Mossberg 500 Field/Deer Combo 12 Gauge 28in & 24in

About this product

What is the Mossberg 500 Field/Deer Combo 12 Gauge? The Mossberg 500 Field/Deer Combo delivers two distinct shotguns—a 28-inch field barrel and a 24-inch rifled slug barrel—on the same proven 500 pump-action receiver, providing hunters one tool that transitions legally and mechanically between bird seasons and deer camp without paperwork. As Declan Vance of Ironclad Armory, I see countless states where a dedicated slug gun, under some local ordinances, qualifies as a separate regulated firearm requiring additional transfers. This package solves that by being a single serialized action with two dedicated-purpose barrels—your field weight is 7.3 pounds with the 28-inch barrel installed, and you add 3 inches of overall length when you swap to the 24-inch rifled unit. For the hunter navigating both waterfowl zones and firearm-restricted counties, it's a legal and practical bridge built on a receiver that's seen more than 60 years of salt marsh, corn stubble, and regulatory scrutiny.

What is the Mossberg 500 Field/Deer Combo used for?

You use this combo to hunt migratory birds like ducks and doves with the 28-inch vent-rib barrel, then quickly reconfigure it for precise, scoped deer hunting with the 24-inch rifled slug barrel. The mechanical transition takes 90 seconds with a barrel wrench and maintains zero on the slug barrel's integrated Weaver-style base. This satisfies hunters operating in mixed-zone areas where a shotgun-only season follows a rifle season, or where local law restricts deer hunting specifically to shotguns. You're not buying two guns; you're buying one receiver that serves two legally distinct purposes without additional FFL paperwork.

How does the Mossberg 500 compare to the Stevens 555 Sporting O/U?

The Mossberg 500 wins on versatility and cost-per-barrel as a dedicated hunting tool, while the Stevens 555 Sporting O/U 12 Gauge offers superior shot-to-shot consistency for clay sports. The Stevens 555's break-action over/under has twin 30-inch barrels, each pre-choked, and fires successive shots without manipulating a forend—ideal for trap or sporting clays where 0.2-second splits matter. The Mossberg's pump action builds in deliberate, slower manipulation that helps novice hunters avoid accidental double-feeds with 3-inch magnum loads. For $548, you get two purpose-built 12-gauge barrels; the Stevens 555 costs more for a single 12-gauge configuration focused purely on target work. Choose the Mossberg for changing terrains and target species; choose the Stevens for repetitive, high-volume clay target practice.

What does it weigh and what are the dimensions?

The assembled unit weighs 7.3 pounds with the 28-inch field barrel installed and measures 48.5 inches from buttpad to muzzle. With the 24-inch rifled slug barrel and a typical 3-9x40mm scope mounted, the weight increases to approximately 7.8 pounds and overall length drops to 44.5 inches. The hardwood stock features a 14-inch length of pull—standard for adult hunters—and the receiver's Weaver-style base accepts standard #6-48 scope ring screws, not the more common 8-40 threads found on dedicated rifle platforms. These dimensions matter because a scoped slug gun longer than 40 inches becomes cumbersome in a ground blind, and a shotgun heavier than 8 pounds is a burden during a full-day upland hunt.

Who is this NOT for?

This combo is not for competitive clay shooters seeking sub-2-second reload times or tactical/home defense users needing an 18.5-inch cylinder-bore barrel. In 12-gauge target sports, the pump-action design adds at least half a second to your shot cycle compared to a semi-automatic or over/under like the Stevens 555 Sporting, costing you points in registered trap or skeet. Home defense practitioners require a shorter barrel, typically 18.5 inches, for maneuverability in corridors, and the combo's included barrels—both over 24 inches—render it legally and practically unsuitable for that role. Finally, if you hunt exclusively with a rifled slug gun or exclusively with a field gun, buying a dedicated tool will yield better performance than this compromise setup.

What's in the box?

You receive the Mossberg 500 receiver with a dual-role trigger group, one 28-inch vent-rib field barrel fitted with an Accu-Set modified choke tube, one 24-inch fully rifled slug barrel with an integrated Weaver-style scope base, two bead front sights (one per barrel), one adjustable rifle-style rear sight for the slug barrel, a walnut-finished hardwood stock with a 1-inch thick recoil pad, and a barrel-changing wrench stamped 'M500'. The package ships without any Optima-series choke tubes beyond the pre-installed modified tube, and the slug barrel does not include a set of scope rings. For $548, that's a complete hunting-ready kit minus optics and ammunition—unlike some factory combos that skimp on the wrench or the slug-specific sights.

Is the Mossberg 500 Field/Deer Combo worth it at $547.99?

Yes, it's worth the price if you legally hunt both birds and deer with a shotgun and want to maintain a single registered firearm. The alternative—buying a separate Mossberg 500 field model and a dedicated Mossberg 500 slug gun—would cost over $800 and involve two separate serialized receivers, two background checks, and potential local registration hurdles. Here, your single $548 purchase covers both seasons. The value lies in mechanical simplicity and regulatory avoidance; this isn't a match-grade target gun or a refined heirloom—it's a durable, American-made tool that won't fail when you're elbow-deep in marsh mud or treestand gore. Invest the $200 you save over buying two guns into a quality optic and a case of sabot slugs.