A short barrel, a six-shell tube, and a simple pump: the Mossberg 500 Tactical is built for the closet more than the field. It is a 12 gauge with an 18.5" barrel and a blued finish, holding six rounds.

The 500 has been in service for many years, and its design is well tested. The top-mounted safety works for either hand, and the twin action bars keep the slide moving straight. The 18.5" barrel is quick in hallways and light enough to keep ready. A recoil pad and a bit of range time go a long way toward comfortable shooting.

People in North Carolina buy shotguns like this for home defense, and also for hogs and deer when loaded with slugs and used where the law allows.

Whatever you use it for, pattern your load. Buckshot spreads differently from gun to gun, and the only way to know your pattern is to shoot a target.

Blued steel needs a little care in the humid summer. Wipe it, oil it, and store it dry.

New. It ships to a North Carolina FFL dealer for pickup and the background check.