Mossberg

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Heritage & History

O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. is an American firearms manufacturer founded in 1919 by Swedish immigrant Oscar Frederick Mossberg and headquartered in North Haven, Connecticut. Mossberg specializes in shotguns and rifles for hunting, sport shooting, home defense, and law enforcement. The company's most famous product — the Model 500 — is one of the best-selling pump-action shotguns in American history. Mossberg is a SAAMI member and has remained family-owned for over a century.

:::callout
Mossberg's philosophy has never changed since 1919: reliable firearms at prices working people can afford. The Model 500 pump shotgun is the embodiment of this — it's the shotgun that every gun store recommends for a first home defense gun, every duck camp has in the truck, and every police department has in the cruiser. Over 12 million Model 500s have been produced.
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Key milestones:

1919 — Oscar Frederick Mossberg founds the company at age 53
1930s-40s — Established with .22 rimfire rifles; military production in WWII
1961 — Model 500 pump-action shotgun introduced (becomes iconic)
1988 — Model 835 Ulti-Mag introduced (first 3.5" chamber pump)
1990s — Model 500 passes U.S. Military MIL-SPEC 3443 testing
2000s — Expanded tactical/LE lines; Maverick 88 becomes budget favorite
2010s-20s — Added bolt-action rifles, AR platforms, semi-auto shotguns
Present — SAAMI member; family-owned; North Haven, CT; 100+ years of production

Product Lines

Mossberg's lineup centers on shotguns, with an expanding rifle segment:

Pump-action shotguns (Mossberg's bread and butter):

Model	Gauge	Chamber	Capacity	Price	Best For
Model 500 Field	12, 20, .410	3"	5+1 / 6+1	~$400-$500	Hunting (waterfowl, upland, deer)
Model 500 Combo	12, 20	3"	5+1 / 6+1	~$450-$550	Multi-barrel hunting packages
Model 500 Retrograde	12, 20	3"	5+1	~$500	Classic walnut/blued aesthetic
Model 500 Tactical	12	3"	5+1 / 7+1	~$400-$600	Home defense, LE
Model 590	12	3"	8+1	~$500-$600	Military/tactical (heavier barrel)
Model 590A1	12	3"	8+1	~$550-$700	Military spec; heavy barrel + metal trigger guard
Model 835 Ulti-Mag	12	3.5"	5+1	~$400-$500	Waterfowl/turkey (handles 3.5" magnums)
Maverick 88	12, 20	3"	5+1 / 7+1	~$200-$250	Budget home defense / entry-level

:::callout
The Maverick 88 at ~$200 is the best value in firearms. It uses the same action as the Model 500 (literally interchangeable barrels), and it works. For a first shotgun, home defense on a budget, or a truck gun you don't worry about, nothing touches the Maverick 88's price-to-reliability ratio.
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Semi-auto shotguns:

Model	Gauge	Chamber	Price	Notes
930	12	3"	~$500-$700	Hunting and tactical variants
940 Pro	12	3"	~$900-$1,000	Competition-focused; Jerry Miculek series
SA-20	20	3"	~$550	Youth/lightweight semi-auto

Rifles:

Model	Caliber	Type	Price	Notes
Patriot	.243 through magnums	Bolt-action	~$350-$500	Budget hunting rifle; good trigger
MVP	.223, .308, 6.5 CM	Bolt-action (takes AR mags)	~$500-$700	Uses AR-15/AR-10 magazines
International 715T	.22 LR	Semi-auto (AR-style)	~$300	Plinking; tactical .22 look

Innovation & Technology

Mossberg's innovations are practical and field-proven:

Innovation	Model	Impact
Tang-mounted safety	Model 500/590	Ambidextrous; thumb-accessible; the best safety location on any shotgun
Dual extractors	Model 500/590	Redundant extraction; enhanced reliability
Accu-Choke system	Most shotguns	Interchangeable choke tubes for pattern optimization
3.5" Ulti-Mag chamber	Model 835	First pump to handle 3.5" shells; developed with Federal
MIL-SPEC 3443	Model 590/590A1	Only pump shotgun to pass U.S. military testing
Over-bored barrel	Model 835	.775" bore (vs standard .729"); improved patterns, reduced recoil
Barrel interchangeability	Model 500 platform	Swap barrels in seconds; one receiver for hunting, defense, slugs

Why the tang safety matters:

Located on top of the receiver, behind the action
Operated with the thumb of the shooting hand
Works identically for right- and left-handed shooters
Fastest safety position to disengage when shouldering
Remington 870's crossbolt safety is on the trigger guard (slower, favors right-hand)

Model 500 vs. 590/590A1:

Feature	Model 500	Model 590	Model 590A1
Barrel attachment	Screw-in (field removable)	Screw-in	Bayonet lug capable
Trigger guard	Polymer	Polymer	Metal (aluminum)
Barrel weight	Standard	Heavier	Heavy-walled
Capacity	5+1 to 8+1	8+1	8+1
MIL-SPEC rated	No	Partial	Yes (3443E)
Best for	Hunting, home defense	Tactical, LE	Military, hard use

Community & Reputation

Segment	Reputation	Notes
Home defense	Default recommendation	Model 500/590 and Maverick 88 are the go-to
Waterfowl hunting	Very strong	835 Ulti-Mag is the 3.5" standard
Deer hunting	Strong	Slug barrels and combos work great
Military/LE	Proven	590A1 passed MIL-SPEC; in military service
Budget buyers	#1	Maverick 88 is the best value in firearms
Turkey hunting	Strong	835 and 500 turkey models are staples
Competition	Growing	940 Pro (Jerry Miculek) competing in 3-gun

Common praise:

Reliability is proven across millions of units and military testing
Tang safety is the best safety design on any pump shotgun
Model 500/Maverick 88 are the universal "first shotgun" recommendation
Barrel interchangeability gives one gun multiple roles
Pricing makes quality shotguns accessible to everyone
Family-owned for 100+ years = consistent values and quality

Common criticism:

Finishes are utilitarian (not premium — you're paying for function)
Some models have loose fit compared to Remington 870 or Benelli
Bolt-action rifles (Patriot) are budget-tier quality (good for price, not premium)
Semi-auto 930 reliability is inconsistent (940 Pro is improved)
Not prestigious — gun snobs look down on Mossberg (their loss)

:::callout
Mossberg vs. Remington 870: The eternal pump shotgun debate. Mossberg has the better safety (tang-mounted, ambidextrous) and passed MIL-SPEC testing. Remington 870 has smoother action and better fit/finish (in pre-2007 production). Both are excellent. For left-handed shooters, Mossberg wins decisively. For overall value, Mossberg wins. For action feel, the 870 has the edge.
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Buyer's Guide

Which Mossberg should you buy?

If You Need...	Get This	Why
Home defense (budget)	Maverick 88 Security (~$200)	Best value in any firearm category
Home defense (upgraded)	Model 500 Tactical (~$450)	Better furniture, more accessories
Military-grade tactical	590A1 (~$600)	MIL-SPEC rated; heavy barrel; metal trigger guard
Waterfowl hunting	835 Ulti-Mag (~$450)	3.5" chamber; over-bored barrel
Multi-purpose hunting	Model 500 Combo (~$500)	Two barrels (field + deer) in one package
Turkey hunting	835/500 Turkey model (~$400-$500)	Camo, tight choke, short barrel
Budget hunting rifle	Patriot (~$400)	Good trigger; gets the job done
Competition shotgun	940 Pro (~$900)	Semi-auto; Jerry Miculek collaboration
All-around first shotgun	Model 500 Field (~$400)	Does everything adequately

Mossberg vs. competitors:

Category	Mossberg	Remington 870	Benelli Nova
Price	$200-$600	$400-$600	$400-$500
Safety	Tang (best)	Crossbolt	Crossbolt
MIL-SPEC	590A1 (yes)	No	No
Ambi-friendly	Excellent (tang)	Right-hand favored	Right-hand favored
Action smoothness	Good	Better	Good
Aftermarket	Excellent	Excellent	Limited
Reliability	Proven	Proven	Proven

:::callout
Bottom line: Mossberg makes the most practical, best-value shotguns in America. The Maverick 88 at $200 is the best deal in firearms. The Model 500 at $400 does everything. The 590A1 is military-tested. Whether you're buying your first shotgun or your tenth, Mossberg belongs in the conversation — and usually wins on value.
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References

Mossberg official site: mossberg.com
Mossberg corporate history: "Since 1919"
American Hunter: "10 Things You Didn't Know About Mossberg"
Field & Stream: Mossberg 500 best pump shotgun review
U.S. Concealed Carry Association: Mossberg history retrospective

Read the original article in The Handbook | By Boise Gun Club Editorial Team

Join the Discussion

If you've run a Mossberg 500 for years, what's kept you loyal to it—or what finally made you switch to something else?

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