I learned how to duck hunt as an adult. I didn’t inherit my first shotgun—or have any other personal connection to it. Instead, I bought a Mossberg 500 All Purpose Field Shotgun brand new from the nearest Sportsman’s Warehouse. It was a purchase of convenience. I needed a shotgun that would 1) kill ducks and 2) not break the bank.
Those are, above all, the main attributes of a Mossberg 500, one of the most popular guns in the history of waterfowling. Having spent years using the gun, while intermittently also testing some of the top waterfowl guns through my line of work, I am convinced that the tried-and-true American shotgun, which was created in 1961, remains one of the best budget guns on the market today. Here are the pros and cons of waterfowl hunting with a Mossberg 500—and why I won’t be getting rid of mine anytime soon.
Mossberg 500
Pro: Cheap But Reliable
For a new waterfowl hunter—or a casual one—it’s not necessary to spend thousands of dollars to get a good gun. With an MSRP of $545, the Mossberg 500 All Purpose Field Shotgun is priced a couple of hundred dollars below budget inertia shotguns and, in my opinion, using a pump offers several advantages to the novice hunter beyond price; it encourages them to exercise patience when shooting, it’s easier to maintain, and it can increase safety in the blind.
The Mossberg 500 is a bit pricier than the very cheapest budget shotguns, which can be found for less than $300. But the Mossberg 500 is also extremely durable; you can expect it to take a beating and still shoot straight. With years of serious use, I’ve hardly ever seen this gun jam or the dual shell extractors fail. That’s worth the slight markup compared to the cheapest shotguns.
Pro and Con: Top Thumb Safety
One of the distinctive features of a Mossberg 500 is the top thumb safety. It’s a convenient location that’s easy for new shooters to toggle and great for left-handed shooters. One of the only drawbacks of this gun is that the safety is known for being sticky—and I’ve experienced this issue with my personal gun the day after hunting a brackish marsh. That said, it was nothing a little gun grease couldn’t fix; just remember to grease the safety when you break the gun down for cleaning. It’s also good to know that the ridges on the safety are relatively sharp and can cut your skin if you don’t secure your gun properly before firing.
Pro: Easy to Maintain
One thing I looked for when buying my first shotgun was getting one that was easy to maintain. This is one of the best aspects of pump guns and is true of the Mossberg 500, which can be stripped in a jiffy and put together again without much fuss.
Con: Cosmetic Rust
The external barrel of a standard Mossberg 500 will show some minor rust after it gets wet. That’s just the reality of using a barrel with a non-Ceratoke finish for waterfowl hunting. But the cosmetic rust doesn’t impact the functionality of the gun—and you’re not buying a Mossberg 500 for its looks. Besides, it’s not very noticeable after you wipe down the barrel.
Pro: Versatile
A Mossberg 500 can be used for more than just duck hunting. Mossberg’s modular system allows you to easily swap out the barrel depending on the type of hunting you’re doing. For instance, you can swap in a shorter barrel for turkey hunting (or simply mount a turkey scope on the standard 28-inch vent rib barrel). You can even easily use a fully rifled barrel for big game hunting. The Mossberg 500 makes a great pheasant gun, too, though it’s a bit heavy for most upland pursuits.
Pro and Con: Weight
The 12-gauge Mossberg 500 All Purpose Field Shotgun weighs 7.5 pounds. That’s a pound and a half heavier than the comparable Winchester SXP model. The slightly heavy weight has its advantages, namely reducing the felt recoil of the gun. That said, it can also make it harder to carry and swing, depending on your strength.
The Final Word on the Mossberg 500
There’s a reason that the Mossberg 500 is one of the most popular shotguns of all time. These guns are simple and functional. And they’re readily available, unlike their main comparison model: the Remington 870, which isn’t being manufactured currently. One day, I hope to put a new 870 up against a new Mossberg 500 to compare them, but until then, I’m happy with my budget duck gun. It’s a great option for novice waterfowlers and anyone looking to save a buck while still getting a trustworthy shotgun.