Mossberg 500
- Category
- Shotgun
- Barrel
- 470 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.17 kg
- Introduced
- 1961
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Mossberg 500 is a pump-action shotgun chambered in 12 Gauge, produced by O.F. Mossberg & Sons since 1961. This American-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 6-round magazine capacity, this shotgun offers compact firepower. The 18.5-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3175g (112.0 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The aluminum alloy frame achieves a notable weight reduction compared to all-steel construction while maintaining the structural rigidity required for safe, reliable operation. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The Mossberg 500 is the only pump-action shotgun whose military variant (590A1) has passed the U.S. military's demanding MIL-SPEC 3443 testing standard. Its distinctive top-mounted tang safety provides truly ambidextrous operation, a feature that has kept it competitive against the Remington 870 for over 60 years. The shotgun is offered in over 55 factory configurations.
The top-tang ambidextrous safety is a key distinctive feature versus the Remington 870 which uses a cross-bolt safety. The 590A1 MIL-SPEC variant meets MIL-SPEC 3443G with its heavy-walled barrel, metal trigger guard and safety, clean-out magazine tube, and Parkerized finish. The 590A1 was officially adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy in the mid-1980s. Mossberg shotguns are used by military and law enforcement in over 70 countries. The receiver is anodized aluminum with a steel bolt carrier. Specifications listed are for the standard 500 Tactical with 18.5-inch barrel.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- O.F. Mossberg & Sons
- Category
- Shotgun
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1961
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 470 mm
- Overall length
- 1041 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.17 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Pump action
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 6
- Magazine
- Tube
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Blued
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 457 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 3340 J
- Effective range
- 40 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Dual extractors
Twin action bars
Anti jam elevator- Easy barrel swap
Top mounted tang safety
Steel to steel lockup
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 622 12 Gauge shotguns | 3.17 kg | 3.29 kg | Lighter than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 570 12 Gauge shotguns | 1041 mm | 1150 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 650 12 Gauge shotguns | 470 mm | 711 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 647 12 Gauge shotguns | 6 | 3 | Holds more rounds than about 90% |
Answers
Questions about the Mossberg 500
How much does the Mossberg 500 weigh?
The Mossberg 500 weighs 3.17 kg (7.00 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Mossberg 500?
The Mossberg 500 is chambered in 12 Gauge and 20 Gauge.
How many rounds does the Mossberg 500 hold?
The Mossberg 500 holds 6 rounds, fed from a tube magazine.
How long is the Mossberg 500?
The Mossberg 500 is 1041 mm (41.0 in) long overall, with a 470 mm (18.5 in) barrel.
Who makes the Mossberg 500?
The Mossberg 500 is made by O.F. Mossberg & Sons (United States). It was designed by Carl Benson.
When was the Mossberg 500 introduced?
The Mossberg 500 was introduced in 1961.
How does the Mossberg 500 operate?
The Mossberg 500 uses a pump action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- United States Marine Corps
- 1985
- United States Navy
- 1985
- Netherlands Armed Forces
- Netherlands
- Japan Self-Defense Forces
- Japan
- Brazilian Armed Forces
- Brazil
- Malaysian Armed Forces
- Malaysia
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/mossberg-500' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "mossberg-500", "name": "Mossberg 500", "manufacturer": { "id": "mossberg", "name": "O.F. Mossberg & Sons", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1919, "website": "https://www.mossberg.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "efbce48d45f2bf96c91e5b66c03052b97d55affea9178a31feda8fd7fc882671" }, "category": { "id": "shotgun", "name": "Shotgun", "description": "Smoothbore firearms designed to fire shot or slugs" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1961, "barrel_length_mm": 470, "weight_empty_g": 3175, "action_type": "pump_action"}