Mossberg 590: Any good?

Southern_guy · September 9, 2007, 01:04 AM

I am in the market for a decent shotgun for self-defense and perhaps a small amount of hunting. I've fired a shotgun less than 10 times in my life, so I am very inexperienced with them.
After reading some articles and talking with a few soldiers, the Mossberg 590 is what I am considering purchasing, due to it's tactical features (bayonet lug, short lenght, rails, etc.) and apparent reliability. The low cost is also very appealing. So, I'd like to know of any of your experiences with the 590 and any flaws that the design has. I'd appreciate any help I can get.

DonR101395 · September 9, 2007, 01:10 AM

Since you want to hunt with it also I would suggest a 500. The 590 is a good gun, but not best suited for hunting. I've got two 590s a 20"bbl and a 14"bbl and two 500s a 12ga and a 20ga and have never had a problem with them. The 12ga 500 I've been using since 1979.

Southern_guy · September 9, 2007, 01:38 AM

This might be a good time to mention that I've never hunted anything larger than a squirrel.

gunner79 · September 9, 2007, 02:38 AM

dam good shotgun
first gun i bought when i turned 18 was a mossberg 590
never had a problem with it

Hallucinator · September 9, 2007, 05:57 AM

I've got the 590. Terrific home defense shotgun. I'm thinking about picking up a 930 XP semi auto (eight rounds!)

Desert01 · September 9, 2007, 07:46 AM

Same recommendation. If you are going to use the shotgun for HD and hunting get the 500. You can get sporting barrels for it, ect. Don't feel under gunned with it the 500 vs. the 590. The 500 is the standard shotgun for the Army. mechanicly they are the same shotguns.

The_Question · September 11, 2007, 08:43 PM

same question, i was thinking of getting the mossberg 500 field/security combo

http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossb.../NEW/54169.jpg

anyone have experince with this gun?

and a newbie question, do i need a slug barrel to shoot slugs or does it just help in shooting them?

DonR101395 · September 11, 2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

same question, i was thinking of getting the mossberg 500 field/security combo

http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossb.../NEW/54169.jpg

anyone have experince with this gun?

and a newbie question, do i need a slug barrel to shoot slugs or does it just help in shooting them?

That would be a nice combo. You can shoot standard foster type slugs no problem. I still don't own a rifled slug barrel. I've been using a 24" slugster barrel since 79. I bought mine as a combo also, a 26" modified choke barrel and a 24" smooth bore improved cylinder slug barrel with rifle sights. I just recently bought me a 24" multi-choke barrel for it.

The_Question · September 11, 2007, 09:53 PM

thank you don for the response, so i shouldn't have to bother with a slug barrel since the foster types should be more then good?

DonR101395 · September 11, 2007, 09:57 PM

No, those barrels will be fine.

bottom rung · September 11, 2007, 10:49 PM

Hi, you said that the 500 and the 590 are the same mechanically. Is the only major difference the reciever material? It seems that the 590 reciever is made of steel and that the 500 is made of some lighter material. I know they are good guns, but I was just wondering. I am kind of thinking of picking up a 590 or a 500, I am just not sure yet.

DonR101395 · September 11, 2007, 10:58 PM

Bottom Rung I'm not Desert, but the receivers are the same. The primary difference is the magazine tube, how the barrel attaches sight and finish options. All parts are interchangeable between the two. Barrels if you have the corresponding magazine tube. On a form 1 I recently built a 590 from a 14" 590 parts kits minus the receiver. I used a spare 500 receiver that I had. It was basically a leggo kit. Screw the mag tube in, put the internals in, attach the barrel. Complete in about 10 minutes.

Desert01 · September 12, 2007, 08:32 AM

Some of the 590's have the Steel trigger group some do not. The 500's have the plasitic trigger groups and are on most of the currently procured shotguns. The clean out tube barrel attachment is the biggest differance between the two models, although the current Mossberg 500 Breaching shotguns use the 5+1 590's clean out tube. You could convert a 500, but the 5+1 barrels are sort of hard to come by and only come in a few flavors 18 1/8" breaching barrel, 14" Short Barreled Shotgun, and 18 1/2" cylinder bore. Add differnat sight options and finishes you have it about covered. Vang Comp makes a +1 extension for it and I believe some of the Choate tubes will also fit.

In all I realy like their shotguns.

bottom rung · September 12, 2007, 11:03 AM

Thanks guys. I like the Mossbergs. As you could see I was a little confused. Now I just really have to decide between the no nonsense 590, or the versatility of a 500. With 500, I could keep a short barrel on at home and throw a longer barrel on for skeet. Thanks again for the help.

September 9, 2007, 01:04 AM	#1
Southern_guy Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 175	Mossberg 590: Any good? I am in the market for a decent shotgun for self-defense and perhaps a small amount of hunting. I've fired a shotgun less than 10 times in my life, so I am very inexperienced with them. After reading some articles and talking with a few soldiers, the Mossberg 590 is what I am considering purchasing, due to it's tactical features (bayonet lug, short lenght, rails, etc.) and apparent reliability. The low cost is also very appealing. So, I'd like to know of any of your experiences with the 590 and any flaws that the design has. I'd appreciate any help I can get.

September 9, 2007, 05:57 AM	#5
Hallucinator Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Posts: 396	I've got the 590. Terrific home defense shotgun. I'm thinking about picking up a 930 XP semi auto (eight rounds!) __________________ Sig 226, 228, 229, 232. XD45 Tactical. Smith Model 60 Chief's Special. Smith 1911. Mossberg 930 SPX. How we behave as gun owners is important. Posturing and threatening does not serve us well in the public eye.

September 9, 2007, 07:46 AM	#6
Desert01 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2005 Location: Castorland, NY Posts: 545	Same recommendation. If you are going to use the shotgun for HD and hunting get the 500. You can get sporting barrels for it, ect. Don't feel under gunned with it the 500 vs. the 590. The 500 is the standard shotgun for the Army. mechanicly they are the same shotguns. __________________ Pro Patria "For Country" www.pro-patria.us (Material x Training)/Tactics = Mission Success

September 11, 2007, 10:49 PM	#11
bottom rung Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 494	desert01 Hi, you said that the 500 and the 590 are the same mechanically. Is the only major difference the reciever material? It seems that the 590 reciever is made of steel and that the 500 is made of some lighter material. I know they are good guns, but I was just wondering. I am kind of thinking of picking up a 590 or a 500, I am just not sure yet.

September 12, 2007, 08:32 AM	#13
Desert01 Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2005 Location: Castorland, NY Posts: 545	Some of the 590's have the Steel trigger group some do not. The 500's have the plasitic trigger groups and are on most of the currently procured shotguns. The clean out tube barrel attachment is the biggest differance between the two models, although the current Mossberg 500 Breaching shotguns use the 5+1 590's clean out tube. You could convert a 500, but the 5+1 barrels are sort of hard to come by and only come in a few flavors 18 1/8" breaching barrel, 14" Short Barreled Shotgun, and 18 1/2" cylinder bore. Add differnat sight options and finishes you have it about covered. Vang Comp makes a +1 extension for it and I believe some of the Choate tubes will also fit. In all I realy like their shotguns. __________________ Pro Patria "For Country" www.pro-patria.us (Material x Training)/Tactics = Mission Success

September 9, 2007, 01:10 AM	#2
DonR101395 Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2005 Location: NWFL Posts: 3,029	Since you want to hunt with it also I would suggest a 500. The 590 is a good gun, but not best suited for hunting. I've got two 590s a 20"bbl and a 14"bbl and two 500s a 12ga and a 20ga and have never had a problem with them. The 12ga 500 I've been using since 1979.

September 9, 2007, 01:38 AM	#3
Southern_guy Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 175	This might be a good time to mention that I've never hunted anything larger than a squirrel.

September 9, 2007, 02:38 AM	#4
gunner79 Junior member Join Date: July 7, 2007 Location: JBLM, WA Posts: 122	dam good shotgun first gun i bought when i turned 18 was a mossberg 590 never had a problem with it

September 11, 2007, 08:43 PM	#7
The_Question Member Join Date: March 23, 2007 Posts: 26	same question, i was thinking of getting the mossberg 500 field/security combo http://www.mossberg.com/images/Mossb.../NEW/54169.jpg anyone have experince with this gun? and a newbie question, do i need a slug barrel to shoot slugs or does it just help in shooting them?

September 11, 2007, 09:53 PM	#9
The_Question Member Join Date: March 23, 2007 Posts: 26	thank you don for the response, so i shouldn't have to bother with a slug barrel since the foster types should be more then good?

September 11, 2007, 09:57 PM	#10
DonR101395 Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2005 Location: NWFL Posts: 3,029	No, those barrels will be fine.

September 11, 2007, 10:58 PM	#12
DonR101395 Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2005 Location: NWFL Posts: 3,029	Bottom Rung I'm not Desert, but the receivers are the same. The primary difference is the magazine tube, how the barrel attaches sight and finish options. All parts are interchangeable between the two. Barrels if you have the corresponding magazine tube. On a form 1 I recently built a 590 from a 14" 590 parts kits minus the receiver. I used a spare 500 receiver that I had. It was basically a leggo kit. Screw the mag tube in, put the internals in, attach the barrel. Complete in about 10 minutes.

September 12, 2007, 11:03 AM	#14
bottom rung Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2007 Location: CT Posts: 494	Thanks guys. I like the Mossbergs. As you could see I was a little confused. Now I just really have to decide between the no nonsense 590, or the versatility of a 500. With 500, I could keep a short barrel on at home and throw a longer barrel on for skeet. Thanks again for the help.