Re: Mossberg 500 Reviews...
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Riverwalker Review
Riverwalker's Gear - Mossberg 500A Shotgun
Basic specifications for the Mossberg 500A shotgun are as follows:
Style #50411
Gauge: 12 gauge (denoted by the A designation)
Chamber: 3 in.
Chokes: fixed cylinder
Barrel length: 18 1/2 inch
Twin action bars
Sight: Bead sight (brass)
Accessories: Pistol grip is included
Action: hammerless, pump-action repeater
Effective range: 40 to 60 meters
Feed system: Internal tube magazine
Stock: Synthetic stock and forearm with sling swivel studs
Weight 3.3 kg empty - 4.3 kg loaded
Shell capacity: 6 (2 ¾ inch shells) 5 (3 inch shells)
Ambidextrous, thumb-operated safety (sometimes referred to as a tang safety)
I recently acquired a Mossberg 500A shotgun for Father’s Day and have used it enough so that I feel confident in doing a short review of this shotgun. I have the standard home defense model with the 18.5 inch barrel. The magazine tube is located below the barrel and holds five 2 3/4" shells plus one in the chamber (6 shot) or four 3" shells in the magazine and one in the chamber (5 shot). I like the versatility in being able to use either the 2 3/4 inch shells or the 3 inch shells. My particular model came with a bead sight (brass) and I hope to upgrade to a night sight in the near future. It has the dual action bar design and a single large locking lug to secure the breech.
My particular model also came with the receiver drilled and tapped for the installation of a rear sight or a scope base. This is a nice feature but I have no plans at present to put a scope on it or mount a rear sight. It also has a slide release located at the left rear of the trigger guard and is easy to access.
Another great feature is the safety which is located on rear upper portion of the receiver and is ambidextrous, allowing for both right-handed and left-handed shooters. It, like all 500 models, also has an interchangeable barrel. I don’t have any extra barrels for it at the moment but I am considering this as a possible future option.
I found this shotgun very easy to clean and this will make the maintenance a lot easier and less time consuming. I also purchased a sock for it to help keep it clean but allow quick access if I need to use it in a home security situation.
I tested it with # 7 1/2 target shells (2 3/4 inch) and found it did the job I was expecting it to do. At a distance of 25 feet it was consistently on target and I managed to put a hole in a piece of 3/4 inch plywood that you could throw a basketball through. My son who was with me and tried it out said that if I ever had to use it defensively in my home that I would probably be doing some extensive renovations to repair the damage!
I consider this shotgun excellent for home defense (the original intent of my purchase) and I am very satisfied with the features of this shotgun. It was reasonably priced at $259 and well worth the investment.
You can get additional information about this model and the different options and accessories available at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossberg_500
http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=5
Always practice gun safety at all times! Remember, safety is no accident!
BTW, the wife also shot it and remarked that it was just what she needed but I told her she had to wait until I could get her one of her own and that this one was mine!
*edit* Riverwalker’s Gear: Mossberg 500A Shotgun - Update...
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker