Mossberg 500 Special Purpose Review for Home Defense

The 500 is the shotgun that taught a generation what a home-defense pump looks like. Here is how its Special Purpose configuration holds up beside the heavier 590.

Why the 500 still comes up

Ask a dozen gun shop employees what to put behind the bedroom door and a good share will name a Mossberg. The 500 is the reason. It has been a mainstay for decades, parts and accessories are easy to find, and most instructors have run one. That is a form of safety: a gun your trainer knows is a gun you can learn faster.

The version in our catalog is the Mossberg 500 Special Purpose, listed as a 12-gauge pump with an 18-inch cylinder-bore barrel, 5+1 capacity and a pistol-grip kit. It is a plain, utilitarian gun, and that is a compliment.

What the listing tells you

Everything beyond those lines, including weight, overall length, sights and the exact contents of the pistol-grip kit, is something to confirm with the manufacturer's spec sheet and the retailer's description before ordering.

What it does well

Familiarity. The tang safety sits on top of the receiver, where your thumb naturally rests, and works the same for left- and right-handed shooters. If you do not know yet which hand will be your strong one in a stressful moment, that is a real advantage. Our classic pump comparison sets the controls of the 500, 590 and Remington 870 side by side.

Ecosystem. Stocks, forends, light mounts, sidesaddles, slings and holsters exist for the 500 in a variety that few other shotguns match. For a home-defense gun you will probably want a light first, a sling second, and the rest only if it earns its keep.

Simplicity. A pump-action shotgun has fewer moving parts than a semi-auto and will cycle shells regardless of the pressure of the load, within reason. That does not make it foolproof; a pump needs a complete stroke every time. Practice until that is automatic.

Where it falls short

The pistol-grip kit is a tradeoff. The kit may make the gun more compact, but a pistol grip can be harder to control than a standard stock, and recoil is not trivial. Think hard about whether you will practice with it. If you are unsure, a conventional stock configuration of the same gun may suit you better.

Capacity. Five rounds in the tube is plenty for most people's realistic needs, and the 5+1 listing is common among home-defense pumps. If you want more, the 590 family goes further; see our 6+1 versus 9-shot comparison.

It is not magic. No shotgun fixes bad habits. Do not buy a pump and assume the loud noise or the pellet count will solve a problem. You still must identify your target and know what is behind it. Pellets from a miss travel through interior walls.

500 Special Purpose or 590 Tactical?

This is the question most buyers actually have. The Mossberg 590 Tactical is listed at 6+1 with an 18.5-inch barrel. It is the more defense-oriented of the two, and it is built on the same pump layout, so skills transfer. You can also see the 590 Tactical review for the catalog details.

Pick the 500 Special Purpose if:

• You value simplicity and want a gun that feels like the one your instructor probably owns.
• You want the pistol-grip kit included in the package.
• You do not need the sixth round and do not want to pay for features beyond your plan.

Pick the 590 Tactical if:

• You want the extra round and the heavier, more defense-oriented build described in our classic-pump comparison.
• You expect to use the gun heavily in training and want a sturdier-feeling platform.
• You may want to add parts that are specific to the 590 line.

Do not agonize. Both are mainstream guns. The better one is the one you will shoot enough to know.

Ammunition and setup

For defensive use, choose a proven 00 buckshot load, then pattern it from your own gun at the distances that exist in your home. Our buckshot buyer's guide walks through the common options, and the BuyMoreAmmo sister site has a guide to ammunition for the Mossberg 500. Do not assume any pattern spread at any distance; the only reliable answer is your own paper target at the range.

A basic setup might include:

1. A light on the forend or a handheld flashlight within reach, so you can identify before you act.
2. A sling if you plan to move around the house with it.
3. A cabinet or safe sized for a long gun, locked, in a place children and guests cannot reach.
4. Hearing and eye protection for every range session.

Reasons to look elsewhere

• If recoil is a concern, consider a 20-gauge pump or a pistol-caliber carbine.
• If you want a longer record of upgrades and fine-tuning, the 590 line may suit you.
• If you live in an apartment and your main worry is a missed shot traveling into a neighbor's wall, read our apartment home-defense guide before choosing any gun.

Fit, hands and who else will use it

A home-defense shotgun is often meant for more than one person, so think about who else might have to handle it. The tang safety on top of the receiver works from either hand, which is a point in favor of the Mossberg layout for a mixed left- and right-handed household. Length of pull, recoil sensitivity and strength matter too: a pump needs a firm, complete stroke every time, and a person who cannot do that comfortably is better served by a different gun, or by a plan that does not rely on them using it.

Take the whole household into account. If a teenager lives in the home, storage and access need a clear policy. If a partner is smaller or less experienced, a lighter-recoiling option may be the better primary gun. The best shotgun is the one that the trained adult who will actually use it can run well, and that nobody else can reach.

Bottom line

The 500 Special Purpose is an honest, uncomplicated shotgun with the best accessory support in the business. If simplicity and familiarity matter more to you than the sixth round, it is an easy choice. If you want more build and capacity, go to the 590.

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications and publicly available information. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and legality for your own situation.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.