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.

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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):

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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:

Rifles:

Innovation & Technology

Mossberg's innovations are practical and field-proven:

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:

Community & Reputation

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)

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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?

Mossberg vs. competitors:

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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?