Looking for a rifled deer barrel for my Mossberg 500. I'd be interested to know which people prefer and why... the one with rifle sights or the cantilevered barrel with the scope mount. I haven't shot either one of them. So far I've only used this gun for skeet, but was hoping to be able to put it to use during deer season. Will mostly be using it in the woods, so probably not much more than 50 yards if that. I'm torn between the simplicity of the iron sights and the accuracy of the scope mount.  Thanks in advance.

I  have the one with the scope mount (and I bought the Mossberg package with the Bushnell scope).

 

It hold zero well even with taking it on/off the receiver and works well as a deer gun out to about 75 yards pretty comfortably.

 

I use my Mossy as a trap gun most of the year and put the slug barrell on early NOV to sight it in every year for 6 day and it meets the need just fine.

Your choice.  Have you shot any other long gun with iron sights or a scope?.  What felt better to you?

 

For me, I would go with a rail that I could use a RDS or powered scope.  I have an older 4X simmons shotgun scope (looks like a pistol scope, no bell, short length) that just works great for me.  This year I will try a RDS instead.  Been using the RDS on the crossbow and I really like that combination.

Both of my other long guns have iron sights. I'm decent with them, but I only shoot targets with them. If I miss on those, it's no big deal. I think I'm leaning towards a scope. Here's another question: since the reciever on the 500 is already drilled and tapped for ring mounts, should I use that or is there an advantage to the cantilever mount?

With the cantilever mount, it allows you to remove the barrel WITH the scope and return the gun to a "bird gun" or "home defense gun" without necessitating a re-zero of the scope.