Do I want a Mossy?

[AddyLO]

I'm looking to add a shotgun to my home protection options and have been thinking about a Mossy. Probably a (500) Persuader. I'd like my wife to be able to handle it as well so I figure a 20 gauge might be in order.

This will be my first shotgun so I'm completely unfamiliar with the breed. Is this a good starting point or should I be looking at something else? I don't want to spend any more than necessary to get a dependable (and effective) gun.

[Carry-a-Kimber]

Check out a used Winchester 1300 Defender with an 18'' barrel, you get 2 more rounds than a factory 18.5 Mossy 500 without having to add a magazine extention. I have had one for 10 years and have never had an issue with it. I have probably put about 1,000 rounds through it with everything from bird shot to 1oz slugs and not one hiccup. I have mine loaded with Remington Managed Recoil 00 Buck and my wife who is 5'2'' doesn't have an issue with the recoil. Standard slugs and buckshot will leave you a little sore in the shoulder area due to the short barrel though. I do like the Mossberg because of all of the factory options available. I have shot them and have some friends that own mossies and they love 'em. Defense shotguns are a lot like M4's and 1911's though, grown-up legos with unlimited accessories. Just go out and handle a couple and see what feels right for you, they all kick about the same.

[OverEasy]

Why not?
We got a 500 youth model in 20 ga. at Academy last year. It has a shorter stock and barrel than the full size 500 but was cheaper than the 'tacticle' model. I got the youth model 20 ga. for my wife.

I think a 12 ga would be better. Here's why; 12 ga. shells come in a zillion flavors!! And everbody sells 12 ga. You can get 12 ga. 'Surplus', try that with 20 ga. You can get 12 ga. 'beanbag' loads, rubber shot loads, 'door breaching' loads, bird or bear chasing loads. It goes on. I'm not sure you would ever want to shoot any of them but they aren't available for 20 ga.
You could get 12 ga. 'reduced recoil' defense loads for the wife's sake. That's another special load you can get for a 12 ga.

I like the safety on the receiver on the Mossy 500, it's ambidextrous. The Mossberg Maverick is cheaper, but only has a 1 year warranty and the safety is in the trigger guard (right handed). Two reasons I skipped that one.

Regards, OE

[karder]

You can't really go wrong with the Mossberg and the price is typically a little less than the competitors. 20 gauge should be plenty to dispatch any home invaders, but I would second the recommendation for going 12 gauge with reduced recoil rounds. The 12 gauge does give you more options, but you have to get something you are comfortable shooting and if that is 20 gauge, go for it.
You might want to check out the pawn shops. You can find some smoking deals on tactical shotguns if you are patient and as long as you get a quality piece like Remington, Winchester, or Mossberg, you should not have a problem. My brother once went in a pawn shop just to look around and came out with a very nice Winchester 1300 for $150. You never know when you will hit that jackpot.

[MoJo]

You can not go wrong with a Mossberg 500 they're a good solid gun. I would avoid the pistol grip only, the guns are almost impossible to shoot accurately and even in 20 gauge are brutal. I have no problem with a 20 for home defense loaded with #3 buck and/or slugs it's a gun to reckon with. A shotgun still needs to be aimed just not quite as accurately as a rifle or pistol.

[UpTheIrons]

Another recommendation for a Mossy 500. I've had mine (in 12 ga) for over 20 years and it is still as solid as it was brand-new. I just converted it to an HD gun by changing to the 18.5" barrel (that was rarer than hen's teeth everywhere lately), and it is well balanced and easy to manage.

[AddyLO]

Thanks for all the good advice! You've talked me out of the 20g. I like the idea of having a bigger variety of ammo. I was talking to a buddy at work today who said basically the same thing. Sounds like a consensus.

Mojo, I also appreciate the comment about the pistol grip. The "typical male" in me (my wife's term) had toyed with the idea. Maybe I'll buy one for myself later just for fun.

[fickman]

I bought a parkerized 12 gauge 20" Mossberg Persuader that holds 7+1 with a pistol grip and heat shield for a good price at a gun show. (I already have a 12 gauge Remington 870 Express 28" for clay and hunting.)

I added the 6-position telescoping stock with Knoxx recoil suppression technology that I got from Cabela's for $100 or so. With the recoil suppression, your wife should be comfortable shooting a 12 gauge.

I was VERY tempted by the 18.5" 590 next to it, but it only held 5+1 and I wanted the additional capacity. The 590 is a metal trigger guard and a metal safety switch away from being the full-military spec version. It's hard core. It's barrel exterior is about 3x the thickness of the 500. You could use it to beat 1,000 men to death without firing a shot and not damage it. I finally decided that if I run out of ammo during a home invasion and damage my shotgun while beating the intruders with it, I've earned the right to buy a new one. Because of this, I don't need the extra girth of the 590 (which was still $150 more).

I prefer the action of the 500 when compared to the Remington 870 Express. The Express is rough and unrefined - and I've noticed is difficult for smaller females or younger shooters to pump smoothly. Also, the 500 has an open loading port which would make reloading under stress easier. Lastly, I prefer the safety location on the Mossberg and feel more confident of its position by feel or visual inspection. (The location is a little inconvenient with the telescoping stock + pistol grip because you have to move your thumb around the stock to reach it. Still, I feel more comfortable with it.) Also, the action release on the Mossberg can be reached without moving your hand off of its shooting position, unlike the Remington.

Remington makes higher end 870s in a couple of different lines which have much more refined parts and smoother action. I'm comparing the < $400 models in this post. . . the Express is what you would normally see compared with the normal 500.

[NcongruNt]

I second the Knoxx SpecOps stock. It is still by far the absolute best gun accessory I've ever purchased. It makes magnum slug loads feel like somewhat heavy birdshot loads. It makes followup shots very fast, as it eliminates the rise that you'd normally experience from a defense load. I got the optional PowerPak shell holder for mine and left off the cheek riser (which is only meant for use with optics/rifle sights), and it fixed the sighting issues I had with the old stock. Without the cheek riser, the stock puts my eyes at the perfect spot for bead sighting with the 870. Here's what mine looks like with the Knoxx SpecOps:

[Syntax360]

I had a Knoxx on my Mossberg 590 and I ditched it for three reasons. First, you pretty much render the safety inoperable on the Mossberg. This may not be a big deal if you do not ever plan on using it, but it is something to keep in mind. You will need to break grip with your firing hand to disengage the switch on the top rear of the receiver. Second (and more importantly), it is very hard to operate the slide release lever on the left side of the trigger guard with the Knoxx installed. Again, you're going to have to break grip to trip the lever, and it makes manipulation of the weapon system very clumsy. Third, I didn't like the recoil impulse. Sure, it cuts down on perceived recoil, but it always sent what I can only describe as a shockwave through my cheek. I wasn't getting slapped by the receiver from rear-travel of the stock, but something was still uncomfortable about it and I would rather deal with the regular recoil.

Mossberg does make a fine shotgun - I'm sure you will be happy with the purchase, and 12 gauge is definitely the way to go.

[AdioSS]

I picked up a Mossberg Maverick 88 12GA with black synthetic furniture today at WalMart for $157+tax. The 500 with wood was $207+tax. I had researched them and the 870 (which was $257) online ahead of time, but I haven't seen all 3 in stock at the same time until today. For the rifle stock, the 500's safety did seem easier. But the Mav 88's safety is just ahead of the trigger. That seems perfect for the pistol grip shown above... On the 870, I didn't like the button that you have to hold to cycle the pump compared to the Mossbergs. It just didn't feel like $100 more of a gun to me.

[AddyLO]

Just to follow up on this post, I picked up a basic Mossy 500 12g Persuader at the gun show yesterday. I spent a bit of time drooling over a tricked out version several booths over (heat shield, breecher barrel, etc) but in the end decided on the less expensive version since I really have no need for all the bells and whistles with this gun. I have (and will have) plenty of other guns to have fun with. The purpose of this gun will strictly be for home protection. I'll put it through a break-in session at the range first chance I get and then stick it in a safe place, nice and cozy. Hopefully it will only be used when I pull it out to clean it and make sure it still works.

[USA1]

Just to follow up on this post, I picked up a basic Mossy 500 12g Persuader

Nice choice. Very effective for home defense.

All this shotgun talk makes me miss mine.
A good shotty will probably be my next purchase.

[NcongruNt]

I picked up a Mossberg Maverick 88 12GA with black synthetic furniture today at WalMart for $157+tax. The 500 with wood was $207+tax. I had researched them and the 870 (which was $257) online ahead of time, but I haven't seen all 3 in stock at the same time until today. For the rifle stock, the 500's safety did seem easier. But the Mav 88's safety is just ahead of the trigger. That seems perfect for the pistol grip shown above... On the 870, I didn't like the button that you have to hold to cycle the pump compared to the Mossbergs. It just didn't feel like $100 more of a gun to me.

FWIW, You only need the action release if you're loading a round into the chamber after not pulling the trigger. This should only be a concern if you don't keep a round in the chamber. I stopped that practice a long time ago, and keep one in the tube and ready to rock. Once you pull the trigger, the bolt is released and you're able to pump right away.