Joseph Von Benedikt, the shotgun savant known for his meticulous builds and no-nonsense reviews, takes the iconic Mossberg 500 to the next level in his latest range day showdown—and yes, it involves live turkey. This isn’t your grandpa’s pump gun; Von Benedikt’s custom 500 features upgraded internals for buttery-smooth cycling, a tricked-out ghost ring sight setup for precision at speed, and a barrel optimized for everything from buckshot blasts to turkey loads. Dropping a live bird at range distance with a pump action? That’s not just showmanship; it’s a masterclass in proving why the Mossberg 500 remains the undisputed king of versatile, affordable firepower. As one of the best-selling shotguns ever—over 11 million units since 1961—it’s a staple for home defense, hunting, and now apparently turkey thumping, all while shrugging off abuse that would sideline lesser guns.
For the 2A community, this video hits harder than a 00 buck slug. In an era of overpriced tacticool semi-autos facing regulatory scrutiny, Von Benedikt’s build reminds us that the Mossberg 500 is the ultimate everyman’s equalizer: sub-$500 street price, endless aftermarket support, and zero reliance on finicky gas systems. It’s battle-tested from Vietnam tunnels to modern home invasions, and customizing one like this democratizes high-end performance without breaking the bank or inviting ATF side-eye. Implications? Pump actions like the 500 are politically bulletproof—reliable, manual, and a gateway drug for new shooters wary of assault optics. Watch this, grab your 500, and hit the range; it’s a rallying cry that real defense doesn’t need hype, just heads-up reliability and a steady trigger finger.
The real gem here is the live turkey demo, blending practical hunting skills with raw shotgun fundamentals. Von Benedikt doesn’t just pattern the load—he dissects pattern density, choke selection, and holdover for ethical, one-shot kills, underscoring why shotguns excel in dynamic scenarios where rifles falter. For 2A enthusiasts prepping for SHTF or just defending the homestead, it’s a blueprint: mod your Mossberg, master the fundamentals, and stay lethal. If you’re not subscribed to his channel yet, fix that—because in a world pushing magazine bans and feature limits, stories like this keep the spirit of self-reliance alive and kicking.
