Mossberg Combo Question

[jah191]

I'm thinking about getting the Big5 Mossberg 500 combo in 12 gauge for my first shotgun. I'd like it to do double duty as HD and trap/skeet. I found out today that the barrels are not threaded for chokes. My question is two-fold

1) Will the lack of a choke be a big shortcoming for trap shooting?

2) Is the combo still worth it if I'll just have to buy another threaded 28" barrell for trap/skeet?

My only firearm experience is handguns at static targets so I will be a total novice to shotgun sports.

Thanks.

[Rob454]

i had a combo. I sold it cause I bought a OU. I had no problems using it for the duck season and for skeet/strap
Rob

[Hayashi Killian]

The shorter barrel should be threaded for chokes. According to Mossberg's site, the 500 field/security combo has a rifled barrel (field) and threaded for accu-chokes (security).

I wouldn't know if it does or not, I got the 20" Security model from them. Mine is threaded as far as I know.

[AgentAK]

Do you know what choke it has?
Are you going to shoot both skeet and trap? The "standard" for the two are quite different. Skeet usually uses a Cyl, Bore or Skeet choke and trap usually goes with a Modified or Improved Modified. At least for 16 yard trap... You go further and some like the Full choke.

The truth is that if you're going to just do this for fun, the gun will most likely serve you well.

[squatting_caveboy]

My buddy just got the 500A combo at Big 5 and loves it. I believe the 28" barrel has a permanent Accu-Choke installed (at least that's what the ad says) but the 18.5" barrel does not. He let me use it for some clay shooting and we shot the short barrel at an outdoor range - I love this badboy! It kicks like a mule but cycled well, and was quite "accurate" without all the fancy screw-in chokes. Get one - at $279, it's a great deal.

[vega]

I have a 500 combo in 20 ga and the longer barrel came with 1 choke and key. I can't remember which choke came with it from the factory but I bought extra chokes for it.

[tuna quesadilla]

The shorter barrel should be threaded for chokes. According to Mossberg's site, the 500 field/security combo has a rifled barrel (field) and threaded for accu-chokes (security).

I wouldn't know if it does or not, I got the 20" Security model from them. Mine is threaded as far as I know.

Unfortunately, the Mossberg 500 combo sold at Big 5 is a little different than the Mossberg 500 combo that you'd buy anywhere else. Neither of the Big 5 combo's barrels are rifled, and neither are threaded for chokes. The 18.5" barrel is a Cylinder bore, and the 28" barrel is an Improved Cylinder.

To the OP: It should be just fine for clay-killing as long as you do your part. I busted many clay pigeons with my Big 5 combo before I sold it to upgrade to a higher-end shotgun.

[Calishnikov]

I have the combo from Big 5 chambered in 12 gauge. Both barrels are fixed chokes - (no tubes) the 28" barrel is a modified choke and the 18.5" is a cylinder bore. so....while the 18.5 is shorter, it can be used for skeet/trap and should reach out far enough for you without problems. I have used both to shoot skeet/trap and both are fine. Mind you - I just go out and mess around at the local range - I don't compete or anything so if there is some rule or something that says you HAVE to have a threaded barrel of a certain length with choke tubes then maybe you should think about something else if that's what you're in to....but so far I love this gun it was a good deal and shoots great

[an actual gun]

The shorter barrel should be threaded for chokes. According to Mossberg's site, the 500 field/security combo has a rifled barrel (field) and threaded for accu-chokes (security).

I wouldn't know if it does or not, I got the 20" Security model from them. Mine is threaded as far as I know.

No, the 18.5" barrel is cylinder bore, no choke. The 28" barrel that comes with it might be threaded for chokes, but I do not know for sure. Mossberg does make a variety of combo models and some of them come with different barrels, but at least if we're talking about the ones from Big 5 I believe you're mistaken.

I own the 20" security model (8 shot persuader) which I too bought at Big 5 and it most certainly doesn't have a choke. None of the 20" 500's listed on Mossberg's website are listed with chokes either. I do not believe this feature exists standard.

[Argonaut]

As Agentak said......Skeet is shot with open chokes, trap is a tight choke game. All trap is shot with a 12 ga, Skeet is shot with progressively smaller gauges to increase the difficulty. It depends on how serious you want to be about shooting. Trap has a rising bird and uses a different stock/rib configuration that helps the sight picture. Skeet is a little easier to choose a gun for, More typical stock, sighting arrangement. For casual play, try anything that you can shoulder mount.......

[jah191]

Thanks for the good info everyone.

I plan to do skeet just for fun so this combo looks good for my purposes.

[Sheepdog1968]

Its a great package and a heck of a deal. Mossbergs are absolutly reliable and I would have no worries at all about buying this for the dual purpose. FWIW, I have in the past gone skeet,trap shooting w a Moss 500 with just the 18.5" barrel and did fine busting clays.

[AgentAK]

There's one for sale in the marketplace. The money is needed for a pretty good cause too.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=215722

[AgentAK]

As Agentak said......Skeet is shot with open chokes, trap is a tight choke game. All trap is shot with a 12 ga, Skeet is shot with progressively smaller gauges to increase the difficulty. It depends on how serious you want to be about shooting. Trap has a rising bird and uses a different stock/rib configuration that helps the sight picture. Skeet is a little easier to choose a gun for, More typical stock, sighting arrangement. For casual play, try anything that you can shoulder mount.......

Yep, the Mossberg will be fine if you just want to have fun. I'm sure you'll bust many clays with it. If you ever become real serious about it, you'll want a dedicated gun for each sport though.

[Baron]

The Mossberg combo's at Big 5 are great buys specially for a first shotgun
I thought that they came with the 28" VR Fixed modified choke though... At least mine did. The 18.5" barrel has a fixed cylinder bore choke

Itr never did me wrong at the trap range and has killed many a clay. it worked so well my wife wanted one. So I bought her one and she loves it. I upgraded to a Mossberg 930 with the screw in chokes. it now my primary trap gun.

The beauty of the mosberg 500 is you can find all kinds of different barrels and add to your combo. I still want to find a rifled barrel for my wife shotgun. the option on the 500 is almost unlimited... sadly the only thing you can't do is magazine extensions withou replacing the mag tube and barrel... that really the only draw back, but for shooting trap that not a problem, seems how most ranges only allow one shell at a time unless your shooting doubles.