Mossberg 500 Problems?

[The Janitor]

Im doing some shotgun shopping. I've heard mixed reviews on the Mossberg brand, and Im wondering if there would be any critical/common problems to look out for when examining a used one. Wisdom is much appreciated.

 

[foghornl]

Only a couple of things come to mind....

A lot of folks don't care for the plastic safety button, but that is a less than $20 and 30 minute fix.

Barrels seem now to arrive with some almost clear but very gooey protective grease inside. Clean THOROUGHLY before first use.

I have an early '60's vintage Mossberg 500 and a 1990 vintage Maverick 88. Both go BOOM! on request, every time.

 

[peck1234]

+1 foghorn

I just recently started shooting my fathers 1960s mossberg 500 pistol grip and it always goes boom...

As far as the safety goes the steel one is a must, my plastic one broke off from the mere recoil and the screw being a little loose.

 

[Todd A]

I have owned my Mossberg 500 for 16 years,and it was used when I bought it.

In that time it has failed me once. I always pump it like I am trying to break it, and once it did.I ended up shearing off one extractor retaining pin,locking the action up tight as the extractor was bound up between the reciever and bolt. That was about ten years ago and no problems before that one or since.

 

[BADUNAME37]

I like my Mossberg 500!

I like my 500 which I replaced the safety button with metal and removed the pistol grip and installed an adjustible Choate shoulder stock.

An orange follower that will not allow you to compress the spring too far along with a new magazine (tube) spring that cannot go BOING may also be what you might want. The orange follower is an easy way to quickly see if there are any shells in the magazine.

Other than my shoulder stock, I really didn't have to install the other parts.

I quickly found with 3" Magnum Buckshot that I'm not strong enough to keep the gun from nearly knocking out my teeth and/or breaking my jaw! Let's put it this way, when I ended up with a bruised jaw, I knew it was time for either 2 1/2" shells or a shoulder stock. I went with the Choate shoulder stock that comes with spacers to change the length of pull about 1 1/4" or so. I left the front Pachmayr rubber grip on -- which I find to be a good combination, along with the shoulder stock.

I basically made it just the way I want it and have not had any problems with it whatsoever. One good thing is you can buy parts for it all over the internet.

It's ready for defense if I should need it. I certainly wouldn't want to be the bad guy.

 

[dispatch55126]

I recently picked up a 500 and have put about 70 slugs and a few boxes of bird shot through it. I had one Brenneke that didn't want to extract but otherwise its been flawless. The safety is very tight so either the safety issue is over rated or Mossberg fixed the problem.

It handles well, shoot well, and I like the slide release much better than the 870. Like everyone says, this is a Chevy/Ford argument.

 

[Gord]

You'll want to stay away from Winchester promo pack ammo - with any pump, not just Mossbergs. These are the 100rd packs you find at Walmart for ~$21.98. Spend the extra dollar and get Remington Sport Loads instead - good stuff.

Put some wear marks on that puppy.