Want to get a pistol grip gauge for home
Protection (only have an 870 wing master with fixed choke now and an old Ithaca single port from the 70s). They are so cheap it gives me pause. Are they garbage?

Mine is super reliable and i treat it horribly (saltwater) The 500 was mil spec through the 90s i believe

Mossberg 500's are "work horse" shotguns. I duck hunted with one for 15 years and watched so many other guns fail in the marsh mud and tough conditions while it never had an issue. I now hunt with a Benelli Nova, but have passed that old 500 to my son and it keeps on trucking along. I believe the 500 is the best shotgun for the price point on the market. I would completely trust a 500 in a defense situation.

I think Mossberg has the shotgun thing figured out. I don't have a 500 but I have a 590 that's great.

I have a Maverick 88 which is like the cheap version of the 500.

I bought it for grins, and to put some serious effort into learning the pump action system.

Its been flawless and I absolutely shred this thing every time I use it.

I want to pick up another one just because.

Thanks, y'all. Going to pull the trigger. Sorry for the pun.

where are you buying it? All the big box stores where I live are sold out

A few have been trickling out. I snagged six that will be in later this week. It's been... stupid... finding defensive shotguns.