Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the combat shotguns category.
01 / Overview
Mossberg 500
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1961–
Quantity
11,000,000
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
COMBAT SHOTGUNS · EARLY COLD WAR
2
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
94
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the combat shotguns category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Production Year1961
- Service Entry Year1961
- DesignerCarl Benson
- Weight (Empty)7 kg
- Currently In ServiceYes
- Notable UsersUnited States military, law enforcement, numerous foreign forces
◈Cartridge & Calibre3MOD.3
- Cartridge12 gauge, 20 gauge, .410 bore
- Calibre18.5 mm
- Calibre Classshotgun gauge
▣Operation6MOD.6
- Action TypePump Action
- Fire Modessingle-shot (pump-action)
- Feed SystemTubular Magazine
- Magazine Capacity8
- Trigger Typesingle-action
- Safety Typemanual safety
◇Barrel & Sights5MOD.5
- Barrel Length18.5 mm
- Sight TypeBead or ghost ring iron sights
- Optic RailNo
- Iron SightsYes
- Threaded BarrelNo
◆Construction4MOD.4
- Receiver Materialsteel
- Furniture Materialsynthetic stock and forearm (varies by model)
- Folding / Collapsing StockNo
- Modularitycompatible with 1913 rail kits and various barrel/choke options
▤Features5MOD.5
⬢Production & Cost2MOD.2
- Total Production11,000,000
- Production Start1961
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1961Production started
65
years in service
11,000,000
units produced
31
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
MOSSBERG 500 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN33% win
Total Conflicts
3
Victories
1
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
2003–2011Iraq WarDecisive victory→2001–2021War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)—→1975–1990Lebanese Civil War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Countries31country
AfghanistanACTIVE
ArgentinaACTIVE
BangladeshACTIVE
BrazilACTIVE
ChileACTIVE
EgyptACTIVE
FranceACTIVE
HaitiACTIVE
IcelandACTIVE
IraqACTIVE
JapanACTIVE
KazakhstanACTIVE
LebanonACTIVE
MalaysiaACTIVE
MexicoACTIVE
NicaraguaACTIVE
Papua New GuineaACTIVE
People's Republic of ChinaACTIVE
PhilippinesACTIVE
PolandACTIVE
PortugalACTIVE
RomaniaACTIVE
Saudi ArabiaACTIVE
SerbiaACTIVE
Solomon IslandsACTIVE
SpainACTIVE
TaiwanACTIVE
TurkeyACTIVE
UkraineACTIVE
United StatesACTIVE
YemenACTIVE 06 / MASS Score
COMBAT SHOTGUNS RANKING Combat Shotguns · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
24COMBAT SHOTGUNS2EARLY COLD WAR · COMBAT SHOTGUNS630UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS2PERFORMANCE/PRICE · COMBAT SHOTGUNS
ⓘ Rankings are within theCombat Shotgunscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
A bayonet lug is a metal fitting on the barrel or muzzle of a firearm that provides a mounting point for a bayonet.
Adjustable metal aiming devices on firearms, consisting of a front post and rear notch, used without magnification.
Firearm mechanism where a sliding fore-end (foregrip) is moved back and forth to eject spent casings and chamber a new round.
A straight, cylindrical ammunition container that feeds cartridges into a firearm's action via gravity or a spring.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources