New owner of a Mossberg 500 with some concerns....

[JesterRock]

I just recently purchased a new Mossberg 500 combo shotgun with the 18.5" and 28" barrel and pistol grip. I went with the 500 over the Maverick 88 due to overall quality concerns, I was disappointed to find that the forend is similar to the Maverick 88 in that it is a one piece with the action bars fixed/attached to the forend. I know a 500 Persuader/Cruiser has a forend that is on a slide tube that is held on by a nut. What other corners did Mossberg cut with my shotgun as opposed to 500 Persuader/Cruiser? I have no intentions of getting another forend, and I'm only concerned with the reliability and quality with that style action. My shotgun does say it is a Mossberg 500 made in New Haven. I'm just concerned that I got a low budget 500 that is not up to par with other 500s. This shotgun is strictly a home defense gun. Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks.

Austin

 

[redbullitt]

Eh a 500 works like a 500 as far as I have seen.

Mine (nothing fancy and probably pretty similar to yours) has run just fine for about 5 years now, maybe 2000 shots through it.

Get out and shoot it a bit and get comfortable and build some trust! lol

 

[Landlocked Pirate]

This thread from Shotgunworld.com should answer your question:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11203&start=0

 

[zhyla]

Yeah don't get worked up over it. It's not like it's a wear point on the gun, if it feels sturdy enough today it will stay that way.

 

[UnknownGunMan]

Any mossberg pump will last a lifetime. Even their cheaper 88's.

 

[Fred Fuller]

All manufacturers have to make changes over time in order to maintain certain 'price points' for their products. If a company can find a less expensive way to manufacture a part or assembly, and it works to their standards of reliability (and they do test these things), then the money saving approach will show up on the assembly line. I haven't heard of repeated instances of problems with the Maverick style of fore-end, and they have been out there in the field for a good while now. All the change really means as far as I can tell is that you can't put a SureFire or other aftermarket forearm on your shotgun.

Best bet IMO is to run the gun and satisfy yourself that it will indeed perform as you expected... I'd say if Mossberg is willing to put it out in the marketplace with their name on it, it will work.

And as always, I have to say- it isn't so much the sword, as the swordsman that really counts... as the resident old stick in the mud, I'm always happier to see shooters worry more about their skills than their tools.

lpl

 

[joeq]

I havn't had any quality concerns with my Maverick 88. It's been reliable since
day one.

 

[au01st]

I too got a new 500 in November. It has the plastic forend. When I go to Academy, what do I see? Maverick 88's with Mossberg forends that can be upgraded... I was going to purchase a new action tube to put my Hogue forend on my 500, but for another $100, I can pick up a Maverick 88 and just switch them and have a spare shotgun for the trunk. That's what I'm doing.

 

[jtscuba02]

We used to have the Mossberg 500 issued to us. After seeing first hand all the abuse they can take and still fire, I bought a 500 and a 590. Now I'm looking at the 930 XSP Autoloader. I would not worry about the quality. They can take a beating and still blow the hinges off of doors. For some reason my unit decided to waste money and buy new Remingtons.

 

[evan price]

Modern business practices means reducing costs.

The Maverick style action bar forends have been out for decades and have so far proven reliable. It's not as easy to swap out the forend covers. But they work just fine.

There's no real quality difference between a Mav 88 and a bottom-end M500. Just he safety location is different. Both will last a very very long time and seem to only get better after a few thousand shells have gone through.

 

[USAF_Vet]

My Mav88 has performed flawlessly since the day I bought it. I only put a Mossy 500 fore end on it for cosmetic purposes.