Turning a Mossberg 500 Defender into a hunting shotgun - how to?

[JohnCrighton]

OK, I have a 7-shot Mossberg 500 12ga. I would like to turn it into a hunting shotgun that can use a longer than 20" choked barrel.

From what I understand, I will have to change the barrel AND the magazine tube, correct?

Will I also need to get a new mag spring, end-knob (hopefully one with a built-in swivel/sling), and mag follower?

Any suggestions on what to get parts-wise, what length barrel and what kind of tube? This will be mostly or small-game and bird hunting, though I suppose buckshot deer hunting or with slugs (rifled barrel eventually?) could be in order in the future.

[hogdogs]

If you have a 7 shot mag tube you will find much more assortment of barrels by switching it to a 5 shot tube...
Brent

[Webleymkv]

Personally, I'd just leave the gun alone and look around for a used Mossy that already in the sporting configuration (they can typically be found for $150-200) as the cost would likely be less that a new barrel and magazine tube.

[zippy13]

IF you make the change to 5-shot, here's the barrel for you. It's also available in camo.
http://www.mossberg.com/images/accessories/90130.gif
Mossberg 500 All Purpose Vent Rib, Ported, Bead Sight, 12 Ga., 28", Accu-Set, Blue, SKU 90130

[JohnCrighton]

Any advantage to a barrel that is over 24" in length? I see a lot of 28" ones, but a few 24" ones.

[hogdogs]

A big dis-advantage to a 28 is mobility... I live in dense areas. I will use my .30-30 lever gun or 18 inch 20 gauge at first until I locate some good more open spots to set up. I do know many folks prefer the 24 over the 28 for clay sports but don't know why as I am not in their realm. I have a 28 cuz that is what it had when I traded for it...
Brent

[jimkim]

The shorter barrel offers quicker handling. There is no real advantage offered by a longer barrel. I would just make a plug for the mag to limit it's capacity and hunt with that barrel. I would also get a polychoke installed on the barrel.

[Smitty in CT]

OK, I have a 7-shot Mossberg 500 12ga. I would like to turn it into a hunting shotgun that can use a longer than 20" choked barrel.

From what I understand, I will have to change the barrel AND the magazine tube, correct?

No need to change the mag tube, Mossberg makes a 28" vent-rib barrel for the long mag tube, it's listed on the Maverick web site:

http://www.maverickarms.com/pages/barrels.htm

Part Number 90241, retail is $133, if you shop around you might find it cheaper...

[zippy13]

Smitty in CT
Help, not being a Mossberg devotee, I'm confused. John's 500 Defender is a 7-shot, not a Mossy 5, 6, 8 nor 9. It's my understanding that Maverick/Mossberg barrel interchangeability is limited to barrels of the same gauge and capacity. The Maverick chart shows 6 and 8 shot barrels, but no 7s.
The 90241 you referenced is listed as an 8, how's it going to fit a Mossberg 7 shot mag... what I'm missing here?:confused:
From the chatter I've seen online, some folks have been rudely surprised by a no-go interchangeability after they got a new non-returnable barrel.:mad:

[Smitty in CT]

The 7/8 shot is 7 in the tube 1 in the chamber.

The 590 gets 1 more in the tube.

Mossberg only makes 2 mag tubes for the 500, SHORT 5-shot (5+1 total) and LONG 7-shot (7+1 total)

The LONG only has two choices thw 20" and the 28".

[zippy13]

Smitty
Thanks for the clarification, what I thought were additional mag lengths seems to caused by Mossberg's inconsistency in the way they label capacity. Yesterday's 5-shot is today's 6.
Figures don't lie, but liars figure.;)

[Rmart30]

Personally, I'd just leave the gun alone and look around for a used Mossy that already in the sporting configuration (they can typically be found for $150-200) as the cost would likely be less that a new barrel and magazine tube

+ 1.... Mossbergs are everyyyyyywhere for under $150 used. Ive got one my dad bought back in the 70's and its never had any issues and I am a big fan of the safety location.