Mossberg 590A1 or another pump

[warren5421]

I am looking at getting a shotgun when I see one. Looking at the Mossberg 590A1 though I know Remington was the leader and I can buy used for about the same price. What pump would you be looking at. I want a 3" so it can shoot Tri-Ball or slugs. I grew up in Sothern Ohio and when back around home I have seen black bear so want a woods walking gun that DNR won't get upset about. I will be on mom's land so no hunting license needed though I won't be hunting. Where I grew up they don't like rifles in the woods when tree rodents are in season or deers. I like SxS but 9 rounds beats 2 hands down with bear. Lived in upstate NY during my Navy days and seen what a small black bear could take before dying. Seen one that took 6 rounds of .357's and 2 rounds of .30-06 before it dropped. Knocked down the guy that shot it with the .357.

 

[Old Bear]

Never used a 590 but have had several 500's which is a little lighter than a 590. I think the 590A1 uses the 8 round magazine which means you can only use the 20" barrel designed to fit the extra long magazine. I have a 500 with the 8 round magazine and 20" barrel for my main home defense firearm.

I have a couple standard 500's (6 shot) can use a variety of barrels for just about all of your needs. I have a 28" rib barrel with different chokes for small game, a 30" fixed full choke barrel for larger birds, a 24" rifled cantilever barrel for deer and an 18" open cylinder for defense.

Can't go wrong with a Mossberg pump.

 

[2A-Hoosier23]

Unless you can find an older Remington in good condition, like an 870 Wingmaster, I would stick to Mossberg. Have a Maverick 88 and 590 (not A1), both perfectly reliable, plenty of aftermarket support... could go on and on but this is all that needs to be said:

Can't go wrong with a Mossberg pump.

 

[Tactically Fat]

You can't really go wrong with a 590, 500, or a Rem 870. In today's world, it'd be hard not to just buy any of the 3 should you come across one.

I think the 870 is more easily user configurable / customizable, however. Their barrel lug is always in the same place on their guns; making barrel swaps super easy. If my understanding is correct, on the M500 (maybe 590?), the position of the barrel lug is dependent upon the mag tube length. So if you found, say, a factory M500 with the long magazine (7 rds?) and 18" barrel, you'd have to be sure to get an appropriately-lugged bird barrel should you wish to swap. Hard for me to esplain in type. Sorry.

 

[JettaKnight]

There's a lot about the 590A1 that I like, but for me (a lefty), the thing that completely tips the scales is the tang mount safety; I hate the Remington design.

 

[1nderbeard]

I found this to be helpful on the differences. I like Mossberg because of the location of the safety.

 

[2A-Hoosier23]

You can't really go wrong with a 590, 500, or a Rem 870. In today's world, it'd be hard not to just buy any of the 3 should you come across one.

I think the 870 is more easily user configurable / customizable, however. Their barrel lug is always in the same place on their guns; making barrel swaps super easy. If my understanding is correct, on the M500 (maybe 590?), the position of the barrel lug is dependent upon the mag tube length. So if you found, say, a factory M500 with the long magazine (7 rds?) and 18" barrel, you'd have to be sure to get an appropriately-lugged bird barrel should you wish to swap. Hard for me to esplain in type. Sorry.

that's correct, you have to match the barrels to the magazine tube length for Mossberg shotguns. You explained it just fine

 

[Torran]

I picked this up about three weeks ago hadn't had a chance to shoot it yet

 

[2A-Hoosier23]

I picked this up about three weeks ago hadn't had a chance to shoot it yet

Great choice! I wanted the one with ghost ring sights but it was never in stock so I picked the same one but with a fiber optic front sight. Love mine. Give us an update when you put some shells through her.

Welcome to INGO!

 

[Torran]

Great choice! I wanted the one with ghost ring sights but it was never in stock so I picked the same one but with a fiber optic front sight. Love mine. Give us an update when you put some shells through her.

Welcome to INGO!

Thank you!

 

[Old Bear]

I picked this up about three weeks ago hadn't had a chance to shoot it yet

I would love to have a 590A1, but ,with the exception of a bayonet lug, it wont do anything my 500's can't do. If I were in the market for a home defense only shotgun, I'd get a 590A1.....so I could mount an M7 bayonet......just in case 8 rounds of 00 buck doesn't get the job done

oh yea....Welcome to INGO

 

[crewchief888]

many years ago when i bought my 1st house, i wanted a short barreled 12G for a "house gun" i picked up a winchester 1300 defender. over the years, it morphed into a competition gun. lots of bowling pins fell to it. ive used it in "tactical" shotgun and 2 gun matches.

 

[seldon14]

I picked this up about three weeks ago hadn't had a chance to shoot it yet

Good choice. The 500/590 has a better safety, better pump release, and better loading gate than the 870.

 

[Small's]

I think my next one would be a mossberg thunder ranch 590. I really like those for the shorter lop, shorter barrel and just a plain bead style sight. The a1 in 20" is a heavy gun. Great gun though

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Tapatalk

 

[SgtFury]

I think the Remington s quality is down lately. You won't be disappointed with the mossberg

 

[Tombs]

The only complaint I have with the 590A1 is the heavy profile barrel.
You may see it as a benefit at first, but if you carry it much you'll begin to hate it. The metal trigger pack is nice, but the standard 590 model makes a lot more sense to me.

 

[seldon14]

The only complaint I have with the 590A1 is the heavy profile barrel.
You may see it as a benefit at first, but if you carry it much you'll begin to hate it. The metal trigger pack is nice, but the standard 590 model makes a lot more sense to me.

They had a Magpul special edition with fluted barrel that was just about perfect.

 

[ashby koss]

/i would stay away from anything Remington from the last couple of years. all their steel seems badly coated or badly treated. I've seen cases upon cases of rust spotting and other issues

 

[Tombs]

They had a Magpul special edition with fluted barrel that was just about perfect.

It's half tempting to go have mine fluted and get my +2 extension reparked along with it.

I'd also really like to lose the ghost ring sights and get a bead.

 

[warren5421]

Can you find extra barrels for the A1? Thinking a rifled barrel and a 28"-32" bird barrel. Anyone have the Retro 500 or 590? Are they worth the money?