Mossberg 500 20ga Questions

[Geronimo45]

Considering the above-mentioned 20-gauge Mossberg as a general-purpose firearm. As for what purposes it would be serving: home defense, possible car defense, varmint removal (sparrows, drunken armadilloes).
Stock is some kind of synthetic material, but with a traditional shape to it. Seems to fit me pretty nicely, and points well. 18.5" barrel (a 20" for the other, IIRC). Similar one has wood furniture, and a ribbed barrel instead of the round one with the bead on the end. $300 for either one, not completely sure which one I'll pick.
Now, the questions are: Does the 500 have any particular quirks to it? Slam-fire, front beads falling off, stocks breaking, etc? Looking for potential issues I might encounter - buying the thing new.
Also curious about shot suggestions - for anti-armadillo and for apartment usage.
Thanks!

 

[JNewell]

Short version: good guns, good value. Only thing I've ever seen happen (once) was the plastic safety break. Brownells has a steel replacement that probably costs less than the shipping.

How did you get armadillos in your apartment???

 

[Geronimo45]

How did you get armadillos in your apartment?

It came fully furnished.
Thanks for the info!

 

[bensdad]

The Mossberg 500 is a tank. Buy one, and never worry about it.

 

[EHCRain10]

The $300 price tag seems a little high to me, if your willing to support a big store, Dick's sporting goods and walmart would be cheaper by at least $75.
the 500 is a tank you really will be able to pass it down to descendants with proper care.
id say buckshot for home defence (#3 is what i can find in my area)
and pick up some bird shot for everything else

 

[scout26]

My daughter has close to 10,000 rounds through her's and nothng is broken. It's just about getting worn in.

 

[mnrivrat]

Mossberg 500 in 20ga has been my shotgun of choice for many years. I agree that $300 sounds a little high and you might want to check around a little. I use #3 buckshot for HD and this should work well for those armored critters as well.

No big issues to be concerned about on the 500 for reliability. The most common complaint and repair is the safety button and I replaced mine long ago with a metal one. The plastic one will last a good bit of time usually before giving a problem so it is nothing you have to get to concerned about.

 

[foghornl]

$300 seems a tad too expensive, but the Mossberg is a good solid serviceable shotgun that will far outlast you.

Plastic safety button is the only quirk I can think of in a Mossy. Less than $15/30 minutes to fix.

I bet my bacon every day on 2 of them..a 12-GA 500A and a Maverick 88.