Specifications
Mossberg 500

Photo by CCH A. Dumoutier/SIRPA Terre (Licence Ouverte)
| Manufacturer | |
|---|---|
| Made By | O.F. Mossberg & Sons |
| Designer | Carl Benson |
| Origin | United States |
| Specifications | |
| Caliber | 12 Gauge |
| Action | pump action |
| Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Barrel | 18.5 inches |
| Length | 38.5 inches |
| Weight | 96 oz (6 lbs) |
| Feed | Tubular magazine |
| Sights | Bead front sight |
| Production | |
| Designed | 1961 |
| In Production | 1961 |
| Produced | Over 12 million units |
| Variants | |
| |
| Service Use | |
U.S. MilitaryLaw Enforcement agencies | |
| Cultural Note | |
| Most-produced pump-action shotgun in history with over 12 million units manufactured. One of the most successful and widely adopted shotgun designs in American firearms history. | |
| Related Firearms | |
| |
Mossberg 500
Firearms encyclopedia article
From The Boise Gun Club Handbook
The Mossberg 500 is the Honda Civic of shotguns -- nothing fancy, but it runs forever and you can fix it with basic tools. Since 1961, Mossberg has cranked out over 11 million of these pump-actions, and they're everywhere for good reason.
Military uses them, cops carry them, and your neighbor probably has one in the closet.
Why it matters: You get a reliable shotgun that can swap between hunting ducks and defending your home by changing barrels. Hard to beat that versatility for the money.
The 500 isn't trying to be the fanciest gun at the range. It's engineered to work when you need it to work, whether that's knocking down a gobbler at dawn or dealing with whatever goes bump in your hallway at 2 AM. The modular design means one gun does multiple jobs -- something your wallet will appreciate.
History & Developmentedit
Origins and Market Entry
Back in 1961, Mossberg looked at the Remington 870 dominating the market and figured they could build something just as reliable for less money. They weren't wrong.
The engineers made some smart choices that set the 500 apart -- most notably that top-mounted safety behind the trigger guard. That safety placement bugs some people who grew up on crossbolt safeties, but it works for both righties and lefties without modification. Mossberg also went with dual action bars on most models, which makes the pump stroke smoother than single-bar designs.
Military Validation
The real credibility boost came when the 500 became the first shotgun to pass the military's 3,000-round torture test without a single failure. That's the kind of reliability that gets noticed.
The Mossberg 500 became the first shotgun to pass the military's 3,000-round torture test without a single failure — proving that budget-friendly doesn't mean unreliable.
The military adopted the beefed-up 590 variant, and suddenly everyone knew this wasn't just another budget gun. Sixty-plus years later, the basic design hasn't changed much. When something works, you don't fix it.
Key milestones in Mossberg 500 development and adoption
Technical Specificationsedit

| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Action | Pump-action, dual action bars (single on budget models) |
| Feed System | Tubular magazine, loads through ejection port |
| Receiver | Aluminum alloy |
| Barrel/Bolt | Steel construction |
| Safety | Top-mounted sliding safety, ambidextrous |
| Sights | Bead front (field), ghost ring or rifle sights (tactical) |
| Choke System | Accu-Choke threading (most models) |
Variants & Modelsedit
The 500 platform spawns more configurations than you can shake a stick at. Here's what you'll actually encounter:
Consumer Models
| Model Series | Barrel Length | Primary Use | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Models | 26" or 28" | Hunting | Wood furniture, Accu-Choke threading |
| Security Models | 18.5" | Home defense | Synthetic furniture, compact size |
| Tactical Models | 18.5"-20" | Law enforcement | Rail systems, synthetic furniture |
| Combo Packages | Multiple barrels | Multi-purpose | Field + Security barrels included |
| Bantam/Super Bantam | Various | Youth shooters | Shortened stock, reduced pull |
| Slugster | 24" rifled | Slug hunting | Rifled barrel, rifle sights |
Field models come with longer barrels (26" or 28") and wood furniture for hunting. Security models run 18.5" barrels for home defense. The Tactical versions add synthetic furniture and rail systems for accessories.
Combo packages include both field and security barrels -- smart move if you want maximum flexibility. Youth shooters get the Bantam and Super Bantam with shorter stocks. The Slugster has a rifled barrel specifically for slug hunting.
Mossberg 500 platform family tree showing major variants and configurations
Military and Law Enforcement
The 590 series steps up to heavier-duty construction with thicker barrel walls. The 590A1 is the full military-spec version with metal trigger guard and safety -- built to take serious abuse.
Each variant serves a specific purpose, but they all share that same reliable pump-action DNA.
Performance Characteristicsedit
Accuracy and Handling
The 500 won't win any beauty contests, but it gets the job done. Slug accuracy typically runs 3-4 MOA from a bench -- good enough for deer hunting inside reasonable ranges, though not match-grade precision.
The lightweight aluminum receiver keeps the gun handy but makes heavy magnums a bit punishing to shoot.
| Performance Metric | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy (slugs) | 3-4 MOA | Adequate for hunting, not match-grade |
| Reliability | Excellent | Rare failures with quality ammunition |
| Versatility | Outstanding | Handles light target to heavy magnum loads |
| Ergonomics | Good | Top safety requires adjustment period |
| Trigger Quality | Functional | 6-7 lbs, typical shotgun feel |
| Recoil Management | Fair | Aluminum receiver transmits more felt recoil |
Operating Characteristics
Reliability is where this gun shines. Feed it decent ammunition and keep it reasonably clean, and failures are rare. The action cycles everything from light target loads to heavy waterfowl shells, though very light loads might need a firm pump stroke.
That top-mounted safety takes some getting used to if you're switching from other shotguns. The pump stroke itself is smooth and positive -- those dual action bars distribute pressure evenly so the gun doesn't bind up under stress. The trigger breaks around 6-7 pounds with typical shotgun creep. It's functional, not refined, but that's fine for a utility gun.
Common Issues & Known Problemsedit
Structural Concerns
The 500's simplicity means fewer things go wrong, but a few issues pop up regularly. The aluminum receiver can crack around the ejection port after many thousands of rounds -- more common on high-volume guns like police models.
Replacement receivers are available and relatively inexpensive. Here are the most common problems you'll encounter:
- Aluminum receiver cracking around ejection port after high round counts
- Shell lifter jamming from rough loading or damaged ammunition
- Plastic trigger guard cracking under heavy use (standard models)
- Extraction problems with low-quality steel-cased ammunition
Maintenance and Ammunition
Some users report extraction problems with certain ammunition brands, usually cheap steel-cased shells. Quality brass shells rarely cause issues. The gun prefers to be run with authority -- tentative cycling can cause feeding problems.
Most problems trace back to poor maintenance or using substandard ammunition. Keep it clean and feed it decent shells, and the 500 will outlast you.
The BGC Takeedit
The Mossberg 500 is the pickup truck of shotguns -- not flashy, but it hauls whatever you throw at it. After handling thousands of firearms over the years, I keep coming back to this platform for its combination of reliability, versatility, and value.
That barrel-swapping capability isn't just marketing talk. I've watched guys switch from hunting configuration to home defense setup in under two minutes. Try doing that with most other shotguns.
The 500 won't make you a better shooter, but it won't let you down when skill matters. For the money, it's tough to find a more practical shotgun.
Your great-grandkids will probably still be shooting it.
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