[/IMG]Need some help to ID a 500 A I just purchased. Serial # K398502, Mosberg site says made 1988. 18" barrel with handguard on top. Wood stock & forearm. Left side of reciever stamped "USMC, 00-BUCK, 3 inch", in three lines. Right stamped USA, just below ejection port. Williams front & rear rifle sights. M-16 butt plate, with USMC 502 stamped inside. Can't find this configuration anywhere. Maybe not by Mossberg? Any help out there? Thanks, Jim.
I think it's a Williams rifle sight. I was told this was used as a guard gun, but don't know where. The bottom of receiver is worn, indicating carry by the sling. Rubbed against the guy when carried. Armorer made makes sense to me. Looks unfired.
WHAT AN AWESOME GUN!!!!!! Congrats on your purchase, it's THE coolest hd shotgun I've ever seen! The corncob wood stock, rifle sights, short barrel, heat shield... PERFECT!!!! I WANT!!!
Last time I touched on shotgun while on active duty (as an MP) was around 1992 -- we had standard Mossberg 500s with the 18" barrel, corncob fore-end, no heat shield and only a front bead sight. Never saw one of those critters like the OP posted ...
We have a pile of 14.5" M500 shotguns around, all of them with plastic furniture and bead sights in the armory. They are some ugly compared to yours. I would trade IN A SECOND with any Marine carrying one of those.
I'm just happy that the thread has not descended into the "... NEVER ..." / "... ALWAYS ..." debate and really can't since U.S.M.C. Mossbergs are known to have been legally released and everyone knows of the weird whims imparted onto items by Gy-Rine armorers.
I think nailing down ID beyond speculation is going to be pretty much impossible lest you run a cross a former carrier or builder. Sure beats those awful collapsable stock versions most people have in their own U.S.M.C. Mossys.
I like this shotgun a lot. Even though I have plenty of Mossbergs, I would have bought this one as well without hesitation due to how unique it is. It could be real it could be just a nice hobbyists Making something cool. I wouldn't have worried. Just to cool not to own. Congrats.
Here are a couple pics of the front sight & the way it is attached. The short auxiliary tube is screwed to the barrel thru the front sight holes. The tube obviously fits over the barrel, but wondering if this is a standard config for the Mossberg or a "special" adaptation?
While I do not own one there is specialized book on US Military shotguns. I would bet 0% for this kind of set will be found in there. As I said very good garage/basement hobbyist modifications. Just by looking at gun finish and parts used it is quite obvious this setup did not leave Mossberg to US military supply depot. From practical standpoint reason US military uses Mossberg is because it is the cheapest reliable option offered to them. If Mossberg produced something like that it would cost more than Remington 870.
Sorry I can't be of any help, just wanted to say that shotgun is beautiful! I'm typically not a fan of wood furniture for scatterguns. However it reminds me of the guns my grandpa had. Just simple and effective.
I'm looking at the 18.5" 500a I keep behind my bedroom door w/ factory synthetic stock and a plain bead at the muzzle---I bought it new in 1990. Even if it can't ever be 100% authenticated yours has so much.... Panache. If that isn't the 'real deal' someone did a hell of a job making a one-off. The butt plate makes it just over-the-top cool----THAT is the best detail in my book!
(BTW--is the trigger guard and /or safety aluminum or plastic? I've read that mil contract shotguns had metal from the factory in both places.)
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