Mossy 24" 500 smooth bore pump w/rifles sights for turk

[glock fan]

CDNN has a ported Mossy 24" 500 smooth bore "slugster" pump w/rifle sights for $200 plus S&H.  The rear sight is a factory installed Williams adjustable sight.  The front post looks like a regular rifle type sight.  Would this be a good turkey gun?  Would this be a good deer gun as well?  I'm a geezer and will likely hunt from a blind.  Opinions & comments please.  TIA!

[dawei]

CDNN has a ported Mossy 24" 500 smooth bore "slugster" pump w/rifle sights for $200 plus S&H.  The rear sight is a factory installed Williams adjustable sight.  The front post looks like a regular rifle type sight.  Would this be a good turkey gun?  Would this be a good deer gun as well?  I'm a geezer and will likely hunt from a blind.  Opinions & comments please.  TIA!

The smooth bore slug barrel will have no choke. You want the tightest choke possible for Turkey hunting. The gun you referenced would be great for deer, PI$$ POOR for Turkey!

[glock fan]

Darwei,

I am glad I asked because I'm really looking for a good turkey gun.  I've got several good deer rifles and don't need another deer gun per se.  The rep. @ CDNN told me this would be good for either application.  I can see though why it wouldn't.  Need the full choke.  Well its back to the drawing board.  Looks like they have a Mossy 835 ulti-mag in camo for $269.  Its got a full choke and a 28" barrel.  Would this be a better way to go?

[Bullseye]

I use a Remington 870 with a 20" slug barrel for turkey hunting.  The Remington smooth bore slug barrel has choke tubes so I just put in an extra full.  I changed the factory sights out with some Williams Fire Sights.  It works great, short and easy to carry and move around with and you cannot beat the sights for aiming.

[glock fan]

C130E,

The 28" camo Mossy 835 ulti-mag I referenced above has the extra full turkey choke tube.  In fact, the ad claims this particular 835 is a "turkey special".  The 28" length is longer than I would normally opt for.  I'd rather have something in the 24" range.  The tru-glo sight tip is a good idea and I will look into it if I go ahead and get the one.

Bullseye,

Academy has their Rem 870 express SHs on sale right now for $193 'til Nov.  However, they come in 26"-28" lengths.  No mention of chokes.  Will have to check into that.  Its interesting you mention using your 870 with a 20" barrel.  It sounds like it works great for you but what about range?  It seems like the 20" barrel would cause your pattern to open up quicker, even with the extra full choke, thus maybe reducing your effective range.  As you can tell from my posts I'm a novice so this is really a question.

[dawei]

Darwei,

I am glad I asked because I'm really looking for a good turkey gun.  I've got several good deer rifles and don't need another deer gun per se.  The rep. @ CDNN told me this would be good for either application.  I can see though why it wouldn't.  Need the full choke.  Well its back to the drawing board.  Looks like they have a Mossy 835 ulti-mag in camo for $269.  Its got a full choke and a 28" barrel.  Would this be a better way to go?

ABSOLUTELY!

[Bullseye]

I patterned my 20" barrel at 40 yards.  I used Remington #5 Hi-Velocity 3" Turkey loads with the Remington Ventilator choke (extended and ported choke tube that is .010 tighter than the super full turkey tube).  I had 25-30 pellets in the head and neck of the turkey target, it was a very good solid pattern.  It took down two turkeys in the 25-30 yard range very soundly last year.

I do not think that the barrel length is an issue with the pattern.  It might affect the velocity a little, but very little from the testing I have read.  Remington actually sells what they call "Turkey Guns" that have a 20" and 23" barrel on them.  Mine is not a Turkey Gun per say, just my nice shiney Wingmaster with a slug barrel and turkey tube.  By the way, that Ventilator tube is one of the more affordable chokes, I paid $32 for it at Wal-Mart.

As far as I know all Express's have screw in choke tubes and slug barrels are available for them.

Hope this helps.

[glock fan]

Bullseye,

Nothing like real results to make your point.  You've given me something to think about.  I've got  two Mossberg pumps ( 500-8 shot & 590- 9 shot).  Both have 20" barrels.  I got them for HD.  I keep one in the house and one out in the work shop.  Maybe Mossberg makes chokes for these like Remington does for their guns.  Another possibility would be to get another barrel that accepts choke tubes if for some reason the original ones won't accept them.  Might be cheaper than buying another shotgun.  I feel like such a newbie on shotguns.  I've had quite a bit of experience with hand guns and rifles but just never have done much with shotguns before.  I should probably ask if anyone has or know of a good primer on shotguns or the basics of shotguns?  TIA!

[dawei]

Bullseye,

Nothing like real results to make your point.  You've given me something to think about.  I've got  two Mossberg pumps ( 500-8 shot & 590- 9 shot).  Both have 20" barrels.  I got them for HD.  I keep one in the house and one out in the work shop.  Maybe Mossberg makes chokes for these like Remington does for their guns.  Another possibility would be to get another barrel that accepts choke tubes if for some reason the original ones won't accept them.  Might be cheaper than buying another shotgun.  I feel like such a newbie on shotguns.  I've had quite a bit of experience with hand guns and rifles but just never have done much with shotguns before.  I should probably ask if anyone has or know of a good primer on shotguns or the basics of shotguns?  TIA!

Within gauge Browning Invector®, Mossberg®, Savage®, SKB®, Weatherby®, and Winchester® chokes are fully interchangeable. My son has a Winchester pump gun, mine is a Mossberg®, and I have an SKB® O/U; we swap chokes between the three all the time.

[glock fan]

Dawei,

Let me see if I got this right.  I can use chokes from other mfrs. in my Mossys.  My Mossys (20" barrels) don't have threads (internal or external).  So would I have to have a gunsmith cut threads first?  If so, I believe this would have to cost approx. $75 plus the cost of the choke.  However, I do have a Saiga semi-auto w/19" barrel with external threads for chokes.  It is a cylinder bore.  EAA offers a set of 3 chokes for less than $50.  I think I can get the full choke for about $20.  While this won't get me to an extra full choke, it will get me to a full choke.  Would this be sufficient?  If this works, I wouldn't have any qualms about the Saiga as it has proven to be very reliable.  It isn't very pretty but the turkeys won't care one way or another.  I know I started out looking to buy another shotgun but I really just wanted something for turkey hunting.  If I can accomplish this for $20 vs the cost of another shotgun then this might be the way to go.

[Randy_che]

You can also just buy a new barrel for those Mosseys. Get one with threads and you can put any choke you want in it.

[glock fan]

Randy,

I checked with Academy & Wally World about new barrels for my Mossys.  They were clueless.  Where would you suggest I get a new barrel?  Thanks

[glock fan]

C130E,

Thanks for heads up on Mossberg's website.  However, unless I could find barrels for alot less than they're listed (suggested retail price), it seems like it's more cost effective just to buy another shotgun.  I just saw an ad @ Academy for a Rem 870 26" or 28" barrel for $194 after mail-in rebate.  That is like $25 more than buying a new barrel for the Mossy 500.  I will likely go that route (Rem 870) unless I can get a full choke for my Saiga 12 ga.  Thanks again.

I want to say thanks again to all who have responded.  You really helped me sort through my options and made this process fun as well.  I now feel alot more confident about where I'm going on this deal.  I hope to return the favor.  While I'm not that knowledgeable (yet) about shotguns, I might be able to help others in regard to handguns & rifles.

[Randy_che]

In addition to the Mossberg website, I've seen them in the catalogs...Bass Pro, Cabella's, Midway USA, etc.  Also, I've heard that they are pretty common on E-bay.  Catalog barrels run about $125-$140. Probably cheaper on E-bay. Up to you to buy a new gun or just add a barrel. Good luck.