Here is what I'm trying to find but everybody in the Phoenix valley seems to be sold out of them! Anybody have any experience with this or similar shotguns?

The Mossberg 500-series guns are very popular, second only to the Remington 870. And I'm not even so certain of that "second only to" comment. The U.S. military has used the Mossberg for quite a while and seems satisfied. If you can't get the gun exactly as you want it off the rack, modifying a basic wood stocked hunting gun is very easy.

The problem with the Mossberg and the collapsable stock is that you cannot reach the top mounted safety correctly.
I know there are companies out there that make a new safety latch, but I have not looked into them or tried them.

As the other poster mention - you could always buy a regular shotgun and add these accessories.

IIRC ATI is one of the companies that makes these stocks and are adaptable to Mossberg and Remington shotguns.

In last week's Dick's ad - they had a Remington clone made by NEF for sale, that i'm pretty sure the ATI stock would work on.

I thought about doing that but it seems from my research that only the "tactical" models have the 18.5 inch barrels and not the 20 inch ones like the non "tactical" models do, so thats why I'm trying to find one like the picture.

Call me dangerous, but I would never use the safety on a home defense weapon.  Either it's ready to fire, or it's unchambered.  I don't see any reason for a middle ground that might prevent you from firing when you have to.

Here's my 870 setup, incidentally.  Not too different from the mossberg one you show:



I like it, personally.  I'd probably have fewer shells attached to its outside if state law permitted me to leave it in a vehicle loaded.

I have both a Mossberg 500 Mariner and a Remington 870 police trade-in.  Both are excellent shotguns but I agree with TJ, the Mossberg's tang safety is superior to the crossbolt safety of the Remington, if you have a conventional stock.  (No doubt, someone will chime in and disagree.)  There may be times when you need to use the safety.  In such a case a pistol grip would be a disadvantage on the Mossberg, but wouldn't make a difference on the Remington.

I installed a Limbsaver recoil pad on the Mossberg and it's worth the cost.  It's my HD shotgun.  It's secured in a Mossberg Loc-Box mounted to a stud in my bedroom closet.

Gratuitous shotgun porn:

I found a Moss 500 Persuader 20" on Gunbroker for $265 NIB. I think I'm going to get that since apparently the 20" can hold more shells and purhcase the stock, saddle, and some sort of flashlight mount seperatly. That seems to be the less exspensive way to do it as well! Thanks for the input guys.

Mossy or the Rem870 and a stock choice of your liking. I have an 870 w/ a Knoxx Comp Stock that I like a lot but I also have a Mossy w/ a regular Houge entry/short (12in lop) w/ a 1" slip on butt pad that works great. It's shorter than a regular stock and eaiser to shoulder for me. Put a Uncle Mikes slip on shell holder on it and you have a "grab and go" unit. The Remmy has a side saddle too so it's GTG in a hurry also.

I picked up an 870 tactical today putting some rounds through it tomm

Where did you get the vest?

Bulletproofme.  I decided to go with a new one.  YMMV.

In pump guns I personally prefer the Winchester (FN now) smoother action imo.

Mossberg 930SPX.

sorry for the lousy pics, i only have the camera on my cell phone but...

i actully agree with what TJ and JBlitzen both said, the safety arguement isn't really a big deal at all, and it's still easy to manipulate after adding a pistol grip stock. though for a homedefense shotgun, i leave mine loaded but not chambered. it's one step easier than tap, rack, bang, and i never have to worry about forgetting to remove the safety...

i currently have a pair of these(two is 1, and all that), i paid iirc $225 and $245 respectivelly, and i know dealer at the time was $219. the 6pos stocks, stock shell hollders, and light mounts, are ati brand(they're ok but damn sure not knox stock and surefire quality) sidesaddle's are tacstar brand and work very well. i plan to swap out the cheapy garrity brand light for somethinga little better at some point. the sling is idf carbine inspired and made of a u.s.g.i. general purpose strap with the buckles cut off and paracord simple, cheap, and damn rugged...


here's a better pic of the other one, like say they're twins, but still a better pic...


i also had a 3rd but it was blued, not parkerised like the oneabove, and her twin. i sold it to a friend, he liked the way mine were set up so much that he built the one i sold him just the same. i believe this is a pic of it...


here is a pic of my first mossberg pump, though it usually wore a butler creek metal frame side folding stock and rode in my trunk...

i also sold this one to another friend, it now looks much the same as the 20" 7+1 persuader...

i copied and posted this directly from the mossberg site, don't know if it'll tell you anything you'd like to know or not but here it is and it includes the m.s.r.p.
SPECIAL PURPOSE SHOTGUN - 500® PERSUADER®/CRUISER® - 6 SHOT
6 SHOT 50411 12 3" INCLUDES PISTOL GRIP KIT 6 18 1/2" BEAD CYLINDER BORE 39 1/2" 14 1/2" 1 1/2" 2 1/8" BLUE SYNTHETIC (BLACK) 6 3/4 LBS $404.00  

6 SHOT CRUISER 50440 12 3" HEAT SHIELD INSTALLED, PISTOL GRIP ONLY 6 18 1/2" BEAD CYLINDER BORE 28 3/4" - - - BLUE SYNTHETIC (BLACK) 5 3/4 LBS $404.00  

6 SHOT CRUISER 50450 20 3" PISTOL GRIP ONLY 6 18 1/2" BEAD CYLINDER BORE 28" - - - BLUE SYNTHETIC (BLACK) 5 1/2 LBS $389.00  

6 SHOT 50452 20 3" INCLUDES PISTOL GRIP KIT 6 18 1/2" BEAD CYLINDER BORE 38 1/2" 14" 1 1/2" 2 1/2" BLUE SYNTHETIC (BLACK) 6 1/2 LBS $404.00  

6 SHOT CRUISER 50455 .410 3" PISTOL GRIP ONLY 6 18 1/2" BEAD CYLINDER BORE 29 1/2" - - - BLUE SYNTHETIC (BLACK) 5 1/2 LBS $389.00  

SPECIAL PURPOSE SHOTGUN - 500® PERSUADER®/CRUISER® - 8 SHOT
8 SHOT 50577 12 3" BEAD SIGHT 8 20" BEAD CYLINDER BORE 41" 14 1/2" 1 1/2" 2 1/8" BLUE SYNTHETIC (BLACK) 7 LBS $389.00  

8 SHOT 50579 12 3" INCLUDES PISTOL GRIP KIT 8 20" BEAD CYLINDER BORE 41" 14 1/2" 1 1/2" 2 1/8" BLUE SYNTHETIC (BLACK) 7 LBS $404.00  

8 SHOT CRUISER 50580 12 3" HEAT SHIELD INSTALLED, PISTOL GRIP ONLY 8 20" BEAD CYLINDER BORE 30 1/4" - - - BLUE SYNTHETIC (BLACK) 6 LBS $404.00  

and just to add some more shotgun porn here's a NEF single barrel i cut down to 18.25" and tricked out for a cheapy truck gun, after getting my pickup.  ended up selling this to yet another friend, as a birthday present for his father...


any of this help answer your quastions? is there anything i can help you with, or any other questions i may be able to answer for you?

Here is mine:



870 Police with a speedfeed stock.

+1 I keep the safety off and the chamber empty. Hell racking the slide should scare the bad guy away right?

If NFA isnt an issue for you...

I had a Mossberg 590 shotgun, but had to sell it due to financial reasons.

I bought a Remington 870 later only because that is what my department issues.  Train with what you may have to use someday was my line of thinking  when I made that purchase.

In my opinion, either the Mossberg or Remington will serve you well.

Rem 870 for the win!

Win. 1300, 870 and Mossy are all fine shotguns for your intended purpose. Handle them all in the gunshop and one will trip your trigger. The goodies are available aftermarket for all the above. Don't overlook the 20ga. it makes for a very light, handy rig and I doubt Freddy Felon will know the difference.

If you have the $ get either a Mossberg 590A1 or Remington 870 Police - those models have metal parts in critical areas as opposed to the cheaper versions of both. I'm a huge fan of ghost ring sights, too.

My 870 tactical I got on the 8th

What sling do you use? Thats the kind I want

Im a 1300 guy myself, turning my slug gun into a hi speed/low drag scattergun at the moment.

Since "they" are turning this into a pic show off your shotgun thread
I bought this 20 ga 1300 for my 4yo daughter the other day i'll have it housegunerized by the time she gets big enough to handle it / moves out


Mine.....

I have/had a 1100, 1187, 870, and 2 590a1's. I loved every one of them.

I have to agree that the 20" 590a1's are heavier than the 18" 870 w/ the extended mag but the location of the safety swung me towards the 500/590 series. Having the safety front and center and ambi (I'm left handed) won me over.  I just have the 1187 (left sided ejection) for clays and one 590a1 now.

That being said - there are more 870s around, more support. Either way, you can't go wrong.

I've got an 870 tactical and it's my HD weapon of choice.  The safety doesn't seem to be a problem for me, but if it is for others, Remington has a drop-in oversize version that's hard to miss.

+1, only mine has the sidesaddle mounted on it.

Very hard to beat the 870 Police, it's built like a hand-tooled tank, extremely reliable, and since I hunt with an 870 it feels very familiar to me.

I have the 590 that lacks the bayo lug and heat sheild and some of the metal parts mentioned.

While I have never had a problem with the plastic safety on my 590 I still have the urge to buy the metal version and swap it in at some point.

The only problem I have had with my 590 is a weak magazine spring.  I replaced it and have not had a problem and still need to order a spare or two I guess.  

I mostly went with the 590 because of its finish and I skipped the 590a1 version because I did not want the weight of the heat sheild and other stuff along with the higher price.

I am a lefty so having the safety on top makes life easy for me, I can work a remington fine and did so for a recent class where the gun was supplied.

But the mossberg is quicker for me and while I can agree with those who say don't have it loaded and leave the safety off I find myself still using the safety since that is just the way my brain is wired.

I compare it to me trying to sweep the safety off on a glock as I come out of the holster with it.  Once used to my 1911s I think every gun has a safety there and that is just how my little brain is wired these days.

That said, now I want one of the nice semi-auto berrettas but hate the price of them.

Fudd special Rem 870 with no tactical bullshit.  There is no substitute.  Nice quail gun too (got a longer barrel for doves also).  Inexpensive, mechanically reliable, will put 00 through a badguy as well as anything.

I had great customer service this year from Mossberg.  No BS.

I have a Remington 1100 with Speedfeed pistol grip stock, and magazine extension.  I also have a Mossberg 500 combination gun.  It came with a 28" hunting barrel with interchangeable chokes and a 18" barrel for home defense.  With the plug out it holds 5 rounds in the magazine.  I too prefer the tang mounted safety of the Mossy.  It is much lighter than the 1100 as well.

If I were on a tight budget and looking for a HD shotgun, I'd definitely go with a Mossberg 500/590. IMO they seem to be a little more robustly build.

My first shotgun was a Mossberg 500 and I was really impressed with it's simplicity and it not having the whole safety key bullshit like some of the Remington guns do. But on the same note, I just bought a Remington 1100 Tac 4 the other day

I can't stress enough to keep checking the used racks at gun stores. Shotties rarely get used enough to wear them out and can look like hell from the trunk or behind the seat of the truck and still function flawlessly. Police turn ins are also a great way to get a good, solid used shotgun. Most police shotguns have more rack rash than use. Most of the people here rarely leave a stock shotgun as is and a black tactical stock, light bracket, side saddle and other doo dads are the norm so who cares what the wood furniture looks like so long as the action is smooth and everything works. Ugly guns on the used rack are usually pretty cheap and a diamond in the rough.

I'm curious - why are SHTF rifles autoloaders, but SHTF shotguns are pumps?

I think the "general" thought is autoladers were more prone to malfunctions when it comes to scaterguns.....

I have a Rem 870 Express and love it.  All black with synthetic stock and it has a 2 shot extension tube.  I think you can pick one up for around $300.00 brand new. I also put ghost ring night sights on mine.  Personally I believe Remington makes an all around better gun than Mossberg

+1 on the Fudd gun.  I have a department store Western Field 550A aka Mossberg 500.  I have a 28" ribbed barrel with three tubes and a 18.5" bad guy barrel.

It's the backup for my AR15 primary.

Bad pic of my shotgun with the BG barrel


FWIW, Remington and Mossberg both make very good HD shotguns.  The Winchester 1300 is good too.  A guy would be good to go with any of them.

ZM

I love my Mossbergy 930 SPX Tactical Shotgun.  It's a great value at a $550 price point.

I still love my 870 Express HD.  The Knoxx folder is great.  The shoulder of the stock has been wrapped in two layers of 550 cord since this photo (about 2-3 years old) but nothing else has changed.

I plan on getting a Shotgun this year to add to my little arsenal. That's pretty much what I am looking for. A straight-forward, simple, Pump Action 12 gauge. I'm not real hot on the Shotguns with the M4 Style Stocks. I want a Shotgun that looks like a Shotgun.

If you're still trying to decide what's the best HD for you, read this thread about the Norinco 982 shotgun. For the money this is the best HD shotgun deal around right now.

Why are you restricting your search to the Phoenix area?

In general, you're going to get exactly what you want at a lower price if you do your homework and shop online.  The equipment exchange here and at Glocktalk are especially good for finding great deals.

Also, I can't imagine that you can't get what you want in PHX.  Try scottsdale gun club, shooters world, and bear arms.  They usually have one of everything when it comes to shotguns.

If you can afford it, get the Knoxx SpecOps stock.  They cost around 100 bucks but the recoil absorption is WELL worth the extra few bucks.

I just picked up a Mossberg 500 12 ga 'combo' with a 28" Modified and an 18.5" Cylinder bore bbl.  $270 Out the door, NIB.  It's a nice little light shotgun.  I bought it primarily for Quail, but it'll drop right into the 4th string HD gun.  Only fits in my safe with the 18.5" bbl anyway, the 28" hits the pistol shelf.

I've had a Norinco knockoff of an Ithaca 37 that's a hell of a shotty.  Heat shield over the barrel, Ghost ring sights.  5+1. It's #2 in the HD lineup, and will probably stay there since it's a dedicated gun.  Set up as it is, it's a bit on the heavy side.

Some day I plan to pick up an 870, but it's way down the acquisition list.

same setup as mine.  love the stock.  the speedfeed foreend needed some sanding down though to cycle nicely

my favorite shotgun . a mossberg12 guage 500 with a 20 inch vent rib barrel and accu chokes .
I have used this gun a bunch as you can see the blue wore off the slide and tube area . I thought about getting a specific home defense shotgun but this one just seems to  hit what I point it at .  mr gobbler in the picture caught a head full of number 4 copper coated 3inch mag bbs at 45 yds . when hunting season is over the plug comes out and it rest under the bed . you might consider something like this as it gives you the option to use different chokes for hunting  , it never hurts to have options.

I forgot this thread was still open. I bought a Mossberg 500 Tactical from Gunbroker.com months ago. The thing kicks ass. I added a side saddle on the receiver and a shot shell sling and decked it out with Federal Low Recoil 00 Buck and some Winchester slugs as well. Bad ass gun. There are some pics of it floating around the survival gear forum somewhere, titled SHTF guns are done or something like that.