Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns mossberg 500A opininion (home defense / turkey / bird)

I'm itching for a 12 gauge pump security shotgun, but struggle with One-trick-ponies with fixed cylinder bore chokes that restrict the use.


I found a used 12 gauge Mossberg 500A with a 20 inch accuchoke barrel and spare 28 inch accuchoke barrel. Blued and wood furniture and good shape with little wear. $329 plus tax.
Not a super buy, but the 20 inch barrel gives me choke options for turkey (NOT optoc ready - red dot with a meadowcreek mount on this one). The 28 inch barrel makes it a trap shooting or hunting back up.
The recoil pad is hard as can be and would need upgrade and a trigger spring kit too. The trigger is very creepy.... Figure toward $60 of upgrades to make it turkey duty.

So this shotgun checks off several boxes, but I've had bad luck with 2 used mossbergs before and I'm gunshy enough to consider buying a new maverick 88 (with a better butt pad already) for $230 instead.

Anything to watch for on a 500A?
Avoid?
buy?
What to do if its a lemon?

They go bang every time, not very pretty. When I had my gun shop I used to trade them for snowplowing, roofing , welding, etc,.never got one back or anyone that felt they got cheated.

Interesting. I befrinded a pawn shop owner and he would offer me 3 pump shotguns for $100 because he got soo many.

I mus have bad luck on my prior Mossy buys. I'm thinking I'm getting it... too much user function not to get it... Even if a Mossberg 590A1 with ghost ring sights, 9 shots, and heat sheild feels way cooler.