Okay then I guess I'll drop the 535 and stick with the 500.
Randy's comment "...I would scour all the gun shops and see if I couldn't find a used one for a couple hundred $..." makes me chuckle. There is one local gunshop with little in the way of used anything much less shotguns... they do do shotguns. The next closest gun shop is 3 to 4 hours away. That and "...for a couple hundred hundred $" I'd be lucky to find a used single shot for a couple hundred $. Well maybe $150.00 to $200.00.
A new Mossberg 500 wood with vent rib runs $500.00. Since I live in a small rural area used guns are a bit scarce so used would likely be ordered on-line so no handling and buying based on pics and words. There are gun auction sites with used guns and some look okay and at reasonable prices but buying is sight unseen unless a guy can get to Vancouver (8 hrs.), Calgary (7 hours), Toronto (3 to 4 days)... you get the drift.
I think I'll start putting out feelers for used 500's. As Randy says, if I can find one I can buy a rifled barrel later. But again for $661.00 I get 3 barrels and a brand new gun so...
I agree with BB too so even if I do go the combo route new I may be able to pick up a used one later and have dedicated slug gun.
Longbow