Mossberg or Remington...what's your preference?

[modarnis]

I have an HK/Fabarm FP6 pump gun.

Mossys are nice if your a lefty because the safety is on the top of the gun. That being said, I rarely use the safety and prefer to keep it "cruiser ready". Its easier for me to pump the action than to fumble with the safety with my left hand, especially on an 870. Loading the 590 with that wide open gate is easier than the 870. Used 870 police trade-ins are easier to find than 590s and have a heavier duty reciever than the "Express" models. I just saw some at my local gunstore...they seem to have alot of finish wear from banging around, but the breech looked brand new.

A knox stock for either knocks down alot of recoil with heavy slugs or buck.

Other options:
Heard the Benelli Nova Tacticals are decent guns for the money as is the Winchester 1300 Defender/FN Police.

I own a Benelli Nova with a short barrel 18.5 and the ghost ring sights. If you go that route, pony up the extra 75-80 for the recoil reducer that fits in the buttstock. I also have a long barrel for waterfowl hunting. I Still prefer my old O/U double for hunting upland or waterfowl. Just mounts up better for me.

I hunt with people who have both Remingtons and Mossbergs. I have shot both. I have dropped a few geese with both. Like anything else, its what feels best/works best for you

 

[Kreth]

Anyway, I will ask some professionals in my network about how exactly I will be tricking out my Moss when I get closer to buying...:ultracool

Please share their recommendations when you do...

I have thought about those pistol grip conversion kits, or a shorter barrel, but mine is mostly used for hunting. It is in my gun cabinet across the house from me when sleeping. However, my S&W .45 auto is close by.

Yeah, I should really get around to obtaining my pistol license sometime soon. It's been too long since I've done any pistol shooting.

 

[Drac]

I definately like my Mossberg as well!

Brian R. VanCise
www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

Me too.

 

[KenpoTex]

870 Express. I'm sure the 500's and 590's are good guns. However te only Mossbergs I've ever handled/shoot are the Mavericks and I was not favorably impressed.

Even thought I'm a lefty, the 870 doesn't bother me any since I don't use the safety.

 

[Blotan Hunka]

The receiver of the Remington 870 is steel, while the receivers on the Mossberg 500s are aluminum alloy. Steel is certainly stronger than aluminum, but at the cost of added weight. Durability of the receiver has never been a problem for me, but take this into consideration. Especially if you intend to add a Sidesaddle -- if you over-torque the mounting screws on the Sidesaddle, it's easier to warp an aluminum receiver than a steel one. Sufficient warping and you can bind up your shotgun's bolt.

 

[Cruentus]

The receiver of the Remington 870 is steel, while the receivers on the Mossberg 500s are aluminum alloy. Steel is certainly stronger than aluminum, but at the cost of added weight. Durability of the receiver has never been a problem for me, but take this into consideration. Especially if you intend to add a Sidesaddle -- if you over-torque the mounting screws on the Sidesaddle, it's easier to warp an aluminum receiver than a steel one. Sufficient warping and you can bind up your shotgun's bolt.

In theory that makes sense, and I had some question about that myself. According to most of what I have read, though, the aluminum hasn't widely reported any problems.

 

[Cruentus]

Just picked up a Moss 500 persuader today.

Now, I am not sure, because that was pretty cool too.

Here is what Wikpedia (I know not exactly a scholarly source, but it gives a point of discussion, and I couldn't find anything discussing the differences between these too guns) says about the 500 vs 590:

The primary difference between the Model 500 and Model 590 is that the Model 590 uses a different magazine tube design. The Model 500 magazines are closed at the muzzle end, and the barrel is held in place by bolting into a threaded hole at the end of the magazine tube. Model 590 magazines are open at the end, and the barrels fit around the magazine tube and are held on by a nut at the end. The Model 500 magazine facilitates easy barrel changes, as the barrel bolt serves no function other than holding the barrel in place. The Model 590 magazine facilitates easy cleaning, as removing the nut allows removal of the magazine spring and follower.

O.K.....couple of questions for you shotgun lovers out there who might know more on this then I do...

#1. Is that the only difference between the 500 and 590? I would think that there has to be more...

#2. Assuming that Wiki is true, does that basically mean that on the 500 it is easier to change the barrel, and on the 590 it is easier to clean?

#3. Keeping in mind #2, what extra steps do you have to do to change the barrel on the 590? How about clean the 500? Are there any tactical considerations with the magazine differences with these two guns?

Cool. That's all for now. That 500 I felt today was pretty sweet. I will be getting my hands on a 590 next weekend.

The people that I know are familiar with their own guns, but not the differences between the two.

So hopefully I can get a shotgun buff too do a comparison here for me. Anyone?

 

[arnisandyz]

this might help...

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=71652

http://www.thehighroad.org/printthread.php?t=134097

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

this might help...

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=71652

http://www.thehighroad.org/printthread.php?t=134097

Arnisandyz, those were good links to explain the differances.
I have the 590A1 and you would be hard pressed to make me
happier with another shotgun. It is an awesome home defense
tool.

Brian R. VanCise
www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

 

[arnisandyz]

Thanks, only thing I disagree with from those links is "the heat shroud is useless..just for looks".

While I don't have a 590, my gun did come with a barel shroud. I use it regularly for 3 gun competitions and prefer rolling the gun over and loading strong hand, it works, everyone else who loads with this technique has to wear a glove on thier off hand.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Yes the heat shield/shroud is nice!

Brian R. VanCise
www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

 

[Cruentus]

Hmmm...

I'm still not getting a comparison that I can conceptualize between the Moss 500 and 590. So, I'll start with a simple line of questioning:

Let's talk barrels 1st.

On the 590, what is the procedure for changing barrels, and how simple or difficult is it? Also, how short in barrel length can you go with the 590 and 500 respectively?

 

[Grenadier]

On the 590, what is the procedure for changing barrels, and how simple or difficult is it? Also, how short in barrel length can you go with the 590 and 500 respectively?

The procedure for swapping barrels can be found in the manual, on page 9:

http://stevespages.com/pdf/mossberg_500.pdf


1) Engage action lock lever.

2) Slide forearm fully rearward.

3) Slide the forearm forward slowly, until the front of the bolt is in the middle of the ejection port.

4) Unscrew the magazine cap, and rock the barrel gently back and forth.

As for the barrels, you have your standard 18.5" and 20" barrels. If you want the 14.5" barrel, you need the special permits, naturally!

 

[arnisandyz]

Most everybody I know that has a 590 leaves it as is. I've seen 20" barrels with the 8 shot tube and 18.5" A1 with the 6 (or is it 7?) tube. There is also a 14" but unless your LE or military, or pay the tax stamp (if its allowed in your area), you can't get one. By the way, does a short barrel shotgun fall under the same SBR stamp or is it am Any Other Weapon (AOW)? I've never changed a 590 barrel, but taking a look at one of my friends at the range it looks easy enough. Looks like the barrel has a ring that goes around the magazine tube, a cap/nut on the mag tube tightens it down. I think if you get the 20" model and want to go down in size to an 18.5" you would have to change the entire mag tube too, I think its one piece or the tube will extend past the barrel, which is OK, but there would be no reason to go to an 18.5" since the length will be close to the same as a 20" gun. (Thinking about it...you probably wouldn't be able to, because the threads on the mag tube won't line up to the barrel ring, you would HAVE to get a new tube as well). If you get an 18.5" A1 and add a 20" barrel I believe choate makes an extension that threads on to give you more capacity...but it will be weaker. (then you have the problem of the barrel ring matching up to the mag tube again).

The 500 series seems to be more interchangable and multi-purpose, sometimes they even offer combo packages with different barrels from the factory. Seems to taylor to the civilian market for someone who wants a duck gun, but then wants to use that gun for home defense.

Depends on what you want really. Personally I don't think I would take a 590 and put a 28" barrel on it to go hunting. I'd probably just buy another 500 since they're cheap enough and leave the 590 as a dedicated defensive gun.

Mossberg markets the 500 line to civilians, for sporting use AND self defense.
They market the 590 line to LE and Military as a more ruggedized alternative to the 500, while adding features like a bayonet lug and heatshield to name a few.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Most everybody I know that has a 590 leaves it as is. I've seen 20" barrels with the 8 shot tube and 18.5" A1 with the 6 (or is it 7?) tube. There is also a 14" but unless your LE or military, or pay the tax stamp (if its allowed in your area), you can't get one. By the way, does a short barrel shotgun fall under the same SBR stamp or is it am Any Other Weapon (AOW)? I've never changed a 590 barrel, but taking a look at one of my friends at the range it looks easy enough. Looks like the barrel has a ring that goes around the magazine tube, a cap/nut on the mag tube tightens it down. I think if you get the 20" model and want to go down in size to an 18.5" you would have to change the entire mag tube too, I think its one piece or the tube will extend past the barrel, which is OK, but there would be no reason to go to an 18.5" since the length will be close to the same as a 20" gun. If you get an 18.5" A1 and add a 20" barrel I believe choate makes an extension that threads on to give you more capacity...but it will be weaker.

The 500 series seems to be more interchangable and multi-purpose, sometimes they even offer combo packages with different barrels from the factory. Seems to taylor to the civilian market for someone who wants a duck gun, but then wants to use that gun for home defense.

Depends on what you want really. Personally I don't think I would take a 590 and put a 28" barrel on it to go hunting. I'd probably just buy another 500 since they're cheap enough and leave the 590 as a dedicated defensive gun.

Mossberg markets the 500 line to civilians, for sporting use AND self defense.
They market the 590 line to LE and Military as a more ruggedized alternative to the 500, while adding features like a bayonet lug and heatshield to name a few.

I would be hard pressed to say it better than that!

Brian R. VanCise
www.isntinctiveresponsetraining.com

 

[arnisandyz]

By the way...for home defense, the FN self-loading police is an awsome weapon. Thinking about picking one up myself.

http://www.fnhusa.com/contents/sg_selfloading.htm

 

[Blotan Hunka]

Just thinking-Im not talking about anybody here, but whenever I see discussions about "gun porn" I often wonder-as long as the gun functions reliably, does any of this "whats better" stuff really matter. Ive been on my share of firing lines and I think that some guy with a beat up old winchester model 12 that knows his stuff is worth more than some guy with a "death ray" shotgun with all the bells and whistles. If the weapon works, its the operator that needs training more than its the weapon that needs improving. IMO.

 

[Grenadier]

Just thinking-Im not talking about anybody here, but whenever I see discussions about "gun porn" I often wonder-as long as the gun functions reliably, does any of this "whats better" stuff really matter. Ive been on my share of firing lines and I think that some guy with a beat up old winchester model 12 that knows his stuff is worth more than some guy with a "death ray" shotgun with all the bells and whistles. If the weapon works, its the operator that needs training more than its the weapon that needs improving. IMO.

I don't disagree on this matter, when it comes to defensive use. If the gun functions reliably, and if it works with the desired accuracy, then it's good enough. After all, someone who gets hit with a blast of 12 gauge 00 buckshot isn't really going to care whether it came from a Mossberg, Remington, Winchester, Benelli, Browning, etc. Basic physics still applies, and as long as the tool allows one to take advantage of basic physics, then so be it.

Let's face it: A grizzled ol' gunny who knows his shotguns, equipped with a battered, old Remington (but one that still works well) is going to beat out a fresh-faced recruit with no shotgun experience, no matter what he has.

Where I will disagree, though, is that it is awfully nice to be able to customize your shotgun to how you want it. Some people want to be able to quickly swap out a 28" barrel for an 18.5" barrel, others might want a smoother trigger pull, still others may want better sights, etc. Perhaps someone can make a quick adjustment by swapping out some parts to their shotgun to turn it from a 3-shot longer range hunting gun into a 9-shot close-quartered defensive weapon.

Maybe some people might be better off with two shotguns instead of one that can handle it all. I won't disagree with their lines of thinking either, since I can certainly understand (and am 100% guilty) of having more!

 

[SFC JeffJ]

Lol, I understand where you are coming from, but a conversation about Mossberg's hardly seems like "gun porn". They are too cheap and ugly for that.

Jeff

 

[Kreth]

the weapon works, its the operator that needs training more than its the weapon that needs improving. IMO.

True, but one "improvement" is modification to make the weapon more efficient for home defense. The Mossberg 500 is really versatile in this respect. You can go out skeet shooting with a standard stock and long barrel, then swap to a shorter barrel and pistol grip to make it less cumbersome for home defense.