Author Topic: Mossberg Conversion Barrel (Read 975 times)

jvs · « **on:** July 08, 2005, 09:48:10 PM »

I have a Mossberg Model 500 Pump Action Shotgun which I bought about 15 years ago, and at the time it came with 2 Barrels, a regular tube and a Slug Barrel.

About a month ago I found out the Mossberg offers a .50 Blackpowder In-Line Conversion Barrel for the 500. I ordered one on Tuesday and picked it up yesterday. It has a 1:26 twist in a 24" Barrel.

Does anyone here have any experience with these Conversion Barrels that you can relate to me?

Up until yesterday the only blackpowder shooting I have done was with a T/C Pennsylvania Hunter Rifle, which is an old design and is basically a Patch and Ball only firearm with a 1:60 twist.

jh45gun · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2005, 08:43:42 AM »

Cannot see why they would not work good. They have been around for a while and since Mossberg still sells them they must work ok and they must sell enough to keep it profitable and to keep the barrels in their line up. Jim

jvs · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2005, 09:36:14 AM »

My local Gun Shop owner tells me that he had a devil of a time finding one as Mossberg has basically discontinued making them. Whatever is out there is all there is.

Maybe I didn't ask the question correctly.

What I was trying to ask is if anyone has had problems with the conversion barrels like the one I received. It has a 1:26" twist and rifle sights installed and uses 209 Primer Ignition.

The local Gun shop owner thinks that a 250 grain bullet will be a good place to start, and either move up or down from that point.

Mossberg doesn't make a preference between regular blackpowder or Pryodex as a propellant nor does it matter if its a roundball or conical either, except a roundball requires a patch. And which brand of Primer loading tool is best since the Primer must be installed through the side loading gate. So opinions on these subjects would also be appreciated.

jh45gun · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2005, 01:59:34 PM »

Well its a fast twist barrel so you would be better off shooting conicals as that is what the barrel is made for. ( Conicals, sabots ect) They make 209 primer tools for loading them into guns and I would guess that getting into the side port of a mossberg would be no different than getting into a regular inline.

jvs · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2005, 05:40:17 AM »

I would have preferred a .54 blackpowder or a smokeless muzzleloading barrel but that was not anything that was offered.

So far I plan on shooting either .45 or .44 Sabots out of it, but there are some conicals out there that might work just as good or better. I have alot of time before the October Blackpowder Season to experiment with it.

With the addition of this blackpowder barrel, it seems like more of an 'all-around' gun now. Not that I think Mossberg is a high quality product but they do have good ideas from time to time. This idea of theirs has saved me quite a bit of money because now I don't have to buy a complete in-line firearm. It's just a matter of changing barrels.

Another thing I have to figure out is if I want to keep the rifle sights or put a scope or a peep on it. Since it is drilled and tapped on the receiver for a scope, I have a lot of options. Right now I am leaning towards using a peep sight, which would stay put when using the regular tube and Bead.

Norseman112 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2005, 11:33:27 AM »

So you can use smokeless powder in the 500? I have an omega and a mossberg 500. I will have yo give customer service a call. I wonder why they quit making them. If you have to stick with black powder I don't think I would want one. Don't get me wrong I like mossberg but cleaning it would be a concern to me. I can clean my omega stainless in no time.

Norse

jvs · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2005, 01:12:17 PM »

NO!

You CAN NOT and you should not use Smokeless Powder in a Blackpowder barrel for the 500 by Mossberg.

When I contacted Mossberg Customer Service I asked if they had a Smokeless Muzzleloader Barrel or a .54 Blackpowder Barrel available. They did not. The only blackpowder caliber available for the 500 is a .50.

The only Smokeless Muzzleloader Rifle that I know of was put out by Savage and as far as I know is still available and is quite pricey.

Using Smokeless Powder in a Blackpowder Barrel is dangerous and is not recommended by any Blackpowder Firearm Manufacturer. Doing so can be fatal.

Norseman112 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2005, 05:12:20 PM »

Thank you jvs,

Now I don't have to call them.
I knew about the Savage. Are you going to shoot your black powder barrel soon? Seems like a good idea that Mossberg came up with then a guy wouldn't have to go buy a muzzel loader if he has a Mossberg 500.
Good luck and let us know how you like it.

Norse

jh45gun · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2005, 06:33:37 AM »

From what I have seen you can buy a inline for the price of the barrel depending on the inline. The plus side is you are using a gun that you know and are used to. Let us know how it shoots and remember you may have to expirement to see what kind a bullets it likes. Jim

jvs · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2005, 11:21:29 AM »

I have shot Blackpowder firearms before, although most of my experience has been Flintlock with a patch and ball. I have never shot a cap-n-ball or an in-line......so far.

I have been checking on the in-lines at the gunshops and other stores and there were many times that I was really considering buying one. It wasn't until I saw that Mossberg was offering the in-line muzzleloading barrel for the 500 that made me make the move. Some of the cheaper in-lines I saw in the stores didn't really seem to have much quality to them, but then for $149 I wouldnt think it was a quality driven firearm. I didn't want to go all out for another gun either, so thew opportunity to get another 'gun' for well under $100 was worth it to me. Besides, it's alot easier to sneak a barrel in the house instead of a whole new gun. :grin:

I'll be glad to let you guys know how I do at the range with this barrel. This will be a whole new learning experience for me.

I always liked sitting at the range with the traditional flintlock and a pound of powder and a box of balls and spending the whole day putzin around with powder loads, patch thickness etc.. Now I can do it all over again, except I can leave the patches at home.

oneshotonekill · « **Reply #10 on:** July 13, 2005, 11:20:30 AM »

Don't let this discourage you but I have 3 friends that purchased ML barrels for their Mossberg 500's and all 3 have sold the barrels for various reasons. One of them lived in NJ, apparently the Mossberg 500 with accessory ML barrel was not a legal ML in that state. You may want to check your state regulations and make sure it is legal to use during muzzleloader season. There are several states that prevent the use of modern firearms with ML barrels during ML seasons. How they determine which ones are legal is a mystery to me since the TC Encore or H&R Huntsman can also be a "modern firearm" but they are legal in NJ and the 500 is not. I believe MA is another state that has similar laws. The other 2 sold theirs because accuracy was dismal and clean up was a disaster. They experienced a lot of blowback which quickly fouled their whole action. Each range session required a complete break-down and cleaning of the action. I also recall issues with priming the barrel. If I remember correctly the folks I knew had #11 caps not 209 primers so I don't know if the design is still the same. I had considered purchasing a ML barrel for my Mossberg but the problems these guys had steered me away. I hope your luck is better than theirs.

jvs · « **Reply #11 on:** July 13, 2005, 08:42:55 PM »

Thanks for your input oneshot.

In my state any muzzleloader is legal, regardless of the "action". My only concern was if I would have problems with the Game Wardens around here if they thought I was using a shotgun during Muzzleloader Season, which there is a strong possibility of being checked out with one of those guns.

NJ is one state this is over regulated when it comes to guns. They more than likely have a problem with a Muzzleloader looking like a shotgun.

NJ is what the anti-gunners want the whole country to look like. No centerfire hunting, animal rights activists pushing for more and more rights, Enviornmentalists controlling everything, Permits for ANY rifle, and a automatic Felony charge for POSSESSION of hollow point bullets.

The Liberal State of Mass. is probably no different.

Your point about having to clean the barrel after every shooting session is something that should be done anyway. The only time I don't immediately clean my muzzleloader is when it is during the open season.

And this barrel is 209 primer only, which is what I plan on using. So maybe the blowback problem has been solved by Mossberg. I suppose that there are conversions for #11 caps but primers is what I plan to use. I certainly will keep my eye open for the blowback problem though. Thanks.