I am looking to buy a Mossberg 500 series shotgun in the not so distant future. But I'm torn on what kind to get so let me explain how I will use it and maybe you guys and gals can offer up some direction for me. This gun will serve as a home defense gun, so I lean toward the 18.5' barrel. Besides I am drawn to the shorter barrel for size and proportion issues. Here's the catch though, I want to start piddling around with some manually lobbed clay pigeons as well as an occasional 50 yard dear hunt. For those applications would think the longer barrel would be the better choice. The only thing I have come up with is this. The odds of it being used for defense over entertainment are miniscule. Thus, making the longer barrel the better choice. But man I just love the look of that 18.5' barrel. I guess if I had to put it all into one question it would be, "How well will an 18.5' barrel serve me in hunting and clay pigeon shooting?"
Chickenwang
Are you in the USA?
If so, barrels are relatively inexpensive and easy to come by. Why not get one of each?
If so, barrels are relatively inexpensive and easy to come by. Why not get one of each?
Are you in the USA?
If so, barrels are relatively inexpensive and easy to come by. Why not get one of each?
If so, barrels are relatively inexpensive and easy to come by. Why not get one of each?
What I would do (and did) is buy the gun with the 28" (or 26") barrel and then buy an 18.5" barrel. The gun costs the same with either barrel but the 18.5" barrel is about $40 to $50 cheaper than the longer barrels. You may be able to find a combo that has both barrels also.
John
John
Despite tha fact none of these replies answered my question, I think I will take this advice John. I am actually reconcidering the 18.5' barrel all together. I mean if i get a slug barrel and a shot barrel I can hunt, play and defend. Yea the 18.5' looks better and would be a bit more practical for home defence, I need to give more concideration to functionality. Thanks.sjohnny said:
Chickenwang
The shortcoming for hunting and clay pigeon shooting will be that the shorter barrel may not swing as smoothly for you but may be fine for closer in fast moving game like rabbits (my father-in-law used to hunt rabbits with an 18" barrelled double and said it was great for snap shooting). It will also be a fixed Cylinder bore choke. The longer barrel will come with removable chokes that will allow you to adjust the constriction for different game at different ranges. I only shoot my short barrel at more or less stationary targets. I use the longer barrel for birds. I use a rifle for deer so I can't provide much insight there but I have shot slugs out of my 18-1/2" cylinder bore barrel at 25 yards and wouldn't shoot them at a deer much further than that. I haven't ever shot slugs out of my 28" barrel with interchangeable chokes.Chickenwang said:
John
Well the 18.5" barrel will make it a bit more challenging on the skeet range. Its a great length for the deer woods for slug and buck ball.
On the skeet range with such a short barrel you might have to shoot smaller shot like nickel plated 9.5 to give you more chances to hit the clay.
In Iraq my 500 had a 14" barrel which was great indoors, but in the States thats a NFA item.
On the skeet range with such a short barrel you might have to shoot smaller shot like nickel plated 9.5 to give you more chances to hit the clay.
In Iraq my 500 had a 14" barrel which was great indoors, but in the States thats a NFA item.
Chickenwang,
You are having trouble making a decision because you are not being honest with yourself. Do you plan on using the 18.5" barrel for "Defence", or do you plan on just to pretending to be using it for "Defence". I you will actually be using it for "Defence", how often will it actually be shot for that purpose? Once every 20 years, once every 50 years, or even less than that.
I assure you that when that day comes, and let's hope that it never does, a 12 gauge with a 26" barrel will more than take care of the business at hand.
If you are hung-up in Hollywood image of shotgun "Defence" then buy the short barrel and have fun pretending.
You are having trouble making a decision because you are not being honest with yourself. Do you plan on using the 18.5" barrel for "Defence", or do you plan on just to pretending to be using it for "Defence". I you will actually be using it for "Defence", how often will it actually be shot for that purpose? Once every 20 years, once every 50 years, or even less than that.
I assure you that when that day comes, and let's hope that it never does, a 12 gauge with a 26" barrel will more than take care of the business at hand.
If you are hung-up in Hollywood image of shotgun "Defence" then buy the short barrel and have fun pretending.
If it were me, I'd get the longer (28") field barrel. Here's why:
1: The field barrel will handle anything that one could need a shot load for. It comes with IC, mod, and full chokes, so it's very versatile
2: The 28" barrel will throw rifled slugs fine out to 50 yards for deer
3: The 28" barrel will handle home defense duties. You shouldn't be clearing rooms with it, anyway. If somebody breaks in, you're best bet (in my opinion) is to hole-up in a corner of your bedroom while you cover the bedroom door with the shotgun, all while dialing 911.
Get the longer barrel. Later on, the 18" smoothbore can be purchased for less than $100.
1: The field barrel will handle anything that one could need a shot load for. It comes with IC, mod, and full chokes, so it's very versatile
2: The 28" barrel will throw rifled slugs fine out to 50 yards for deer
3: The 28" barrel will handle home defense duties. You shouldn't be clearing rooms with it, anyway. If somebody breaks in, you're best bet (in my opinion) is to hole-up in a corner of your bedroom while you cover the bedroom door with the shotgun, all while dialing 911.
Get the longer barrel. Later on, the 18" smoothbore can be purchased for less than $100.
Well I'd have to ask if the 18.5" barrel has rifle sights? (I'd believe it does.) and it's probably choked I/C right?....as such I'll say that for shooting at a deer at 50 yards with foster slugs...it probably will be ok.... :?
For shooting flying it probably (hell surely) isn't the best choice...for length, for weight, for ballance, and with extra stuff on top rather than a rib or plain barrel......I have a couple of rifle sighted barrels and the front and rear sights on there just make them toooo "busy" for good wingshooting....
:roll: I know We all know some guy that can shoot "right screamer teal" or doves on "afterburners" with his ol buck special....but the ones I've asked to show me don't seem to be able to repeat it on a skeet field. :shock:
If I was restrcted to a rifle sighted barrel for Deer hunting, I'll tell you this, I'd get one that has as much room btween the front sight and the back sight as I could find....
And again, for shooting flying I'd pick a 28" ribbed barrel (absolutely no shorter than 26") with screw in chokes...
and for home defense well I guess it would be an 18.5" barrel....but I must comment I haven't had a gunfight all week :wink:
I think You've received the best advice here that you could possibly have gotten...Mossberg guns are very reasonable and the barrels are available all over the place..Get the gun with a ribbed bird barrel on it...and then hope you don't get attacked in your sleep before you can save up and buy an "up close in the dark barrel".....lastly look around for a cantileaver scope mount barrel (rifled maybe) and a scope......BANG ZOOM you're off!
I had a mossy 500 at one time and had 4 barrels for it...one of them took choke tubes of which I had about seven :!: take your time and put your package together...it's a very versatile gun.....Art
For shooting flying it probably (hell surely) isn't the best choice...for length, for weight, for ballance, and with extra stuff on top rather than a rib or plain barrel......I have a couple of rifle sighted barrels and the front and rear sights on there just make them toooo "busy" for good wingshooting....
:roll: I know We all know some guy that can shoot "right screamer teal" or doves on "afterburners" with his ol buck special....but the ones I've asked to show me don't seem to be able to repeat it on a skeet field. :shock:
If I was restrcted to a rifle sighted barrel for Deer hunting, I'll tell you this, I'd get one that has as much room btween the front sight and the back sight as I could find....
And again, for shooting flying I'd pick a 28" ribbed barrel (absolutely no shorter than 26") with screw in chokes...
and for home defense well I guess it would be an 18.5" barrel....but I must comment I haven't had a gunfight all week :wink:
I think You've received the best advice here that you could possibly have gotten...Mossberg guns are very reasonable and the barrels are available all over the place..Get the gun with a ribbed bird barrel on it...and then hope you don't get attacked in your sleep before you can save up and buy an "up close in the dark barrel".....lastly look around for a cantileaver scope mount barrel (rifled maybe) and a scope......BANG ZOOM you're off!
I had a mossy 500 at one time and had 4 barrels for it...one of them took choke tubes of which I had about seven :!: take your time and put your package together...it's a very versatile gun.....Art
Oh trust me you will NOT enjoy a day on the target range with a 18.5" bbl. I used to bring that bbl with me to my trap club when I was living at home and I used to get laughed at not only because the bbl was short, but because I couldn't hit the target like I could with the 28" bbl I normally had on it.
Like others have said, get both. I'm not sure if they still do it, but I remember hearing they used to sell Mossberg 500 combos where the gun came with the 28" bbl and an 18.5" bbl. Also, you might want to invest in a rifled bbl as well for sabot slugs just in case you want to get into big game hunting or target shooting past 100 yards.
Like others have said, get both. I'm not sure if they still do it, but I remember hearing they used to sell Mossberg 500 combos where the gun came with the 28" bbl and an 18.5" bbl. Also, you might want to invest in a rifled bbl as well for sabot slugs just in case you want to get into big game hunting or target shooting past 100 yards.
Of the replies I saw, no one mentioned a 24" smooth bore barrel (possibly because it's not easy to find guns that come with them?).
Home defense wasn't a consideration for me when I got my 500 with a 28" barrel. But I mostly do pheasant and grouse hunting. Many hunters use shorter barrels for upland hunting, and the shorter barrel is a little easier to maneuver in wooded grouse habitat as well. I've used a 24" barrel for a few years and I hit birds and sporting clays more consistently with it than I did with my 28" barrel. I can't personally speak about 18.5" barrels, because I've never used one, but I'd think it might be too whippy for moving targets at a distance.
If I were in your place and had to choose between 18.5 and 28, I'd take the 28. But if you could find a 500 with a 24" on it, that might be a decent compromise.
Home defense wasn't a consideration for me when I got my 500 with a 28" barrel. But I mostly do pheasant and grouse hunting. Many hunters use shorter barrels for upland hunting, and the shorter barrel is a little easier to maneuver in wooded grouse habitat as well. I've used a 24" barrel for a few years and I hit birds and sporting clays more consistently with it than I did with my 28" barrel. I can't personally speak about 18.5" barrels, because I've never used one, but I'd think it might be too whippy for moving targets at a distance.
If I were in your place and had to choose between 18.5 and 28, I'd take the 28. But if you could find a 500 with a 24" on it, that might be a decent compromise.
This thread is perfect timing for me. I was about to start one with the same discussion when I found this. The discussion mentioned combo guns. I went to the Mossberg site and found item # 54169. You get a 28" barrel, a 18.5" barrel and a pistol grip(that I wouldn't use). I've just started researching a shotgun for the home but wanted to get one I could also possibly shoot clays or bird hunt with. I've done clays once and never bird hunted.
The 28" barrel shows twin beads for sights. Anyone have comments on this? The 18.5" is single bead. I imagine this is fine for a home defense situation.
Here's the spec chart: http://www.mossberg.com/products/defaul ... play=specs
I went by Walmart today and they had a model 500 for about $210, which seemed shockingly cheap. I didn't get the item#. I went by the local gun shop to look today too, but they were slammed with buyers. I'm just researching and will go back at a less busy time. I'd prefer to buy local instead of Wallyworld.
One other thing is that the bluing on the Remington 870 Express didn't look at impressive at Wal-Mart. I saw a good bit of speckling at the end of the barrel and then saw comments about rusting of the express model. The Remington was about $80 more than the Mossberg. Anything to justify the cost difference I should knwo about?
Thanks for any info anyone can offer.
PS. I'm also considering a 20 gauge. I travel for business so that gauge might be a better option should my wife be forced to use it in home defense mode. I figure she'd need to shoot 10-12 shells every 6 months or so to keep comfortable with the weapon. I wonder if the kick difference for this small amount of shooting would cause a problem? She's 5'-0" and maybe 110#, ie, very pettite.
The 28" barrel shows twin beads for sights. Anyone have comments on this? The 18.5" is single bead. I imagine this is fine for a home defense situation.
Here's the spec chart: http://www.mossberg.com/products/defaul ... play=specs
I went by Walmart today and they had a model 500 for about $210, which seemed shockingly cheap. I didn't get the item#. I went by the local gun shop to look today too, but they were slammed with buyers. I'm just researching and will go back at a less busy time. I'd prefer to buy local instead of Wallyworld.
One other thing is that the bluing on the Remington 870 Express didn't look at impressive at Wal-Mart. I saw a good bit of speckling at the end of the barrel and then saw comments about rusting of the express model. The Remington was about $80 more than the Mossberg. Anything to justify the cost difference I should knwo about?
Thanks for any info anyone can offer.
PS. I'm also considering a 20 gauge. I travel for business so that gauge might be a better option should my wife be forced to use it in home defense mode. I figure she'd need to shoot 10-12 shells every 6 months or so to keep comfortable with the weapon. I wonder if the kick difference for this small amount of shooting would cause a problem? She's 5'-0" and maybe 110#, ie, very pettite.
20 ga is an excellent round and can do a lot of things the 12 does with less recoil with proper loading and a good shooter.dayhiker said:
Will the 20 replace the 12?
No but I have seen plenty of ducks, geese, quail, and pheasant shot with my wife's Featherweight 1100 in 20 ga. My wife is also only 5' tall and weighs a tad more than 110 but is still HWP.
I have taught her to shoot every gun I have and she is quite proficient with all. Even though she dislikes the ol' 10 ga, the 416 and my pet .338 Lapua, she can shoot them with enough skill to get the job done. She even dropped a nuisance hippo cow in Nambia with a 3" 20 ga 7/8 oz slug to the head just in front of the right ear at @ 20' in tall wait-a-minute bush.
Teach your wife to shoot correctly and she can handle the 12 ga no problem. Just do not load for bear and hand the gun to her. Teach proper mount, and how to move with recoil no fight it, as well as how to clear jams, feed it, and she can hold the fort while hubby is away. I start with light skeet loads and then work up as she gets more comfortable with the weapon.
Note: make sure she is in the mood to go shooting and if you have children (younger) I would suggest a babysitter. Do not expect her to watch the children and shoot at the same time. If she does not want to go; and you talk her into it, be prepared to do something you do not want to do like visit her grandmother in Veracruz.
Is a pump that much of a hindrance for clays? The only time I've shot clays everyone was using semi-autos.
It does seems that I'm letting the HD aspect drive this when the reality is that it will probably never be used for that purpose. Maybe some starter variety of semi-auto is a better choice then if I really get into the clays I can upgrade.
It does seems that I'm letting the HD aspect drive this when the reality is that it will probably never be used for that purpose. Maybe some starter variety of semi-auto is a better choice then if I really get into the clays I can upgrade.
Let me borrow a post from another thread for a suggestion:
Smitty in CT said:jclay247 said:![Image]()
R & R Arms has this combo for $437.75, plus shipping:
http://www.rrarms.com/catalog.php?prod=G85325
Bud's Gun Shop has it for $454, delivered:
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/prod ... s_id/49886
Good Luck,
Smitty
Dayhiker; A lot (most) folks will say that an auto or a O/U are best for any of the clays games....I'll not dispute that at all.....But leave us not forget that for many many years the pump shotgun via the Winchester Model 12, Remington Model 31, Remington 870, and others ruled the skeet and trap fields......
with practice one can work the action of a pump actually faster than an auto can cycle.....
In the last several years mostly for nostaliga (spelling?) reasons, I've picked back up the model 12 in 16ga and a model 31 in 20ga as well as a few SxSs and started useing them for skeet, Modern skeet, 5 stand, and sporting clays as well as for hunting ...I still shoot my O/Us and Autos for all the clays games and hunting also, just not as exclusivly as I once had....
I remember as a youngster thinking how cool it was seeing guys going straight on skeet or trap doubles with pumps...
It can be done and has been done....and in the old days it was done regularly....there is no reason one can not use, enjoy, and excell at any of the shotgun sports with a slide action.
We are likely now to hear how nearly no one uses pumps for sporting or skeet or trap doubles and I'm sure that's true.....but I'll never believe it isn't possable.....I wonder if Digweed likes pumps?.........Art
with practice one can work the action of a pump actually faster than an auto can cycle.....
In the last several years mostly for nostaliga (spelling?) reasons, I've picked back up the model 12 in 16ga and a model 31 in 20ga as well as a few SxSs and started useing them for skeet, Modern skeet, 5 stand, and sporting clays as well as for hunting ...I still shoot my O/Us and Autos for all the clays games and hunting also, just not as exclusivly as I once had....
I remember as a youngster thinking how cool it was seeing guys going straight on skeet or trap doubles with pumps...
It can be done and has been done....and in the old days it was done regularly....there is no reason one can not use, enjoy, and excell at any of the shotgun sports with a slide action.
We are likely now to hear how nearly no one uses pumps for sporting or skeet or trap doubles and I'm sure that's true.....but I'll never believe it isn't possable.....I wonder if Digweed likes pumps?.........Art
Thanks for the link and also the background info by lizard. My thinking seems to have gone full circle. It's gone something like this:
1. You need a weapon for home defense.
2. A shotgun seems to be the best choice for someone who has small children in the house.
3. If you're going to spend the money on a shotgun, should you consider something that will let you also shoot clays should you want to try that?
4. A 20 ga might be a good option because of the Mrs.
5. Hmmm, Mossberg makes a combo that comes with a 28" and a 18.5" barrel and it doesn't look like something a commando would use.
6. But....it's a 12 ga, well she'd only be shooting 10 or so rounds at a time to just refresh it's use. That might not be that big of a deal.
This sets me off looking for the Mossberg 500, 54169. I visit a Dick's Sporting Goods in a neighboring town. He says he can't order it and it's not listed in the Mossberg 2008 catalog that I picked up. It IS available on the internet.
7. Well, maybe I"m trying to do too much with one gun. Buy something for the house, rent the gun on the trap range, and if it takes, buy what you really want next year (busy, busy fall already on tap).
8. I price some of the tactical models and they cost more than the combo I'd been eyeing. Hmm, why pay more for something that is less functional for me? This would be a weapon that I pray to God I'll never have to use for it's intended purpose.
9. I come back here, and read that a pump isn't a big deal, people are flooding back to their use, and the speed thing isn't a big deal.
10. Finally, sounds like I need to price both and just grab the combo.
Thanks for all of your help along this path. If anyone sees any flaws with this thinking let me know. Otherwise, I'm probably just going to order that combo. It's $285 or so at Buds. By the time I add a cleaning kit, shells, FFL transfer, and maybe ear muffs I should be in great shape for under $350 or $375.
Now I need to add a light for the home aspect of this and I'm good to go. THose lights can cost more than the low end guns. I don't see me buying one like that though.
1. You need a weapon for home defense.
2. A shotgun seems to be the best choice for someone who has small children in the house.
3. If you're going to spend the money on a shotgun, should you consider something that will let you also shoot clays should you want to try that?
4. A 20 ga might be a good option because of the Mrs.
5. Hmmm, Mossberg makes a combo that comes with a 28" and a 18.5" barrel and it doesn't look like something a commando would use.
6. But....it's a 12 ga, well she'd only be shooting 10 or so rounds at a time to just refresh it's use. That might not be that big of a deal.
This sets me off looking for the Mossberg 500, 54169. I visit a Dick's Sporting Goods in a neighboring town. He says he can't order it and it's not listed in the Mossberg 2008 catalog that I picked up. It IS available on the internet.
7. Well, maybe I"m trying to do too much with one gun. Buy something for the house, rent the gun on the trap range, and if it takes, buy what you really want next year (busy, busy fall already on tap).
8. I price some of the tactical models and they cost more than the combo I'd been eyeing. Hmm, why pay more for something that is less functional for me? This would be a weapon that I pray to God I'll never have to use for it's intended purpose.
9. I come back here, and read that a pump isn't a big deal, people are flooding back to their use, and the speed thing isn't a big deal.
10. Finally, sounds like I need to price both and just grab the combo.
Thanks for all of your help along this path. If anyone sees any flaws with this thinking let me know. Otherwise, I'm probably just going to order that combo. It's $285 or so at Buds. By the time I add a cleaning kit, shells, FFL transfer, and maybe ear muffs I should be in great shape for under $350 or $375.
Now I need to add a light for the home aspect of this and I'm good to go. THose lights can cost more than the low end guns. I don't see me buying one like that though.
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