Mossberg 800a

[jl1966]

I just picked up a Mossberg 800a .308 at the local pawn shop for $250. It is in pretty good shape with a Simmons 3x9 on it, and a leather military style sling. A few dents in the wood, but nothing bad, and good to excellent bluing. I never even knew Mossberg made bolt action rifles, aparently, these were made from the mid to late sixties thru the late seventies. Does anybody on here have experience with these? I am usually a Ruger nut myself but I apreciate any good rifle especially the old style wood and blue deer guns, stainless and plastic seems to be the rule today.

 

[Ash]

Yep, I sure do! The Mossberg 800, with it's 6 locking lugs, is similar to the earlier Browning A-Bolt, except the Mossberg came first. It is a short action and is very different to the long action 810. It has excellent iron sights. But all these things you know. Redfield Jr. bases can still be had for the 800 if you choose to go with turn-in mounts.

The only warning is to keep the rear bolt tightened down. If the rifle is shot while loose, you can crack the stock behind the bolt. If you are concerned about that area, you can actually relieve the stock around that hole to prevent direct contact (and therefore ensure the locking lug is your contact point). The action is easily pillar-bedded (I have done it myself) and can be glass-bedded easily, too. The bottom of the receiver, being stepped with a flat bottom, means it will actually bed fairly easily.

Post some pictures for the crowd!

Ash

 

[jl1966]

Thanks Ash. I am so far really pleased with this rifle, it is pretty fancy for a Mossberg. The proof will be in how it shoots though. I have already double checked that stock bolt as you said. I love these kind of unusual pawn shop finds. I guess these rifles were actually manufactured by Mossberg, and not by some other company and just have the Mossberg name on them, correct? I will post some pictures when I get the chance.

 

[Ash]

They were made by Mossberg and were made to what was, at the time, considered a lower standard. By today's standards, though, it would rate as a high mid-grade. After all, it does have a walnut stock, even if it uses pressed-checkering, polished blue, excellent iron sights, and often times a jeweled bolt. These are much, much nicer than the base-line rifles from any company these days. If sold today, with the 6 lug bolt (forward locking) and all the features, it would be a $500 rifle.

They can also be encountered under the New Haven trade name, as well as Western Field (Montgomery Wards) and Revelation (Western Auto) store brand names.

The real problem is that just about nobody has one, so discussions about them, or the 810, happen very infrequently.

Ash