User blog comment:Griever0311/Ask A Marine Part Quattro/@comment-1260687-20100330053819

@Codfan: That's correct; the Mossberg 500 series (and most shotguns, for that matter) load from an opening immediately forward of the trigger guard.

Also, like I said, that 200-yard thing is some ol' bullshit, but (in theory, if it WAS effective at that range) rifles would still be superior due to their ability to place precise shots, not a cloud of buckshot, and the fact that you're only hitting exactly what you're firing at.