Mossberg's 500, 12 Gauge

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Ima thinkin about picking up one of these for home defense purposes.

Most of the posted stuff on the interweb praise the gun for it's simplicity, light maintenance and cost.

American made weapon so there seems to be quite a lot of bolt-on accessories available especially for the 500 models.

If I get one, I'll pick up a 'ShotLock' quick access vault and mount it on an interior wall in my bedroom.

My eyesight ain't what it once was, so now I believe a shotgun will probably forgive my aim better in low light conditions than my .45 pistols.

Plus, alltho seperated by @100 feet from my neighbors, I'm paranoid about strays flying around the neighborhood which the shooter is responsible for.

Anyone using a Mossberg for home defense?

 

[chief38]

While I do not own one, I know of many that do and have not had any major problems.

Personally I like the Remington M870 and the Ithaca M37 better, but the Mossberg will suit your purpose just fine.

 

[NYlakesider]

Ima thinkin about picking up one of these for home defense purposes.

Most of the posted stuff on the interweb praise the gun for it's simplicity, light maintenance and cost.

American made weapon so there seems to be quite a lot of bolt-on accessories available especially for the 500 models.

If I get one, I'll pick up a 'ShotLock' quick access vault and mount it on an interior wall in my bedroom.

My eyesight ain't what it once was, so now I believe a shotgun will probably forgive my aim better in low light conditions than my .45 pistols.

Plus, alltho seperated by @100 feet from my neighbors, I'm paranoid about strays flying around the neighborhood which the shooter is responsible for.

Anyone using a Mossberg for home defense?

Yes I have a Mossie 590 12 Gauge. That’s a 9 shot with a short barrel. I do not have close neighbors or kids at home so my load is first 00 buck with a few slugs to follow

I have the full butt stock as the pistol grip only looks menacing and is more compact but it’s hard to control when the trigger is pulled. I have no accessories on it as if needed all will be close range and I prefer a none encumbered gun (KISS) Keep it Simple Stupid. A security storage item like you say is good.

 

[BaldEagle1313]

I have pump shotguns from Mossberg (500), Remington (870) and Winchester (1300). If you're a lefty, get the Mossberg. The top-mount safety is easier to operate with your thumb than the crossbolt-type safeties on the other two. Plus you can generally pick up a 500 more inexpensively than an 870 or 1200/1300. I paid less than $200 for each of my Mossbergs - one was only $165.

OTOH, my 870 has a better action. Probably because it's an actual older-model Wingmaster, rather than a newer Express version. The Winchester is really smooth. But it's the most expensive of the three.

 

[rock doc]

I have a Mossberg 500 for both hunting & home defense by switching out the 22" barrel for an 18" barrel. Since the hunting scope is cantilevered to the barrel, it come off when switched over. I have a Type 3 acromioclavicular separation to my right shoulder, so the recoil absorbing stock helps.

 

[zzzippper]

Do it, you can't miss. Well, you can miss with your shot but not with this purchase.

 

[kozmic]

I have a 500 Persuader as my HD shotgun. I like the top safety and 9 shot capacity. I looked at many and for the price I don't believe I could have done better. I mounted a light, Tru-Glow front sight, one point sling and a Limbsaver recoil pad.

It has never had an issue with 00 buck, # 4, 6, 7 and 7-1/2 both 2-3/4" and 3" shells. Several of my buddies have gotten them after seeing and using mine.

I highly recommend the Mossberg!

 

[Ranger514]

Mossberg makes a great SD pump. Mine is a 9-shot 590 Special Purpose with a Speed Feed stock. I've owned a couple of different Rem. 870s, and have trained with them my entire LE career, but I find the Mossberg easier to handle: the forward release lever mounted behind the trigger guard, and the tang safety make it faster and easier to manipulate controls. I've kept it simple with a plain brass bead front sight.

 

[Hapworth]

The Mossberg 500 has a well-earned reputation for simplicity, dependability and effectiveness. You can also get them used in good shape relatively inexpensively. I'd take a close look at the A1 and Special Purpose models, but a basic will certainly do the job.

Two quick notes on your stated reasons for moving to a pump gun for home defense:

1) You'll have to aim just as accurately as you would a rifle or handgun; at home defense distances, spread will do very little to make up for poor aim.

2) Typical defense rounds from a shotgun will over penetrate as much as -- and in some cases more than -- anything you put through a handgun.

There are also considerations with a shotgun as home defense weapon centering around maneuverability, low round count, two-handed manual of arms and ease of use in a volatile situation.

Not to say I don't like pump shotguns -- I love 'em -- but there are ponder-worthy trade-offs in using them for home defense.

 

[policerevolvercollector]

I'm issued a 500ATP w/ an 18" bbl. You can't go wrong with a Mossberg! It rides in a hardcase in my trunk. In this barrel length, it is very easy to handle and control. The "low recoil" 00Buck is my duty ammo with some "slugs" on standby in the case.

 

[Grayfox]

Excellent HD scatter guns. I've got a 590 with a few mods.

 

[Wingmaster]

As far as reliability goes, I got one for a birthday present when I was somewhere around 12 years old. From that time until I graduated from high school we never had a loaded 12 guage shell in the house. I shot them all.

I didn't know their was more to cleaning a gun than swabbing the barrel until I was probably 25 years old or so.

Then a few years later I had a buddy that invited me to join his trap team. I shot that same 500 Mossberg on a trap league for 5 or 6 years.

I don't ever remember that gun failing to do anything except shoot pretty good.

Just my expierence

Wingmaster

 

[revho]

Have a 500 5+1 and 8+1 shot. I would recommend a Mossberg over the others, but as mentioned, it is a personal preference. Also, the 5+1 model will have the ability to change standard barrels on depending if you want to use it for more than HD. The 8+1, not quite as easy.

 

[Linejudgemick]

I'm a long time upland game hunter and shotgun owner. I've had my 870 Wingmaster for over 35 years. Not long ago my trusty 12 gauge was getting a little heavy on those long walks looking for rooster pheasants, so I bought a Mossberg 500 All-purpose 20 gauge to have a little lighter gun. I also bought an O.E.M. 18 1/2 barrel for it, so it could fill the secondary role of a H.D. shotgun. The 500 isn't an Wingmaster, but neither is an 870 express, but they are both serviceable shotguns. The 500's action is smooth and as you've already mentioned, there are a lot of accessories available for them. As a side note - put the short barrel on it and patterned some #3 buckshot at room distance. The pattern was smaller than the size of my fist, so don't assume you don't have to aim when shooting a shotgun.

 

[Straightshooter2]

I have one with the 18 1/2" barrel in the bedroom. I don't know about the 870 or the 1300 but one thing I like about my 500 is it will work quite well with the 2" Centurion 00 buckshot which increases the capacity. I bought mine when they were still standard with wood and, because I have a short pull, had the stock shortened. This also improves the maneuverability indoors.

CW

 

[CajunBass]

I've got one that I've had for so long it's actually branded "Sears-Roebuck & Company." I guess I got it about 1977...78 or so. I haven't used it for years (pretty much stopped hunting), but there for a while in the late 70's through the 80's it was my go to gun for deer hunting with buckshot. Every deer I ever used it on, hit the ground and stayed there.



Good guns. I paid $99.00 for it at Sears. It came with both the 28" Modified barrel, and a 24" smoothbore slug barrel I've still never used. Probably never will.

 

[oberon]

A reasonable choice, indeed.
Short $, tough, reliable.
You can trick one up any way you please.
I would suggest running #4 buckshot. Lethal on critters up to about 185 lbs. or so, and probably as deadly on even bigger ones. The #4 will make many ~.30 cal holes per round, and the over penetration problem is minimized by the lighter pellts.

 

[Duster340]

I've used my Mossy 500 12 gauge for hunting (24" & 28" barrels) and HD (18" barrel) for over 30 years. Have carried in in the field with a variety of barrels for every one of them 30 years, in all weather condition, put 1000's of all types of rounds through it, and put lots of meat from pheasant to deer in the freezer. It has even embarrassed a few shooters at the skeet range. She not a beauty, it is a bit beat up, with many dings and scratches. But I wouldn't trade it for anything! My wife bought a 20 gauge 500 for herself about 20 years ago and loves it as well.

All said, I would not hesitate to recommend a Mossy 500 to anyone looking for a reliable, sturdy, nice shooting shotgun.

 

[2152hq]

Many new shooters (new to Skeet,trap, S/C) show up at our club w/Mossberg 500's. Some have not shot very much if hardly at all, some have hunted but that's it as far as shotgun shooting.

The Mossberg puts in a fine performance. I really can't recall anyone having a mechanical problem with one,,and it's on one of those types of continuous shooting games that gun problems arise.
100 or more rds a week,,usually more. Week after week. Some shootmultiple times a week as they really get into it. Then they decide they need a 'better' gun usually. That doesn't always pan out!

But as far as the 500 goes,,they hold up.

On the inside,,the trigger group, carrier and shell stops are near Remington 31 copys. The bolt is not the tilting design like the 31 or M12 but rather has a separate bolt lock within the breech bolt itself. Browning used it in the A5 & his Stevens 520 design.
The 500 locks steel into steel,,bolt lock into bbl hood. The alloy receiver is just along for the ride. Double slide bars.
Some very early 500's had problems w/the trigger groups breaking their allainment tabs off and cracking (plastic casting). Some firing pin and tang safety problems and a few A/D's while in patrol veh dash mounts weren't the best start up for them.
They've re-engineered as they've needed and seem to have a strong simple system.

?? Anyone know if they ever put their DAO trigger design out onto the L/E market,,just wondering what happened to that.

 

[mc5aw]

The Mossberg 500 is the best value for a 12 gauge available. I've owned a 500 and the 930 semi-auto, and highly recommend all Mossberg products. I've also owned a Remington 870 (pre-Ilion) which was a fine shotgun as well. For cost effectiveness and quality however, I'd go with the Mossberg.