[Deputydave]

I have carry and HD handguns, but figured it was high time to get a SG. For the past 23 years I've used (and taught) the Remington 870 and this is our agency SG. I think it is an excellent product and went down to Dick's SG with the intention of buying one. They had one with an 18' barrel but the tube was a four-rounder. I was kinda looking for more. Well it was sitting next to the Mossy 500 Persuader with a 20' barrel and a tube as long as the barrel. I 'believe' it is an 8 round tube. It was $10 less so I figured to try out the Mossy so I bought it.

One thing that I like is that one can access the saftey and slide bar release without moving the hand all over the trigger guard. Not all that big of a deal but just something I like.

I bought a box of Remington 2 3/4 00 buck for HD since this is what I'm used to (its what we use at work). But looking through this section I'm seeing a lot of people like the #4 shot. I'd like to hear opinions and experience on this from those that use it/have used it. Initially it sounds like a better option for HD. But I haven't used it personally so I figure I'd pick some brains here.

I'm not a hunter, though it is now something I'd like to start doing to gain some self-reliance experience. From what I understand I'd be limited to 5 rounds for hunting and I'm not sure if I'll need longer than a 20' barrel yet? But thoughts welcome on shot for various game i.e. bird, deer, hog etc are welcome as well as your thoughts on slugs. Also your thoughts on 2 3/4 vs. 3 inch and in what format and for what game. We use to use 2 3/4 slugs at work years ago but now we're mostly 2 3/4 00 buck and less-than-lethal.

Other thoughts also welcome. Thanks

[oli700]

Congrats, you won’t be sorry purchasing the 500.

The answers to some of your hunting questions are driven by the state of your residence.

In a nut shell, here, put as many as you can in a pump for fur and three shells for feathers.

2 3/4 " shells have been killing game for a 100+ years, 3 and 3 1/2 were developed for the need to reach high flying geese and killing big tough turkeys at yardage

Slugs, rifled for smoothbore and sabot for rifled barrel.

Rifled foster slug from a smoothbore should be able to reliably kill inside100 yards, sabots out to 200 with a rifled barrel.

[Reswob]

Your downfall for hunting might be that the barrel on the 500 is a cylinder bore with no provision to mount a choke. Also, I believe the full tube on the 20" 500 is 7+1, and the 590 8+1.

[Deputydave]

I appreciate the responses

[Deputydave]

Picked it up this morning

Yes, 7 rounds in the tube and 1 in the chamber. I'm keeping it cruiser safe. For now I've got it loaded with Remington 2 3/4 00 Buck. Haven't found any #4buck yet. Also picked up some Remington rifled slugs as well (2 3/4).

Think I'll like it just fine.

[countrygun]

Pattern a variety of loads. I have found that a shotgun can actually show a bigger difference in pattern size across loads that groups with slugs.

The Mossbergs spoil you with the control placement you mentioned.

[Aceman]

Gotta love the one piece factory mag tube. None of +2 extension crap!

[blastfact]

Last night I picked up a Mossy 50410 at Academy. Did the walk of shame.

Its a 5+1 12ga. with a 20" barrel. Yeah the tube is a tad short. But it's real useful. 5+1 for 2.75" loads and the same for 3.00" loads.

I sold 3 870's last night. This Mossy blows the over rate Rems to the weeds. I put 50 rounds of Win field shot through it and over 50 rounds of 000 buck in 2.75 and 3.00 and slugger 1 oz 2.75".

It's a friggin beast!!!!! The only complaint I have is the forgrip / pump has a ton of slop side to side. And I don't like the tacticool tri-mount. Really???? tacticool?

It's bluing is almost as good as my (X) 870 wing master. I've never seen a 870 anything in blue that didn't try to rust. And the mossy ate a salt spray over night like a true weapon. I'm very impressed with the blued finish on the weapon.

The safety is great! And it loads like a 870 can't even dream about. The over ride tab is at the ready for my thumb.

I would like to have this machine in 10 ga. Thumping out big wax and BB shot loads for HD.

I can't wait to get my old MEC loader going full steam again.

[Aceman]

Originally Posted by blastfact

I would like to have this machine in 10 ga. Thumping out big wax and BB shot loads for HD.

Seriously? Gettting Home Invaded by Grizzly bears?

[blastfact]

Originally Posted by Aceman

Seriously? Gettting Home Invaded by Grizzly bears?

Really?!?!

Yes I like 10ga. If it's good enough for large water fowl and large meat eaters,,, it's good enough for me.

But knowing how *****fied most Americans are becoming now days. The thought of touching off a 6, 8 or 10ga. Shoty seems horrifying.

[Aceman]

Originally Posted by blastfact

Really?!?!

Yes I like 10ga. If it's good enough for large water fowl and large meat eaters,,, it's good enough for me.

But knowing how *****fied most Americans are becoming now days. The thought of touching off a 6, 8 or 10ga. Shoty seems horrifying.

Don't get me wrong - there is a manly-awesome factor to 10g, and I'm 45, so I remember 10g.

That said, it might be a touch, shall we say, excessive, indoors...

[ca survivor]

Congrats!

[GAFinch]

Congrats! It's really just splitting hairs between #4 and 00 buck. Get whatever's cheaper, more available, and patterns well in your gun.

[samuse]

I'm not a shotgun guy but I do prefer a 500/590 over an 870 by far.

The stocks fit me better (more drop), their easier to load and I like the safety.

The only shotgun I own is an 870P. Factory mag tube extension, walnut furniture and parkerized.

I'd like to find an 18.5" 590A1...

[Dogbite]

I pretty much stick with straight 00 buck in my mossy. If not that, then I go slug.

[clancy]

Originally Posted by Aceman

Don't get me wrong - there is a manly-awesome factor to 10g, and I'm 45, so I remember 10g.

That said, it might be a touch, shall we say, excessive, indoors...

Can anyone say MUZZLEBLAST!

[Lt Scott 14]

DeputyDave: Our cruisers all carried Mossberg 500's, cross magazine loaded with Deer Slugs, #4 buck,slug,buck, etc. The patten for #4 was tight to 25yds, slugs farther, but dropped quite a bit. We received a grant for updated shotguns. We had a lot of Deer vs auto crashes, so the shotguns had to dispatch the wounded deer.

We traded the loose, rattley Mossbergs, and had ordered Rem 870s, not Police models,but the Express,( economy) line. We had to address the internal nubs on each mag tube with a dremel tool, replacement spring, follower, and bbl extension.(add 2 rds). I did not like them, too new, would bind, not feed from the mags properly.

We had range quals, and they did work out better the more we fired them. I bought my own Persuader 500 Mossberg, qualed on it, and carried on duty. Never felt undergunned with either. Our original guns had approx 10 yrs of use, mine now has 22 yrs and doesn't rattle like the old ones. Hope you well on yours.

[The Fed]

I use Winchester Winlite, 26 grams of #8 shot. No recoil, only half the noise, and it won't kill your neighbors if you miss and hit a window. I don't know if you ever fired a gun indoors without hearing protection but I was involved in an accident while working for the Army as a munitions specialist. A ammo loading machine malfunctioned and fired off a live round right next to me. I couldn't hear for 10 minutes.

If you need to fire your shotgun or your HD pistol the same will happen to you. Now you've lost your situational awareness ability. You'll never hear any other BG's, possibly until it's too late. I keep electronic muffs in the nightstand but if I don't have time to don them I'm still in good shape.

[bear62]

My Mossberg 500 Persuader has been part of my home defense plan for countless years. Love it.......... Good luck with yours...