Old MOSSBERG 500A

[JDSD4L]

New to the board, and I know this is an old topic but, I need some insight please. This board has been the most helpful. I’ve been presented with an 1964 to 1968 500A with no serial. It had the red extended butt stock pad, the scalloped bolt, great shape, wood, and bluing is all really nice. Bottom line, what are one of these guys worth, and durability being how old it is? I’m new to the shotgun world, and I appreacite the help!

 

[kudu]

I am guessing top of the market value is about $275-$300. Not sure there are any Mossberg collectors out there that would pay premium for a nice early model. As for durability, should be able to handle about 100,000 rounds plus, so for the average shooter, about 4-5 generations of hand-me-downs.

 

[JDSD4L]

Awesome, thank you for the insight. It’s a really nice gun. Would hate to pass up on a nice one. Be a cool piece to have if it’s worth a buy.

 

[PabloJ]

LGS had 16ga with Select A Choke device in like new condition for $225. It's original 500 with single rail version. I was surprised to see decent quality walnut stock on the one I looked at. The value is around $200 to $250 depending on gauge and condition of the gun.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I recently bought a department-store 500A ("Western Field" from Montgomery Ward's), single-rail, jeweled bolt, vent-ribbed barrel, 2-3/4" chamber, C-lect choke, great condition, for about $150. I'm guessing 70s-era birthday.

Won't exactly fund my retirement, but it's a nice-looking gun. Some of those department-store guns were really pretty.

 

[JDSD4L]

Thanks guys for all the input.

 

[243winxb]

New $290. Used, anywhere from $175 upwards.

 

[Coyote3855]

That one is in especially nice condition with great wood. I'm not in the market for another Mossberg, but $175-$200 for that one would be tempting. As another poster implied, it probably has a 2 3/4" chamber whereas newer ones will take 3" magnums.

 

[Rocketmedic]

I've got the same gun, no serial number but same vintage and features; marked as a "Western Field M550A". 12-gauge, C-lect-Choke, and jeweled bolt with a 28'' barrel. I literally haven't shot it in years because it's difficult to find a shotgun range.

What shot can I run through this thing?

Can I change the barrel with another Mossberg barrel (say, a 20-inch)?

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

I've got the same gun, no serial number but same vintage and features; marked as a "Western Field M550A". 12-gauge, C-lect-Choke, and jeweled bolt with a 28'' barrel. I literally haven't shot it in years because it's difficult to find a shotgun range.

What shot can I run through this thing?

Can I change the barrel with another Mossberg barrel (say, a 20-inch)?

I can't say about the barrel, but any lead 2-3/4" shot should be safe. No steel shot, though.

Even slugs should function fine in the C-Lect, on any setting other than full.

Here's a discussion that includes a quote from the original Mossberg C-Lect documentation:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=113316

 

[Rocketmedic]

Is it safe to run steel through it for very limited use (say, buckshot for home defense)? Or should I just get another barrel (or cut the current one down?)

Also, is a little bit of play in the barrel normal? I dismounted and remounted the barrel properly, but there's a bit of wiggle between the action and the barrel when locked.

 

[joed]

Wow, that was the first gun I ever owned, only from 1970s. It was a decent gun and the only reason I sold it was because it was a 28" modified and I started duck hunting. Never had a problem with it, while I owned it.

 

[Sam1911]

Is it safe to run steel through it for very limited use (say, buckshot for home defense)?

Steel buckshot? Say what? Why?

 

[Rshooter]

Steel buckshot? Say what? Why?

One would want to use steel buckshot in a home defense situation so that the bad guy does not get lead poisoning.

 

[Rocketmedic]

Isn't buckshot made of steel now?

In any event, I have no intention of taking this out for hunting, etc. Is it safe to cut the barrel down to 20-22''?

 

[Sam1911]

No. The only reason for steel shot is because of federal rules for waterfowl hunting. Buckshot isn't used for that.

Buckshot is lead, sometimes copper plated.

 

[Rocketmedic]

So it's safe to use with 00 buck?

 

[entropy]

Yes, 00 Buck is fine, with or without the C-Lect Choke. If you cut the barrel down, there will be no choke, it will be cylinder bore.

 

[JDSD4L]

Good to know about the types of ammo though as well, and which types are ok. The more knowledge, the better!

 

[JDSD4L]

Any of you guys still using this same model/year range 500A? Hunting or at least a plunker for clay?

 

[Rocketmedic]

Can one mount rifle style sights to it?

 

[AJumbo]

JDS, there are hundreds thousands of M500s in the field, chugging right along with boring reliability. If you buy the gun in your post, your grandkids will never wear it out.

For home defense, 18" barrels are easy to find and won't cost much; probably the cheaper option vs. cutting/crowning/re-beading the existing barrel.

 

[Kp321]

A couple of observations. One, that vintage 500 has a single operating rod which puts extra stress on it. I have seen a few break while I have never seen a later 500 with the double operating rods break. If you do break the operating rod, replacements are readily available plus one of the later operating handles can have one rod removed and used if needed.
Two, I recently had an early 500 in the shop which had a later barrel installed. The action was very tight, apparently the newer barrel extension was thicker than the original and was causing some binding. It was correctable but something to look for if putting another barrel on it.
All in all, the early 500's are much better made and smoother than the new ones.

 

[JDSD4L]

Thanks AJumbo, and Kp321. That’s nice to hear though for the older ones. And, yes I figured parts may be a little more tedious to swap out for compadabitly purposes verses new, and old. As well as, I would like to think the older ones would be built more durable.

 

[Old Shooter]

I just bought a new Mossberg 18-1/2" barrel at Sportsmans Warehouse for $100. I had been looking thru the local gun shops parts bins for an older barrel to cut down but no one had any 500 barrels at the time.