.
I have a 500 for many years and shot countless partridge with.
I do not think you can go wrong for the money. JMO as usual! ps

 

[XP100]

Only thing customers ever brought to me to have repaired on their 500 was the cheap plastic safety button.

Break down and but a case of Win. AA 410's when they have the rebate. You will get 20.00 back then save the empty HS hulls and sell them for .12 - .14 each. That gets the cost down to about 50.00/10 boxes

 

[contender]

My first pump shotgun was a Mossberg 500,, way back in the late 70's. I shot the snot out of that gun,, and had the extractor wear out. I replaced that piece & kept on going. I sold it for some reason or another,,, I forget.

 

[Poco Oso]

I've had my 500 for quite a few years. No problems so far. For a little cheaper, but still just as functional shotgun, look at the Mossberg Maverick 88. I just bought my wife a 20 ga., yesterday for $188.00 (Pump, 26" vent rib bbl, chambered for 2 3/4", screw in accuchoke, synthetic stock) 500 barrels will fit it if you want different ones. (3" chamber for turkey :wink All in all, it's a Mossberg 500 with a matte finish. A few differences in some parts, (cross bolt safety on the trigger guard, action bars made to the forearm) but nothing that affects performance. Nice little gun. I can't wait to get her out on her first real bird hunt. ;

edit: I stand corrected. Her 20ga. barrel is, indeed, chambered for both 2 3/4" and 3" shells

 

[Captain America]

I have a 500 and a Maverick 88(both in 12 gauge), I've shot the poo poo out of both of them and they still go bang every time. The 88 is definitely an "entry level" gun but it works just fine and I absolutely trust it as my house gun. You can but a combo when you get a 500 that comes with two barrels so you can have a home protection gun and a hunting or sporting clays gun with one purchase.

 

[Poco Oso]

The combo is the one I bought, in 12ga. It was a bargain at $199.00, about 18 years ago. (everybody needed a new shotgun for Y2K, right?) I don't think you can go wrong with either of the guns mentioned above. Good luck.

 

[#1rugerman]

I would get a 20 gauge instead of a 410, ammo is much cheaper and if you can shoot a 410'you can shoot a 20.

 

[lipofsky]

While assigned to Security when in the navy we set up a combat shot gun course for training, over the course of 5 days myself and several others went shot approximately 15,000+ rounds of standard grade 2-3/4" 00 buck through 6 Mossberg 500's and6 Remington 870's, All brand new out of the box, we broke 3 remingtons and never broke a Mossberg, did get the barrels pretty damn hot and they just kept going.

 

[GunnyGene]

Don't know if Mossberg makes a MarineCoat model in what you're considering, but given your location and expected use, I'd look into it.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Only thing customers ever brought to me to have repaired on their 500 was the cheap plastic safety button.

Hi,

We replaced a bunch of 'em in our shop, too. By the early '90s, when I bought a 500 in 20 ga for a dove hunting backup, they'd gone (back?) to a metal button. That's a worthwhile upgrade for anyone who gets a hold of one of the plastic button guns.

That gun's been shot a lot, and actually gets more use than my 20 ga 870 which is far nicer looking but doesn't hit 'em any harder.

Rick C

 

[ronto]

I prefer the 500 over the 870 for many reasons. My 500 has been shooting for years and never a problem. Great shotgun for a reasonable price.

 

[redhawker]

I have a 500 12 ga and my son has a "Ted Williams" Sears band 12 ga that is a 500 with Sears brand name and markings on it. I don't even remember when or where I got mine but have had it for at least 35 years. I bought my son's "Ted Williams" one at a pawn shop about 18 years ago. I don't know how old either one is since I bought both used. The only problem mine has ever had is the ring that holds the fore end on worked loose, just had to tighten it back up. His needed some type of repair right after we bought it (probably why someone pawned it) but I don't remember what it was. Both have been chugging along with no other problems since.

 

[Jeepnik]

Older .410 Mossy's are build darned good. My first shotgun, and one I still use regularly now that it is "The Perfect Jeep Gun" is a .410 Mossy.

They did, at some point, change from a single action bar to a double. I guess folks had a hard time learning to pull the fore end straight back and would cause it to bind and not feed properly. Funny, as a skinny 12 yo kid I had no problems following dad's instructions.

Mine has a 2 1/2" chamber. I think the current ones have 3". But, I've never felt the need for the 3" variety.

 

[welder]

Another vote for the Mosseys. I have two 590A1's, one in Marine coat, the other Parkerized, never a problem with either. My son has one, I have the other for home defense go to guns. My first shotgun was a Mossberg 195 bolt action 20ga., got it back about 1972-73, well worn and used but still functions perfectly today.

 

[Heliman]

I have a 500E .410 with a 3" chamber. Wife bought it for me years ago. Runs perfect and eats everything. Will be one of the last guns I have. Already gifted to my Grandson when I go under.... Great shotgun!

Dave

 

[Rocdoc]

Cannot go wrong with a 500

 

[steveodtw]

The Model 500 is to Mossberg as GP100 is to Ruger. A high value, indestructible tank. I have killed deer, wild turkey and pheasant with my 12 ga. smoothbore barrel with rifle sights. Shoots up to 3 1/2 " shells, and handles Brenneke slugs well. My only negative is that the slide rattles more than I like, but that's no big deal for your application. You shouldn't have any trouble finding used and new 500s. I was surprised to see that Mossberg still lists DOZENS of varities of the Model 500 on their website. Personally, I'd go for the 20 Ga. also. I read that Hornady has a 20 ga. slug that has similar ballistics to the venerable 45-70, if you ever want to hunt deer. Very versatile choice, the 500!

 

[SWR]

I am also looking for an extra barrel in 410. Anyone have one or a good place to get one at a
!!! "reasonable"!!! price. Prefer the 18.5 but would do with a smooth bore rifle sight or a plain barrel to cut down to 20"

Steve

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Looks like both of these sources are out of .410s at the moment, but if you're not in a hurry, and check back often, their stock changes constantly. Both are used barrel dealers:

http://www.corsonsbarrels.com/ and http://www.barrelexchange.com/index.cfm

And, as much as some wags around here badmouth eBay and won't buy from them, that leaves at least a couple of .410 barrels for the rest of us: one plain 18 1/2" and one with rifle sights were listed just a few minutes ago. Both new and at "competitive" prices ($150 range)--I wouldn't expect to steal one for a .410!

Mossberg has a raft of 12 and 20 ga barrels on their website's store, but no .410s. A call to Mossberg directly might turn something up that's been collecting dust in the corner, too.

Good luck!

Rick C

 

[Rancher Will]

I still have my Mossberg 500 police model that I purchased in about 1961. I carried that shotgun in my patrol cars for close to 40 years. I did have to use it was few times while on duty. It has not been fired for over 20 years now.

The shotgun was bought from Swanson's Police Supply in Denver with an 18-1/2 inch barrel, William Peep Receiver Sight and gold bead front sight, choked for slugs and buckshot. I remember that on the range that shotgun would put any slug into a six inch circle at 50 yards. Number 4 and double OO buckshot would devastate the aiming point of a target.

I remember when I once shot a load of Double OO buckshot into the front wheel of a speeding Mustang Auto that was moving at about 80 MPH. Inside the car were two armed robbers that were running my road block. At the shot the wheel exploded, I really mean exploded, and the car swerved into the Borrow Pit, rolled over, then skidded about 100 to 150 feet on its side before coming to a stop.

I believe that Mossberg was the gun for the job.

 

[mikewriter]

I have had a 12 gauge 500 since the early 1980's. I has a slug barrel, and now a .50 muzzle loader barrel, and it has always gone bang when needed, with no problems of any kind. Also have a Maverick 88 20 gauge in tacti-cool form I bought as a home security gun for our woods camp - also a very good gun.

Mike

 

[ifithitu]

If it's a cheap Mossberg you want the Maverick 88 12 Ga. Pump Shotgun cost me a $ 199.99 a couple years ago. I think it's a great shotgun or the price.I haven't had any problem with it. I have the Mossberg 500 Pistolgrip 12 Ga.Pump Shotgun too.I added a ATI stock about three months ago.

 

[sebtool]

I bought a neat little Mossberg 500 Defender (?) model in .410 out of the classifieds here last summer as a home defense gun for my daughter. She's recoil and noise shy, and while not a reluctant shooter, not a very good shot with a pistol, a little better with a revolver.

Not only is that thing a hoot to shoot, she's actually pretty good with it! While the ammo being extremely expensive puts a dent in what we can afford to shoot, she's gained a respectable level of proficiency with it, as well as a level of confidence that she didn't have before. Wish I'd picked 1 up years ago!

 

[Rocdoc]

I bought a neat little Mossberg 500 Defender (?) model in .410 out of the classifieds here last summer as a home defense gun for my daughter.

Folks say, and I would agree, nothing better to scare the bad guys away than a pump shotgun being cycled into battery, sound is un-mistakable.

 

[Jeepnik]

I bought a neat little Mossberg 500 Defender (?) model in .410 out of the classifieds here last summer as a home defense gun for my daughter.

Folks say, and I would agree, nothing better to scare the bad guys away than a pump shotgun being cycled into battery, sound is un-mistakable.

Mom used my .410 Mossy for home defense toward the end of her life. In her eighties she suffered from muscle deterioration as many do. But she could handle, cycle and fire the .410.

So the little .410 is great for a first and last shotgun.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Some of the older ones had odd stock dimensions that didn't fit me well. I currently have 20 gauge that is about a 2010 model and it is just as good a scattergun as my 870. I actually like the aluminum receiver, gives it a more lively feel in the hands when shooting clays.

 

[Three50seven]

I've shot a 500A as my main waterfowl gun for over 10 years now, and it was used when I started using it. 18.5" vent rib barrel and Briley extended improved modified choke tube. It's a duck and goose killing machine, couldn't begin to guess how many birds I've shot with that gun. You can't go wrong with a Mossberg 500!

 

[Major T]

Once upon a time 870s were better guns. Double action bars on the Mossberg and Remingtons continued slide down hill may have changed all that.

Ammo. I have tested 2 1/2" .410 loaded for clays with 8.5 shot, and here is what I find out of my Winchester 42 with a modified choke. The clays load patterns better than 3" shells and the hard 8.5 target shot penetrated deeper into pine boards. You may have to get your dealer to order it for you, but it is worth the trouble. I have used said load for opening of dove season for the past several years. You cannot have more fun with a shotgun.

Best wishes,

Jack

 

[FergusonTO35]

The .410 is more capable than people think it is. My little NEF with full choke never had trouble dislodging fat fox squirrels from high up in the trees.