Before I jumped on the bandwagon, I went to Bud's web site and looked for a Mossy 500 with an extended mag tube for $324. I didn't find one, but I did find one for $326 so maybe yours went up 2 bucks.
The one shown has both a synthetic stock and an interchangeable pistol grip.
Looks like the best of both worlds to me. And a good buy.
Nothing seems to incite more passion on this forum than a pistol grip on a shotgun. You could say, "I found a rusty shotgun made in Tibet." and everyone would say, "That's really cool, enjoy." But if you add, "Oh, and it has a pistol grip", you'll get a hundred responses of, "Are you crazy? Throw that thing away."
I suspect the great majority of people who claim to hate the P/G have never even shot one, and certainly would never consider owning one.
But I have two. They'd be lousy for hunting or skeet, but I find them handy for what I use them. They are very compact, store easily, and at 15' or less could be very devastating.
I'd say get the Mossberg, and enjoy.
By the way, I don't find the safety on the Mossberg that odd. It's in plain sight, easy to push to shoot. If the plastic button bothers you, a metal replacement is available. I find the safety on the Remington hard to feel and in an awkward place. But that's probably because I don't practice with the Remington nor do I own one. (and the safety is one of the reasons).
.Budd tossed one of those dangerous "Clays", and i swung up the Mav 88 like a full stock skeet gun BOOOM!
"OW! QUIT IT!"....severely mooshed (but not broken) nose, fat lips, and a matched pair of "Shiners".
PGO setup on my HomeLand Security shotgun? ? ? Not now, not ever
Ha, that's funny. I feel your pain.
However, you were doing it wrong, so why blame the gun? If you hold your fully stocked 12 ga. against your testicles, you'll regret that too!
Sorry, I'm still laughing.