All-purpose means exactly that. The Mossberg 500 All-Purpose Field is a 12 gauge pump with a 3 inch chamber, a 28 inch barrel and a six-round magazine, ready for birds, clays and a bit of everything else.

A 28 inch barrel is the classic length for dove fields and clay ranges. It swings smoothly and adds a bit of sight radius. Six rounds in the magazine gives you more than most upland bird limits require, and with a 3 inch chamber you can use heavier loads for ducks or geese when the season comes. Wipe it down after wet weather and store it dry, because North Carolina humidity is hard on steel. Test your chosen ammunition before you trust it in the field or for carry, and stick with what runs well.

Mossberg has built the 500 for decades, and it has a reputation for being reliable and easy to maintain. Run modified for doves, full for the farther birds.

Use it for dove opener in September and for the first morning of squirrel season. It is a working gun for working folks. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer, where the background check is completed.