Mossberg 500

[stepper]

Good or bad? I was just in Academy and they have them for $228. It also comes with a pistol grip you can put on it. It was a 18 in barrel. They don't carry the 590 there, so the guy couldn't tell me much about the difference.

They have the remington 870, but they were all 28 in.

thanks

[blake711]

Thats as cheap as you will find it is my guess. Academy only deals in certain weapons. The ones they carry they purchase a MASS QAUNITY. This is how they sell them so cheap. Like the 870 for 219 everyday and 198 on sale. If a Mossy is what you are are looking for Jump on it. I don't think it will be found cheaper locally or online. A home defense modle Remmy is normally 299-330 the higher price is if it has extended tube on it. If you purcahse one online by the time you have FFL and Shipping you don't save much. If your in OKC see what Hoov has. They have a 5% off sale right now on all guns. Also Academy sells a Winchester 1300 home defense modle it holds 8 rounds its like 239 I think when academy had them. http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=512&type_id=104&cat=012C its been a while since I saw one so don't recall exact price.

[Mack45]

Last time I was in Academy they were going for 249. I picked mine up at a local show for about that. 228 sounds like a good deal to me. Mine has a 20 inch BBL and holds 8 + 1. I really like it. its literally a blast to shoot! The wife even shot it with some light game loads. 00 buck is pretty awesome to shoot. The last time we took it out we riddled the hell out of an old 5 gallon bucket!

[J.P.]

Mine is a 20" 8+1 as well.

I also picked up an 18.5" Maverick security model w/ free aluminum double rifle case and two boxes of ))buck for $150 out the door when they were price warring with BPS.
the Maverick is okay but not quite as refined (if you can call one that) as the Mossberg.The Maverick has a sh!++y safety,IMO.
It's located underneath the trigger and is sticky.

I say go for the mossy.

[pete156]

I've got the Maverick and wouldn't trade it for the world. They are better nowadays since they have dual action bars instead on the one the they used to have. Mine is uber reliable and will work when needed no questions asked. :)

[skyydiver]

I dig my 500. Wood stock and all.

[kgull85]

I want one, but I can't think of a way to convice the wife to let me have it. :(

[liliysdad]

the best Mossberg is a remington 870 :)

[blake711]

the best Mossberg is a remington 870 :)
Well I I don't normally agree with a darn thing you say.. but that right there is on target.

[liliysdad]

Well I I don't normally agree with a darn thing you say.. but that right there is on target.

Even a broken watch is right twice a day......

[CAR-AR-M16]

the best Mossberg is a remington 870 :)

+1. I used to have a Mossberg 590 and a Remington 870. Now I have two Remington 870's.:thumb: The Remington is just a better gun in my opinion. Your mileage may vary.:)

[kgull85]

+1. I used to have a Mossberg 590 and a Remington 870. Now I have two Remington 870's.:thumb: The Remington is just a better gun in my opinion. Your mileage may vary.:)

I'm a n00b, what makes it a better gun?

[pete156]

Maybe it goes bang in seven different languages. ;)

[CAR-AR-M16]

I'm a n00b, what makes it a better gun?

Follow link below for a good comparison. I don't think the Mossberg is a bad gun, I just think the Remington is better.

http://www.tacticalshotgun.ca/content_nonsub/shotguns/compare_870_590.html

[stepper]

I was trying to decide between the 870 and the 590 until I went into Academy and saw the 500. The $228 price tag, plus the pistol grip it comes with in addition to the regular stock is hard to beat. I know the 870 and 590 are probably the best, but I hadn't heard much about the 500.

The guy at Academy laughed when I told him I wanted a home defense shotty and to possibly shoot skeet with it too! He said I would look like an idiot if I went to shoot skeet with the mossy 500! He said I would need the 28 in to shoot skeet, which makes sense. I was just hoping to do both with the same gun.

[pete156]

I bought my Mavrick 88 at Wally World for $150. It came with the 28" barrel. I realized a few months later how much better a 18" would be for HD. So I took off the 28" and it's been sitting in the safe ever since. So I guess I have the perfect setup for skeet and HD. ;)

[blake711]

I saw a post someone of home defense shotguns.. A guy had a 28in barrell said if BG broke in he would use it to poke him in the chest from across the room a couple times and if he didn't leave then he would shoot him. I don't recall exact words but it was damn funny reading.

[mikeyinokc]

Went to OA on Saturday, looking for some reduced recoil 12ga shells for my Mossy 500. They didn't have any, so I wandered around the store just looking. Wound up over at the tactical section thinking about a light for the 500. There sat a Surefire forearm w/light for a Mossberg 500. I had looked at this online before but didn't want to pay $249 for it. OA had it priced at $189, and I could just hear it saying "take me take me". So it is now mounted on my gun.

Now I will order a set of ghost ring sights. If I don't change my mind I'm going to order a Knoxx SpecOps stock for it soon.

[Hoov]

Remington makes a gun that has a 20" and a 28" barrel with it. If you want a gun that does both, that would be my choice for not a lot of money. We carry it for around $350 I think. I much prefer the Remington over the Mossberg for quality.

[skyydiver]

Just curious Hoov, what are the quality issues with the Mossy? I have one and don't like surprises. So far so good for 10 years, but still. What's the story?

[Hoov]

Sometimes it is material quality, sometimes it is the way they are assmebled. I think it is mainly some of the newer guns, but I can almost recite the repair facility's address in Eagle Pass by heart. I would have to check my stats as to whether they are the Mossberg Int'l guns or not. I'm all about not paying a lot for a gun that you are going to beat up. But, if my butt depends on it, I
don't mind paying extra.

[montesa]

When I set out to buy a home defense shotgun I looked at both the Mossberg an Remington. The Remington seemed to be made so much better. They are very simple mechanically also. I originally thought that the Mossberg might be better than the Remington because the shell stops and ejector are more easily replaced. After becoming familiar with the 870, I decided there was no advantage there because I can't see anything going wrong with the 870s ejector or the shell stops. Even if they were to stop working they are really not hard to replace. I personally think the 870 is a better gun, but I have several friends that have Mossbergs and they have had no problems.

[skyydiver]

Funny about both posts above...I shot some skeet a week or two ago with a friend from work and some of his Army buds. I used the Mossy. My friend used his 870. He and I are both kind of "gun nuts," his two friends from his Army days, not gun guys. The other two guys kept having trouble feeding with the 870. My friend, David, said he had heard that the 870 didn't like short brass, which is all we had (he also said he never cleans the 870). So I'm feeling pretty good about the Mossberg. Just about then, one of the Army guys has my Mossy lock up. I went over and tried to rack the slide gently, no dice. So I forced it. Damn ejector and ejector screw fell out. I guess I need to loctite it. I screwed it back in, no more problems. But I thought it was funny that Hoov's post talked about the 870 which jammed alot (might have been this particular gun, or cleaning) and then montesa mentioned the easily replaced ejector of the Mossberg. That experience kind of makes me thing that there's not a lot of difference if you'll just clean and inspect every once in a while.

[bratch]

I've busted some clays with my 18" 870. Convince them to do a night shoot; with a SF forend I think you'd have the advantage:lookaroun

[liliysdad]

The Mossberg works. Its not as nice as the Remy, or built as well, but they normally function.

Personally, Id hunt for a used 870 and build it as wanted, rather than go with a new 500 or 590, but thats just me. I simply feel the 870 is a better gun. Either is better than the 100/1300, IMO, however.

[goodoleboy]

Also note that a buddy bought one at academy last years and it doe snot have a screw in choke system.. Not a problem if used just for a single purpose but prefer a choke system for hunting.

[Hoov]

Funny thing is, I just sent back one of the Remingtons because the weld on the barrel clamp was broken right out of the box. WTF?!!!

[JBW]

Sorry to ask this Remington question in the Mossberg thread, but....

So for a home defense shotgun only...no other purpose....

What type of Rem. 870 is recommended...
(police / express / gauge / barrel length)?

Pistol grip or regular?

I'm left handed if that makes any difference.

( you all may know me from other posts...I'm clueless to specifics on guns so your advice always makes the difference)

Thanks!!

[DrBaker]

Am I the only one that prefers the 590 over an 870?

Dual extractor claws, better safety lever location, slide release (or whatever it's called) located in a position you can use without moving your trigger hand, and the elevator/lifter (thingy that scoops the shell up from the magazine and into the pipe) stays in the up position to prevent getting hung on things.

Just my 2 cents.

[liliysdad]

I prefer the 870 over the 590 by leaps and bounds.

I hate the safety location on the Mossbergs. It is unnatural for me, and useless when used with a non-traditional stock. The action release is not an issue, I dont see why youd need to activate it from a firing position. Never, ever had an issue with the shell lifter getting in the way of anything. Another non-issue.

the 870 is more modular, and easier to work on. There are more parts available, and at a lower cost. The build quality, at leat on the Wingmaster and Police guns is far and above anything Mossberg does. The 870 is the best selling pump shotgun in Police and civilian sales, and has been for a long time. There is a reason for this.

[bratch]

JBW,

Get a 18" 12 guage Express. I wouldn't worry about a pistol grip and you might even want to put on a youth stock. A bead is more than adequate. You'll want a light. The Surefire ends are the top but there are cheaper options.

Stock up on some reduced recoil 00 buckshot and your set.

Now the left handed problem I have no idea.

[firing pin]

I can get you a left hand 870 if you want one .

[JBW]

Thanks "firing pin" I'll let you know.

Hate to keep asking questions, but...

1) Does it matter if it's a left handed gun for home defense? I want my wife to shoot it too...she's right handed.

2) Is there a big difference between 12" & 20" gauge for recoil? Would the wife (and/or I) prefer lesser recoil since it's only home defense or are we sacrificing something by getting a 20 gauge?

Thanks!!

[bratch]

1. I wouldn't think it would matter too much. The only downside I can see using a wrong handed pump gun will be the shells eject across your body. Depend on how they eject they could hit you.

2. The only real thing given up with a 20 gauge is variety. I don't know of any specialty 20 ga. shells. With the 12 you can get reduced recoil buck that isn't very bad at all as far as recoil goes. The 20s can also be smaller. Less weight=more felt recoil. I would think the biggest thing for your wife would be handling the guns. The 20 might feel abit better but only hse can say for sure.

[olyeller]

heres some info for you; 870 suck for leftys, which I am. Ive used a mossy 500 since I was 16; still have it.
the top safety is fine for me; if you do get an 870, it MUST be a lh version, otherwise its too unnatural to use for lefties.