Mossberg 500 .410 Bore
Model: 50104
Mossberg 500 .410 Bore
Model: 50104
Full Specifications
About This Firearm
The Mossberg 500 in .410 bore is a pump-action field gun built on Mossberg's long-running 500 platform, scaled down to the smallest practical shotgun gauge. The 24" vented rib barrel with a fixed full choke, dual bead sights, and walnut stock put it firmly in the youth/first-shotgun category. The 3" chamber handles both 2-1/2" and 3" .410 shells, which matters because 3" .410 buckshot loads are the standard for anyone considering this gun for anything beyond bird hunting. At 100 oz (6.25 lbs) with 43.75" overall length, the .410 platform makes the gun shorter and lighter than a 12 or 20 gauge 500 for the same youth-shooter buyer.
The .410 bore works as a small-game and upland bird round at close range. It's also the most expensive and hardest to find of the common shotgun gauges — .410 shells typically run noticeably more per round than comparable 20 gauge loads. Buy this gun if you're introducing a recoil-sensitive shooter to pump shotguns, or if you're a small-game hunter who specifically wants .410 for its light pattern. Skip it if you're buying a first shotgun on a budget and plan to shoot regularly — the ammo cost adds up quickly, and a 20 gauge handles most of the same tasks with cheaper, more available shells.
Best For
Strengths & Limitations
- Mossberg's twin action bars and steel-to-steel lockup give the 500 platform a long track record for pump reliability; the .410 variant uses the same action as the full-size 500 series, so spare parts and gunsmith familiarity carry over.
- Ambidextrous top-tang safety is better positioned than the cross-bolt safeties on most competitor pump guns for quick access under field conditions.
- 3" chamber handles both 2-1/2" and 3" .410 shells — more load flexibility than the 2-1/2"-only chambers found on several .410 handguns and short-barreled firearms like the Henry Axe.
- Fixed full choke limits flexibility — you can't swap to an improved cylinder for closer work without buying an aftermarket barrel.
- .410 shells cost more and are stocked at fewer retailers than 12 or 20 gauge, so anyone planning to shoot this gun regularly will pay more per box and may need to special-order.
Where to Buy
No prices available at this time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a red dot or scope to the Mossberg 500 .410 without drilling the receiver?
The standard .410 field model ships with a dual bead sight and no optic rail. The aluminum alloy receiver can accept a saddle-mount rail (from makers like Mossberg, GG&G, or Weaver) that clamps over the receiver without drilling. These mounts work but add height — a red dot on a saddle mount sits higher than a scout-scope setup on a drilled receiver. If you want a clean low-profile optic mount, a gunsmith drill-and-tap is the better approach. Mossberg also sells a receiver-drilled variant of the 500 platform if you want it from the factory.
Why is the .410 Mossberg 500 popular as a youth shotgun?
Three reasons: noticeably less recoil than a 20 or 12 gauge, the lighter 100 oz weight is easier for a smaller-framed shooter to carry and mount, and the pump action is short enough at 43.75" that the gun fits a teen or younger shooter without immediately needing a youth-length stock. The trade-off is ammo cost — .410 shells run noticeably more per round than 20 gauge, so a household that plans to shoot a lot of clay or practice targets often ends up moving the youth shooter to a 20 gauge once recoil tolerance builds.
