What do you think of Mossberg shotguns?

[traveler106]

Big 5, in its relentless mission to drain me of all of my money, has put a pump action shotgun with a 28" barrel on sale for $249. It's a Mossberg.

When I learned about this, I had just spent a day at the range shooting trap with my Remington 870 Express and was considering the idea of getting another shotgun so I can rotate them, allowing one to cool down while I use the other.

I'm not sure what the model number is because the ad doesn't say, but here's the link: http://big5sportinggoods.shoplocal....owsebrand&storeid=2503842&brandid=-2099997358.

So, is this a good buy? How are Mossberg shotguns?

 

[GW]

Its a good deal
Mossbergs are solid, basic shotguns

 

[Plink]

Mossbergs aren't as smooth as the 870, but they're durable and reliable. My first shotgun as a kid in the 70's was a Mossberg. I still have it and shoot it regularly to this day. It has only improved with age. It actually fits me better than the 870 did out of the box. They're a good value.

 

[CajunBass]

Not much to add to what they've said, except that I've got one I got from Sears about 30 years ago. It's actually marked "Sears/Roebuck" but it was made by Mossburg. I paid $99.00 for it, with two barrels. (I've still never shot the slug barrel.) It works just as well today as it did when it was new.

 

[CZ223]

I just bought a 590

and, although it is a rugged gun, I wish I had bought an 870. The 870s are much smoother and, as it turns out, that is becoming increasingly important to me as my left rotator cuff is shot. I knew the Mossberg would not be as smooth but I would have to call this sluggish. If you allready have and like the 870 why not buy another? Walmart has the Laminated stock models for $239. Believe it or not the laminated wood looks real nice. They also have a shorter barreled camouflage gun for around $300 that I really like the look of. This is saying a lot because I generally hate camo guns.

 

[Kingcreek]

When I learned about this, I had just spent a day at the range shooting trap with my Remington 870 Express and was considering the idea of getting another shotgun so I can rotate them, allowing one to cool down while I use the other.

Wow! I'd like to see you in action.
Overheating a pump-action shotgun is not a concern under almost any circumstance. Not saying you can't do it, but switching back and forth between an 870 and a 500 could present some problems.
OTOH, if you just want another shotgun, don't let anything I say get in the way.
Personally, I prefer the 870 safety over the mossy's tang safety, mostly because it's what I'm used to. I owned a 500 for a while. The safety came apart while hunting and part of it ended up jammimg the trigger mech. The gun was inoperable until I repaired it and I sold it soon after. The worst part was carrying it back to the truck with the dog flushing pheasants in front of me. By the time the 2nd rooster took wing, I hated that shotgun and vowed to never shoot it or any other mossy.
Yes, I am biased and can carry a grudge.

 

[MCgunner]

I use a Mossberg M500 for waterfowl and prefer it to the 870 Wingmaster I once owned. Personal things I prefer about it for waterfowl and being a lefty, the tang safety is preferred. Actually, I think they oughta pass a law, all shotguns are to be made with tang safeties, no exceptions. I HATE crossbolt safeties, but they all put 'em on guns. The only pumps I can think of off hand with a tang safety is the Mossy and the Browning BPS. Now, I only wish I could afford the Browning, but I kinda think of the Mossy as a poor man's Browning. There is no loading gate in the way of the magazine, I VERY MUCH prefer this. And, the tang safety. Only thing the Mossberg doesn't do is eject out the bottom, oh, and operate as if on ball bearings. Man, those Brownings are slick as snot. The Mossy might not be as smooth operating, but over the 15 years I've been slaying ducks and geese with mine, it has smoothed out a lot, not any worse than most of the 870s out there. I've shot a lot of 870s. They're fine pump guns, I just prefer the Mossberg. Of course, I REALLY prefer doubles, but that's another story.

 

[starsandstriper]

keep looking

i just bought the same gun brand new from dicks sporting goods for 199.00 and they had this deal that if you spent more than 200.00 on firearms, you got 15.00 off. so the tax bumped it up barely over 200 and i took it home for about 15.00 under 200.00 which let me afford some ammo too.
BTW i like the gun a lot, while i still think that a nice wingmaster is smoother and more purdy than it anyday, it is a lot nicer than the 870 express as far as how smooth it is. i picked between the two and found that the express which i went there planning to buy was not as nice as the cheaper mossy 500.JMHO I could Email you a pic of my receipt (sp?) and you might get a good deal if you show them the price that i paid. PM me if you want me to

 

[scout26]

$250 for a Mossberg 500 with the extra 18.5" HD barrel is good deal. Bring it home and try it, if you don't like it you can probably sell it for what you paid.

 

[benelli12]

I assure that you'll be better off with a remington 870, they have a much, much smoother pump action too, they are built like a rock

 

[MossbergManiac]

I've owned a little of everything over the years. I have never had a problem with any of my Mossbergs. It ranks right up there with 870's. You can't go wrong with either. As far as after market parts I think the 870 has the edge. Overall, your not going wrong by getting a Mossberg. Around my part of town $250 seems a little high. Between $190 and $220 is what they seem to go for here. Good Luck

 

[Srigs]

I have and use my Mossberg 500 for Trap shooting, bird hunting and slug shooting. It is extreamly reliable, fun to shoot and love the top mounted safety.

 

[applekev]

Mossberg 500's are like apple pie and Chevrolet.

 

[birddog]

I have a Mossberg Trophy Slugster 500 which has been dragged through mud and submerged in ditches, yet has seen the demise of many whitetail deer. It's as solid as they come. I also own the Mossberg 500 in .410 gauge which is my squirrel and rabbit gun. It has also seen a decade of inclement conditions and is as good and dependable today as it was many years ago. I don't think you can go wrong with a 500. As others have said, it's a great, solid shotgun. What more do you need?

 

[Plink]

It doesn't take much to slicken up a Mossberg. Just find the friction spots and stone them smooth. There's a lot of rough machining on the internals and it smooths out easily. Afterwards they're a very slick gun to operate. Slick enough to annoy your buddies who paid twice as much for their shotguns, especially if you don't tell them you did any work on it.

 

[MCgunner]

Pictures anyone?

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=37108&d=1142430338

 

[tbtrout]

I love Mossbergs. In the Corps we would beat the hell out of the 590's. I preffered them over the 870's we had. I have a couple of 500's and love them. They are durable and reliable. They are field grade guns and I treat them as such. They always go bang.

 

[nitesite]

I've owned and still own "nicer" shotguns.

But a Mossberg 590 8+1 with ghost ring sights hangs above the door of my walk-in closet, loaded with two #1 buckshot shells followed by six 1-oz Brenneke slugs. It is a fearsome home defense longarm.

It hasn't been altered with any tacticool goodies that are available for it and (especially) the 870. But by gosh no other pump shotgun is any more suited for what it is built for.

My family is well protected with a Mossberg.

 

[FrancisSawyer]

Our dept. issue is an 870, with bead sights. I picked up a 590A1 with a Vang barrel for 400.00 as an alternate about 5 years ago from a dealer in Las Vegas. All that I can add to these posts is the confidence that a Vang conversion brings to the gun. The 590 is very robust, and has functioned perfectly with buckshot and slugs, depsite the beating it takes in a patrol car. I like the tang safety for 1 and 2 up drills from low ready, which is the stance I find myself in when I deploy it on duty, and the pattern of all loads with the Vang barrel are noticiably tighter. I hope that this helps a little; The advice I have read in this forum sure has helped me avoid some purchases/modifications that I have later seen fail on the street.

 

[osteodoc08]

I have both. A Mossy in 12 gauge and a Remmy 870 in 20 gauge. I have shot hundreds of rounds through both and like the ergonomics of the Mossy with its tang safety as well as the release. I really don't feel the difference in smoothness that everyone talks about. I've never had a problem with either one. Both are built for reliability.

 

[461]

The Mossberg is a leader in value priced guns. Doesn't hurt that it's high quality and will last you a lifetime to boot.

The only one we have around here is a 20ga Bantam that I bought for the kids, but I've put it through its paces on occasion and like it a lot. My next pumpgun will be a Mossberg.

Edit: poor spelling.

 

[Zach S]

I like them, although not as smooth as an 870, my 590 is more southpaw friendly.

Other than pulling a boresnake through, I dont think I've ever cleaned it... And its never failed me.

 

[foghornl]

I'm a Mossberg guy, too.

I really like the looks of a classic 870 Wingmaster, but the Mossberg "fits" me better. Don't feel poorly armed with either one.

My first pump gun is a Maverick 88. Torques off my brothers that I have put just as much game on the table with my < $110 Maverick as they have with their much pricier 870/1100

 

[Avenger29]

I like the positions of the Mossberg controls as opposed to the Remington and Winchester offerings...

I also like the shell elevator postioning- easier, faster loading for me...And having a 5 round mag capacity compared to four for most other basic shotguns is only a plus...And I also like the fact that Mossberg does not kowtow to the politicians like Rem. does- i.e.- J button safetys, mag tube dimples, etc.

I only have three complaints about the Mossberg...
1. The reciever is aluminum. Not a problem in practice, but I just like steel, like the remington receiver. I guess its just me...
2. Not as many accesories for the Mossberg as the 870. Especially not being able to extend the mag tube annoys me. But the Knoxx Sidewinder kit is way cool, but costs more than the gun.
3. The side to side flex of the forearm. It just feels weird, and cheap, although it does not cause problems in practice.

But the Mossberg does work, and it is an excellent gun. I will probably buy more, and I just have to have a 590. (BTW, what bayonet fits it? I am guessing the same one as for the M-16?)

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

I really like mine. I bought it used for $200 a few years ago. I think the positioning of the safety and the action bar-lock is way, way, way, way, waaaaay better than the Remington.