modifying Mossberg 500

[RedNoma]

I've been thinking about having my Mossberg cut off for home defense. I had a few questions though. I realize that the minimum is 18" for the barrel. If I had it cut down to that could I have the end of the bore threaded for the stock choke tubes and still be able to have an accurate hunting shotgun (squirrel, rabbit, etc.)? Also would a gunsmith be able to make the rib look right after cutting the barrel? And would that setup be good for HD? My gun is just like this one.

 

[zinj]

Just buying another 18.5 inch barrel for the gun would be cheaper than getting the one you have cut and threaded for chokes. Then you would have the best of both worlds.

EDIT: http://mossberg.com/products/access.asp?type=barrels&section=access

The 18.5in "Security" barrel costs $78, way cheaper than cutting and threading again.

 

[RedNoma]

I didn't even think to check barrels on their site. The others I had been seeing were running higher than that. Thanks a million for the link.

 

[MAX100]

Better yet check out Havlin sales and you can get a Mossberg 500 18.5" barrel that is tapped for choke tubes for $69. Some buckshot shoots tight patterns with IC, modified, IM or Full chokes.

Click on close out barrels on the left side.

Havlin Sales Mossberg 500 barrel link:
http://www.havlinsales.com/


GC

 

[rantingredneck]

Max beat me to it. I have one of those 18.5" accuchoke barrels from havlinsales. Makes a dandy close brush deer gun . Vic and Cheryl Havlin are good people too. Very easy to deal with and very quick shipping.

 

[Fumbler]

I cut the barrel on my 500 down to 18.5"
Then I cut the vent rib loose and used vice grips to twist the rib's posts off.
Filed the spots that the posts were attached smooth.
I silver soldered on the fron Mossberg ghost ring sight and refinished the gun.

Later I decided I wanted it threaded for choke tubes.
I measured the bore and wall thickness and figured that it could be threaded for accu-chokes.
I finally found a local gunsmith who has taps.
He told me that threading for accuchokes was iffy due to wall thickness and he didn't have those taps anyway.
I ended up paying him $50 for the labor of tapping it with Tru-Choke tubes.
Each new tube (my mossberg and Rem tubes don't fit anymore) was $15.
So, in the end to have it threaded was $80 including an IC and mod tube.
If you go this route and want to keep the rib then you can just cut the barrel at one of the rib posts.

It's a nice shotgun and with the choke tubes it's a little more versatile.
But...
$69 tapped for accuchokes looks like a good deal.

I still love my home done barrel.
If I could do it again I'd just put the money up front and get a new barrel. Since my 500 is short barreled I ended up getting a Rem 870 for shooting birds.

 

[MAX100]

You did an Excellent job. Nice gun!


GC