Description
The Iver Johnson IJ500 12 Gauge Synthetic (part IJ50012S28) is a budget-friendly semi-automatic field shotgun with a 28 inch vent-rib barrel, 3 inch chamber, black synthetic stock and a full set of Mobil-pattern choke tubes. It is built for hunters who want a weatherproof repeater without paying premium-brand prices.
Iver Johnson IJ500 12 Gauge Synthetic Overview
This is the synthetic-stock version of the IJ500, finished in black from butt to muzzle. The magazine and chamber hold five 2-3/4 inch shells, the 28 inch barrel carries a ventilated rib with a front bead, and a rubber recoil pad caps the 14.5 inch length of pull. Weight is about 7 lb 2 oz with a 49 inch overall length, which makes it a familiar, full-size field gun that points like most American and Turkish-pattern autoloaders. Sling studs are fitted front and rear.
Built for Bad Weather
A synthetic stock and forend do not swell, crack or lose finish when they get soaked, which is exactly what happens in a duck blind or a sleet-filled goose field. Paired with the black metal finish, the IJ500 Synthetic is the version to choose if your shotgun rides in a boat, a truck bed or a muddy ATV rack. Wipe the metal dry after each trip anyway; no finish is truly rust-proof.
Choke Tubes and Loads
The gun comes with flush Mobil-thread choke tubes. The distributor lists Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Improved Cylinder and Cylinder, while Iver Johnson’s walnut IJ500 page lists three tubes, so confirm what is in your box. Mobil-pattern tubes are among the most common on the market, so extended turkey and waterfowl tubes are easy to add. The 3 inch chamber takes magnum hunting shells, and steel shot should be used only with tubes rated for it.
Reliability and Break-In
Like many value-priced autoloaders, the IJ500 may need a break-in period. Run a few boxes of full-power 1-1/8 ounce or heavier field loads before judging reliability, and keep the action clean and lightly lubricated. Very light shells may not cycle reliably in every gun, so test any light target loads you plan to shoot at the range before you depend on them in a match or on a hunt. Clean the gas or action parts per the manual after every outing.
Hunting Uses
With 28 inches of barrel the IJ500 swings smoothly on passing ducks and flushing pheasants, and the five-shot capacity makes follow-ups easy on clays. For migratory birds, federal regulations limit you to three shells, so install the magazine plug supplied or available for the gun before waterfowl season. With a tight tube and turkey loads it can also double as a spring gobbler gun, though a shorter barrel is handier in the woods.
What to Expect for the Price
The IJ500 is a working shotgun, not an heirloom. Fit and finish are clean but plain, resale value will be lower than a Benelli, Beretta or Browning, and parts support runs through Iver Johnson rather than every local gunsmith. For a hunter who needs a dependable spare, a first semi-auto or a gun that can take abuse without worry, those trade-offs make sense.
State Laws and Ownership
Semi-automatic shotguns with conventional stocks are legal in most states, but magazine limits for hunting differ, and a few jurisdictions regulate certain semi-auto shotgun features. Pennsylvania buyers complete a PICS check at the transferring dealer. Confirm local hunting rules on shell capacity, shot type and blaze orange with your state game agency before you head out.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Iver Johnson Arms
- Model: IJ500 synthetic (IJ50012S28)
- UPC: 759049462927
- Gauge: 12
- Action: semi-automatic
- Chamber: 3 inch
- Capacity: 5 rounds of 2-3/4 inch shells
- Barrel: 28 inch with ventilated rib
- Sight: front bead
- Stock: black synthetic with rubber recoil pad
- Finish: black
- Choke tubes: Mobil-pattern flush tubes (distributor lists 5)
- Length of pull: 14.5 inches
- Overall length: 49 inches
- Weight: about 7 lb 2 oz
Before You Buy
Federal law requires long-gun buyers to be 18 or older, and the shotgun ships to your local FFL for transfer and background check. Plan on a break-in period with full-power loads, use a plug for migratory bird hunting, and check that any steel loads match the choke tube in use.
Who It Is For
The Iver Johnson IJ500 12 Gauge Synthetic is a great fit for waterfowl and upland hunters who want a weatherproof repeater, first-time semi-auto buyers, and anyone who needs an affordable spare 12 gauge for waterfowl season.
Buy the Iver Johnson IJ500 12 Gauge Synthetic at MAG5 Firearms
MAG5 Firearms is a family-owned FFL in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Order the Iver Johnson IJ500 12 Gauge Synthetic online and ship it to your local FFL dealer, or browse our full selection of firearms for more shotguns. For factory details, visit Iver Johnson Arms.
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