The Mossberg Company History
Founded in 1919 by Oscar Mossberg and his sons Iver and Harold, Mossberg Firearms saw early success with the design and introduction to the market of the “Brownie” pocket pistol. The Brownie, a four shot, four-barrel, handgun chambered in .22 LR retailed for $6 and quickly became popular among trappers and hunters seeking a way to quickly and humanely dispatch trapped and wounded game.
Capitalizing on the success of the Brownie, Mossberg next introduced a line of affordable bolt action rifles and shotguns and, in the 1940s, contracted with the U.S. armed forces to produce .50 caliber machine gun parts, as well as British Lee-Enfield rifles.
In the decades since the World War II era, Mossberg expanded its range of products to include a wide variety of rifles and shotguns.
Photo Source: Mossberg.com – Oscar Mossberg with sons
Popular Mossberg Firearms
Mossberg specializes in firearms for sport shooting, hunting, defense and law enforcement. Their firearms are typically categorized by Rifles, Shotguns and Pistol Grips. Mossberg rifles and shotguns come in a variety of models and styles. Below we’ve outlined the features and best uses for the top selling Mossberg firearms.
Mossberg 500
Introduced in 1962, the Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun would not only become the company’s flagship firearm, but an iconic American shotgun.
Offered in 12-gauge, 20-gauge and .410 bore, the 500 features an aluminum receiver, dual action bars, a single large locking lug to seal the breach, and an ergonomically-located tang-mounted safety. Dozens of Mossberg 500 variants are currently available for purchase and are optimized for general upland hunting duties, waterfowl hunting, turkey hunting, deer hunting, home defense, and military use (Mossberg claims the 500 is the only shotgun to pass US Military Mil-Spec 3443 requirements which include full interchangeability of parts in the field, and a 3000-round endurance test using buckshot loads). Additional features may include (depending on specific model) rails for mounting optics, sights, extended magazine tubes, synthetic stocks, fully rifled barrels, and, in the case of the 590A1 variant, a bayonet lug. If there is a hunting or shooting niche, there is a Mossberg 500 to fill it.
Mossberg 835
Like the Mossberg 500, the 835 is built on an aluminum receiver, features dual action bars and a tang-mounted safety. The 835, however, is engineered to handle a steady diet of powerful 3-1/2-inch shotshells, making it a great option for hunting turkey, waterfowl or other game where the ability to employ heavy payloads of shot is an advantage.
Chambered only in the 12-gauge, the 835 is available in several variants from the general use, All-Purpose Field model to purpose-built and synthetic-stocked turkey, deer and waterfowl models. Smooth bore barrels for the 835 are overbore to improve patterns and alleviate felt recoil. Deer barrels are fully rifled and sport an integral cantilever scope mount.
Mossberg Patriot
The bolt-action Mossberg Patriot sports a number of accuracy and ergonomics enhancing features including free floated, button-rifled, fluted barrels with recessed crowns; spiral fluted bolts with large, easy-to-grip bolt knobs; and triggers that are user adjustable from 3 lbs. to 7 lbs. Depending on the model, the Patriot’s stock may be walnut, synthetic, or laminate.
Available in a wide variety of chambering from .22-250 Rem to .375 Ruger, there is a Patriot fit to hunt everything from coyotes to moose.
Mossberg 702 Plinkster
A semi-automatic rimfire rifle chambered in .22 LR, the Mossberg 702 Plinkster features a free floated 18” or 21” barrel (depending on model), fully adjustable sights, and an integral, 3/8” dovetail scope mount. The Plinkster’s detachable magazines are available in both 10- and 25-round capacities.
702 Plinkster stocks are available in wood, black synthetic, or pink marble synthetic.
Mossberg 930
Mossberg’s premier semi-automatic shotgun, the 930, is available in a number of niche-specific configurations to accommodate a variety of applications including upland game hunting, waterfowl hunting, turkey hunting, deer hunting, and personal defense. Standard features include dual gas vents and a quick empty magazine release to facilitate fast unloading. Depending on the specific model, additional features may include fiber optic sights, ghost ring sights, and optics rails. Barrel lengths range from 18.5” to 28” and factory stocks may be synthetic or wood. The 930 is available only in 12-gauge.
Replacement Stocks for Mossberg Firearms
An obvious reason to replace the factory stock on a Mossberg firearm with a Boyds hardwood laminate is that the original stock became worn or broken. In such an instance, a
replacement gunstock will provide the warm, organic feel of hardwood and the strength, durability, and weather resistance of a synthetic stock.
The owner of a Mossberg rifle or shotgun may simply want to improve the fit and ergonomics of their firearm. Perhaps the length of pull of their new
Mossberg Patriot is just a half inch too short or too long. Ordering the Boyds stock that fits him or her just right will increase comfort and therefore performance at the range or in the woods.
Owners of Mossberg 500 shotguns who wish for their gun to pull double duty as both a scoped deer gun and a bird gun would do well to consider adding the
adjustable At-One stock to their gun. A hunter who installs a deer barrel and optic on their bird gun may find that the traditional stock puts their head in too low a position to comfortably look through the optic. By adding the At-One stock, the hunter can adjust the comb height perfectly to accommodate scope use
during deer season and the typical bead during pheasant season.
Boyds offers aftermarket hardwood laminate stocks for a variety of Mossberg rifles and shotguns. More than a
dozen color options are available for Boyds Mossberg gunstocks.
