Marine Magnum or 590 Special Purpose?

TransAm1991

TransAm1991

Regular
Rating - 96.6%
28   1   0
Location
Windsor, Ontario
I'm considering another shotgun for my next purchase, I must say, I love my 870, while trap shooting, I've been known to drop it from waist height (unloaded ofcourse) into mud, grass, snow, whatever is there and she's held up like a champ... I've only had one issue with it, and that was when I put a shell in backwards, and man was it jammed up tight!..

Anyway, I am interested in the 590 with the marine coat, but the Marine Magnum 870 is pretty awesome as well, and really, that silver finish is pretty...

So, give me some pros and cons... I may mention my 870 is a 4 year old Express with a few little mods, follower, mag spring, forged extractor, hogue forend...
 
Have you held the Mossberg 590 up? Is it as light as the 500?
I haven't held a 590, but didn't like the light weight of the 500 at all.
I went with the 870 because it just felt better in the store.

Remington gets a lot of flack on here, but my only issue has been from cheap Winchester ammo. Cheap Federal ammo works great, so Winchester must have made them fail in Rem's on purpose! lol


All that being said, an 870 with a different finish than the one you already have, might not be as 'fun' as another gun with a whole different feel to it.
 
The 590's a better gun than the 870 as a defence gun even if those in the green end of opinion won't admit it.

I like both, but here's where the 590 gains its browny points:

-Dual extractors, two to Remington's one.

-Shell lifter is out of the way of loading, no pushing shells past it, faster and cleaner system.

-Safety is so much better it's an embarrassment to mention Remington in the same sentance. The 590's tang safety is ambidextrous, easy to manipulate with gloves on in cold weather, and safer than fumbling right by the trigger.

-Bolt release is easier to manipulate on the 590 than the 870's small blade.

Other than that, they're dead on comparable. The 590 just has better / more modern ergonomics and a more user friendly action.
 
metcalfe said:
Have you held the Mossberg 590 up? Is it as light as the 500?
I haven't held a 590, but didn't like the light weight of the 500 at all.
I went with the 870 because it just felt better in the store.

Remington gets a lot of flack on here, but my only issue has been from cheap Winchester ammo. Cheap Federal ammo works great, so Winchester must have made them fail in Rem's on purpose! lol


All that being said, an 870 with a different finish than the one you already have, might not be as 'fun' as another gun with a whole different feel to it.
Click to expand...

The problem with the Remmys is that the chambers are not cut smooth enough and the cheapy shells with thin steel bases stick in the chamber upon firing. I Flex Hone the chambers on the newer guns to ensure smooth extraction. ;)
 
Ardent said:
The 590's a better gun than the 870 as a defence gun even if those in the green end of opinion won't admit it.

I like both, but here's where the 590 gains its browny points:

-Dual extractors, two to Remington's one.

-Shell lifter is out of the way of loading, no pushing shells past it, faster and cleaner system.

-Safety is so much better it's an embarrassment to mention Remington in the same sentance. The 590's tang safety is ambidextrous, easy to manipulate with gloves on in cold weather, and safer than fumbling right by the trigger.

-Bolt release is easier to manipulate on the 590 than the 870's small blade.

Other than that, they're dead on comparable. The 590 just has better / more modern ergonomics and a more user friendly action.
Click to expand...

I was on the Mossberg bandwagon for the same reasons...until I saw the Magpul Dynamics Art of the Dynamic Shotgun DVD, specifically the section that covered slug changeovers where the Mossberg looked downright clumsy by comparison. That's pretty much when I decided to accept the 870's "shortcomings"; get accustomed to a crossbolt safety; a forward of the trigger guard slide release; and a slightly shorter magazine tube. Granted, the typical HD scenario does not require slugs at all, I liked rationale behind the techniques presented in the DVD and tailored my purchase around those ideas.

That said, if the TS already owns an 870, I see no problem with getting a 590 Mariner for the sake of variety.
 
Ardent said:
The 590's a better gun than the 870 as a defence gun even if those in the green end of opinion won't admit it.

I like both, but here's where the 590 gains its browny points:

-Dual extractors, two to Remington's one.

-Shell lifter is out of the way of loading, no pushing shells past it, faster and cleaner system.

-Safety is so much better it's an embarrassment to mention Remington in the same sentance. The 590's tang safety is ambidextrous, easy to manipulate with gloves on in cold weather, and safer than fumbling right by the trigger.

-Bolt release is easier to manipulate on the 590 than the 870's small blade.

Other than that, they're dead on comparable. The 590 just has better / more modern ergonomics and a more user friendly action.
Click to expand...

Add to that . . .
The position of the bolt release doesn't require you to break your firing grip to manipulate.

The ejector is replaceable with a screw rather so eliminates having to deal with a rivet should it need replacing, and also makes a good anchor for a sidesaddle.

The shell stops on the 590 are loose in their recesses where the 870s are stab locked into place. Should one of these come loose in the 870 it will tie up the gun.

The position of the safety on the 590 does not detract from placing the finger along the side of the receiver while off target.

Both the 590 and 870 benefit from having threaded pins holding retaining the trigger group.
 
Last edited:
jlagman said:
I was on the Mossberg bandwagon for the same reasons...until I saw the Magpul Dynamics Art of the Dynamic Shotgun DVD, specifically the section that covered slug changeovers where the Mossberg looked downright clumsy by comparison. That's pretty much when I decided to accept the 870's "shortcomings"; get accustomed to a crossbolt safety; a forward of the trigger guard slide release; and a slightly shorter magazine tube. Granted, the typical HD scenario does not require slugs at all, I liked rationale behind the techniques presented in the DVD and tailored my purchase around those ideas.

That said, if the TS already owns an 870, I see no problem with getting a 590 Mariner for the sake of variety.
Click to expand...

In real life shell select drills are never a problem with a 590. I've had occasion to frequently do slug select drills with mine, and its never an issue. The gun is typically carried with a full magazine and an empty chamber. If I need a shell that is different from what is in the magazine, I either open the action just enough to drop the select shell into the ejection port without releasing the round from the magazine, or if the first round from the magazine has already been cycled, I simply stuff the select shell into the magazine then cycle the action. This is more a matter of being familiar and comfortable with the gun you carry rather than it is of one action being superior to another.
 
Ardent said:
The 590's a better gun than the 870 as a defence gun even if those in the green end of opinion won't admit it.

I like both, but here's where the 590 gains its browny points:

-Dual extractors, two to Remington's one.

-Shell lifter is out of the way of loading, no pushing shells past it, faster and cleaner system.

-Safety is so much better it's an embarrassment to mention Remington in the same sentance. The 590's tang safety is ambidextrous, easy to manipulate with gloves on in cold weather, and safer than fumbling right by the trigger.

-Bolt release is easier to manipulate on the 590 than the 870's small blade.

Other than that, they're dead on comparable. The 590 just has better / more modern ergonomics and a more user friendly action.
Click to expand...
This, and especially to the point that I already have an 870... My decision is made.. 590 mariner is where it's at!
 
Ardent said:
The 590's a better gun than the 870 as a defence gun even if those in the green end of opinion won't admit it.

I like both, but here's where the 590 gains its browny points:

-Dual extractors, two to Remington's one.
-Remington has a larger extractor. A fair comparison of a 590 would be to an 870P, and how many extractors on those fail?

-Shell lifter is out of the way of loading, no pushing shells past it, faster and cleaner system.
Agreed.

-Safety is so much better it's an embarrassment to mention Remington in the same sentance. The 590's tang safety is ambidextrous, easy to manipulate with gloves on in cold weather, and safer than fumbling right by the trigger.
On a stock 870, agreed. but put an $8 Vang Comp oversized safety on your 870 and you can click it off it easily with the proximal phalange of your trigger finger - a split second before you take your shot, without removing your finger from the trigger or moving your hand at all. You can also mod an 870 to reverse safety operation so this would apply to lefties as well.

-Bolt release is easier to manipulate on the 590 than the 870's small blade.
not really a big deal at all.

you missed one major advantage to the Mossbergs: you can grab the mag tube and unscrew it (870 is brazed in in a stupidly complicated process). this is a great feature if you ever dent/damage your magtube, youre refinishing the gun, or just for thorough cleaning.

Other than that, they're dead on comparable. The 590 just has better / more modern ergonomics and a more user friendly action.
less than 1/10 of people are left-handed. that means 9/10 people dont really lose sleep over lack of ambidextrous controls :D
Click to expand...

now for the 870 advantages:

-massive aftermarket, over 10x the availability of aftermarket and take-off parts and accessories. in the few cases where there is a 500/590 version of something (such as stocks), its been adapted from the 870 version and usually has worse fit.

-easy barrel/barrel length changes
-same as above for mag extensions

-steel receiver. im not implying that the mossberg aluminum receiver is any more prone to failure, but it sure is nice having a steel receiver when you want to drill/tap sights or rails, or when you want to reparkerize/refinish your gun.

-standardized platform with 100% parts interchangeability (with the exception of 'custom' lengths like the 8.5" and 6.5" barreled Grizzlies/Dlasks). this cannot be said for the Mossberg 590/500/Maverick 88 and the different length mag tubes/barrel collars. if you buy a 9-shot mossberg 590 you are (for all practical purposes) stuck in that config and they are heavy as a pig when loaded, but i can easily reconfigure an 870 into whatever length/capacity i want.

that said, IMO both are great choices and noone can go wrong by buying either of them. but i sold all my mossbergs and only have 870s now for the advantages and standardization that i mentioned.

:cheers:

That said, if the TS already owns an 870, I see no problem with getting a 590 Mariner for the sake of variety.
Click to expand...
on the contrary, i see it more as a reason to buy another 870 with interchangeable parts :)
 
The event I just came from has me leaning more toward another 870..

My gun was the most used of the other 10 shotguns at a skeet shooting thing I went to with a bunch of buddies.. It was up against Berettas, Brownings, and a few other classics.. Including a Winchester Model 12..

I must mention, once again, three people, including myself were steadily using my shotgun for four hours, that's around 300-350 rounds, with one or two jams due to ammunition, that were quickly solved by hitting the receiver with my fist... Damn Winchester bulk packs..

Anyway, that being said, today really has given me a lot of confidence in my little Remington... And makes me want another...
 
TransAm1991 said:
The event I just came from has me leaning more toward another 870..

My gun was the most used of the other 10 shotguns at a skeet shooting thing I went to with a bunch of buddies.. It was up against Berettas, Brownings, and a few other classics.. Including a Winchester Model 12..

I must mention, once again, three people, including myself were steadily using my shotgun for four hours, that's around 300-350 rounds, with one or two jams due to ammunition, that were quickly solved by hitting the receiver with my fist... Damn Winchester bulk packs..

Anyway, that being said, today really has given me a lot of confidence in my little Remington... And makes me want another...
Click to expand...

Mossberg put their pump through the US military (milspec 3443E) test to allow for it to be selected for issue (which it was/is, unlike the 870), and forget 300 shells straight, they did 3,000 shells straight zero malfunctions. 300 or 500 shells is just a decent afternoon of clays for most folks, not a test. ;)

Remington declined to enter the military trials with the 870, corporate reasoning being they were already selling enough of them and had nothing to win with a milspec test and everything to lose. If they passed the test, no biggie they've already sold millions of 870's and are still turning them out as fast as they can, if they failed, Police departments nationwide and gunshop talk everywhere would never forget it. The 870's more fragile, and more awkward, and a great pump action shotgun. The 590's more user friendly and every bit as great, a little better frankly. Accessories mean near diddly to this guy as I'm not big on dress up guns, and the selection's still just swell for the 590.

Whatever you buy, at least you know you're getting a good gun as neither of your options are bad. The 590's just a bit better as a defence gun as Boomer and I mention.
 
Just a comment on 870 safeties but by adding a jumbo (Vang Comp, S&J, etc) they go from worst to best amongst the main pump shotguns in my opinion.
 
jlagman said:
I was on the Mossberg bandwagon for the same reasons...until I saw the Magpul Dynamics Art of the Dynamic Shotgun DVD, specifically the section that covered slug changeovers where the Mossberg looked downright clumsy by comparison. That's pretty much when I decided to accept the 870's "shortcomings"; get accustomed to a crossbolt safety; a forward of the trigger guard slide release; and a slightly shorter magazine tube. Granted, the typical HD scenario does not require slugs at all, I liked rationale behind the techniques presented in the DVD and tailored my purchase around those ideas.

That said, if the TS already owns an 870, I see no problem with getting a 590 Mariner for the sake of variety.
Click to expand...


My thoughts exactly, seeing those techniques put me way more towards an 870 over a 500 or even 590. I do like the tang safety on mossbergs though, imagine an 870 with a mosssberg safety? Wow.
 
Fabarm has aluminum receiver and chromed lined park'd barrel. Had it in the camper for a couple summers, no rust.

DSC00568s.JPG


I've had this shotgun since 2006.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom