Mossberg 500 Bantam

O.F. Mossberg & Sons · Shotgun · In Production · 1990

Also known as: Mossberg 500 Youth Bantam, Mossberg 500 Compact Bantam, Mossberg 500 Super Bantam

Overview

The Mossberg 500 Bantam is a compact, youth-oriented pump-action shotgun derived from the popular Mossberg 500 series and chambered in 20 gauge. It combines a shortened length of pull, reduced barrel length, and lighter overall dimensions to fit younger or smaller-framed shooters, while retaining the 500's twin-action-bar pump mechanism, ambidextrous top-tang safety, and aluminum receiver. Fed from a tubular magazine, it typically ships with a 22-inch ventilated-rib barrel, Accu-Set interchangeable choke tubes, and a 3-inch chamber suited to field, small-game, and clay shooting.

Specifications

Weight (empty)2948 g (104.0 oz)
Overall Length1035 mm (40.75")
Barrel Length559 mm (22.01")
Action TypePump Action
Firing MechanismHammer Fired
Trigger TypeSingle Action
Magazine Capacity5 rounds
Magazine TypeTubular
Effective Range40 m (44 yd)
Barrel RiflingSmoothbore
Frame MaterialAluminum Alloy
Barrel MaterialSteel
Stock MaterialWood
FinishBlued

Calibers

Features

Variants

Base model

Mossberg-500

Production

Production years: 1990-present

One configuration within the Mossberg 500 family, of which total production exceeds several million units across all variants.

Origin

Country of origin: United States

Designer: O.F. Mossberg & Sons

Notes

Part of Mossberg's Bantam and later Super Bantam youth lineup; Super Bantam models add stock spacers to grow the length of pull as the shooter grows.

Background

The Mossberg 500 platform is one of the best-selling shotguns in history and among the few civilian shotguns to pass the U.S. military's MIL-SPEC 3443 torture test; the Bantam variants adapt that rugged action into a scaled-down package aimed at introducing new and younger shooters to the sport.