So I'm going to purchase a Mossberg 500 for HD. I have some mods that I want to do including a tactical forend. I've read on all of the manufacturers website that some of the new 500's don't have a removable forend. Is there a way to tell before I make a purchase that wont let me do what I want to do?
look for the action bars to be pinned directly to the plastic on the forend. That is what's known as a pinned forend. On the standard forend the action bars are pinned to the action tube and the plastic forend is slipped over the metal action tube. If you buy a pinned forend all is not lost as you can always change it out for an action tube/forend .....check Havlin Sales for the parts, best service and prices Havlin Sales & Service - Mossberg Gun Parts
You should be able to see a round nut on the end of the forend, which is attached to the tube. I don't recommend buying a pinned model. I had a 20 gauge where the action bars broke off from the forend just from racking the slide.
