The Mossberg 500 is the Remington 870’s great rival for the title of America’s shotgun, and it earns its huge aftermarket the same way: it is cheap, tough, and endlessly adaptable. The tang safety, dual action bars, and easy takedown make the 500 a favorite for home defense, and a handful of bolt-on parts turn a bare field or Tactical model into a purpose-built fighting shotgun. Best of all, most of these upgrades share design with the 590, so the parts field is deep.
Below are the Mossberg 500 parts and accessories we would add first, geared toward a home-defense build but useful across the line. Everything here fits the 12-gauge Mossberg 500 (many parts also fit the 590/590A1; confirm your model and barrel length), and each pick is backed by a live price check across the retailers we track.
How we tested: Every pick here was run through our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun. If we haven't shot it, we don't recommend it.
Mossberg 500 Upgrades at a Glance
| Category | Our Pick | Why It Makes the List |
|---|---|---|
| Magazine extension | Nordic Components MXT | More shells on board — the first defensive upgrade |
| Stock | Magpul SGA | Adjustable length of pull and a better cheek weld |
| Forend | Magpul MOE M-LOK | Positive grip and M-LOK slots for a light |
| Sights | XS ghost ring set | Fast, precise aiming over a bare bead |
| Weapon light | Streamlight TL-Racker | Integrated forend light — the cleanest 500 light |
| Shell carrier | Mesa Tactical SureShell | Spare rounds right on the receiver |
| Optic mount | Picatinny receiver rail | Mount a red dot for both-eyes-open speed |
| Sling | Two-point tactical | Retention and hands-free carry |
Best Magazine Extension: Nordic Components MXT
A defensive shotgun is only as good as the rounds it holds, and the factory 500’s capacity is the first thing to grow. A Nordic Components MXT magazine extension adds two to three rounds of 12-gauge capacity with a clamp for barrel rigidity. It is the single most important upgrade on a home-defense 500 — do it first. Match the tube length to your barrel so it does not overhang the muzzle.
Best Stock: Magpul SGA
The factory stock fits no one perfectly. The Magpul SGA gives you an adjustable length of pull with spacers, a raised comb for a proper cheek weld behind a red dot, and multiple sling points — all of which mean more control and faster follow-up shots. It is the upgrade that most changes how the 500 shoots and mounts, and it fits the 590/590A1 too.
Best Forend: Magpul MOE M-LOK
Pair the SGA with a Magpul MOE M-LOK forend for a positive, aggressive grip and M-LOK slots to mount a light exactly where you want it. It is a direct replacement for the factory forend that upgrades control and capability in one inexpensive part. Together the two Magpul pieces are the classic Mossberg tactical foundation.
Best Sights: XS Ghost Ring Set
A bare front bead is slow and imprecise for defensive slugs and buckshot. An XS ghost ring sight set gives you a fast, repeatable aiming reference that lets you place a slug with real precision out to a shotgun’s practical range, and many sets include a rail for an optic. It is a big capability jump for a modest price and one of the smartest 500 upgrades for a fighting gun.
Best Weapon Light: Streamlight TL-Racker
A light is non-negotiable on a home-defense shotgun — you cannot defend against what you cannot identify. The Streamlight TL-Racker replaces your forend with one that has a 1,000-lumen light built in, so there are no separate mounts or switches to fail. It puts a bright, ambidextrous switch right where your support hand already rides. Confirm you order the 500/590 version.
Best Shell Carrier: Mesa Tactical SureShell
A shotgun holds few rounds, so spares on the gun matter. The Mesa Tactical SureShell side saddle mounts to the receiver and carries four to six extra shells within instant reach for reloads, and many versions double as an optic rail. It is the durability-and-retention standard for shell carriers on the Mossberg platform.
Best Optic Mount: Picatinny Receiver Rail
Want a red dot for both-eyes-open speed? A Picatinny receiver rail mounts to the Mossberg 500’s receiver and gives you a solid platform for a shotgun-rated red dot or low-power optic. It is an inexpensive part that unlocks one of the biggest capability upgrades a defensive shotgun can get, especially with buckshot and slugs.
Best Sling: Two-Point Tactical
A sling is how you retain and carry a long gun hands-free. A quality two-point tactical sling lets you carry the 500 across your body, transition to a handgun, or free your hands without setting the gun down. Combined with the sling points on the SGA stock, it completes a fighting setup.
How to Prioritize Your Mossberg 500 Build
Building a home-defense 500? Spend money in the order that adds the most capability first:
- A magazine extension and a light first. Capacity and target identification are the two non-negotiables of a defensive shotgun.
- Sights. Ghost rings or a red-dot rail make the gun far more precise with slugs.
- A stock and forend for control, fit, and a place to mount the light.
- A shell carrier and sling to keep spare rounds on the gun and the gun on you.
Want the background on the gun first? Read our Mossberg 500 review and the classic Remington 870 vs Mossberg 500 comparison, then see the platform in our best pump-action shotguns, best home-defense shotgun under $500, and best 3-gun shotguns guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best upgrade for a Mossberg 500?
For a home-defense 500, a magazine extension and a weapon light come first. The factory tube is limited, and you cannot defend against a threat you cannot identify, so capacity and a light are the two upgrades a defensive shotgun cannot do without. Ghost-ring sights or a red-dot rail are the next priority.
Do Mossberg 500 and 590 parts interchange?
Many do. The Mossberg 500 and 590/590A1 share the same receiver family, so stocks, forends, sights, lights, shell carriers, and optic rails are largely cross-compatible. The main differences are the magazine tube and barrel-retention design, so magazine extensions and a few tube-specific parts must be matched to your exact model.
Do you need a gunsmith to upgrade a Mossberg 500?
Rarely. The 500 is very owner-friendly: stocks, forends, magazine extensions, sights, lights, shell carriers, and slings all bolt on at home with basic tools, and the tang safety and easy takedown make maintenance simple. A gunsmith is only needed for tasks like custom barrel work.
Will Remington 870 parts fit a Mossberg 500?
No. The Mossberg 500 and Remington 870 are different platforms with different receivers, stock threads, forend designs, and magazine tubes, so parts do not interchange. Always buy parts listed specifically for the Mossberg 500 (or 500/590), and confirm gauge and barrel length.
Can you put a red dot on a Mossberg 500?
Yes. A Picatinny receiver rail bolts to the 500, and many Mesa Tactical shell carriers include an integral rail. Mount a rugged, shotgun-rated red dot and you gain fast, both-eyes-open aiming that pairs especially well with buckshot and slugs at defensive distances.
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