Hey, i want to purchase my first shotgun. I was looking into the mossberg 500 due to reliability and aftermarket parts availability. It seems the wood stock with 28" barrel are the cheaper of them. I want to make it tactical and use it for home defense but would also like to shoot clays when i want. Is it smart to buy the one with the wood stock and long barrel and just buy the stock and grips to replace the wood seperately and also buy an 18"barrel? or will i be spending more in the long run? Looking for anyone who has done this or similar. Thank you!

Look for a combo package.. Mossberg and remington both offer them no need to change stocks.. just barrels. Then shoot the snot out of it.

You can shoot clays with a short barrel I personally prefer it but you have to get them real quick off the start. If your just shooting clays get the tacticool model if your not planning to hunt with it. Also shotgun parts are usually at a good price and easily available so really it's up to you

I got the wood stock mossberg and bought the 18.5 inch barrel to go with it. $300 for the shotgun and $100 for the extra barrel at cabelas. The guy behind the counter actually let me put on the barrel before I bought it to make sure it fit. Looks nice and traditional with the defensive barrel and wood stock and you have the long barrel for skeet and turkey hunting. Pistol grips and black plastic stocks look tacticool but might look bad in front of a jury if you use it defending yourself. For $400 it is a nice package.

 

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You may want to consider something like this combo: http://mossberg.com/product/shotguns-pump-action-500-combo/54169-0?u_barrel=28%22+Vent+Rib%2C+Ported+%26+18.5%22@28~465&nodeRef=2341,2343,2346,2347,2349,2352&redirect=1&lastnode=1&filterNodes=2346

 

You hinted that you prefer the black synthetic look to the wood, and I feel the same way, even though I know that many here prefer the classic look of the wood. I ended up getting a short barrel SG for home defense (two, actually), and another with a 28" barrel for breaking clays. Yes, you can shoot clays with the shorter barrel, especially skeet; but I think it would be tough for trap, as those suckers get out there pretty quickly.