[Labyrinth666]

I know mossburg is one of the most developed shotguns for civilian self-defense, but what about for hunting purposes (I live in Illinois, so I can't use a rifle for deer)?

[The Captain]

I have a Mossy 500A I use for deer. I live in Ohio and can't take deer with a rifle, either.

My 500A has a smooth bore slug barrel, but keeps excellent groups at 50 yrds.

The Captain

[Labyrinth666]

Should I get a scope for it or just keep the factory sights

[Fred Fuller]

It will certainly do just fine, if you hold up your end. Scopes can come in handy on a dedicated slug gun, but lots of folks do well with just iron sights. Depends on what you want, just don't overpower it with a scope better suited for counting craters on the moon. A decent quality low powered variable (1-4X or 1.5-4.5X) or a fixed 2X or 2.5X will likely serve you much better if you decide to glass it.

lpl

[lobo9er]

mossberg 590 does a pretty good job with slugs. good enough for white tails thats for sure. working on mounting a leupold 2-7x33 shot gun scope on it.

[jlv08]

Mossbergs are a drop dead reliable field grade shotgun that is manufactured in many configurations to suit just about any situation.

To me, the 500 is an excellnt basis for home defense and hunting properly configured.

I really like the 835 Mossberg due to it being overbored to 10 ga. with a 12 Ga. chamber.

Great guns.

[scythefwd]

The deer won't know that it was a mossberg that shot them. If you can put the slug where it needs to be, then any shotgun will work for you. My old man is using a 500a out in Dunlap, IL. Works for him.

[jmr40]

The Mossberg, as well as most all shotguns were developed with hunting in mind. They were later adapted for combat. The Mossberg will do fine for hunting.

[buck460XVR]

I've used a Mossy 500 since the late 80's for turkey hunting and it has yet to let me down. It very seldom gets cleaned and is used in all kinds of weather.....as a matter of fact, since Turkey hunting in the rain is quite productive, it gets soaked thru and thru many times a year. I also have one of their rifled slug barrels with a cantilever scope mount for it. It will consistently put sabots in a four inch circle @ 100 yards.

[Ohio Gun Guy]

I have always used a Mossberg for hunting.....Its been a few years now, but it was always a mossy.

[thadj]

As long as you can shoot and hit a target with it then it is good for hunting. I do not think that the make of a gun makes that big of a difference, as long as it works. Good luck and let us know how you do.

[Bud Tugly]

If you are going to hunt live game with any weapon you owe it to the animals to practice your skills first. If you hunt deer with slugs, get a bunch of them and shoot until you know your limitations in making a clean kill and then stay within those limits.

Anything else is unethical hunting IMO.

[Hunterdad]

I have never had good luck with Mossberg. I have owned 2 500's and an 835 and all of them dropped a shell when fired. Missed alot of ducks with those guns.

With that said, all the reviews I have read have been positive, so I really can't say anything negative about them.

[kanook]

Hunting barrels for myy mossberg

slug barrel with sights

rifled slug barrel with scope

ported turkey barrel

vented rib bird barrel

50cal muzzleloading barrel

and yes the 18" barrel can be used very well if you due your part

[MCgunner]

I'd buy the cantilever scope mount rifled barrel and scope it. This barrel has an extention over the receiver so that the scope mounts to the barrel and removes with the barrel so as to keep its zero. The rifled barrel is necessary for the saboted slugs which have superior ballistics to fosters.

Only gripe I've heard about mossbergs for deer is excessive rattle of the pump handle/foregrip, whatever that thing is called. I hunt ducks with mine, so that's not an issue. It's been killin ducks for 20 years and will, likely, until I pass on.

http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_212148_imageset_02?$main-Small$

http://cameras.pricegrabber.com/riflescopes/Mossberg-Rifled-Barrel-Cantilever-Scope/m19810911.html

[Bluehawk]

Bought my 500 over 20 years ago and have hunted the Mojave Desert with it exclusivley for jackrabbits with never a problem!
Got rid of the two original barrels...18" cyl bore and 28" AccuChoke for the 24" AccuChoke turkey barrel and the ported,rifled slug barrel with cantilever scope mount which has a Bushnell Dusk-Dawn 1.75-4X scope on it. To me this is the best combo for what I use my Mossberg for. It's still going strong!

[RandKL]

I have owned 2 500's and an 835 and all of them dropped a shell when fired.

Might be smart to consider user error instead of implying it's the guns.

r

[Labyrinth666]

Wow I just realized I mispelled mossberg.... And should I go 500 or 590?

[foghornl]

Have an OLD Mossberg 500 & a Maverick 88. Maverick is set up for HomeLand Security w/18-1/2" cylinder bore barrel, the 500 is my "Woods-N-Water' gun...28" Mod choke tube.

Mossbergs/Mavericks are not fancy, but they go BOOM! on request every time. I'll take substance over style and function before form.

[Bluehawk]

By the way guys...I have some AccuChoke Improved Cylinder choke tubes for the Mossberg 500 for sale here...brand new...for steel and lead...$8+$2 shipping !!!!!!
These are in the original Mossberg factory packaging!
Look under:
Buy, Sell, and Trade, Accessories:
FS: Mossberg 500 "Choke Tubes", 12 Gauge, Brand New, for Lead/Steel Shot!