Mossberg 500 3-Barrel Combo Shotgun

Mossberg 500 3-Barrel Combo Shotgun

Recently I picked up a Mossberg 500 3-Barrel combo shotgun for use with my ammunition testing and development.  It’s a very unique package that includes two smoothbore barrels, a rifled barrel, as well as a full set of chokes.  Designed as an all-in-one solution for hunters, this package includes just about everything you’ll need for a variety of different game, from fowl to fauna, at an unbeatable price.

Features

With an overall length of between 44″ and 48″ depending on barrel selection, the 500 is one of the lightest and most well-balanced shotguns I’ve ever held.  This is in no small part thanks to the aluminum alloy receiver and polymer stock, which yield a weight of around 7 1/2 lbs.  Capacity-wise, the 500 holds a pretty standard 5+1 2 3/4 shells, with the option to load 3″ as well.

Part of the attraction to buying a package like this is the sheer volume of options and accessories that come with it, and believe me when I say Mossberg’s really topped this thing up.  Aside from the three barrels which we’ll get into later, the 500 also comes with a cable lock, manual, and four chokes including an improved cylinder, modified, full and their custom double x turkey, plus a wrench for installation and removal.

As you can imagine, a package with this many options includes a wealth of features.  Some of the highlights include an integrated recoil pad, a drilled and tapped receiver, checked patterning on both the grip and fore-grip, an ambidextrous tang-mounted safety, integrated front swivel stud, and of course, full coverage mossy-oak camo.

Barrels

So what about all those barrels?  Each one includes several features different from the others, so we’ll tackle them one at a time.

Beginning with the 28″, this is a smoothbore with full vent rib, designed for fowl.  The optic here is a two-point bead sight that functions similarly to a rudimentary set of irons.  It’s also tapped to accept Mossberg’s line of screw-in chokes, making conversion from duck-dropper to turkey-taker a 30-second job.

Next we’ve got the two 24″ barrels, which were actually what drew me to this gun in the first place.  I don’t hunt personally, but I do perform a lot of testing and load development of shotgun ammunition, particularly slugs.  These barrels make this the perfect test gun for comparing how ammunition performs in a smoothbore, rifled or choked barrel– since they’re identical in length, nearly identical in weight, and mount to the exact same receiver.  This will allow me to eliminate virtually every other variable normally introduced to testing when using multiple firearms.

The smoothbore is a 24″ barrel that includes a fully adjustable front and rear fiber optic sight.  The red/green tubes acquire lightning-fast, and provide excellent contrast even on overcast days.  As with the 28″, this barrel is also tapped to accept chokes, making it an extremely versatile choice.

Finally we have the rifled barrel.  Again at 24″ in length, this unit includes a cantilever weaver mount for attaching optics, ideally a scope.  That’s an absolutely essential feature in a multi-barrel gun, as it allows the shooter to change configurations without having to re-zero their optics, as they’re mounted to the barrel rather than the receiver.  As a fully rifled barrel, this 24″ takes long range shotgunning to a whole new level, launching slugs with unparalleled accuracy at distances of 100 yards and beyond.

Construction

As far as fit and finish go, I really like what I’m seeing here.  The camo patterning is clear and consistent, and the gun feels solid and locks together very securely.  The action is smooth and cycles reliably, the trigger snaps cleanly, and everything just seems to come together really nicely.  With that said, I was disappointed to see one of my barrels had some chipping around the bore; I don’t think this happened during shipping as there was no damage to the box or other barrels, so I’m guessing it was missed during QA.  It’s hard to say if that’s common with these or not, as this is the only one I’ve ever owned.

Likewise anyone who’s ever owned a Mossberg before is probably well acquainted with the ‘Mossberg Rattle’ associated with their fore-grips.  This is a well known quirk from this manufacturer, however it’s worth noting these are a mil-spec firearm, and it doesn’t affect the operation in any way.  I’ll be discussing how to eliminate this in a future article, so stay tuned for that.

My only other real complaint about this firearm is the plastic bead sight on the 28″ barrel.  I cannot fathom why the manufacturer didn’t opt to go with metal on this, as it’s a feature I’d have gladly paid a few bucks more for.

Summary

Aside from those very minor gripes, I have to say I’m delighted with this gun.  I’ve always loved Mossberg shotguns; the incredible value they offer is just unbeatable in my opinion, especially considering these are American-made.  To try and piece together a package like this from any other manufacturer would cost well over twice what this combo retails for, without a doubt.

Whether you’re a hunter looking for a gun that does it all, or an amateur ammosmith like me, the 500 3-barrel combo has you covered.  I own a lot of shotguns, but I have to say if I could only keep one, this would be my first choice, hands down.

Specs

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