Mossberg Slugster

If it has a rifled barrel, you need "sabot" slugs and NO SHOT LOADS.

The rifling will spin the shot cup, resulting in 'doughnut' patters. If load doesn't have a shot cup, the shot WILL be deformed by the rifling, and rifling will get heavily leaded.

Otherwise, a very good shotgun. You can get standard smoothbore barrels if needed.

or you can swap barrels for cheap...

I bought the 500a Slugster too. I went to my local pawn shop and swapped the barrel for regular 24". It was slightly used (as far as I could tell) and he swapped it for free. It think he got the better barrel, but I got a barrel I could use. (I did forget to ask about the choke tool... now I have to find one of those)

The Slugster barrel (I've heard) is not good for regular shot.

I also bought a 18.5" from Mossberg for $79.

Swapping them out takes seconds.

First welcome to the High Road. You will find all types of information here and surely out of the conflicting information you have received some of it will be of help.:banghead:

I have a Mossberg 500A and I have (or have had) several different barrels. One of which I currently have is a 24" Slugster barrel. It is a smooth bore with rifle sights - for rifled slugs & I have buckshot for it. I have shot a Sabot in it but that is a waste. It does best with Breneke rifled slugs. My shoulder likes them in 2 3/4" configuration. It patterns buck shot very well.

I live in Texas and I know of no law or reason you cannot shoot #2 thru #9 shot out of it (The Slugster) as it is a smoothbore for gosh sakes. There are no threads or other choke devices to worry about. However, the patterns are not as well defined as my barrels with accu choke in modified or full choke.

Mossberg also has a fully rifled barrel (mine had a cantilver for scope mounting) in 24" configuration which was very accurate to at least 100 yards with Sabot loads. It is NOT a smootbore and is not really what you want for buck shot or field loads since the shot can screw up the rifleing in the barrel. I got rid of mine because it just was not a good fit for my needs.

I hope you look at yours and see if it is a smoothbore with the rifle sights on the top of the barrel. If so its a good tool for slugs or buckshot and its quite accurate with the slugs out to 75-100 yards. You can use it for birds though that is not its primary function. For birds you can pick up a 28" VR barrel pretty cheap on gunbroker or Auction Arms.

Please let us know what you have. Good luck.

Regards,