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I had a chance to shoot my friends Maverick 88 out at the range yesterday "hunting" some clay and I have to say I am bitten by that bug... once thing he purchased extra was a long barrel and I liked that one even more than the short one. Now I saw that as far as customizing it there is more options for the 500 than the 88 plus I can get the 500 with the dual barrels already.

I have seen these around for around $350-400 on gunbroker.com and wanted to know if that is a good price. Now if I get it I will want to change it to a pistol stock grip, a tactical front grip, and some ammo holders on the side (whatever its officially called).

I am pretty new to shotguns so is the price fair that I found and has anyone had any long term experience with the 500?

--Daniel

Mossy 500 is a great shotgun - simple, effective, reliable design (the Glock or AK of pump shotguns).

Cabelas often advertises the 2-barrel kit for $349.99 on sale - so I wouldn't pay that or more for a gunbroker one. Have also seen these for similar price at gun shows - but been a while since I went to one.

If you do buy with one barrel, buy with long barrel - then pick up short barel later. At most retailers same price for gun and either barrel, but buying just the barrel the 18-inch runs ~ $90 and the 26- or 28-inch runs $150+

Btw, the Mossy Maverick 88 WILL accept 500 barrels and stocks and most other add ons - only difference is trigger group (88 = crossbolt safety on trigger guard; 500 = tang safety on top of receiver - which is a better placement if using standard, non-pistol-grip stocks). Also 88 has a one- piece forend (metal and plastic can't be separated so can't switch out the plastic) - but if you really want different forearm on 88 you can just replace the one-piece assembly with a 500 2-piece assembly and forearm of choice

I have a 500 that my was my Father's. It is ~30 years or so old. This season I had to replace the cartridge stop. The only repair that I am away of on it. It is bare bones stock and the my barrel choices are vast. There is a little rust on the 28" barrel and I will be sending it off shortly to get refinished. Mossberg/Maverick Arms will do it for $35.00. The only reason I bring that up is that you may find a barrel on the secondary market at a steal. I have used and almost abused the shotgun and it like a Timex, it keeps on ticking. It eats everything I feed it and it has put lots of food on our table. If you are looking for something in the HD arena then I would say the magazine limitations would rule it out. Because of the way the barrel mounts to the magazine tube increasing the magazine requires a different barrel. If you want an all-around hunting shotgun IMO you cannot go wrong.

You can see it here on opening day of dove season: