Without fuelling the argument between Mossberg 500 vs Maverick 88 (hyperlink), I have decided to make two separate posts about helping you upgrade the guns. Just like the Maverick 88, the upgrading potential of the Mossberg 500 is huge.
After all, the upgrades for Maverick are done based on Mossberg parts. Finding readily available upgradable parts for Mossberg is a piece of cake. That also is the main issue. As there are so many upgrade guides and part lists available on the internet, which one should you follow?
What are the best Mossberg 500 upgrades? Like you, I was severely confused as well. But to an extent I managed to end the confusion and now trying to help you get out of this confusion as well. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into it.
Mossberg 500 Stock Upgrades
The first thing people tend to upgrade in a shotgun is the stock. Most of the time the factory stock is not that great. And the factory-installed stock often wears out if you are buying it second-hand. So, changing the stock makes sense.
1. Magpul SGA Ambidextrous Buttstock
Both Mossberg 500 and 590 share the same anatomy and they share the same accessories almost everywhere. That’s why this stock from Magpul is supported by both of the guns. The stock is not made out of polymer.
The same type of polymer that Magpul uses in almost all of its accessories. It’s reinforced polymer so your stock will last you a long time. The stock is also adjustable. You will find hooks for connecting slings as well. This is something not all stock offers. I think more should keep this as a feature.
2. Hogue Mossberg 500 Overrubber Shotgun Stock Kit
Surprised? You might know Hogue from handgun grips. After all, Hogue is one of the biggest names when it comes to making grips for guns. This one, however, is not part of their grips but still will help you grip the gun better.
When you unbox this, you will find two parts instead of one. The overmolded buttstock and the forend. Installing both of them is super easy and you don’t need a gunsmith for either of the two.
The overmold design is perfect for a stock as it offers impeccable comfort and the length is perfect for most shooters. The only downside of this stock is that it’s not adjustable. Otherwise, this is easily the best stock and forend combo for Mossberg.
Mossberg 500 Grip Upgrades
The stock grip of Mossberg 500 is pretty hit or miss. Some of you might enjoy it while most don’t. And the grooves on it aren’t nearly deep or wide enough to use with gloves comfortably.
1. Hogue Tamer Shotgun Pistol Grip
If you are not changing the brace or adding a different pistol grip on your Mossberg, then this is the best grip for your stock gun. It has deeper grooves with a grippy pattern that won’t make your hands sweat.
You can use this grip with gloves on as well. The grip is not made out of rubber or fake leather. Instead, Hogue made the grip with reinforced polymer. It’s really durable and quite soft with textured patterns. While it’s not as soft as their typical rubber grips, it’s still softer and more cushiony than the stock grip of Mossberg.
2. Aim Sports Inc Mossberg 500 Shotgun Pistol Grip
The next one I want to recommend to you guys is from Aim Sports. They are also quite big of a name in the accessory market and their grips are not bad either. This grip from Aim Sport is a lot similar to what Hogue is offering.
They too went for reinforced polymer instead of rubber. Which makes it more durable and sturdy. The textured pattern on this grip is slightly different visually and it affects the gripping experience as well. At first, it might seem a bit plastic-like mushy, but it will soon feel much better.
Mossberg 500 Foregrip Upgrades
Now that you are done at the back, no pun intended. It’s time for you to move upwards. The foregrip of 500 is decent. Good even, depends on who you ask. Foregrip keeps your hand in place and helps you with the follow-through. That’s why having a good foregrip is important.
1. Magpul MOE M-LOK Mossberg 590 12 Gauge
Who doesn’t love their feed getting cluttered with Magpul? Jokes apart, the brand is doing the lord’s work. They are constantly putting up new tech and making great accessories for shotguns and other rifles alike.
The MOE is an M-Lok tech-supported foregrip made out of polymer. The reinforced polymer is extremely durable and lightweight as well. In case you didn’t know, this one supports Mossberg 590A1 as well. That’s one of my favorite things about Mossberg. A lot of their rifles share the same pattern.
2. Streamlight TL-Racker 1000 Lumen Forend Light
If you are using the Mossberg 500 for home defense or hunting and your need has a lot of nighttime usage, then this is the best foregrip for you. This foregrip is made by Streamlight who is known for making great weapon lights. Unlike the weapon lights, this one is not made out of aluminum.
Instead, Streamlight went with polymer to keep the weight down and still keep it sturdy in long-term usage. The thickness and design are made to fit the barrel of your gun perfectly. It won’t scratch your barrel or jam it while shooting. The light is capable of running for 1.5 hours straight at 1000 lumens. You will also get enough throw distance for hunting.
Mossberg 500 Sight upgrades
In my opinion, a sight will change your entire perspective on a gun. Even if it’s a simple night sight or a featureless red dot sight, your shooting experience will change entirely. That’s why, I always recommend you guys to get a sight for any gun you are using.
1. XS Sights Big Dot Shotgun Sight
XS Sight makes really good shotgun sights. This one is part of their Big Dot lineup. It’s a night sight with a tritium fiber optic stick in it. The tritium fiber sticks are also available in multiple different colors. If you don’t feel like using a green stick, you won’t be forced to use it.
The body is made out of steel, it’s water and corrosion-proof as well. The color of the body is not changeable unless you do it yourself. Tritium fiber optics don’t use any battery for glowing during the night. So, you will never run out of power. And if your stick dims down, just pop in a new one.
2. HOLOSUN HS510C 2 MOA Holographic Red Dot Sight
The HS510C is a really good red dot sight. It’s made by Holosun which is not an American company, but they have made a name for themselves here. The HS510C is made out of high-quality aluminum with anodized coating all over the chassis. The internal and external chassis is waterproof entirely.
The inside is also fogproof and the lenses are fully multi-coated. While they are not made out of sapphire, they are scratch-resistant to some extent. But I won’t recommend you going JerryRigEverything on this poor glass. The reticle is illuminated and thanks to that, you can hunt with this optic during the night as well. For CQB, it’s too good.
Some Minor Upgrades For Mossberg 500/590
Now that you know what are some of the most major upgrades about Mossberg 500, it’s about time you find out some more upgrades that will make your life even more convenient.
Stock Adapter
If you are looking for Mossberg 500 custom parts, you will hit a dead end soon enough. That’s because your gun won’t accept most upgrades as it doesn’t have any AR adapter on it. For that to happen, you will need to buy a stock adapter for your Mossberg 500. With that, you can easily use any kind of brace with the Mossberg 500.
Sling
This is pretty self-explanatory. If you are tired of just grabbing the gun and dangling it around, you might want to grab a sling. The sling will help you to carry the gun like a backpack. Good slings are expensive and the market is flooded with slings. Among them, Blue Force Gear Vickers Push Button Sling stands out the most when it comes to shotguns.
Opsol Mini Clip
If you want to use Aguila mini shells, then you will need to use mini clips. As they are quite stubborn and won’t stay put in a 500, you will need to buy some mini clips to hold them in place. The reason why you might want to shift to Aguila mini shells is, that you can shoot 9 rounds of this compared to 5 regulars.
Shotgun Safe
Shotgun safety is no joke! If you keep a loaded gun for home defense and you don’t want your gun to misfire in your absence, then you might want to invest in a Hornady Rapid Safe. It’s the type of item that all shotgun owners should own. I might bump this upgrade as mandatory for every single owner out there. Trust me, you don’t want to play around with safety.
Should I Upgrade to The Mossberg 500?
If you want to stay in the 500 family and want to venture around trying out many different accessories including Mossberg 590 accessories, then you absolutely should upgrade the gun.
If you don’t upgrade the gun and just buy a 590 Tactical, you will miss all the fun and the result of your efforts. Most owners have had this gun for a while now. If you didn’t get rid of it already, why are you thinking about that now? So, just do the upgrades and breathe in a fresh new life in it.
Conclusion
And that’s about it. I know it’s a lot of information to stomach and you are still confused. But the best advice I can give you is to take it slow. Whether you decide on the upgrade by budget or your needs, take it slow. One thing at a time and then go for the next big thing.
This way, you will be able to enjoy the upgrade process and then savor the result as well. With that said, that’s all for now.
As always, thanks for reading and I hope you found the read useful. Hope it was entertaining. I will be returning with more real soon. Till then, hold on to your seats and enjoy the ride.
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
