Mossberg 500 .410 Pump for HD

roymail · Aug 20, 2016

My brother is about 5'6 and a rather small stature guy. He wants a good quality .410 pump for home defense and likes the Mossberg 500 .410 pump Cruiser model. The idea is to replace the pistol grip with a tactical adjustable stock. Good plan, however, he's unable to find a tactical type stock that is made to fit a Mossberg 500 .410. Lots of Mossy 12's and 20's available but not for .410. ATI has many makes and models but none that are made to fit a Mossberg .410 that I could tell.

I recommended a 20 gauge but he's recoil sensitive not an experienced shooter. If anyone can help with suggestions or advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

David_Ely · Aug 21, 2016

Why not just buy the standard Mossberg 500 .410 and not the cruiser model? Or he could get the .410 tactical:
http://www.mossberg.com/product/500-tactical-hs410-home-security-50359/

roymail · Aug 21, 2016

Thanks, David. Appreciate your advice and the link.

collim1 · Aug 22, 2016

I grew up hunting with a .410 and I would not recommend it. If squirrels and rabbits limp away from it I wouldn't trust it for HD.

I have not been impressed with the rounds made up for the Judge pistol either. I am not a bigger is better kind of guy, but the little .410 is a really inadequate caliber.

I grew up with one so I think its a neat caliber, and its nostalgic for me, but I would never recommend it for self defense.

method · Aug 22, 2016

Just get a 20 gauge. If he ever needs to fire it in self defense, he won't feel the recoil anyhow.

First shot · Dec 28, 2016

Agree. They make a small youth model with 18" barrel. I've shot one before. It's not a big wallop. I even shot it one handed out like a pistol. Great home gun.

Walter Bishop · Aug 23, 2016

I would skip a tactical stock. The Mossberg bantam stock has a shorter length of pull than the regular stock and in my opinion is better than some AR-style stock. The 3 inch .410 slugs have energy similar to 357 magnum. A pump action 357 magnum sounds like a nice home defense gun to me.

collim1 · Aug 23, 2016

I would say .410 slugs are far from .357 magnum.

Slug weights of 87-109 grains with velocities of 15-1700 fps. Not to mention none of the slug I have seen are designed to have controlled expansion like a decent JHP in .357 magnum.

.410 slugs are known by hunters to be poor performers on deer. .357 magnum with JSP or are known to excellent for taking for deer.

cowboywannabe · Aug 23, 2016

the recoil is fairly light from a .410 shotgun, and 5 pieces of 00 buck from one shot of it will stay in a tight group for the distances ive seen as normal or usual for inside a house. if one has to or prefers such a small gauge than I strongly suggest a 3" buckshot load.

Sharkey · Aug 23, 2016

Shotgun? 12G with reduced recoil loads and some training? Too much? Ditch the shotgun and get a m1 Carbine with soft points or a lever action 357mag?

Or maybe just stick with a pistol?

Walter Bishop · Aug 23, 2016

According to Winchester, their 3 inch slug is traveling 1800 fps and has 788 foot pounds of muzzle energy. That is more than enough for home defense.

collim1 said:
I would say .410 slugs are far from .357 magnum.

Slug weights of 87-109 grains with velocities of 15-1700 fps. Not to mention none of the slug I have seen are designed to have controlled expansion like a decent JHP in .357 magnum.

.410 slugs are known by hunters to be poor performers on deer. .357 magnum with JSP or are known to excellent for taking for deer.

MO Fugga · Aug 23, 2016

HD? Mossberg?

Cruiser 20" 8-shot 12 ga.

Because, well you know....

cowboywannabe · Aug 23, 2016

in any of the gauges mentioned, its the load used that will make the difference. 00 buck is the same size and "power" in all gauges, just more or less pellets depending upon the gauge.

Berto · Aug 23, 2016

With the right load, the gun would be adequate IMO...but it may be easier to just seek a 20ga with a stock you're happy with. There's reduced recoil 20ga shells.

cowboywannabe · Aug 23, 2016

lets not forget there are recoil reducing stocks such as knoxx and so forth. they tame even magnum slugs in a 12 ga.

J_Rico · Aug 23, 2016

Howdy,

Being a short guy as well, I have found that youth models fit pretty well. I would say skip the cruiser and the tactical models and get a youth .410.

This one has a 13" lop.

http://www.mossberg.com/product/500-youth-bantam-50112/

This one a 12" lop.

http://www.mossberg.com/product/505-youth-pump-action-shotguns-57120/

Though to offer a little more advice, a properly fitting 20ga is not hard to handle. I bought the Mossberg Bantam 20ga for my kids. I use it now more than they and it has replaced the 12ga as the HD shotgun.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...36/products_id/53807/Mossberg+Bantam+20+Ga+22"+Accu-Choke24"+Fully+RifleRifle+S

Multiple spacers included so you can get the lop just right. My pre-teen/teen girls have no trouble shooting it. The wife has recently decided she likes it and we added a red dot for her to use.

This ammo is pricey, but perceived recoil lower than other buckshot loads we have tried.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/95...-personal-defense-ammunition-20-gauge-2-3-4-4-buckshot-shot-24-pellets-box-of-5

strambo · Aug 23, 2016

He should really get the 20ga, it won't be very hard to control recoil-wise. I taught my 60+ YO mother how to shoot a 12ga 870.

Crownline202 · Aug 24, 2016

My Mossberg 500 .410 with 24" barrel and Knoxx Blackhawk stock. (made for 12 gauge)

clawdaddy56 · Aug 24, 2016

My son had a youth 410 Mossy and it needed to be racked perfectly level for it to cycle properly. Had a terrible customer service experience with the manufacturer trying to get it resolved. If I were you I would recommend a more potent caliber from a different manufacturer. A Remington 870 in 20 gauge would fit the bill.

Lindenwood · Aug 24, 2016

Having not read further than the second post, the biggest mistake people make when evaluating the .410 is looking at milk-jug tests out of 3" handgun and then saying "oh, .410 sucks!" Funny how an 80% reduction in barrel length will do that.

In the same vein, lots of small animals have "limped away from" inadequate hits with 12g and 20g birdshot also. Birdshot is for birds.

Four or five .000 pellets out of a long gun will be orders of magnitude more effective then any handgun in the hands of a novice shooter. I think it is kindof funny how everyone is all excited about tacticool reduced-recoil 12g loads shooting eight 00 pellets at modest velocities, but five 000 pellets (a mere 25% reduction in total wound profile and 16% reduction in payload weight) is somehow "inadequate."
[/rant]

And ideed, there are no aftermarket tactical stocks specifcally for the .410s, which have a narrower receiver to reduce weight.

All that said, if he is concerned about recoil, have him save a few hundred dollars extra and buy one of the many basic <$600 ARs out there, which will be better in every way from an HD perspective. If he really wants a shotgun, and a pump at that, and you convince him to move up from .410, there is no point in getting a 20g with all the reduce-recoil 12g loadsout there.

"Doc" Cavalry · Aug 24, 2016

No kidding, go with the 20 ga. I can shoot one single handed holding it out like a pistol, and I'm average sized. My wife and daughter both have Mossberg Mavericks youth model in 20 ga. My daughter is 5'2", 90 pounds. Slap a light on the front, and you are in for less than $220. If you want a light shooting round that does a number on the other end, try these.

Steel expanding slugs, and they have surprisingly light recoil, less than typical bird shot.

Aggressor · Aug 24, 2016

My dad is 75. He shoots a 20 gauge. Should be fine.

cowboywannabe · Aug 24, 2016

what I think people are missing about recoil isn't can one shoot it, its can one practice for an extended period with it?

sure I can shoot my .44 magnum 4" bbl one handed with the stoutest loads, but not for an extended practice session. I can shoot a single shot 20" bbl 12ga. with magnum slugs too, but it isn't fun after a string of three rounds...... if the recoil is too much that practice wont be regular and pain free, than get another gun.

Big Bird · Sep 30, 2016

Then you practice with .44 special loads in your magnum and light 12 gauge target loads in your single barrel shotgun. Problem solved. Why does everyone feel it necessary to take things to the extreme and go out of your way to avoid common sense solutions?

When I went to the shotgun course at Gunsite we shot a lot more birdshot than slugs or buckshot running drills etc.

Lindenwood · Aug 24, 2016

Also, while I only shoot a .308, a 12g, and a .45 Rowland, I still won't tell someone they should just "be tougher." 99% of shooting is about enjoyment. If he doesn't enjoy it, he won't practice. If he doesn't practice, he won'tbe effective.

J_Rico · Aug 25, 2016

Lindenwood said:
Also, while I only shoot a .308, a 12g, and a .45 Rowland, I still won't tell someone they should just "be tougher." 99% of shooting is about enjoyment. If he doesn't enjoy it, he won't practice. If he doesn't practice, he won'tbe effective.

Very true. A guy comfortable and confident with a 22lr is more effective than a guy scared of his 45acp.

mac66 · Aug 28, 2016

The only .410 I have is a small single shot Snake Charmer. It'll shoot 3" slugs and buck with very little recoil one handed.

From everything I've read, the Brenneke slug is about the best option there is in .410. I will say however that a 20 ga is better in everyway and still has very mild recoil.

Goldstar225 · Aug 29, 2016

I'm going to join the chorus and advocate that your brother use a youth model 20 gauge. My grandson was shooting a Remington 870 youth 20 gauge at 9 years old and 70 pounds. I also started using a single shot 20 gauge at 9 and about the same weight. My grandson is now 13, 5'3", 95 pounds and is shooting a 12 gauge.

Mossberg 500 .410 Pump for HD

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