870 vs 590A1

ChromeArty

ChromeArty

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I'm sure this has been done to death. If so I will delete the thread.

I have owned and traded a tactical 870, and have just picked up a 590A1 with ghost ring sight, speed feed stock, and bayonet lug :)

there are things a like more about each shotgun, wondering what other people think... pics are always nice...

cheers
 
Yes this has been done to death. But the bear defence subject is still relatively new. This thread is now about the best 12 gauge round for grizzlies. All kidding aside did you use the search function?
 
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search has been broken for me for months now.

flechettes for bears. They hate them so much they won't even try to ninja jump you. All you have to do is yell "flechettes loaded in my shotgun bear scum!". Guaranteed effective
 
I prefer buckshot over slugs. At least one of those little balls is more of a guarantee to hit the bear in the eye than one single slug.
 
yes, exactly. Only eye shots are effecive due to the bone mass of the skull. However, even when using buckshot I would suggest announcing that you have flechettes in the magazine. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure my ex Wife always said.
 
I used to be a 590 fan. I really prefer the safety location. I have ended up with 870's simply due to the availability of short barrels. If 14" 500 barrels were as prolific I might think differently. Can't go wrong either way.
 
Mossberg's fit me best....
590Compact 14"
590A1 18.5"
Now looking for..590A1 Blackwater #51772
DSCN0819.jpg
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Check out U.S. Mil-Spec 3443 standards"...Mossberg military 500 and 590 models....the only pump action shotguns ever to pass all stringent U.S. Military MilSpec-3443 standards. The heart of this spec is a brutal 3,000 round endurance test using buckshot loads. Following the endurance test, randomly selected guns are then frozen, baked, and dropped at various attitudes to ensure the utmost in functionality, safety and endurance..."
"...choice of U.S. Armed Forces and police departments throughout the world."Nuff said.
 
I handle many 870s, but my personal gun is a 590. While both are good guns, the 590 is just a little better IMHO; here's some reasons why . . .

The 590 slide release is behind the trigger guard so you don't need to change your shooting grip in order to work it. The tang safety is not only more convenient, but if you are trained to keep your trigger finger straight along the receiver until you sights are on the target, this safety is much more natural. Inside the action, the ejector of the 590 is screwed in place and can be swapped out with a screwdriver where the 870's is riveted. The 590 has two ejectors, the 870 has one. The magazine shell stops of the 870 are stabbed in place, and if they come loose they will tie up the gun. The 590's shell stops are held in placed by the trigger group and are easily replaced by the shooter if damaged. The bottom line is that if your 870 develops a hiccup, it almost certainly will require a trip to a gunsmith unless you intend to purchase some rather expensive armorers tools, where as every component of the 590 can be replaced by the shooter.

Despite that, both guns are of good quality, and both will stand up to some pretty harsh service before a problem develops.
 
honestly the main 500/590 feature i miss on my 870s is the fact that the lifter stays out of the way in the up position, allowing you to load shells into an unobstructed mag faster/easier. my girlfriend, being a lefty, has trouble with the 870 slide release and she would probably do better with a Mossberg. the safety is not such a big deal: yes, a tang safety is more ambidextrous and convenient, however its useless if you install a pistol grip.
i like the fact that the magazine tube can simply unscrew from the Mossberg receiver, as opposed to the brazed-in magazine tube of the 870.

the 870 ejector is riveted, but ive never broken one. more likely, you may break the ejector spring - but the gun will still eject without it. the 20 gauges dont even have one to begin with.

but most of all i prefer the fact that i can go to the EE, or pretty much any gun store, and find anything i need for the 870. it has the largest aftermarket of any shotgun in the world, and the largest userbase. new, used, take-off and aftermarket parts are everywhere, and you can turn an 870 receiver into anything. not so much with a 590.



either way you cant really go wrong in buying an 870 or 500/590 model (and ive had very good luck with my Grizzly clones, albeit if it werent for the fact that they come in barrel lengths unavailable in Remington 870s then i would have purchased used Wingmasters/870Ps instead). IMO just stay away from the 'off brands' like Hatsans, Tomahawks, etc.
 
machman said:
Check out U.S. Mil-Spec 3443 standards"...Mossberg military 500 and 590 models....the only pump action shotguns ever to pass all stringent U.S. Military MilSpec-3443 standards. The heart of this spec is a brutal 3,000 round endurance test using buckshot loads. Following the endurance test, randomly selected guns are then frozen, baked, and dropped at various attitudes to ensure the utmost in functionality, safety and endurance..."
"...choice of U.S. Armed Forces and police departments throughout the world."Nuff said.
Click to expand...

You need to do a little more reading. Remington did not even enter a shotgun in those trials. So, Mossberg basically won by acclamation. That said, I use/carry a Remington everyday, and I think it is great, but I think that Mossberg has a few features that are better - and visa versa for that matter.
 
"Check out U.S. Mil-Spec 3443 standards"...Mossberg military 500 and 590 models....the only pump action shotguns ever to pass all stringent U.S. Military MilSpec-3443 standards."

lol, and the only shotgun to be entered in them.
gotta love how mossberg milks that in their marketing though.

at the time of those trials Remington had the bulk of the market share already and had nothing to gain and everything to lose by entering them. Mossberg had nothing to lose.
 
Mossberg freaks love to milk that Mil-spec crap. Nothing wrong with Mossberg, but all those claims are very misleading. Not that they aren't true, they just are not the entire story. Like saying, "The boss didn't come to work drunk today ...". He may never come to work drunk, but saying it like that gives a different impression.
 
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