Mossberg 500: accessories and upgrades

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You just have to figure out a consistent sight picture, and where point of impact is with that sight picture. It's both the blessing and curse of only having a bead; there's nothing to zero, but you have to learn where POA and POI work with different ammo types and distances.

The good news is, if you can put a slug somewhere in the torso, it will ruin a BGs day. Small groups don't matter, just solid center of mass hits.
You can see here I was shooting consistently high with both slugs and buck. Mixture of 4 buck and 00.

The hit on the right was on purpose to get some clean paper. Head shot was 00 at I think 10 or 15 yards. Big holes are all slugs at 15-20 yards. A few of the lower ones i think were shot cups when shooting shot a little closer. Those all are lethal hits in an SD situation, but I'd like to improve.
 
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I would stick with a 2 point sling. It will hold the the shotgun against your body versus it swinging like crazy and hitting you in the wrong spot with a single point sling.

I would get a sling swivel or stud that mounts to the magazine end tube cap and another that screws into the butt stock.

Here is my Mossberg Shockwave to give you an idea.

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Been hunting with Mossberg's going back to the early 80's under some God awful conditions and they always treated me right. I consider them a working man's gun....Someone above my response mentioned replacing the plastic safety with a metal one. I've owned about 8-10 Mbergs and only issue I ever had with one was the plastic (Delrin?) safety slider broke almost in half. What remained (about 60%) functioned fine and the break didn't go into the screw hole so I never messed with it.

A Mossberg 500/5 shell magazine with a 18.5 cruiser barrel, collapsible AR stock, barrel heat shield with integral ghost ring sights, 5 shell holder on the stock is my dedicated ATV gun. Always carry it in a gun rack on the front of the machine within easy reach. I have a Boskki ATV expedition trailer I occasionally tow and will spend several days in the backcountry unsupported. When that happens the MBerg pulls double duty as a tent/camp gun. It would easily fill the role of a HD shotgun but I prefer handguns for my situation and location.

Speaking of Tacticool...I picked up this MBerg 'Road Blocker' some years ago. Was at the height of Mossberg going off the deep end with large appendages of questionable utility hanging off the end of their barrels. It had a pistol grip which I don't care for in 12 gauge. For some reason I think the price was pretty low and just couldn't pass it up. I had plans to swap this and add that to another MBerg I owned but never got around to it...think right now I have 3, maybe four and a couple of spare barrels laying around....Some of the take off parts from Mossbergs that were laying around I sent to a member of THR who was doing his own MBerg build.

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ANYWAY... I knew the pistol grip had to go so I replaced it...then added the shell holder. I've not shot it but once and lost interest in it. I figure it has to be kind of collectible at this point because Mossberg had a recall....something about pellets coming back out the side of the brake. A fair amount of them went back in and Mossberg didn't send the brakes back.

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As luck would have it my youngest daughters significant other and highly likely my future son in law in the last 3 weeks bought his brothers Maverick 88. He said his brother upgraded to an 870. He brought over the 88 and we discussed what his options are for making it a home defense gun. It's his first ever gun of any kind and since he's younger he likes the tactical look. In fact, I took the pic's in this post at the time he was here just because I had the gun out.

He's been out a couple of times with me for all day shooting sessions capped by camping around a fire in a remote desert. Loves it. I'm thinking about a couple of things....going out and buying some basic stuff and guiding him through a build of the Mav 88. Maybe gifting him this gun (because he stated he really liked it) or possibly just going out and buying a tactical off the shelf gun like a 590.

Regardless. He's not getting anything until my basement is finished and I can convert one of the storage rooms to a walk in gun room with a legit safe door. Will free up a safe that he can have to go with the gun. Might happen before Christmas.
 
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The most important feature for that gun (or any HD gun) is a decent light, and the knowledge of how to properly use it.. The most economic way to do this is with a rail fore-end of some type and a pistol light that doesn't suck. Lights like the dedicated forend setups from surefire are excellent but pricey. A light like the Streamlight TLR-7 is a good light to be mounted on the non-firing hand side of a railed forearm to be activated with the non-firing side thumb. A light like this could be removed easily to be used on something else like a handgun rail, if desired. Don't buy some piece of cheap trash for a light, it will let you down. A metal safety is also a desirable feature (don't lose the ball bearing and spring). A simple sling from walmart with uncle mike QD swivels should be more than adequate. I don't see a need for a whole bunch of other starship trooper looking upgrades- for one thing, you will probably need to take them all off for hunting. Unless you are looking at some Guadalcanal type scenario, a heat shield isn't that useful, nor is a bunch of methods to store ammo "on board". That ammo is heavy, and will make that gun heavier in a hurry. I believe that gun holds 6 rounds. Maybe one of those cheap elastic ammo holders on the stock secured with some gorilla tape will do the job, if you think your HD situation requires more than 6 rounds of buckshot (I hope not).
 
I forgot to mention in my previous post. If for some reason you decide to go with an adjustable pistol grip stock be aware that it now makes it less intuitive to work the top slide safety. A regular stock allows you to wrap the thumb and it’s right there when needed to adjust the safety. AR stocks require you to adjust your hand to get to the safety. For HD in the dark that could be an issue if not practiced.
 
I bought my 590A1 back when they first came out.

It came with walnut furniture (yep), and a lot simpler sight than the big job on the new ones.

Never has failed or needed repairs, gets a lot of 00 practice on feral dog packs.

Conelrad
 
If you must have a sling (and you don't at home but will if you go to the range enough, and at classes yes. And you mean carry strap):

One point slings on the everything were a fad. They are only useful on a certain type of very small subgun. Do not get a 1 point. Odd balance and a good way to get a hot barrel on your legs.

Two will do.

But move the swivels to the side. As stated above, you want the gun against you when the sling is tightened up (picking slings is a whole thing, we'll avoid that for now).Bottom sling mounts don't ride as well as side mounts because the gun is a flat board with bends.

Avoid swivels. Get sling loops if you can. Keeps things from flopping, twisting, getting in the way of sights or bore, making noise.

Example front sling loop:

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GG&G makes this, and a million of them. If you want to get a light on the front there, they make combined loops and rails for that.

On the back you can look for different stocks, like the very good Magpul, with a side sling loop:
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...get adapters that place the loop between stock and receiver:
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...or get any of many fabric adapters. Here's a pretty weird one (bottom)
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This is BFG. Great slings. Only ones I have.
 
Awesome feedback everyone. I agree and hear the points about a few basic upgrades but not going #Tacticool. Really, I just want better sights maybe, a sling, and a light. I have a 6 shell holder on the stock already. Maybe if I find the right one figure out a shell card as noted above for the side of the shotgun.
 
I'm afraid I'm not much help on slings. I kept an 870 for HD for a number of years and just used the Hi Viz sights that I'd used for hunting. I used the magnetic ones, and will say that the magnets are surprisingly secure.

As for stocks, I'm a fan of Choate Machine & Tool. In the interest of full disclosure, I've known the Choates for upwards of 40 years. Their products lean towards "heavy and indestructible." Here are the things they have that fit Mossberg 500s: https://www.riflestock.com/store/?s=mossberg+500&post_type=product
 
Yes the Choate stocks are definitely on the heavy side. And yes they are pretty indestructible too. I have one of their Varmint stocks on my Savage Model 12 FVL, it is one solid stock. The only down side to it is the lack of a good cheek riser. I have to use a chin weld with the Varmint stock.
 
I'm afraid I'm not much help on slings. I kept an 870 for HD for a number of years and just used the Hi Viz sights that I'd used for hunting. I used the magnetic ones, and will say that the magnets are surprisingly secure.

As for stocks, I'm a fan of Choate Machine & Tool. In the interest of full disclosure, I've known the Choates for upwards of 40 years. Their products lean towards "heavy and indestructible." Here are the things they have that fit Mossberg 500s: https://www.riflestock.com/store/?s=mossberg+500&post_type=product

I really appreciate the link. It's good to know I can get a youth/armor length stock, with spacer and rubber butt plate options.

Honestly, I'm a big enough guy that I have no problem with the standard stock, but my wife is not nearly so tall as I am.
 
Now if Choate would just make some stocks for the 410 Mossberg 500 I would buy one in a heartbeat. I am trying to find a youth stock for my 410 to fit my wife.
 
Mine are not 500s but for my home defense shotguns I use an old Army sling I picked up at the CMP, for hunting shotguns I prefer something with a pad. I have lights that use 18650 batteries mounted to the barrel, just be sure to get one rhat has the switch on the side. I bought an ammo belt that holds 25rnds and keep that with my HD shotguns (it will also hold extra pistol mags and batteries)
I don't use a sling on my turkey shoot shotguns, I was trying the Hastings sling and since I was using a rest also I noticed my shot being pulled to the left, so be sure to practice to see if you're still accurate under different circumstances.
 
I'd get a few of those velcro shotshell cards, a metal safety, possibly a small piece of pic rail for attaching a light and call it a day. There is alot of good shotgun information in the stickies, Dave McCracken was a wealth of knowledge on shotguns. Spend a few hours reading through all those stickies. It's good reading
 
On mine the 18.5" barrel, six shot sidesaddle, syn. pistolgrip shoulder stock, see through scope mounts for closeup work and tasco shotgun scope to reach out farther, and finally a light at the end of the barrel. loads are generally a mix of 2 3/4 00buck and slugs.
 
Just got myself acquainted with the Magpul SGA shotgun stock for the Mossberg (Thanks @WrongHanded). It's definitely as great as I've been told it was and would say it's probably a worthwhile upgrade even though it's a lil pricey. The grip angle is great and even though I've only shot a few tubes full of #8's through it, I feel the ergonomics are improved and might even have better control for faster follow up back on target.

On the other hand I love a stock factory stock but the magpul is nice because of the improved grip angle and ease of increasing LOP to preference...... I would say the Magpul is a worthwhile upgrade.
 
Awesome feedback everyone. I agree and hear the points about a few basic upgrades but not going #Tacticool. Really, I just want better sights maybe, a sling, and a light. I have a 6 shell holder on the stock already. Maybe if I find the right one figure out a shell card as noted above for the side of the shotgun.

Essetac makes shell cards as does Vang Comp. You could get the plate to attach them, but I have seen many people just find some extra-strong Velcro with adhesive backing and cut it to fit

The Magpul stock was a major upgrade for me. The OEM stock was abusing my face.
 
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