There was a time in American hunting history when the pump-action was considered a bit of a luxury. If you wanted a 12-gauge repeater on a shoestring budget, you looked at a bolt-action. The Mossberg 395 is a relic of that era—a magazine-fed, bolt-operated shotgun that is as unconventional as it is clunky.
Overview
The Mossberg 395 (and its variants like the 395K, 395KA, and 395KB) was produced from the early 1960s through the mid-1980s. It was designed to be a “working man’s” shotgun. It is lightweight, simple, and at the time, was significantly cheaper than a Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870.
While the idea of a bolt-action shotgun seems strange today, it was Mossberg’s way of offering a multi-shot capability without the mechanical complexity of a pump or semi-auto. So. . .it was cheaper than a pump action.
Specifications
- Capacity: 2 in the mag (though 5 round mags are available)
- Choke: C-Lect-Choke or fixed
- Front steel bead, rear notch
- Weight: 6.5-7lbs
Usability
In the field, the Mossberg 395 is a mixed bag. The C-Lect-Choke is actually a clever bit of engineering for the time. By twisting the collar on the end of the barrel, you tighten or loosen a collet to change your pattern from Improved Cylinder to Full. It is essentially an early version of a multi-choke system without the need to carry a wrench or extra tubes.
However, the “repeater” aspect of this gun is where things get sticky:
- The Magazine: Removing and inserting the 2-round magazine is a chore. You often have to push in on the mag while simultaneously yanking the release.
- Feeding: Reliable feeding from the magazine is hit-or-miss. While it might cycle dummy rounds on a workbench, these guns are known to hang up at the range when things get dirty or when using certain shell lengths.
- The Action: The bolt is a massive piece of steel. It works, but it isn’t “fast.” If you miss your first shot at a duck, that bird will likely be in the next county by the time you’ve cycled the bolt for a second.
The “Cracked Stock” Warning
If you pick one of these up at a gun show, check the wrist and middle of the stock. The Mossberg 395 has a serious design quirk: if the action screw is even slightly loose, the recoil will cause the action to shift and split the wood.
Pro Tip: If you own one, ensure the action screw is tight before every outing.
Aftermarket and Potential Modifications
There is virtually no modern aftermarket for the 395. Numrich has new and used 5 round mags that take 3″ shells only: not super useful for waterfowling where you can only have 2 in the mag.
Competitors
Back in the day, the 395 competed with other budget bolt guns like the Savage 212 or the Marlin 55 (The Goose Gun). Today, its only real “competition” is a used pump-action. For the same price you’d pay for a 395 in good condition, you can often find a used Maverick 88 that will be more reliable and faster to shoot.
Conclusion
The Mossberg 395 is a fascinating piece of budget hunting history. It isn’t a “good” shotgun by modern standards—the magazine is finicky, the stock is fragile, and the bolt action is way too slow for wing shooting. However, maybe as a dedicated turkey gun where you only need one shot, or as a nostalgic piece for a collector of oddball Mossbergs, it has a certain charm.
Just don’t expect to win any clay shooting competitions with it.
