Just picked up a 500

[Gary]

So I finally pulled the trigger on a Mossberg 500 last weekend and I'm already down a rabbit hole. The gun feels great out of the box, no complaints but I can tell it's just the starting point. First thing I noticed is the stock feels a little generic, it is not bad, just kind of there. I am already eyeing a recoil pad and also thinking about an extended mag tube but I don't want to go crazy before I even know what I want this thing to do long-term. So for you guys who've had yours a while, what was the first thing you actually changed?

 

[Alan]

I'd shoot it for a while before changing much. A lot of people start buying parts immediately and then realize the factory setup worked just fine. The first upgrade that made a noticeable difference for me was a better recoil pad. After that, let your intended use dictate the modifications rather than the catalog.

 

[Frank]

My first change was actually a better front sight, not a stock or mag extension. It improved usability every time I picked up the gun while the other upgrades mostly added weight and expense.

 

[True American]

Recoil pad first, everything else later. Figure out what the gun is actually for before you spend money on it. The 500 will tell you what it needs once you put enough rounds through it.

 

[micmacman]

i tend to buy whats already set up for what im looking for , except furniture ,if it has wood great , if poly but a great price it doesnt bother me and i switch it over ,but i buy used from pawn shop , so generally a lot that comes into the pawn already has mods that they really dont pay extra for and ther for the savings goes to you as well

picked up a 20ga security and the handguard arrives tomorrow , looks to be a close match for the butt stock i got but will have to see if im refinishing it or not , but you can find them with factory heatshields , ect already on them , helps to build a lasting relationship with a good Pawn that doesnt gouge , i rarely have to haggle , maybe i play that card once a year

for instance i bought a Chinese AK drum mag the other day from them for $89 , its a $250 dollar drum , i got the 20 ga security for $225 has ghost ring sights full factory mag tube , i think im going to stuff some #3 buck in it and see what it does to some frozen milk jugs of water and it will be a bedroom gun