My first shotgun was a Mossberg 500, and I loved it so much I ended up picking up a Mossberg 590A1. That was more years ago than I care to admit, and both shotguns have stood the test of time, a ridiculously high number of rounds, and the expected abuses of use in all kinds of weather and multiple moves (the last of which involved flying them across the country, which was a nerve-wracking experience, but they and my other guns all made it just fine). And it looks like my two Mossberg boys – yes, boys, you guys may name your guns after women, but I name mine after men – will have a brother soon, because at SHOT 2015 Mossberg is unveiling its Patriot line. And it’s not going to be small, either, it’s supposed to include a total of 50 guns.

The Mossberg Patriot line will come in three basic styles: standard, deer THUGS (yes thugs), and youth, with some scoped options as well. First, let’s take a look at the standard options.

The standard Patriot is a bolt-action that will be immediately available in 11 calibers and three solid colors: black, walnut, and laminate. Walnut and laminate stocks will have a stippled grip and forend. Short-action calibers will include: .22-250 Rem, .243 Rem, 7mm-08 Rem, and .308 Win. Long-action calibers will include: .25-06 Rem, .270 Win, .30-06 Springfield, 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, and .375 Ruger. Standard calibers will have a 5-round capacity while magnum calibers will have a 4-round capacity.

Standard Patriot rifles will come with Mossberg’s LBA adjustable triggers which are adjustable from 2 to 7 pounds. Each rifle will also feature a Weaver-style base, making adding a scope reasonably simple.

Standard Patriot Specs:

Short-Action

Caliber                  Capacity               Barrel                    Twist                     Sights                    Stock

.22-250 Rem              5                   22” fluted                  1:14               Weaver bases          Walnut, Black

.243 Win                    5                    22” fluted                  1:10              Weaver bases           Walnut, Black

7mm-08 Rem             5                    22” fluted                   1:9.5             Weaver bases          Walnut, Black

.308 Win                    5                     22” fluted                  1:10                Weaver bases       Walnut, Black,

Laminate

Long-Action

Caliber                  Capacity                 Barrel                    Twist                  Sights                      Stock

.25-06                       5                      22″ fluted                   1:10              Weaver bases        Walnut, Black

.270 Win                   5             22″ fluted Marinecote opt.   1:10             Weaver bases        Walnut, Black,

Laminate

.30-06 Springfield     5                    22″ fluted/non-fluted     1:10             Weaver bases,       Walnut, Black

Marinecote opt.                             Rifle sights opt.       Laminate

7mm Rem Mag         4                           22″ fluted                1:9.5            Weaver bases        Walnut, Black

.300 Win Mag           4                   22″ fluted/non-fluted        1:10            Weaver bases       Walnut, Black

Marinecote opt.                              Rifle sights opt.     Laminate

.338 Win Mag          4                    22″ fluted/non-fluted          1:10           Weaver bases       Walnut, Black

Rifle sights opt.

.375 Ruger              4                     22″ fluted/non-fluted         1:10           Weaver bases       Walnut, Black

Marinecote opt.                                Rifle sights opt.      Laminate

Youth Model Specs:

Model        Caliber                                   Capacity        Barrel         Length of Pull           Stock

Bantam       .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem,              5            20″ fluted             12″             Walnut, reduced LOP

.308 Win

Super Bantam    .243 Win, 7mm-08                5             20″ fluted          adj. 12″-13″      Black w/adj. LOP

Rem, .308 Win

Super Bantam,     .243 Win, 7mm-08              5              20″ fluted          adj. 12″-13″     Black, Muddy Girl

Scoped pckg         Rem, .308 Win                                                                                   camo, Break-Up

Infinity, all adj. LOP

The scoped packages will be immediately available in five calibers: .22-250 Rem, .308 Win, .270 Win, .30-06 Springfield,  and .300 Win Mag. All will have a 5-round capacity with the exception of the magnum round, which will have a 4-round capacity. Also, each scoped rifle will have the option of a walnut or black synthetic stock with the exception of the .22-250 Rem, which will only come in walnut. They will come with 22″ fluted barrels and 3-9x40mm variable scopes.

Deer Thug models will feature a synthetic stock with the Break-Up Infinity camo pattern. They’ll be available in three calibers: .243 Win, .270 Win, and .30-06 Springfield. Each rifle will come with a 22″ fluted barrel

Some of the Youth models will come with the option of the same 3-9x40mm variable scope being included with the full-sized scoped rifles. No word yet on which Youth rifles will have that option.

One reason why Mossberg is releasing such an extensive line – 50 rifles is pretty much unheard of for an initial offering – is because they are apparently slowly phasing out their ATR and 4×4 lines. At least that’s the information currently going around. There has not been any timeline given as to a production end-date for those lines; rest assured when we find out, so will you.

MSRP is being given at $386 to $584. And, as time passes, the Patriot line will expand to cover gaps left by the elimination of the ATR and 4×4 lines.

And, before you ask, I’m sure Mossberg has more news in store for us at SHOT Show. One of the things I’ll have my ear to the ground for this year in Vegas is Mossberg-related news, and I certainly won’t be the only one. Remember, SHOT Show countdown is just three weeks out! I don’t know about you guys, but I’m excited!