Shotgun Mossberg 500 FIELD 12/76, pump, wood, barrel 28

The Mossberg 500
is one of the most common multi-shot shotguns with moving fore-end reloading (pump-action shotguns). First released in 1962. Now available in various modifications intended for hunting, police, security guards and self-defense. Hunting modifications are available with barrels 24, 26 or 28 inches long (61, 66 or 71 centimeters) with various, including interchangeable, choke constrictions, a ventilated rib or rifle sights, and magazines for 5-6 rounds. Modifications not intended for hunting have a magazine for 5-8 rounds, a sight consisting of a single front sight or diopter sight, and a barrel length of 14, 18.5 or 20 inches (36, 47 or 51 centimeters) with a cylindrical drill, allowing for almost any cartridges of the appropriate caliber. The shotguns are available in 12-gauge (500A), 20-gauge (500C) and .410-gauge (500E) versions with 76 mm chambers (there is a 12-gauge shotgun with an 89 mm chamber).

For military purposes, the Mossberg 590 version is produced, which is distinguished by a different fastening of the barrel to the magazine (nut instead of screw), more durable bluing and a number of other changes.

In Mexico, under the Maverick 88 brand, a cheaper version of the Mossberg 500 is produced, featuring minor design changes.

Mossberg 500A Cruiser with 20" barrel

Also, non-hunting modifications are often equipped with a pistol grip, which is placed instead of a butt, which is indicated by the word Cruiser in the name of the modification.

History of creation

- a relative newcomer to the military weapons market (which cannot be said about this company’s sporting guns). However, the first combat model of the Mossberg 500, which appeared in 1961, marked a breakthrough - the Mossberg 500 remained for many years the main product of the 500 - a 12-gauge shotgun with manual reloading using a movable fore-end. The receiver is milled from high-quality aluminum, the steel bolt lugs fit into the breech of the barrel, which reduces the load on the receiver. Most of the design elements are also highly durable and reliable, which, combined with reasonable cost, made the Mossberg 500 a very common weapon among police. Mossberg also produces combat variants, one of which is the ATP-8SP model with anti-reflective coating. It is possible to install a bayonet, there is a seat for an optical sight, and a perforated protective cooling jacket can be put on the barrel. Instead of a permanent wooden stock, a folding metal stock can be installed. The Mossberg 500 ATP-8SP has gained popularity in the military weapons market, but an improved combat modification has already been developed to replace it.

Design

The Mossberg 500 is a typical pump-action shotgun, which is reloaded by moving the fore-end back and forth, and the barrel is locked by a combat cylinder moving up and down inside the bolt using a cutout in the barrel shank. The cartridges are fed from an under-barrel tubular magazine of varying lengths.

On top of the receiver there are four threaded holes designed for attaching rails for optical, collimator or diopter sights.

The barrel, bolt, most parts of the trigger mechanism and other parts are made of steel, the receiver (which is the only numbered part) is made of aluminum alloy (its strength is ensured by the large thickness of the metal), the base of the trigger mechanism and the pistol grip are made of plastic, butt and fore-end - made of plastic or wood.

A characteristic feature of this pump-action shotgun is the safety, located on top of the receiver and operated by the thumb. According to most shooters, such a safety, similar to the safety of double-barreled shotguns, is more convenient than the safety used on most pump-action shotguns in the form of a button on the trigger guard, controlled by the index finger. In addition, such a fuse is equally convenient when shooting from both the right and left shoulder. When replacing a standard stock with a stock with a pistol grip or a pistol grip, using the safety becomes inconvenient, which is why semi-pistol grips are sold in the USA for Mossberg shotguns (they are often compared to a sawed-off handle).

If the fore-end is defective, wedges and non-feeding are possible.

Mossberg 500 shotgun

Mossberg 500 Slugster
Since 1979, the Mossberg 500 series shotguns have been in service with the US Military, and have also been widely used by police and other law enforcement forces in the US and other countries.

The Mossberg 500 series shotguns, as well as the Remington 870 and Winchester 1300, have taken a leading place in the American pump-action shotgun market.

Shotguns in this series have been produced since 1961 by the American company OFMossberg & Sons in a wide range of options and calibers.
Mossberg 500 Mariner
The Mossberg 500 is a manually reloading smoothbore shotgun. Reloading is carried out using a fore-end that moves back and forth. The weapon magazine is non-replaceable, tubular, located under the barrel. The barrel is locked by a swinging cylinder installed in the bolt behind the breech. The receiver is made of aluminum alloy. The barrels are replaceable, of different lengths and drilling.

Mossberg 500 Cruiser
Mossberg 500 began to be produced in a large number of versions, both hunting and intended for police and self-defense.

The gun can be equipped with barrels of various lengths and drilling, with or without interchangeable chokes, traditionally shaped wooden or polymer stocks, stocks with a pistol grip and a folding stock, or only with a rear pistol grip (these options are called Cruiser).

The movable forend can be replaced with a vertical handle or a special forend - a tactical flashlight holder.

Sights can be of different types: diopter type Ghost sight, conventional, it is possible to install mounts for optical and collimator sights.

The safety is located on top of the rear of the receiver and is equally convenient for both right-handed and left-handed people.
Mossberg 500 bullpup
In the late 1980s, Mossberg released a version of the gun in a bullpup configuration, but this version did not gain much popularity and was soon discontinued.

Overall, the Mossberg 500 series shotguns are quite reliable and inexpensive.

Among the shortcomings, we can note mainly the presence of some backlashes in the design, leading to the appearance of a very characteristic clanging sound when the forend is distorted (reloading), however, on the other hand, these backlashes make it possible to ensure high reliability of the weapon’s operation in conditions of heavy pollution.

Mossberg 500 Bullpup 12

A model has also been developed, configured according to the “bullpup” scheme, when the control handle is located in front of the breech of the barrel. With this design, the weapon turns out to be significantly shorter in comparison with samples of the traditional layout (for comparison: Ithaca 37 R. Total length: 1016 mm. Mossberg 500. Total length: 784 mm), it is more convenient to carry and store, which is especially important for police and army divisions. The receiver and most of the stock are covered with durable thermoplastic, and there are minimal protrusions on the weapon that could get caught on clothing or anything else. A certain inconvenience is that the location of the butt and barrel at the same level leads to the need to raise the sights.

, which produces Bullpup 12 shotguns, also produces special kits for converting existing Mossberg 500 shotguns into a bullpup design. Another combat shotgun from Mossberg was the Model 590, developed in the 1970s and characterized by greater durability.

Disassembly/assembly

To disassemble the gun you need:

1. make sure that the gun is unloaded, for which you inspect the magazine through the window at the bottom of the receiver (its feeder, made of red plastic, should be visible) and, through the window for ejecting cartridges, moving the bolt back, the chamber (it should be empty), close the bolt and carry out a control release of the trigger, holding the barrel in a safe direction, put the weapon on safety;
2. pull the shutter halfway back;
3. unscrew the screw connecting the barrel and the magazine by hand. The screw is located at the front end of the magazine;
4. moving the barrel forward, remove it from the receiver;
5. Use a suitable thin object, such as a screwdriver, to press out the transverse pin holding the firing mechanism. If the gun has a pistol grip, then it must be removed before removing the trigger mechanism; to do this, you need to unscrew the screw connecting it to the receiver with a hexagon socket wrench;
6. remove the trigger mechanism assembly by moving it down and forward;
7. remove the cartridge grips (two long metal strips on the sides of the receiver);
8. move the forend to the rearmost position, remove the slider that ensures the movement of the locking cylinder and bolt;
9. remove the cartridge feeder;
10. remove the shutter;
11. pull forward the forend assembled with rods;
12. unscrew the magazine;
13. remove the spring with feeder from the magazine;
14. If there is a stock installed on the gun, and there is such a need, remove it. To do this: use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the screws holding the butt plate, remove the butt plate, use a long flat screwdriver to unscrew the screw holding the butt, disconnect the butt from the receiver.

It is not recommended to carry out further disassembly yourself.

Assembly is carried out in reverse order. It is worth remembering that if the trigger mechanism inserted into the gun is cocked, then the forend must be in the forward position. The cartridge feeder can only be inserted if the safety lock is on.

Mossberg 500 shotgun - video

Description of the Mossberg 500 shotgun

A smoothbore shotgun with a pump-action reloading principle. It has a classic under-barrel tubular magazine, into which cartridges are placed one after another, with the primer facing the breech of the barrel.

Its design is based on a Remington 870 pump-action shotgun. In order to avoid legal sanctions, the armory radically changed the trigger mechanism by installing a manual cocking lever on the buttstock neck.

Advantages and disadvantages

— Extremely simple, durable and reliable design. Mossberg 500 works in any conditions; sand, water, and swamp slurry can get into it. He will still shoot.

— Despite the fact that the manufacturer recommends using only cartridges with a paper sleeve, the Mossberg 500 can also “digest” reusable brass cartridges without any problems.

— The gun owes its unpretentiousness to the fact that during its production all measures were taken to reduce production costs and the parts have large mating tolerances. Because of this, at the slightest movement, everything that is possible and impossible in it blurts out. That's why his unofficial nickname is "Rattling".

— The noisy operation of the mechanisms, especially the forend during reloading, makes the use of the gun on running hunts problematic. Although it is quite convenient for them to fell wild boars from the storage shed.

— The weapon is light, so the recoil from it is not just harsh, but brutal.

— The fact that the manufacturer does not use precision standards in the manufacture of the Mossberg 500 does not mean that the weapon is of poor quality. The level of technical control at the enterprise corresponds to space technologies.

— The ergonomics of the gun are impeccable. The simple logic of the cocking lever makes it completely safe to use. A wooden or plastic stock is convenient for both shooting offhand and from the hip, as is often demonstrated in action films where the Mossberg 500 plays the leading roles. The Mossberg 500 butt plate is equipped with a shock-absorbing butt pad to soften recoil. Unfortunately, it is not regulated.

— Some inconvenience is caused by the fact that changing the magazine to a more capacious one does not allow the design of its attachment to the barrel.

Purpose

The gun is used by security forces and is convenient for self-defense. It can also be used for hunting in a pen or from a storage shed, when special secrecy is not required.

Varieties

The Mossberg 500 is available in several calibers.

- 12, with chamber lengths of 70, 76 and 89 mm. - 20, chamber 76 mm. - .410, chamber 70 and 76 mm.

Hunting modifications of the Mossberg 500:

— Barrels 61, 66 or 71 cm long. — Barrel narrowings of different gradations, including interchangeable nozzles. — Solid or ventilated sighting rib, optional rear sight and front sight, like a rifle. — A magazine with a capacity of five or six rounds. — Semi-pistol stock, made of solid wood or plastic, camouflage painted (Slugster model).

Security modifications:

— Barrels 36, 47 or 51 cm long. There are no narrowings (cylinder). — Sighting devices consisting of a front sight with a solid bar and (or) a dovetail mount for installing optics. — Magazines with a capacity of five to eight rounds. — The stock is half-pistol or “sawn-off” - a handle without a butt.

Design

— Mossberg 500 smoothbore pump-action shotgun, reloading is done by shifting the fore-end pad. — The magazine is under-barrel, tubular. The loading hopper window is located on the lower edge of the receiver. Capacity from five to eight (optional) cartridges. — The receiver is made of aluminum alloy, it is made from a massive blank by milling. It has very thick walls, ensuring structural strength. — A bolt with a smooth cylinder that locks the breech by moving from bottom to top and hooking onto the protrusion. Ejection of the cartridge case to the right side. — The trigger mechanism is unregulated, the trigger travel is without warning. The firing pin release lever is located on the neck of the stock; it has two positions – “on” and “off”. — In hunting versions, the stock is half-pistol, made of wood or impact-resistant plastic. The sighting bar can be either solid or ventilated. A rifle rear sight and front sight are optionally installed. — Models for security can be equipped with a short stock with a pistol grip. The Mossberg 500 receiver has four holes with metric threads for attaching Weaver or Picatinny rails.

Mossberg 500 Combo

Options and packaging

The gun comes in a blue cardboard box with yellow Mossberg lettering.

— The main delivery set includes: a clutch for locking the forend in the transport position (two shaped bars connected by a bolt to a wing), a lock for blocking the bolt group. — Optionally, an additional short barrel can be added, a pistol grip for converting into a sawn-off shotgun, as well as a set of interchangeable choke constrictions for hunting models. — Instructions for using the gun itself and the bolt lock are included. There is also a brochure from the US Rifle Association NSFF on gun safety in general.

Mossberg 500AL

Operating principle

— Before loading, the weapon is put on safety. To do this, the hammer release lever on the neck of the stock moves down. — The cartridges are placed into the magazine through a window in the lower edge of the receiver with the cartridge case facing forward, with the primer facing the bolt. — To feed a cartridge into the chamber, you must vigorously move the forend back and then return it to its original position. — Before firing, the striker release lever moves upward, and a red dot indicates the weapon’s readiness to fire.

To lock the bolt and deactivate the weapon, use the long-shackle lock included in the delivery set. The bow is threaded into the bolt hole. It does not allow you to pull it back all the way, stopping it in a half-open position. In this case, the cartridge is not supplied from the magazine.

Mossberg 500A Cruiser with 20-inch barrel

Disassembly

— Unload the weapon by jerking the forend several times. Make sure there are no cartridges in the magazine - the red pusher is visible through the loading window. Twist the forend again and perform a control descent. — Move the forend so that the bolt opens halfway (to the hole for the safety lock). — Unscrew the screw on the front end of the magazine. — Move the barrel forward and remove it from the receiver. — Using a Phillips-head or bit-head screwdriver, press out the trigger mechanism mounting pin. — Remove the trigger. — Place the gun with the bottom edge of the receiver up, remove from it two shaped plates located on both sides from the inside. — Move the forend back until it stops. Remove the bolt slider. — Remove the cartridge elevator by squeezing its branches at the butt plate of the receiver. — Remove the bolt. — Push the forend forward and remove its rods from the receiver. - Open the store.

If a pistol grip is installed on the gun, it is removed before removing the trigger. To remove the Mossberg 500 stock, you need to remove the butt plate and unscrew the fastening screw through the long hole.

Mossberg 500 Combo pump action shotgun

Tuning

The design of the gun does not allow changing the magazine to a more capacious one. But you can install a pistol grip instead of a butt or change its shape. The strength of the receiver allows you to attach rails or brackets for optical sights to it.

Price

In the minimum configuration, the Mossberg 500 costs 50 thousand rubles. Owners note the reliability and ease of use of the gun.

It is perfectly balanced and comfortable for offhand shooting. The shooting qualities are very good, the combat is tight and sharp. Many people consider the recoil of the Mossberg 500 to be excessively strong. The shooter must be prepared for it not only mentally, but also physically. Incorrect positioning of the weapon and insufficiently secure holding of the weapon when shooting can lead to injury.

Mossberg 500 Bantam Combo Pump Shotgun

Analogs

In Russia, two types of smooth-bore pump-action shotguns are produced. These are the Bekas models, which are made at the Molot VPO, and the MP-133, manufactured at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant.

The Mossberg 500's direct competitor is the Remington 870 pump-action shotgun, which has been in production since 1950 and differs from it only in the absence of a manual cocking lever.

If you can’t find anything analogous, pay attention to other worthy pump-action models with different characteristics: Mossberg 590, Krieghoff Semprio, Remmington 7600, etc.

Mossberg 500 Slugster pump action shotgun