Mossberg 500 - frequently asked questions

Bushcraft412 is now on facebook! check us out
Bushcraft412 page
/ bushcraft412-129018187...
bushcraft412 survival troop group (private)
/ 138590206906951
Mossberg accessories
amzn.to/2lE8GhT
amzn.to/2m64AAk
answering some of the most frequently asked questions I get about the mossberg 500 pump action shotgun. We discuss the slide action tube, accessories, tactical models, the sling stud on the magazine tube, and the ported barrels.

[@chrismoody1342]

This 500 is available as a Field/Security Combo. 28” Field barrel with interchangeable chokes and a second Security barrel at 18.5”. The Combo is less money than buying separate.

[@sackett68]

You have to remove the magazine plug that usually comes already installed. It makes it legal for waterfowl hunting. By limiting shell capacity. After you take the plug out you should be able to put 5 rounds in the mag. Hope this helps.

[@kenbugher1590]

Or, you can add an adapter extractor and use short slugs and hold 8...

[@SHOT_GUNNER]

All my shotguns have wood stocks. There is just something special about finished wood that makes them classy. I do like the SpeedFeed polymer stock for a lightweight survival style shotgun. Great video! 🤠

[@Schroeder_-yh4sq]

I actually like the wood better. its got more class.

[@stotzmitchell]

Agreed

[@johnsfixton8857]

definitely and a leather sling for even more class

[@michaelwymeriii1742]

Schroeder_2000 i like polymer because you don't have to wory about oh no i got a little scratch on the wood

[@MrGible]

Yeah, I beat up my polymer guns. But I dare not to touch my wooden guns.

[@ninjamaster7724]

Each to their own.

[@guzzetta62]

I had feed trouble on a 30-06 Remington on all sorts of ammo . Finally I took it apart and cleaned in inside and out. Now it works great!

[@BlakeRTyler]

These are really great guns. I picked one up just like yours (Minus the cheek rest) yesterday for $100. Sat down last night, took it apart and cleaned it. It looked like it had never been cleaned before, but now it looks great. Just some surface rust on the barrel, which I'm okay with since I'm designating this as my bushcraft/hunting firearm. I don't have to worry about messing up the finish too much. The internals are completely rust free, as is the inside of the barrel.

[@RedLion502]

Great video! i found one of these at a local pawn shop for $170, i've got it on lay away so eventually i'll have it. I think i'd like to keep it the way it is. Only thing i would get for it would be the 18 1/2" barrel. But i love that it wouldn't take much to make this a tactical shotgun.

[@trentborgersen3596]

if you look at it, it is one of the most common shotguns in the u.s. guns don't become popular if they are only somewhat usable. its a great shotgun, if you are wanting a tactical shotgun with pistol grips i recommend the 870 because of the control placement, im not necicerily all into that so im good with my mossberg :)

[@tenaciousj95]

Most of these "functioning" problems can all be avoided, if you people properly maintained your firearms. Seriously. Clean your damn guns

[@williambotts635]

it's good that you can afford to just buy a gun when needed, a lot of us can't. i clean regular and make sure mine are clean, as i don't have $200 laying around to spend at anytime.

[@benjimanrunnells8032]

I just went through modifying my Field model Mossberg 500 12ga and I bought the Hogue Overmolded Forend all's I had to purchase was the hogue extended forend Nut.

[@TomsLife9]

great video! answered some questions I didn't even know I had

[@Bushcraft412]

if you want to switch forearms it definitely makes sense to start with synthetics. It's one less part you have to buy. I'm going to buy a used 7" tube eventually. That way I have a spare slide action tube, and I can switch over to synthetic furniture if the whim ever hits me.

[@hoytarchery5302]

you answered all my questions thank you.

[@tomstone2591]

MCARBO now has an easy to install spring kit for the 500 trigger group bringing it down to around 3 lbs. nice upgrade .

[@garrettstraffon608]

Yep you helped me rip mine down. I cleaned everything. But very cool. It was the first gun I ripped down and it is very easy after you do it, just take your time and have some patience.

[@butcherbob880]

Love my MOSSY.Great for skeet and with the 20in. barrel .My go to gun at the castle.

[@MaximusWolfe]

Just bought one. Had a gunsmith cut the barrel down to 19 inches. Looks great.

[@simoncrooks7441]

Thanks, that's good to get an over view of a gun I don't know much about

[@charlesmurray1220]

Good review buddy. Want to see the field strip vid. Good lookin' out!

[@ianevans67]

I'm in the UK and I made a sling stud bracket out of a 1 inch scope mount. It fits perfectly on the mag tube. I just sawed off the bottom part of the scope mount and screwed the stud into it. Mines an old 1980s 500A and it doesn't have the hole in the takedown screw. Its blank

[@chrispenny1422]

Just bought this same gun I love it.glad you showed about the sling. Didn't come with it

[@CAVlogs121]

Thats a gorgeous gun. Looks way better than the tactical imo and changing it to black doesnt make it function any better.

[@badgerrrlattin35]

Swapping the barrels on the 500 is unbelievably easy to do.

[@TheShawna1]

I bought my 500 12 ga Tactical about 5 years ago Nice gun was meant to be a home defense and deer gun later found out you can't hunt with a shotgun that has a capacity more than 5 rounds either in Maine or Massachusetts Doh....! I practiced a few times with it but just beat me up so much i don't shoot it much now. After 15 years married now two sons 7 and 11 showing interest in shooting.I went and got a Bantam model 500 in 20 gauge with the 22 inch choked smooth barrel has a 11 3/4" LOP for youth plus a 1" spacer for adults took it out to test it yesterday with #3 Buckshot What a nice shooting Gun! "light bulb went off" got a 18 1/2" security barrel cylinder bore bead sight after market heat shield, it has the syn. stock and forend like yours but the arms are pinned so there is no slide action tube either long or short on mine a 2017 also bought a 26" choked barrel for shooting clays/skeet here is my new go to gun for everything deer,HD,Birds/skeet.

[@Floridaman1780_]

Bud, all you need is a capacity plug. It's a small pin that limits your capacity to 2+1, so if your stopped by any game warden, your good to go. A lot of shotties are shipped from the factory with them. They are stupid cheap.

[@TheShawna1]

@@Floridaman1780_ Not in mass the way it's worded is built with a capacity in excess of 5 rounds plugs make no difference in this situation.jim

[@Floridaman1780_]

@@TheShawna1 ah, damn commies.

[@jkampmeier]

You can get the short tactical action tube with the synthetic ribbed grip, including the nylon strap from Mossberg directly. Part number is 12362P and cost is $22+shipping. Cheers.

[@SSSDiaz7]

I think the best way to go about turning a field mossy into a tactical one is to not do it. Think about the money spent doing it, while not extremely expensive, when your done, you probably would have been better off buying a 500 tactical or 500 persuader, and keeping the nice field model, which looks nice and basic for a shotgun. And there is no reason why you shouldn't have more then 1 mossberg, keep one in the your room, and another one in the fridge next to the beer. lol

[@keithplymale2374]

I now have a Mossberg 500A that by the B prefix serial came from 1969/70 and it has the front sling attachment on the part the barrel screw goes into. I found the 18.5 inch barrel while going through things after my dad recently passed away. This is a Field/Security model. It has a few rust parts on the 18.5 barrel. Probably because I suspect when my dad was a deputy sheriff from 1964-89 this shotgun rode in his patrol car. I am going to get the rust cleaned off and oil the gun. Then this old Mossy is going to the range next time I go and going to thump some shoulders in honor of my dad and his USAF and sheriff service.

[@Beltmaker09]

Mossberg has two different action tube lengths that I know of one was 6 3/4 and 7 and 3/8 I believe I had the same issue when going from the cheap plastic forend on my 88 to a would grip like yours I had to check and make sure the length was right before buying the tube. Luckily one of my local shops had the forend and the tube for like 40 bucks and eBay get like 50 for just the tube and no nut to hold it on

[@Bushcraft412]

its an area of friction, even if you lube it the finish will wear eventually. It wont hurt anything as long as you keep your gun oiled. It's a super easy and cheap part to replace if it gets too bad for you to stand.

[@ctprepper69]

Couple of comments. I purchased a 500 back in the early '90s. It came with the wood installed but also included a pistol grip. Included were both the 28" and 18.5" barrels. There are no mount points on the stock or mag cap. Is it not a big deal to add one, but your video sounds like it they all came with the sling mounts. The other thing is the wood forearm on the older ones does not require you to replace the action slide tube. It already has the 7 3/4 tube on it. Great Video!

[@elund408]

if you want a tacticool look stock, use spray on truck bed liner, costs about $7 at walmart. the wood weighs a little more but that is not a bad thing in a shotgun. If the military and Police could use and not break wood stocks for 100 years, its not likely to break under the conditions anyone else is going to put it through.

[@danbrookes2997]

Totally agree

[@williamtoney2599]

Yes you can make the trigger much better. Mcarbo has a trigger spring kit that is excellent

[@DicksonGuns]

The only thing I would say about mossberg 500 is warranty is pretty amazing which is good because you will use it. Other then that, I would go with an 590 or rem 870. We made the switch at our office and never looked back. Thanks for the videos!

[@elche1976]

This aged well. No issues with my two 500s. My cousin and friends who had 870s have all had issues. QC for Remington has tanked, which is why mossberg has overtaken it as most shotguns sold. I agree with you... the 590 > 500 > maverick 88 > ........ 870.

[@UNIXSOLJASysadminSyndicate]

Yeah I had a feeding issue and it just needed oil. Great gun.

[@chicagojohn5207]

You can pick up a Houge extended castle-nut on Amazon for around $10 including shipping that will allow you to add a 7 5/8" forend to a 6 3/4" action slide tube, in effect making the 6 3/4" tube longer. I have one; works fine, and is a better option for someone starting from scratch than buying a 7 5/8" tube; i.e., buy the 6 3/4 tube with the Houge extender. I think that perhaps some forends may require a little persuasion with a Dremel tool, from what I've read, but the Houge overmolded forend does not. Nice review. I enjoyed it.

[@Rick-wn5oh]

ChicagoJohn Some forends have trouble with that nut. But when it works, it's a great fix.

[@dougstout3663]

If you are using the adapter nut to use a 7.5 forend on a 6.5 gun you will find the relief in the wood for the nut is not deep enough. Don't change the relief for the head of the nut, but make the relief for the internally threaded part of the nut about an inch deeper. A dremel with a sanding drum works good for this. The relief doesn't need to be perfect, it is just clearance.

[@daverave2204]

Great FAQ. Getting mine this week :D

[@WilliamDavidHobbs]

Nice video dude, thanks!

[@matortiz2322]

I'm still a Mossberg guy myself but I kinda have a respect for the inertia operated pumps these days like the Winchester sxp

[@Primer595]

Nice video. I have an older 20 gauge Mossberg 500CL. Do the newer chokes fit this older model? I need an open boring like skeet or improved cylinder. I would appreciate your advice. Thanks

[@eldean0]

+bushcraft412 How do you change the Fore-end on the newer model 500s that dont have the action slide assembly? thx

[@jjonestowne]

that action tube kit on Amazon comes with tube and a tri-rail (3 13 slot weavr/pictny rails). lifetime warranty.free shipping, for $39.95!! (as of today:") sorry, not trying to advertise, i'm psyched!! i recently purchased a new synth forend (unaware at at the time about the field edition and the action tube deal). spent $30 just for the forend, then had to watch 60 KZbin vids about mossberg 500's to figger out why it didn't fit. out of those 60 vids yours is most informative. thank you!!

[@korgoth25]

Personaly I love my 500 more than ive seen and held the rem 870 because to rack the slide I have to change my grip on the 870 versus just a finger on my 500

[@TheRayterry]

Very informative...thanks!

[@jason1hut]

I got two 500's 12 GA & 20 GA nether one came with the nut for the strap.

[@peterpaul6725]

Mine has colapsible stock with pistol grip, small tasco bantam scope, green laser, and the Ralph Hollister adapter for aguila mini shells. All family members have ear protection just in case. Have a nice day. And I clean all guns after a range practice. Just saying.

[@Bushcraft412]

I use a full choke for slugs. Not sure if it's ok with 20 gauge, but works great for 12

[@CallmeDaBreeze1971]

My Mossberg 500 is a synthetic model with Realtree camo finish. Which action tube should I have?

[@ikill4alivin]

How do you attach the extra shell holders on the side of the gun?

[@TheSlegathor]

do you have to get diffrent parts for a 20 gauge mosberg ?

[@gunchief0811]

i just sent in my Mossy 500 to the mossberg folks for the warranty/repair.. i have nothing bad to say about moss berg 500's but i bought it and then shot about 30 rounds through it, then cleaned it and it hasn't functioned properly since.. so i sent it in for repair.. the turn around time on getting it back from mossberg was estimated t be 8 weeks before i get it back... that truly sucks.. but i do own two remington 870's so i am good to go either way. just didn't like having to wait.

[@elche1976]

Bryan Calhoun So it worked fine when you first shot it, then you took it apart and cleaned it and it stopped working? Yeah, that sounds like a "not put back together correctly" issue.

[@SnkyCyanTurtle]

Great vid. and advice. =]

[@duaneholcomb8408]

Started making them in 1961. Nealy 60 years that they have been in production, have 2 one from the late 60s the other from about the mid 70s,,,

[@Bushcraft412]

the black stock and grip of the shotgun really don't change the functionality at all, just looks, weight, and recoil. The most important thing is that a smooth bore barrel with no chokes will not be anywhere as accurate as a rifled barrel or a barrel with the removable chokes. Luckily the 500 is interchangeable so you can buy a black tactical version and buy a 24" barrel with the removable chokes and you have the best of both worlds. I new barrel is usually about $80-$100

[@bar8665]

Got one that had two barrels. Is the long one smooth bore and short one rifled? Thanks

[@Focused2341]

I know this is an old video. but I have the youth model of this gun. Can I put any other 500 series stock on it to make it adult sized? Thank you in advance!

[@TuanTran-lz6ui]

Love mossberg

[@The_Warrior526]

I shot one of these the first time a few years ago. I was out on a random squirrel hunt and one of the guys I was with handed it to me and threw an empty shell into the air for me to shoot. I blasted it pretty soundly lol.

[@tacticoolness]

@Bushcraft412 That's a Nice Field Model, In Like How The Trigger is Gold Plated, A Little "Bling" on The Field Model

[@ohgary]

+bushcraft412: a gun without ammo is a club. Or a rock. With shells in the magazine that accident waiting to happen still requires to cycle the slide, unlock the safety and pull the trigger. Not like it is going to fall out of the closet, discharge and shoot someone. But with shells in the magazine for a long time, will the spring still operate normally? That was my question. In in emergency, I want to get my gun into action at once, not go into the next room, unlock the gun safe, grab some shells, shove them in the magazine, pump it and ready to confront bad guys.

[@elche1976]

Answer is yes. The springs that we have today are designed and tempered to allow for this.

[@spatsmans]

The safety does it break easier then a 870 with it on top of the gun? My last question is to open the action when the guy is on safe This there a button you hold down to slide back the forearm or can you pull it back with out doing any other pushing or pulling. Kinda hard to explain sorry :)

[@Too108]

Contact Mossberg for the facts about the correct parts for your 500; Bushcraft412 is a little off on his explanation. Mossberg 500 has ben marketed under several names over the years. The front slide tube lenght changed in 1996 or 1998 on all models I believe, but check with Mossberg on all spec. for your weapon.

[@DaveTex2375]

The bolt assembly and internals will interchange, just not the trigger assembly. Also barrels from a model 88 Maverick & model 500 of the same gauge & magazine capacity will interchange.

[@quentins5692]

Also the Maverick's fore end is pinned, therefore making it impossible to change without a mag tube change.

[@DaveTex2375]

You mean without purchasing a new action tube? I have an older Maverick that has the replaceable fore end & a 7 shot defense model with the pinned 'TACTICAL CORN COB' style fore end.

[@23jhang23]

Please Help! If I buy this gun brand new will I need to buy a slug barrel and a birdshot barrel or will the barrel that it comes with shoot both? I've also heard that the 3 chokes it comes with are ok to shoot slugs through. Is this true?

[@Bushcraft412]

Not on this field model. However, I'm going to buy a cheap used stock on Ebay to replace it with because I'm sick of that thing being in the way when I'm using the smooth barrel.

[@tonyclass500]

Has anybody had any problems getting there Mag tube off? If so how did you get it odd

[@CuntyMcShitterman]

I have only had 1 malfunction using high brass but I think I just didn't rack it hard enough. But I have read about people having issues.

[@Warringkoo]

What kind of upgrades can you do to this?

[@maineiachomestead7550]

Mav 88 has a through bolt safety on the trigger guard while the 500 has the tang safety. So the trigger group is about the only non compatible part. Pretty much everything else is the same. Furniture, barrels, mag tubes, etc are all the same. They didn't use cheaper material on the 88, just less expensive processes to cut production costs.

[@traceyevans2757]

Not true, the pumps are not interchangeable and I do not know if the stocks are interchangeable or not. They did use cheaper parts, but not horribly cheaper.

[@CAVlogs121]

All you need to make it tactical is the 18.5 barrel. The furniture doesnt matter at all.

[@corvettegeorge1979]

Damm that's a nice model 500 field wood stock with built in cheek piece, deluxe gold plated trigger in really great condition almost too nice to take hunting. Great video good information oh and I almost forgot you really got to work on that lisp you sound like Phillip Seymour Hoffman playing Truman Capote.

[@tl2135]

Can I shoot steel shot with it and which choke should I use?

[@redneckmini14]

I think you can buy an extender for that shorter action tube to make it full length. I wanna get a 500 combo with a 28" skeet barrel and an 18.5" home defense barrel and im gonna change the stock and forend out for an older looking stock with a ribbed corncob style forend. should look pretty sweet.

[@markcoffman9522]

The mag tube on the 500 are fixed capacity. In order to have an extended mag, you also have to have the barrel to go along with it. Its one of the disadvantages compared to the Remington 870 or the Moss 590. If you feel six rounds of ammo aren't enough the don't but the 500

[@redneckmini14]

Mark Coffman I wasn't referring to the mag tube, I was referring to the action tube. the part that the forend is locked onto.

[@markcoffman9522]

oh, thanks for the clarification, most of the action tubes are standardized for the 500. the only situation i've run into is when swapping from wood to synthetic. the wood fore end will slide back over the receiver when the action is cycled, were the plastic doesnt, so an extension is required on the front of the fore end. I am not saying that this is always the case, just my personal experience, and the 590 may have other options. Have a good one.

[@joracer1]

The mossbergs run rather well dirty, but I like to strip them completely so I can really clean them to new condition. After every 200/400 rounds, the crud that comes out of there is super nasty, if I'm not gonna shoot for a few months I usually completely clean them and store them jic I need them in a hurry. I learnt that lesson after storing a filthy 500 when a critter tried to break in my house, I ran out with the loaded 500, the critter ran I pulled the trigger click, I gave chase 20 yards rack the slide pull the trigger again click, I wasn't too happy, the critter kept running I never seen him again.. but learned a dirty gun is a very dangerous tool... so no more. Also from now on I will strap on my .44mag and take the 500. Another jic sernerio...

[@garycourtright7656]

what is the best choke for a 20 gauge model 500 shooting slugs?

[@chrisbard9373]

I have a Mossberg 500 AT. I cannot find any info on the weapon. It has two soldered brass rings on the mag tube. Any idea how old it is or where I can get more info ?

[@oddball0022]

An Anti-tank shotgun? I'm interested.

[@Bushcraft412]

It is a cheek pad, and it's useless unless you are using the rifled barrel with a scope.

[@joeskiro]

Y is my magazine tube getting scuffed up? Do I need to lube it?

[@DA7545]

You can just buy a replacement barrel. No need to destroy a good barrel and remove the choke. Then paint it black drop the value a little further. Now you have tactical.

[@jdogghizzy2606]

My front sling mount is on the bottom of the frame. Not the end of the mag tube

[@arrowslb13]

it should be on the top of the gun right by where the stock meets the gun's body. If you hold the gun properly, you should be able to control the safety when you place you're thumb on the top of the shotgun.

[@Xng88]

I have a problem with my Mossberg 500 12 gauge pump action. The problem is that when i load one in the chamber i put `4-5 more into the bottom loader shot the one in the chamber when pump out, all of the shell ive loader came out and it wont cycle in the chamber. So basically the mossberg is one shot one kill. need help whats wrong with it. and the Lever elevator goes up and stuck.

[@driftwood7036]

Someone please tell me.can i swap barrels on model 500 and 500a?

[@gerceci1]

great video, I have a question- I'm into buying one but how to know how much its shooted ..common symptons for very used mossberg 500?

[@nigelmchugh5541]

makosal logistika Very used Mossberg 500's cycle smooth as butter. Clean it, drop of oil on the moving parts, and shoot it!

[@mudvayne2311]

Shooted? 😭💀🤣

[@robpennington9237]

I have a mossberg 500A When i fire a round the bolt opens. Is this normal I was sure that the bolt should stay locked up. To be specific. When you rack a round into the chamber it does lock the bolt into battery. It only unlocks after you fire ther round. Any thoughts

[@jonasgrumby4393]

I have a 500. It unlocks when I fire it. I think it is supposed to rather than hitting the release behind the trigger guard, no?

[@josephbroz5806]

Anybody know the max 3" shells I can load in the 500?

[@HotReloads]

can you put a 590 barrel and magazine tube on a 500?

[@Ghostx2016]

What is the thing under the barrel ?

[@ohiohunting6318]

i cant get my shroud out. it keeps catching somthing and i cant figure out what it is

[@dcoxtimberridge]

I have a mossberg 500 has worked great for many years ..The other day I was firing it to scare away some coyote I fired once and went to shoot again and trigger was not set would not fire again. Help...

[@optickryptonic9475]

Does the action lever Behind the trigger work for lefty shooters as well?

[@Bushcraft412]

Optickryptonic very well! I can comfortably rest my middle or finger on it from a firing position. Then again... I do have super stubby short fingers.

[@donrozon9705]

Hi can anyone told me if the bolt are interchangeable with 500-590-590a1? Thanks

[@tacticoolfuddery6497]

Yes they are

[@SuperTrapper101]

yes

[@trentborgersen3596]

but its so beautiful!

[@stimpgod2354]

what's the black thing on the chamber?

[@m1ke227]

American, Mossberg is a Swedish name, they are paying respect to there ancestors.

[@merlemorrison482]

IIRC, you can remove this & turn it upside down & reinstall it for a low profile stock.

[@muelltrain7922]

I just got one of these and there's a jingle inside of it. It sounds like a pick stuck in a guitar. Do you have any idea what that could be?

[@billyflops7981]

have you taken the plug out of it?

[@muelltrain7922]

@@billyflops7981 I did not thank you for telling me. I didn't even know mossberg packed a wooden plug inside of it.

[@ini919]

what if i want a 1 point sling?

[@SomeofThisSomeofThat]

1) is an all black shotgun ok for hunting/camo? I want a shotgun for field and home. 2) what the heck is that black thing on top of the stock...its not a cheek pad cause that's usually on the side of the stock...right?

[@theGoblinStopper]

Its not called a bullet extractor, but there is a double extractor on the side of the bolt.

[@stevejones3530]

I like it stock