Big 5 sporting goods had a 12ga.Mossberg 500 combo on sale this weekend (blued finish, polymer stock & handguard, 5+1 capacity, and two barrels - an 18.5" and a 28") for $279. That’s a $20 price break on the gun and a free barrel - too good to pass up. The 28" barrel should work well for shooting trap (something I rarely do but really enjoy) and the 18.5" is a nice length for HD use.
I’ve been able to borrow a shotgun for recreational shooting for the last 25 or so years so I never got around to purchasing one until today. I’ve used the Mossberg 500 series shotguns in the past (thanks to the generosity and trust of friends and family) so I’m familiar with them and I’m sure It will work well for me.
I don’t have a camera handy so no pics for now. It’s your garden variety Mossy 500 so pics won’t be anything to write home about. I’ve always borrowed shotguns with longer barrels. I really like how light and wieldy the 18.5" barrel is!
I’m hoping to get out this next weekend to put a few rounds through it and make sure it’s functional and maybe shoot some clays.
About 40 years ago, my wife bought me the same basic combo. Slug barrel with sights and bird barrel with a adjustable choke stuck on the end. I still have it and still use it as a home defense gun. I think the sale price then was $99.
Thanks for the information! I’ll read up on the 500 today and get it squared away before its first visit to the range. I did do a degrease and lube on the gun and check to make sure that all fixtures were tight but I definitely see the wisdom in giving them all a spot of blue loctite.
I’ve found with my 835 and 590 that if you do a good clean and lube
then put you longest barrel on then go buy a ton of low recoil “sporting” or “trap” loads then go shoot the hell out of some clay’s
you will get a better idea what and if anything is going to need loctight.
plus it helps you get used to the fit/feel of the shotgun.
As a general rule, if it’s got threads, it should get a spot of threadlocker. Things like the magazine tube cap excepted. Preemptively servicing guns in this way does nothing but limit potential issues down the line.
If I had a nickel for every ejector, bead, and GRS mounting screw I’ve seen come loose on a Mossberg…
I picked up the same Mossberg 500 combo at a local Big 5 for the same great price last month. It is just too good of a deal to pass up and this too is my first 12 gauge shotgun.
I shot the short barrel at the range and what a kick - both literally and figuratively! I’m going to shoot some clays next week with the long barrel. So far, I’m loving the gun. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I like mine.
