My Mossberg 500s

Shown at the top is my original Mossberg, which I'd bought from Classic Arms for $279.95. (As of November 2007, Classic has them for $269.95.)

She Who Must Be Obeyed claimed the original one as her Office Defense gun, so I had to get me a new one for the house. I started with the pistol-grip only version, then added the stock and shell holder. Doing this gave me the same gun for the same price as the other one, except with the higher mag capacity.
I then installed a small rail mount and the highly rated Streamlight TLR-1 tactical light.

The resulting setup is simple, rugged, foolproof, and not expensive - $434.83 for everything including shipping and transfer fee. Details are below.


Mossberg 500 Persuader, pistol grip only, 20" barrel, 8-shot capacity
Source:
Classic Arms
Price $209.95, shipping $14.60, transfer $20.00

FFL transfer agent:
Wayne Moorhead
33481 Marion Drive
Denham Springs, LA 70706
225-665-3325

$20.00 FFL transfers

Note: I've transferred 3 guns with Wayne. He's great!


Details on Mossberg box


Laserlyte Tri-Rail Mount
Source: Gunbroker.com, seller
WholesaleHunter
Price $17.00, shipping $8.00

I looked at the shotgun rail mounts from Insight, Streamlight, and others. I chose the Laserlyte because it's solid anodized aluminum, very compact, and inexpensive. Best of all, it matches up with the holes in the heat shield. This means you can mount it on the 18.5" barrelled Mossbergs without removing the heat shield. In fact, this exact configuration is shown on the packaging!


Closeup of the Laserlyte mount

Mount after installation

Installation was easy. Due to the stiff tension on the heat shield, I had to leave one of the existing bolts tight to keep the heat shield compressed. Once I slipped the rail mount over the heat shield, I then removed the old bolt, wiggled the mount into alignment, and installed the new bolts.

Slight negatives:
A. I think the supplied Laserlyte bolts could be about 3/32" longer, just to give them more threads to hold with.
B. The hex (Allen) wrench that came with the mount didn't fit the bolts.

However, in my opinion, this is a great mount.


Right side closeup

Left side closeup

The Mossy wearing her new rail mount

Streamlight TLR-1 tactical light
Source: Ebay, seller
UltimateArms
Price $99.99, shipping $9.99, insurance $1.00

After reading about various tactical lights, the Streamlight TLR-1 seemed like a sure winner, and the price is very reasonable. I found it a little cheaper elsewhere, but this seller had the other items I needed for the Mossy, all at great prices. The combined shipping made it a real bargain.


Streamlight in place on rail mount

The rail mount positions the TLR-1 perfectly! Its rocker switch is in exactly the right place for easy operation with the tip of the index finger, enabling me to still keep a solid grip on the forend.

The light is low-profile, rugged, and BLINDING, just as it should be!


Right view with TLR-1 in place

Left view with TLR-1 in place

ATI collapsible stock with buttpad
Source: Ebay, seller
UltimateArms
Price $49.95, shipping $2.00 (due to combined shipping on multiple items)

ATI tactical shotshell holder
Source: Ebay, seller
UltimateArms
Price $14.95, shipping $2.00 (due to combined shipping on multiple items)

Stock and shotshell holder installed.
Ammo is 2-3/4" Federal tactical low-recoil 00 buckshot (LE132 00)
Source:
Ammoman.com


The finished product

TOTAL COST

Mossberg 500
Rail mount
TLR-1 tactical light
Stock
Shotshell holder
FFL transfer
Shipping

TOTAL

209.95
17.00
99.99
49.95
14.95
20.00
22.99
======
434.83

All images and text copyright © 2007 Greg Bunch. All rights reserved.