mossberg 500 12 gauge pros and cons

[scrappy45601]

and as for deer hunting is the smooth bore barrel ok

[david86440]

If you put on the 18.5 inch barrel it will extend about 3 1/2 inches beyond the Magazine tube.

I have the 20" barrel and the 8 shot tube is just about flush with the barrel.

Greg,

There have been a lot of deer taken with a smooth bore and 00 buck or slugs.

I had a chance to shoot my son's 870 with the rifled barrel and cannot get over the accuracy with slugs. I couldn't do it, but my son put 3 slugs within 2 inches of each other at 100 yrs, standing.

If I was going to hunt with slugs i would seriously consider a rifled barrel, but it does prevent you from using 00 buck as the spread is really extreme using any kind of shot with the rifled barrel.

[scrappy45601]

thank you for the info much appreciated

[Rob10ring]

Good find at that price!

I got a new Mossberg(image below) recently. With its pistol grip, it's not set up to be the ultimate home defense gun, but for clearing the house and getting everyone to one room, then I can switch to something that can be wielded more effectively. However, I've gotten pretty good with it in the short time I've had it. I've shot some slugs too. It doesn't kick as bad as I thought it would. It compares pretty well against my brother's Remington.

[Badgersmilk]

Snappy, I have the EXACT same setup you speak of.  I used the gun for hunting for about 20 years in stock form, then got a 18" barrel for $50 bucks.  Added Hogue forearm, and pistol grip.  It now rests just under me on my side of the bed every night.

I've often second guessed the pistol grip.  I keep (6) 2 3/4" 000 buckshot loaded in the gun, and have test fired it with such...  Probably much better to have gotten a regular Hogue stock.  

I prefer the way the Mossberg loads over an 870 any day!  Only thing keeping me from trading off the 870 is that the darn thing just fits me so good!  It "draws", "points", and just feels PERFECT!  I still hate the feed ramp pinching my thumb everytime I load it.  And the 870's action is clunky compared to the Mossberg's.  

Congratulations on getting a GREAT gun!  

I know I've put over 2,000 rounds through mine.  NEVER a failure to fire yet.  And the 28" barrel with modified choke shoots Remington 2 3/4" saboted slugs better than you could ever imagin at 100 yards!!!  I just never had the same accuracy with 3' slugs in it.  

[Sponsor]

[hollandm]

I just got a 500C 20 ga for my grandson for Christmas.  He already knows about it and is gung ho to go shooting, but he'll have to wait.  Sunday we go AR shooting so that should pacify him.    I paid $175.

[alfsauve]

I really like mine.  A 500A with 18-1/2" barrel and the 26" barrel.    I don't have any good pictures right now, maybe next week.

I put a Mako fore end with rails on mine then added a tac light, a shell carrier on the stock and black padded sling.

One caution on fore ends.   The various 500s models have different length "action tubes"  this will affect the fitting of the foreend.  Unfortunately, some of the fore end manufacturers specs have typos and they refer to it as "barrel length".  Just beware.  Also the Mako fore end required (on my model) a little carpentry work before it fit. 

Alf

[Hazcat]

I bought HazJr a 500 about 2 years ago for 150 (used) works great.  Only thing we ever had to fix was to replace the plastic safety with a metal one ($5.00).

[texcaliber]

I will tell you a story of why I went with the Mossberg 590 with ghostring sight. While attending a class with my at the time $900+gunsmith fees  Remington870 MAX, I was trying to preform from cover two shots strongside(right), select load a slug switch to the weak/offside(left) and engage threat. But under false stress of that trainer, everytime I switched to offside my gloved hand would reengage the Vang Comp safety with the left/trigger finger. Totally embarrassed I asked to remove my gloves witch everyone seemed to get a laugh while heckling about "real life this and SHTF realworld no TimeOuts that "  and I went at it again. Long story short it happened over and  over again. Every armchair expert/student there was chimming in with their 2unwanted cents. I was more than pissed and felt like tomahawking the 870 downrange. The guy that was the Head trainer pulled me aside and said that I should try the Moss. 590 he used for demo. I did and not another accidental engagement of safety. Not once. It was just as easy to make the 25yd. head shots and 7yd. head with 00 Hornady TAP. So I completed the class. Learned an awesome lesson and the only thing that was hurt was my pride. Now i will say the only thing i miss is the Surefire but that can be fixed.

tex

[Jonny Gib]

Sorry, new to the forum. Did not know how to post. I have a moss. 500 mariner and really enjoy it. I was wandering if it is possibe to paint over the mariner finish?