Sixty Years On, Mossberg 500 Series Shotguns Going Strong

Sixty years on, Mossberg 500 series of shotguns are going strong. They’re well built, reliable and an excellent bang for your buck.

I bought my Mossberg 500 SPX Tactical shotgun seven years ago for $550. Prices are similar today. After putting thousands of rounds through it, it has worked flawlessly. The pump action allows me to feed it pretty much anything.

O.F. Mossberg & Sons has been around since 1919. That’s over 100 years of making superb firearms. My 500 series shotgun is no exception. It went into production in 1960. Not long after that, the US military adopted it. Although the Marines switched to the Benelli M4 semi automatic shotgun in 1999, many branches of the U.S. military still use the 500.

Mossberg claims that the 500 model is the only shotgun to pass the U.S. Army’s Mil-Spec 3443E test. This includes firing 3,000 rounds of full power 12-gauge buckshot in unforgiving conditions.

Mossberg offers the 500 series shotgun in a variety of models. Mine is the SPX Tactical model. It weighs 6.75 pounds empty and comes with a bunch of great features.

It’s got an adjustable ghost ring rear sight and high visibility front sight. A six position adjustable synthetic stock allows for the perfect length of pull. A five round saddle allows me to keep extra rounds handy. A Picatinny rail supports the adjustable rear sight which is removable, so you can add your own optic if you choose.

The pistol grip feels good in the hand. The 18.5 inch barrel is short enough to make it maneuverable and the ported barrel reduces recoil and makes it comfortable to shoot even the most heavy duty rounds. I can fit five 3-inch shells in the tube and one in the chamber. That’s a lot of firepower.

There’s a saying about shotguns that if someone has broken into your place and they hear the sound of a pump action shotgun chambering a round, it’s enough to give them a heart attack. Chances are, you’ll never even have to fire a round.

I highly recommend the Mossberg 500 SPX Tactical, or any Mossberg 500 series shotguns for that matter. They’re solid, last a long time and shoot well. I wouldn’t hesitate buying a used one either. Guns.com has lots of them for sale new and used.