Are you searching for the ultimate tactical conversion kit for your Mossberg 500 rifle? If that’s the case, we’ve got you covered. If you’re a Mossberg 500 shotgun owner, chances are you want the best-looking tactical shotgun conversion kit money can buy.

Getting a tactical conversion kit is a good improvement if you want a rugged-looking shotgun or use it for home defense. But appearances aside, tactical conversions are often great for enhancing your Mossberg 500’s overall performance. Take a look at our list of the Best Mossberg 500 Tactical Conversion kits below to find out which one is ideal for you.

Best easy-to-install	Magpul Buttstock & M-Lok Forend Kit	Ambidextrous buttstock with an ergonomic palmswell Budget-friendly price tag Comfortable overmolded soft rubber Needs professional installation Needs modifications to work with an 835	$129 Shop NowClick to read my review
Best budget buy	Hogue Overmolded Stock and Forend Tactical Conversion Kit	Ambidextrous buttstcok with an ergonomic palmswell Comfortable over-molded soft rubber Weatherproof and durable Might need professional installation Needs modifications to work with an 835	$60 Shop NowClick to read my review
Best fit	Blackhawk Knoxx Specops Stock Gen III For Mossberg 500	Ambidextrous sling mount Compatible with Picatinny accessory rails 6-position adjustable pull length Comes only in kits Designed to fit the Mossberg 500 12-gauge only	$136 Shop NowClick to read my review
	ProMag ArchAngel Mossberg 500 Tactical Shotgun Stock System with Shell Carrier	Made in USA with a lifetime warranty Compatible with Mossberg 500 and 590 Comes with a shell carrier Buttstock extension is a maximum 14.25″ Can only fit 12-guage shotguns	$71 Shop NowClick to read my review

Why Convert your Mossberg 500?

The Mossberg 500 is one of the more popular shotgun platforms in the market today, all thanks to its overall build quality and versatility throughout the shotgun’s lineup. It’s also a popular choice as a base shotgun for tactical conversion projects.

Tactical conversion usually happens when gun owners want a fresh new look at one of their older units. Albeit costly, it makes a fun way of upgrading your shotgun’s power and performance. The Mossberg 500 being a popular gun in a large community. This also means there are many tactical conversion kits on the market to consider.

The right Mossberg 500 tactical conversion kit for you will, of course, depend on the type of shotgun you need as well as your purpose for the weapon.

Consider starting here.

With the number of conversion kits out there, it’s easy to go crazy with your Mossberg 500 tactical conversion build. It can be as simple as a new buttstock and a forend. You can also include things like side saddles cheek risers compatible with a rail system to add accessories. Whatever your build may be, the following are some basics to consider when looking for the best Mossberg 500 tactical conversion kits.

Buttstock

When looking for a buttstock for your Mossberg 500 tactical conversion build, look for shock-absorbing stock. This will help reduce the effects of recoil on accuracy. You might also want to look into getting an adjustable buttstock that lets you customize the draw length to your arms for an enhanced feel. This is great for getting that perfect fit and getting those smoother draws.

Side Saddle or Shell Carrier

Side saddles are meant to accommodate additional shotgun shells. Most can hold at least four extra shells but some side saddles hold six or more shots. The amount of time it takes to unload extra rounds might be taken into consideration while selecting a side saddle for your construction. Reloading a shotgun with a shell carrier that’s connected to the side of the receiver is faster since the ejection port is closer.

Rail System Compatible Forend For Accessories

If you’re planning to include accessories like flashlights, optics, lasers, etc., to your tactical conversion, a compatible rail system like a Picatinny will make it easy to add these accessories without having to make major modifications.

Additional accessories, like flashlights, come in handy when you consider most home invasions happen at night. The last thing you want is to risk a shot in the dark and accidentally shooting a member of your household. 

Factors to Consider in a Tactical Conversion Kit

Materials Build Quality

When choosing your conversion kit, remember that material build quality is going to translate into long-term durability. Regardless of only using your shotgun once or twice for home self-defense, you will still spend time training and practicing with your tactical weapon. This can add a lot of wear and tear over the life span of your shotgun. 

In general, polymer buttstocks and glass-reinforced components are popular. These materials can tolerate wear and tear while also offering superior weatherproofing. If you have a limited budget, there are some over-molded rubber components that offer reasonable durability at a lower price point. 

Ease of Installation

Mossberg 500 tactical conversion kits might be scary to install if you have no prior gunsmithing experience. If that’s the case, you should look for a kit that has a good reputation for being simple to set up.

Thankfully, there are a lot of good kits out there that most people with a modest amount of mechanical sympathy can install on their own. However, there’s no harm in seeking the services of a professional gunsmith.

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Budget

All these extra accessories and modifications can add up and put a dent in your budget fast. If that’s a concern, you might want to prioritize certain parts of your tactical conversion build. For example, what’s more important, having more rounds or being able to see in the dark? Do you need a more comfortable buttstock to handle recoil or do you need to make your shotgun easier to cock? 

If you want to stay within budget without sacrificing performance for your build, look for cheaper options that won’t jeopardize your weapon. Maybe get a flashlight on a lower end but don’t skimp out on important builds, especially those that affect the mechanism of your firearm. You don’t want your shotgun to just look cool, it still needs to be safe. 

Best Mossberg 500 Tactical Conversion Kits

Magpul Buttstock & M-Lok Forend Kit: Best easy-to-install.

The Magpul Buttstock & M-Lok Forend Kit was designed to fit the Mossberg 500, 590, 590A, and 500A 12-gauge shotguns. It has a reputation for being easy to assemble and comes with a nut and forend removal, too. It’s available in black, flat dark earth, and gray colorways to match the look of your tactical shotgun.

The M-LOK Forend is lightweight to help keep the shotgun balanced and comfortable in your hand. Made for 12-gauge shotguns, it has a 7-5/8″ action tube assembly and pairs easily with other M-Lok mounts and accessories. However, it’s not compatible with the Mossberg 500 heatshield, the 14-inch 590 Shockwave, or the AOW models without replacing them with the 7-5/8″ action tube assembly. 

The synthetic buttstock was designed with ergonomics in mind, however, even at its longest setting, it can feel a little short for a shooter with long arms.  Over time, the polymer material will inevitably succumb to weather conditions, which can be an issue if you like to take your unit to the range or outdoors for tactical practice training.

Hogue Overmolded Stock and Forend Tactical Conversion Kit: Best budget pick.

Hogue Overmolded Tactical Conversion Kit is a Forend and Stock in one package. It’s designed to fit the Mossberg 500 and 590 12-gauge shotguns that also work with the Mossberg 835 with minor modifications.

The Hogue Overmolded Tactical Conversion Kit is made largely from heavy-duty black rubber and polymer materials. Both the grip and forend are over-molded with soft rubber giving them a comfortable feel.

The buttstock is non-slip and weatherproof as well as very durable while the stock is designed for a standard length of pull, with a soft-recoil cushioned butt pad. For left-handed shooters, it has an ambidextrous ergonomic palm swell for a more natural hold.

The Houge Overmolded Stock and Forend is a tight installation and not recommended for beginners. And if you don’t have prior experience in installing stocks and forends or if you don’t have the proper tools with you, you might want to consider a professional gunsmith for this installation.

Blackhawk Knoxx Specops Stock Gen III For Mossberg 500: Best fit.

The Blackhawk Knoxx SpecOps Gen III tactical conversion kit is a great option for versatile custom tactical shotgun builds. It’s also an adjustable buttstock and forend in one package made from a polymer material. Also, it comes with an integrated hand stop compatible with Picatinny accessory rails. It also comes with an adapter allowing it to accept both 7 3/4″ as well as 6 3/4″ action slide tube assemblies.  

The buttstock comes with six adjustment positions from 12.5″ to 15.2″ pull lengths. It also has an ergonomic pistol grip and multiple ambidextrous slings mounts to accommodate all types of shooters. The straight cheek weld features a design that helps reduce cheek slap in case you need to shoot something that isn’t close range.

This tactical conversion kit is easy to install and beginner-friendly. Just make sure you have to right gunsmithing tools with you. 

ProMag ArchAngel Mossberg 500 Tactical Shotgun Stock System with Shell Carrier: Best overall.

The ProMag ArchAngel Tactical Shotgun Stock System is one of the most complete and versatile Mossberg 500 conversion kits on the market today. The ProMag AA500 SC is a US-manufactured conversion kit designed to fit both Mossberg 500 and 590 12 gauge shotguns. It comes with a shell carrier and a buttstock and forend. However, they do sell one without the shell carrier for a lower price. 

The ProMag AA500 SC is made from high-strength carbon fiber as well as glass-reinforced black polymer. As a result, it is a tactical conversion shotgun with superior durability — so much so that ProMag has backed it up with a lifetime warranty.

The buttstock on the ProMag AA500 SC is collapsible in 6 positions from 11″ to 14.25″, allowing for maximum customization. It has an ergonomic textured pistol grip for superior control and a cheek-weld-shaped extension tube for increased accuracy. There’s also an easy-to-install cheek riser you can use if you plan on attaching an optical sight system or a raised sight. 

The forend in this tactical conversion kit can be set up in 2 ways: with a smooth forcap or paired with an aluminum tri-rail cap to accommodate a Picatinny rail mount system, great for builds that want to include a tactical flashlight, strobe light, or laser.

Our Pick

If you have the money to spare, then there’s no beating the ProMag ArchAngel Mossberg 500 Tactical Shotgun Stock System with Shell Carrier. The versatility of the conversion kit, superior build quality, and lifetime warranty is really hard to beat in this market and pretty much give you everything you need to start with out of the box. It also allows you to make major customizations with your tactical shotgun for years to come. The only downside is it can get a little pricey compared to other conversion kits but you’re definitely getting your money’s worth with this one.

Wrapping Up

If you have a Mossberg 500 that you are thinking about converting into a tactical shotgun or you are planning a custom-built tactical weapon, then there certainly are a lot of interesting options to fit just about any budget. Any of the conversion kits on this list will make a great starting build for your conversion. However, if you do decide to go a different route, just make sure to check our suggestions above to find the best conversion kit for you.

Related Reads:

• The 5 Best Mossberg 500 Sights: Complete 2022 Guide
• Best Mossberg 500 Heat Shields
• 8 Best Home Defense Shotguns in 2021