Mossberg Shotguns

reconseed

reconseed

Joined
Sep 23, 2006
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I am thinking about getting a Mossberg 500. I was wondering if anyone can tell me more about the mossberg line of shotguns from experience. I have been reading reviews and I am seeing a few people say they are cheap, junk, made on cheap materials, etc.. So I was wondering...


mossberg500taccru.gif


This is the 500 I am looking at.
 
I've got one of the 590s with the ghost ring sights and speedfeed stock and it is a TANK, but my friends that hunt waterfowl have problems keeping their 500s running. In the season (now) they are out at least 4 days a week and they have a couple of 500s for loaners for when they bring people out. Their experience has been that the 500s work well for about a season, then they get touchy and will jam or misfeed from time to time (mind you they put more round through their shotguns in a year than most folks will in a decade). I have had no problems with my 590 but it costs a lot more than the basic 500, and you will probably get what you pay for. I use an 870 for my bird gun...
 
locomike said:
I've got one of the 590s with the ghost ring sights and speedfeed stock and it is a TANK, but my friends that hunt waterfowl have problems keeping their 500s running. In the season (now) they are out at least 4 days a week and they have a couple of 500s for loaners for when they bring people out. Their experience has been that the 500s work well for about a season, then they get touchy and will jam or misfeed from time to time (mind you they put more round through their shotguns in a year than most folks will in a decade). I have had no problems with my 590 but it costs a lot more than the basic 500, and you will probably get what you pay for. I use an 870 for my bird gun...
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Mike, I was just wanting to get a Home Defense weapon and I thought the pictured shotgun above would be a good ticket... I am also looking at the Remington 870. It has good reviews as well. Mossberg is the company that got the military's contract, so THAT says something. :thumbup:
 
You will almost never go wrong with the 870 (my best friend got an 870 Express that was a massive POS and that was the first bad one I have ever heard of), but I really like the Mossberg's tang safety and they also put the action release in the right spot. I would also strongly recomend getting a full stock model. In tight quarters, you can tuck the stock under your arm, and I've seen lots of folks miss big targets at close ranges with the pistol grip shotguns. At least get a folder.
 
Thanks for the advice. Why do people like the pistol grip only stocks then if they are so inaccurate, inherently.... I just love the way the Mossberg 500 looks!
 
I've got a 12ga Mossberg 500. Only shotgun I've ever owned (had it about 4 years now I suppose).
I've put somewhere between one and two thousand rounds through it, all trap shooting.
I've never had it jam. I think it may have misfired once, or there may have been a bad primer in the cheap wallyworld shells we were using, who knows.
I really enjoy the design (again, only compared to other guns I've HANDLED, none that I've OWNED)- safety under the thumb just makes so much more sense than under the finger.
It never takes a conscious thought to rack the next round in- it feels completely natural.

So while I've never subjected my gun to anything harsher than cold temps (-5F) and maybe not cleaning often enough, I've been absolutely 100% pleased with it. :thumbup:

PLUS! It was a steal, used, at $150. Can't beat that with a stick.

Mike

Edit: Oops, just saw that the model you're looking at is completely different than mine. I mean, of course all the guts are the same, but I've got a full length wooden stock and 28" barrel. Well, ok, I guess most of my remarks still apply, but just so you know, it's not EXACTLY the same gun we're talking about :)
 
People like pistol grip stocks because they look badass. The only reason for it is space concerns such as maybe behind the seat of a pickup or bush plane (or under your black trenchcoat), but a folder or fixed stock is more versatile. :thumbup:
 
MSCantrell said:
I've got a 12ga Mossberg 500. Only shotgun I've ever owned (had it about 4 years now I suppose).
I've put somewhere between one and two thousand rounds through it, all trap shooting.
I've never had it jam. I think it may have misfired once, or there may have been a bad primer in the cheap wallyworld shells we were using, who knows.
I really enjoy the design (again, only compared to other guns I've HANDLED, none that I've OWNED)- safety under the thumb just makes so much more sense than under the finger.
It never takes a conscious thought to rack the next round in- it feels completely natural.

So while I've never subjected my gun to anything harsher than cold temps (-5F) and maybe not cleaning often enough, I've been absolutely 100% pleased with it. :thumbup:

PLUS! It was a steal, used, at $150. Can't beat that with a stick.

Mike
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Yeah, for the money, you can't beat it. :thumbup:
 
Ok I think I am going to go with the Remington 870 because the Mossberg 500 is just not practical. What the heck am I going to shoot with it? I dont have a trenchcoat and dont shoot people so I guess it maybe doesnt fit me. I want a pistol grip but I also want to be able to shoulder the shotgun when I need to so I can deliver shots to the location I intend to, rather than firing from the hip and "praying" thanks for the advice from you guys. I appreciate it! i will get some pictures up of it when i get off work tomorrow at about 7ish, or thereabout.
 
I am an 870 man through and through.... got em stashed all over the place... I think they are the best of the best (having owned every pump on the market)... My personal favorite is a vintage (unmarked) Police model... it is pure sweetness.

however, my truck gun is a 500. It is almost as functional, not as tuff but tuff enough, and much less $$ than an 870, and if the truck gets stolen/500 boosted, it wont break my heart like loosing an 870...

here she is,... wearing a vindicator pistol grip, $9 weaver rail, and $30 bsa laser (again, truck setup).
gundang001.jpg
 
If you want a cheap and reliable shotgun, get a Remington 870 Express! During the Dove and Quail season sales at the major "supercenter" sporting good chains, you can find them for ~$230 where I live. I have seen dual barrel (short Home Defense and 28 inch Rem-choke) for ~$280 which I think is an excellant value.
 
reconseed said:
Mossberg is the company that got the military's contract, so THAT says something. :thumbup:
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Yes, lowest bid that crosses the threshold of meeting minimum requirements.

You are buying just one shotgun so, is $20 difference really critical to your decision versus having a better shotgun? Also, are you really buying the military contract model or a cheaper "clone".
 
I bought one of these for about the cost of a Mossberg 500 (~$200) It has a smoother action than any Mossberg I have shot, and has been very reliable. It also is very easy to break down for cleaning.
http://www.charlesdaly.com/images/firearms/shotguns/pump/large/Fld Slug Tactical.jpg

reconseed said:
Thanks for the advice. Why do people like the pistol grip only stocks then if they are so inaccurate, inherently.... I just love the way the Mossberg 500 looks!
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Because of the movies. Mall ninjas want to be the terminator.

reconseed said:
Mossberg is the company that got the military's contract, so THAT says something. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

It says "lowest bidder" edit: (I see I was beat to that punch)
 
reconseed said:
Why do people like the pistol grip only stocks then if they are so inaccurate
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Mall Ninja'dom.

You can shoot a shotgun unaimed if you PRACTICE a lot but, most people don't shoot them enough to have good skill. If you put the shoulder stock on your shoulder and shoot with a very coarse aim, you will probably hit what you aim at. Tuck it under your arm and you will likely shoot the ceiling. With a pistol grip ... :confused:
 
as with anything, you should train/practice...
PG has its uses... it is only better in cases where it is the only option (size wise). At present, way to many shotguns,... only one has a PG/no stock... and its my truck gun... It is easier to keep where i keep it,... and i wont miss if i need to use it. All my house SG's have full stocks... which are superior in all situations (again, where they can be implimpented)...
 
Jeffrey, thanks for the link.

Rat - how much do you have in your Charles Daly? I like the look of it. Looks similar to a Stoeger I saw today.

I am going to end up getting the 870 as stated above. My main reason is because i want some practical use out of it. Plus I also think that it doubles are a skeet gun. I can shoot skeet, use it for home defense, take it to the range, etc. Whereas, if i get the Mossberg 500 which is nice, i will only have something that looks cool and that will be hard to control and fire accurately. ALL things considered, there really isnt much of a choice.
 
reconseed said:
Ok I think I am going to go with the Remington 870 because the Mossberg 500 is just not practical. What the heck am I going to shoot with it? I dont have a trenchcoat and dont shoot people so I guess it maybe doesnt fit me. I want a pistol grip but I also want to be able to shoulder the shotgun when I need to so I can deliver shots to the location I intend to, rather than firing from the hip and "praying" thanks for the advice from you guys. I appreciate it! i will get some pictures up of it when i get off work tomorrow at about 7ish, or thereabout.
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Mossbergs come in many flavours, not just pistol grip. http://www.mossberg.com I've had both a Remington and a Mossberg. I prefer Mossbergs due to how they operate.
 
i have a mossberg 500 from the early 80's which has had i dont know how many rounds fired thru it, never a problem, its one with the long bbl w/a adjustable choke, and a 18.5 bbl w/a compensator and a heatshield, think the whole rig was less than $200 at the time, oh it came w/a pistol grip too, and its an early model w/only one action bar unlike the newer ones with 2, but again never a problem.

with practice the PG will work just fine (with practice) i used to shoot skeet informally with mine, you know use a hand held thrower, was good practice imho, if ya can do that i would think ya could hit something across the room anyway, dont get me wrong right now its got the full stock affixed, but if ya think ya cant hit anything w/a PG ya are wrong.

also ya can get top folding stocks, side folding stocks, PG stocks for the 500 if ya want.

of course the rem 870 is a better shotgun, better F&F, better blue/wood, but i dont know that they function any better, or shoot any better FWIW, for a no frills beater shotgun the 500 aint bad. if ya want a shotgun to shoot a lot (and i do mean a lot) the rem is more heavy duty of course,

the way the safety is on a mossy is a plus imho, top tang mounted.
 
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