Mossberg 500 fore end

[Doheny]

I'm thinking about buying the combo from Big 5, but when I went today the fore end seemed a bit cheap. I looked around here and found this thread that mentioned an old style fore end on the 500s and that it's a pain to upgrade. The post is a couple of years old and other posts imply that the gun has since been upgraded.

Does anyone know what the latest is? If I do buy the combo, I'd want to upgrade the fore end, but will I have the same issues?

Also, what's the difference between a 500 and a 500a?

Thx

[Rob454]

I The post is a couple of years old and other posts imply that the gun has since been upgraded.



Thx

its not a upgrade if the gun has cheaper/crappier parts on it. For the price you're gonna end up spending for the Mossberg and then the upgraded parts just get a 870 hunting shotgun. You can always buy a shorter barrel for 50-60$ for the 870. While I have a mossberg 500 its the older one not bought at big 5 and the 870 front pump grip is not as wobbly as the mossberg.
My mossy has a slight rattle on the pump action but ive had it over 15 years and its never had a problem. Always faithful and reliable.

[PEZHEAD265]

its not a upgrade if the gun has cheaper/crappier parts on it. For the price you're gonna end up spending for the Mossberg and then the upgraded parts just get a 870 hunting shotgun. You can always buy a shorter barrel for 50-60$ for the 870. While I have a mossberg 500 its the older one not bought at big 5 and the 870 front pump grip is not as wobbly as the mossberg.
My mossy has a slight rattle on the pump action but ive had it over 15 years and its never had a problem. Always faithful and reliable.

A when you find 870 barrels for 50 or 60 bucks buy all you can because they go for 150 to 200 on gunbroker.And if you do I need one so tell me where.

[goathead]

you cant use 500 after market parts on the 500a

[ponderosa]

you cant use 500 after market parts on the 500a

I can on my older 500a from Big5 (over 15 years ago). The newer 500's are going with a cheaper forearm assembly that needs to be replaced to upgrade as far as i've read.

[lugee]

I have the big5 500 with the maverick style pinned fore-end. I swapped it for some older mossberg 500 parts and it functions fine. Its just the length of the fore end you have to worry about. It'll run you about 70 bucks for an old handgaurd and tube/action bars (I don't remember the technical term for it).

I do prefer my 870 over the 500, solid and no wobble unlike my 500.

[doodoostain]

if you get the mossberg combo from big 5, you have to change the action slide tube and slide nut, to be able to swap out the forend. they have them at havlin sales. http://www.havlinsales.com/

it costs a total of $58 plus shipping. they ship fast. after the swap, the action feels a lot better. a world of difference.

its not hard to do.

[prc77]

you cant use 500 after market parts on the 500a

yes you can

[Rob454]

A when you find 870 barrels for 50 or 60 bucks buy all you can because they go for 150 to 200 on gunbroker.And if you do I need one so tell me where.

Who cares about gun broker. And if you look around you can find them for 60-70$. I did