The Mossberg 500 Youth Bantam Field/Deer Combo is a 20-gauge pump-action shotgun built for smaller-framed shooters. At 6.25 lbs and 42.75 inches overall with a 22-inch barrel, it's dimensionally appropriate for youth and smaller adults without being underpowered. 
 

Key Specifications 

• Brand: Mossberg 
• Model Name: 500 
• Series: Youth Field/Deer Combo 
• Gauge: 20 GA 
• Action Type: Pump Action 
• Capacity: 5+1 rounds (6 total) 
• Barrel Length: 22 inches (also available in 24 inches) 
• Chamber Size: 3 inches 
• Overall Length: 42.75 inches 
• Weight: 6.25 lbs 
• Stock Material: Wood with Satin Finish 
• Receiver Finish: Blued Steel 
• Safety Mechanism: Ambidextrous Top Tang 
   

Detailed Features 

 
The blued steel receiver handles field conditions and resists rust with routine care. The pump action cycles reliably and the 5+1 capacity is standard for this class. Dual bead sights on a vent rib barrel handle target acquisition for field shooting. The Accu-set choke system lets shooters change shot patterns depending on game type or range distance. The top tang safety is ambidextrous, which works for both left- and right-handed shooters. 
 
The combo package includes both a field barrel and a deer barrel, which is the main practical advantage over a single-barrel configuration. 
 

Usage Scenarios 

 
Upland bird, small game, and deer hunting cover the main applications. The 3-inch chamber handles most 20-gauge field loads. The light weight and shorter dimensions make it easier to carry all day and to mount quickly in the field, which matters more for youth shooters still developing technique.

Parents and youth shooters are the main buyers here, and the feedback is consistently positive. The weight and dimensions fit younger shooters better than a standard 500, and the adjustable length of pull gets mentioned as a practical feature that extends the rifle's useful life as a shooter grows.

The combo package, field and deer barrels in one box, comes up often as a real value-add that makes it a more versatile purchase. Pump reliability is rarely questioned; the 500 action is proven and the Youth Bantam runs the same way.

Recoil relative to .410 is the one honest concern that appears in discussions. 20-gauge is noticeably more than .410, and some younger or lighter shooters find it stout initially. Most work through it, and parents who go in with that expectation handle it fine. Overall the sentiment is that it's a solid first shotgun for a young hunter.