Local fun shop has a mossberg 500 with an 18 inch barrel, police cruiser style wood furniture, and I haven't measured it yet but it seems like the stock is either shortened or a youth model. Serial number puts it from 1985 or 1986.
It looks like it's barely been shot. I've been looking for an older 870 for a little while, but I'm close to saying this is good enough. Any reason not to buy a 500 from that time?
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Bought one myself around 1987, when I lived in NYC and could still buy ARs, AKs and HKs for 300-600 bucks. Very little changed on that gun. Biggest question would be price and location.
If you get it, I would look at Havlin Sales And Service for synthetic replacement furniture and call it good. Maybe get the metal safety button, as the plastic one can break, loosening the safety assembly and disabling the gun.
Last edited by jor-el; 10-29-2016 at 04:10 PM.
I think it already has a metal safety button. The trigger is all metal, and I think that changed in the 90s?
The most I'll do to this is a new mag spring and maybe a follower. I like the wood furniture, and it also makes it look like Grandpa's old hunting gun which is a plus in a not-gun friendly area like the one I live in.
It's $225, seems fair to me considering it's in excellent condition.
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Good price for around here. In some ways, the Mossbergs are easier to repair than the 870s, though it takes a huge bunch of shooting to wear either one out.
I'd buy it if I wanted it.
I bought one of the Mossberg combo kits in 1990 and it was a great shotgun. Later I bought a 590 and gave the combo kit to a friend for some work that he helped me with. He has shot it in a few informal 3-gun matches and it is still running great.
ETA: I would offer $200 out the door.
Last edited by SecondsCount; 10-30-2016 at 10:22 AM.
-Seconds Count. Misses Don't-
I'd take a Mossberg 500 over an 870 any day. I started out on an 18.5" 500, went to an 18.5" 870P and never warmed up to it. I recently went back to an 18.5" 500 and it works much better for me.
The 500s are lighter, the action is also lighter/slicker and I don't have any tendency to short stroke a 500 like I do with an 870. The open loading port and being able to unload straight from the mag tube is a huge plus to me.
I'd put in a Wolff mag spring spring and call it a day on that old 500. Great guns.
Just bumping this.... I ended up snagging an 18.5" bead sighted Mossberg 500A w/wood furniture for $156 after shipping and transfer fees. Seems like LE surplus (stock smells like cigarette smoke...); serial dates it to 1984. Gun is a little use and it has plenty of wear, but the action is clean & very smooth. I was actually surprised at how smooth it was (this is my 1st Mossy).
I bought an L&M light mount for it which seems well made and was only $30, but the only 1" section of my light (Streamlight Polytac 2L-X) is too far forward. The body of the light impacts the fore-end and prevents the bolt from locking up.
Right now I am leaning towards either A) buying a used Surefire 6P or other 1" weaponllight or B) returning the mount. As much as I like the aesthetic, the gun is pretty beat up and not much of a safe queen. The wood stock is kind of clunky so I am thinking of getting the magpul stock, but this gun was a $150 lark.... so I'm not highly motivated either.
Last edited by Nephrology; 11-13-2017 at 08:34 PM.
Changing the Mossberg 500's mag spring is not a straight forward task. Doing so will require removing the magazine tube, which is loctited in. It can be done but search for instructions. I suggest not modifying the shotgun if spending money is required to do so. I like Mossbergs but must point out that the 500's have low resale value. One reason is that box stores retail them below the so called dealer price paid by mom and pop gun shops. If you buy guns online, call Summit Gunbroker and ask the fine gentleman there if he has M500 or older R870 l.e. trade ins.
I'm old as dirt and have owned at least a dozen of each. An older 870 will trump any other offering. I promise. That said, there's nothing wrong with a Mossberg--but don't overpay.
Not planning on extensive or expensive modification - just want to do a couple things to get it more functional. I already got the gun for $156 delivered and transferred so I'm in it for very little thusfar.Originally Posted by willie
1. Find a way to put a light on it, ideally on the cheap. I already have a mount so I am thinking about buying a used 6P on ebay for ~$35 or something.
2. Make sights biggerer - might buy one of the XS tritium front sights that you epoxy over the bead. It's cheap ($60 shipped via amazon prime) and easy to do. If the lamp burns out I still have a way faster bead. This is not a high priority.
$156 gun + $33 mount + $35 light + $60 bead = $284. I will also probably pick at Ebay now and again for used Surefire foreends. I've seen the older 2 button models go for under $100. That and a magpul stock would make this thing very functional for still not a lot of money.
Last edited by Nephrology; 11-14-2017 at 09:51 AM.
You're getting the M500 at a great price. With planned mods the result will be an excellent home defense weapon. I don't remember from reading your many posts if you have owned other Mossbergs. As a guy who likes them, let me say this. They rattle. They seem to have too much play in action bars/fore end mechanism. It does not affect reliability. They work and continue to do so. Some will describe the Mossberg as a sow's ear. It's more like a country cousin who appears to be less refined as his city relatives. If your new purchase arrives with a few dings and scratches, consider them to be honest wear.
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