18.5" vs. 20" Mossberg 500 for HD Shotgun?
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jonboynumba1
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watch for this to...
on the forend make sure if it's a 500 that it has a forend sleave (metal) that goes through the plastic handguard. The Cheaper Maverick 88's and I even saw a 835 turkey gun ($450+ GUN!) with the cheap setup where the action bars are just set into the cheap plastic forend. Now ask me how many times people have come in and needed a new plastic forend (you have to order the whole assembly actionbars and all) after it weekens and cracks finally breaking there leaving the gun out of commishion! They should be ashamed of themselves for that...I can see it on the cheapy Maverick version they sell at x-mart for like $139.95 NIB or whatever they are these days but to see a 500 and even an 835 turkey rig done that way just sucks! I hope they aren't doing that on the persuader series...I haven't noticed it yet...but you might wanna look! You can ID the cheap setup by the two metal pins vissible in the rear corners of the handguard even with the action bars as seen in that guys pic of his maverick88 Not that it makes it useless...it's just something I'd not want design wise on my riotgun...plenty of older 500's made right used and cheap and I don't think they've cheap-o-ed up the persuader series yet...but I'd about bet they do eventually if they'd do that to an 835 supermag!
on the forend make sure if it's a 500 that it has a forend sleave (metal) that goes through the plastic handguard. The Cheaper Maverick 88's and I even saw a 835 turkey gun ($450+ GUN!) with the cheap setup where the action bars are just set into the cheap plastic forend. Now ask me how many times people have come in and needed a new plastic forend (you have to order the whole assembly actionbars and all) after it weekens and cracks finally breaking there leaving the gun out of commishion! They should be ashamed of themselves for that...I can see it on the cheapy Maverick version they sell at x-mart for like $139.95 NIB or whatever they are these days but to see a 500 and even an 835 turkey rig done that way just sucks! I hope they aren't doing that on the persuader series...I haven't noticed it yet...but you might wanna look! You can ID the cheap setup by the two metal pins vissible in the rear corners of the handguard even with the action bars as seen in that guys pic of his maverick88 Not that it makes it useless...it's just something I'd not want design wise on my riotgun...plenty of older 500's made right used and cheap and I don't think they've cheap-o-ed up the persuader series yet...but I'd about bet they do eventually if they'd do that to an 835 supermag!
They don't make mag extensions for the Mossberg 500.
Anyways, a 20" barrel with the longer tube will only be a couple ounces heavier, empty, than an 18.5" gun. If you don't like the weight with 7 rounds in the tube, only load 5, or whatever number you feel like. The length increase is also negligible.
Main advantage of the 18.5" gun is that you can get different barrels if you want, although it should be possible to have a gunsmith remove the attachment thing and silver solder it further up, to fit a 7 shot tube, if you really want a different barrel.
Keauxbi
Member
If I put my two index fingers next to each other, that comes out at 1.5 inches-the difference between an 18.5 and a 20. So 1.5 inches of hollow barrel, tube for the magazine and two rounds of ammo maybe 1 pound extra? Don't see how 1.5" makes a gun more maneuverable but that's why I opted for 20".
FYI, I found out Mossberg does make a 28" VR barrel for the 7-rd mag tube, but it's pricey: $135 is what I've been told. For that one could almost buy a used Maverick 88 with 28" VR barrel and have two shotguns. I was told those are the only two options with the 7-rd mag tube (20" & 28").
bushmaster1313
Member
I just like the look and feel of an 18.5 inch barrel better.
I would also go with an LOP of 13.25 or less
I would also go with an LOP of 13.25 or less
DHart
Member
I have a Mossberg 500 Persuader 6-shot (18.5") and 590 9-shot (20"). That little 18.5" Persuader really earned it's keep around my property and is a great gun. I bought the 590 much more recently to have the 9 rounds capacity. Loaded up, the 590 definitely feels heavier and a less "wieldy" with the extra three shells out front than the 18.5" 500 Persuader... but is "do-able".
As with all choices, when you make a choice to gain something, you must give something up. Either is a great gun. Barricaded in your bedroom, definitely take the 590 for the extra capacity. Maneuvering around, the 18.5" does have a slight edge in lower weight and better handling. Get both and decide after use.
For me, the 590 is my primary home defense shotgun with the 500 and the Coach Gun as back ups.
When traveling, the Coach Gun takes down to just 20" (in 2 seconds!) and is very easy to drop into a small suitcase, backpack, or padded case. It is wonderfully small and light weight... and becomes my primary shotgun "on the road" ... very handy to have under the car seat and, once in the hotel room for the night, assembles in 2 seconds.
As with all choices, when you make a choice to gain something, you must give something up. Either is a great gun. Barricaded in your bedroom, definitely take the 590 for the extra capacity. Maneuvering around, the 18.5" does have a slight edge in lower weight and better handling. Get both and decide after use.
For me, the 590 is my primary home defense shotgun with the 500 and the Coach Gun as back ups.
When traveling, the Coach Gun takes down to just 20" (in 2 seconds!) and is very easy to drop into a small suitcase, backpack, or padded case. It is wonderfully small and light weight... and becomes my primary shotgun "on the road" ... very handy to have under the car seat and, once in the hotel room for the night, assembles in 2 seconds.
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Dave McCracken
Moderator In Memoriam
A non issue. You're splitting hairs....
Guns and more
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I voted 18.5".
For H/D shorter is better.
Sidefolder will make it easier to store. (I have the P/G but I don't feel like arguing that again)
I don't think two extra rounds will be used in a H/D situation.
For my taste #4 buckshot.
I believe it so much, I have one.
For H/D shorter is better.
Sidefolder will make it easier to store. (I have the P/G but I don't feel like arguing that again)
I don't think two extra rounds will be used in a H/D situation.
For my taste #4 buckshot.
I believe it so much, I have one.
evan price
Member
5-shot Mossbergs can be found in any pawnshop, flea market, or used-gun rack in any part of the US for cheap (None of my 5-shot Mossys cost more than about $125) whereas the 7-shot models are popular with the Tacticool crowd and they drive the price up over $200.
Buy a complete working but cosmetically challenged 28" smooth barrel 5-shot Mossberg for under $125, saw it down to 18.25". You're in the deal. Spend the money you saved on more shells and spend more time at the range practicing.
Heck, you'll pay close to that for just a barrel for the 7-shot.
Buy a complete working but cosmetically challenged 28" smooth barrel 5-shot Mossberg for under $125, saw it down to 18.25". You're in the deal. Spend the money you saved on more shells and spend more time at the range practicing.
Heck, you'll pay close to that for just a barrel for the 7-shot.
PAPACHUCK
Member
I like the 20" Persuader. I have a shell holder on the stock that balances out the extra weight out front. 7 rounds of 00 buck in the tube with 5 slugs on the stock ready to be used when needed. It is my nite-nite buddy.
axeman_g
Member
18.5... for HD.
20" is sweet, but the issue becomes manueverability and speed in HD. As well as the front end of the 20" with 8rd cap becomes front heavy. Then... please consider. If you need more then 5+1 of OOO to solve an issue in your house, you might want to consider a fort.
20" is sweet, but the issue becomes manueverability and speed in HD. As well as the front end of the 20" with 8rd cap becomes front heavy. Then... please consider. If you need more then 5+1 of OOO to solve an issue in your house, you might want to consider a fort.
Texas Gun Person
Member
18.5
That is such a close number... I would be fine with either one.
That is such a close number... I would be fine with either one.
Carter
Member
2.5 inches isn't going to really make much of a difference. Go for which ever one you can get at a better price and feel more comfortable with.
CoRoMo
Member
It's only a 1.5" difference.
Say you find a nice, operable, 20" 500 in a pawn shop and you could walk out the door with it for ~$100. I wonder how many folks here would either pass on it because it's 20" or they'd actually go to the trouble to cut 1.5" off the end of that barrel so that they could have their CQC HD gun.
Say you find a nice, operable, 20" 500 in a pawn shop and you could walk out the door with it for ~$100. I wonder how many folks here would either pass on it because it's 20" or they'd actually go to the trouble to cut 1.5" off the end of that barrel so that they could have their CQC HD gun.
DHart
Member
Can the magazine tube on the 18.5" be extended? It just seems that another shell would so easily fit onto the 18.5" gun, making it a 7-shot capacity (nice!).
evan price
Member
DHart: The Mossberg barrel mount uses a bolt that screws into the end of the mag tube, so no way to extend the magazine.
If I could find a 7-shot in a pawn shop for $100 of course I'd grab it. But the chances of that happening are quite remote. As for sawing off the extra 1.5"- not possible, because the mag tube is already just slightly past the muzzle on the 7-shot model with a 20" barrel.
If I could find a 7-shot in a pawn shop for $100 of course I'd grab it. But the chances of that happening are quite remote. As for sawing off the extra 1.5"- not possible, because the mag tube is already just slightly past the muzzle on the 7-shot model with a 20" barrel.
DHart
Member
Evan... thanks for the confirmation. Nice idea. Too bad it couldn't be implemented. One more shell would have been easy to design into the 18.5" model... it would seem.
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