590A1 for the 1st Shotgun?

A

aridan

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Please forgive me for having so many questions, I am looking for my 1st shotgun & would like to know if Mossberg 590 or 590A1 would be a good choice. I'm looking for something inexpensive, 'well-rounded' - i.e. being able to do sporting clays AND do some 'defensive' (I dare not call it tactical, I don't have the skills yet) training, maybe some slugs/sabots. In short, something to let me experience different kinds of ammo & distances, all in 1 gun.

1. Is 20" bbl too short for sporting clays?
2. Will 590 take additional bbls? I'm thinking rifled & a 28" maybe if 20" is too short for clays.
3. The 20" bbl is not threaded for chokes, is it?
4. Can the stock be adjusted for better comfort?
5. A place near Toronto where I may actually hold a 590 before I buy? I see the 590A1 on frontiertaxidermy dot com listed at $570 and the 590 at $500, but I'd like to at least hold them first.

TIA.
 
If you want to swap barrels you need the cheaper 500.

The 590A1 is a nice gun and has a heavier barrel and metal safety/trigger guard.

20 inch barrel is no problem for fun clay shooting.

Best bet is to try a 590 or 500 and compare it with an 870 and then go from there....

You could have it tapped for a choke...
 
590a1 is a tank...a nice tank albet.

You will get alotta looks shooting clays with it. I for one enjoy that aspect.

It is designed for a purpose and that purpose is not sporting clays (hence the bayonet lug). That being said I shoot at clays with my 14inch brl Fabarm sometimes for fun.

To end my ramblenings..I would think it's not a bad all around (general use) shotgun.
 
I would agree. The 500 would be the better choice overall. Stock comfort can be adjusted with either of two methods. Method one is easy, cut the stock, redrill the screw holes and reattach the buttpad. Method two, replace the stock with an adjustable model(not my preference but we won't go there) or source out a bantam length stock(shorter model).

TDC
 
TDC said:
I would agree. The 500 would be the better choice overall. Stock comfort can be adjusted with either of two methods. Method one is easy, cut the stock, redrill the screw holes and reattach the buttpad. Method two, replace the stock with an adjustable model(not my preference but we won't go there) or source out a bantam length stock(shorter model).

TDC
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+ 1 - I have the 500 Persuader it holds one less shot but it is ALOT lighter and costs quite a bit less. More money for ammo!!! I shoot clays quite successfully with it as well. Maverick 88 is also an excellent choice: cheap no non-sense, a good beater. Because at the end of the day that's all a shotgun is....
 
I wouldn't get a 590 for an all around gun. A 26" tube 870 or 500 would be better. If you're new to shooting clay, the 590 wouldn't be my first choice.
 
TW25B said:
+ 1 - I have the 500 Persuader it holds one less shot but it is ALOT lighter and costs quite a bit less. More money for ammo!!! I shoot clays quite successfully with it as well. Maverick 88 is also an excellent choice: cheap no non-sense, a good beater. Because at the end of the day that's all a shotgun is....
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+1 to the Maverick 88 - great price and reliability. Tough blaster!

590's a mad tank and weighs a tonne - 9 in the tube + accessories gets heavy, especially at 20"!! :runaway:

look at the 870 Griz from Canam or frontier taxidermy, great bang for buck and they take all after market 870 accessories - my looks like a space gun!

My 1st splatter cannon was the Griz.

You could also look at the Tomahawk fm Marstar but I personally cant say anything about it...
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=253867


And remember, you HAVE to have a shotgun for home defence against de zombies! :dancingbanana:
 
I own the 590 A1 and like it a lot. It isn't ideal for clays but I have used it for such and (other than some of the looks you get ) it does the job fine. What it is designed for is for security/defence - the USMC have it as their standard issue shotty - and it is a very strong and well made piece of kit. The top end Remmy 870 may, arguably, have the edge but that is quite a bit more money.
 
Wow! Thanks for the info, guys!

I did my reading for about 3 days before I asked, that's why 590A1 came to mind. I have shot a couple of O/U guns in clay shooting, and did OK. I then shot a short, light pump-action (don't remember which one) and my results were much worse, so I thought the hefty weight of 590A1 would actually compensate for the 20" bbl, giving the gun enough inertia to follow the bird smoothly.

On my way from work, I stopped at the BassPro. They only had a 535 in stock - no 500s, no 590A1s, not even a Rem.870. I was hoping to hold them just to see if the stock fits. TDC, what's wrong with adjustable stock? I was going for synthetic, not wood - just for looks, I know its vain, but... I imagine cutting synthetic would be a diff. ballgame, I'd rather use the adjustable one.

@sherlockbonez: 26" would be a tad too long for HD, and I want this to be the only shotgun in my arsenal, at least for 6mths or so. So many guns, so little cash! My hart cries out for a Benelli M4, but I must control my urges.

If anyone could recommend a shop in GTA & around where I could touch a 500/590/870, please let me know.

Thanks again, guys! You're the best!
 
If you're only shooting clay informally, go for the 590, If more so,get the 500, BUT, make sure you get a 500 with the same end cap as a 590,so you can add mag extensions if you want.

And if you're going to swap out the stocks ,maybe have a look at a cruiser [pistol grip], its cheeper and you can add the stock you want

The weight of the 590 really soaks up the recoil making it a lot nicer to shoot for longer period.

It also takes a while to empty that 8rd mag.;)
 
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I'm leaning more towards a 500 Persuader, mostly because of lower weight & variety of options available. I don't think I really need 9 shots - not for clay, anyway - 5+1 should be plenty.

Which bbl+choke should I get for clays? Also, can a rifled bbl be choked so it could be used for both clay & slugs? That's probably stupid, they must have made different bbls for a reason.

I looked at stock options & would like the adjustable one IF it didn't have the pistol grip.

Haven't seen any suggestions for stores in the GTA. Are there any in Hamilton? I work in Oakville. Any Silverdale members here? I just wanna hold the damn thing... :D
 
I think you are correct about the magazine capacity. It is easy to be taken in by the more is better mind set, but the result is a gun that is heavy, bulky, and longer than necessary. My 20" 590 weighs 11 pounds loaded, including the magazine full with the chamber empty, the 6 round side saddle full, plus 4 in the speed feed stock comes to 17 rounds, it would be 18 rounds if I loaded the magazine with 23/4" shells.

Stick with the magazine cap version of the 500 if that is the model you choose. There is a shorter 18" version of the 590 as well. The 500's with the bolt that threads into the magazine to retain the barrel makes it imposible to service the magazine components, or clean behind the follower. Those who have that version will probably tell you they have never had a problem, but clearly having easy access to the inside of the magazine is desireable.

You might find that the Mossberg butt stocks are on the long side, but you should be able to have the gun fitted if you buy it from a store that has an in house gunsmith. Elwood Epps comes to mind, just north of Orillia. Goble's in London or Al Flaherty in TO might be closer, but I don't know if they normally carry Mossberg products.
 
MauserMike said:
No choke, 20" bbl good for sporting clays? What planet do you guys live on?
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If you are involved with shooting for pleasure as opposed to competition you can shoot em with what ever you want. For instance shooting at clays that run along the ground with slugs, or a rifle for that matter, would be a hoot. Of course we have more room here than do the folks in TO.
 
aridan said:
Please forgive me for having so many questions, I am looking for my 1st shotgun & would like to know if Mossberg 590 or 590A1 would be a good choice. I'm looking for something inexpensive, 'well-rounded' - i.e. being able to do sporting clays AND do some 'defensive' (I dare not call it tactical, I don't have the skills yet) training, maybe some slugs/sabots. In short, something to let me experience different kinds of ammo & distances, all in 1 gun.

1. Is 20" bbl too short for sporting clays?
2. Will 590 take additional bbls? I'm thinking rifled & a 28" maybe if 20" is too short for clays.
3. The 20" bbl is not threaded for chokes, is it?
4. Can the stock be adjusted for better comfort?
5. A place near Toronto where I may actually hold a 590 before I buy? I see the 590A1 on frontiertaxidermy dot com listed at $570 and the 590 at $500, but I'd like to at least hold them first.

TIA.
Click to expand...

I have the 9-Shot 590 Mariner and a 590A1, you can't go wrong with either...

...If I had to choose 1, I'd take the 590A1 (With the exception of the butt-stock and forearm EVERYTHING is metal and comes with ghost ring sights)

BUT if you want to switch barrels out, get a 500 or some other model. Mind you, I use rifled slugs and have no problem hitting what I aim at, despite the smooth bores.

If you want an adjustable stock for a 590, try the ATI AR style stock, my brother has it and it's nice.
 
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I went with the 590A1, for a few reason's.

I liked the thick wall barrel, and how well built the gun is.

It will do clay's but it is only a 20" barrel, so it is limited in this aspect.

I have had many shotguns over the years and the 590A1 has been the best one by far.
 
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