Mossberg 590 12ga question

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dbala

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Would this be a good choice (20" barrel) as a camp gun?

And could it be used for backyard clay shooting? (for fun & practice) - can different chokes be used? (I know it is light & short for "real" trap etc...but for casual fun?)

Or is it strictly a tactical shotgun & no good for trying to shoot clays? I've looked at O/U's as well as pumps, but I'm not a hunter, so not sure about spending alot on a gun that will probably get banged around & spend most of its life shooting at cans & clays in a sandpit.
 
I love my 590. They aren't that expensive either and can take a beating. If you are just looking for something to screw around with (safely I might add) and don't wanna break the bank, look into a Mossberg 500 or a Maverick 88.

All Mossberg guns are built on the same frame and those ones are a bit cheaper. Plus you can get a short barrel and a long barrel combo so you can have your tactical / clay gun in the same shotgun

Just my $0.02 though..
 
its fine but will be a bit heavy both because of the beefier barrel and the 8 shot mag which when full really weighs it down.

it should be fixed cylinder bore, and it will not accept chokes, nor standard Mossberg replacement barrels because the magazine tube is significantly longer (and hence the band on the 20" barrel is much further forward). so in order to swap the barrel with a common hunting barrel that will accept chokes, youll also have to buy a new magazine tube and spring. not a big deal as these items are not expensive and unlike the 870s they are not brazed but just screw in, but still something to consider.

in your shoes i would just pick up the $250 Mossberg 500 Combo.
sirmailorder.ca/show_prod.php?product_id=440173&cat_id=10&subcat_id=43&PHPSESSID=eea3baad368ab85ace83b2562654801e
Mossberg 500 Combo Pump Action Shotgun
This versatile shotgun features two barrels for a number of uses from hunting to security detail. Barrels included are 28” vent rib with fixed modified choke and an 18 ½” smoothbore barrel with fixed cylinder choke and front bead sight. The black synthetic stock features rubber recoil pad with checkering for improved handling. 12 gauge, 3” chamber.
Click to expand...

you can pick up spare barrels for this for $150 in whatever config you like. unfortunately the 28" barrel doesnt have screw-in chokes, but it should still give you more versatility than simply a cylinder bore short barrel. the gun also has the standard length mag tube so it will accept any aftermarket mossberg/maverick barrels.
aside from the mag tube, differences between that and the non-mil spec 590s are minor.
 
I've been looking at shotguns (and know nothing about them - I shoot my target gun regularly - Rem VLSS w/Leupold 6.5-20x50 - so I already spent the budget!) - but the place I go in the country has some really basic clay throwers as well as 200yd targets, so I thought it might be fun.

I saw the 590 (20" barrel) for $499.00 & it seems like a decent gun - does that price look right?

You say I can get a 26" bbl as well - from any shop/online dealer? Can I use different chokes?

Will the 20" bbl be ok to shoot clays for now?

Thanks! (sorry about all the questions....)
D
 
alternately you could pick up something like the Mossberg 500 Field, and a DA Grizzly for just a bit more than what you intend to spend on the 590.
the 500 Field comes with a 28" barrel that accepts screw-in chokes and comes with full, modified, and improved cylinder chokes and is around $260.

the Dominion Arms Grizzly from CanAm (out of stock ATM but hes getting more soon) is $290 including shipping and is a Remington 870 design with a 12.5" zombie barrel on it :)
comes with a full stock and pistol grip.

for roughly the same amount youd spend on the 590 this will get you two guns that pretty much cover all your shotgunning needs and would let you sample both the mossy 500 and remmy 870 designs.

heres my grizzly with a simple 870 wood stock (i prefer wood stocks to synthetic).
870eb9.jpg
 
Zombie barrel is right - that's straight out of a video game!

I took a look at models that come with 2 barrels (combination) - Remy 870 has one for under $500 -

I also saw the Maverick 88 combo that Merllin mentioned - it's pretty inexpensive at $250.00 - and comes with a 28" barrel (ACCU choke system?) and an 18.5" bbl (cylinder bore) - this seems like it would do the job - is this similar to the 500/590?
 
Its smaller and lighter.. and the quality is good even on the low end Mossberg guns. We have a Mav 88 at the range that has a crap load of slugs through it and its still running great
 
That sounds pretty good for the price then - does the 28" bbl have bead sights? Can ghost ring sights be put on the 18.5" barrel, or does that entail drilling into the receiver?
 
I'm thinking they have bead sights and that the receiver isn't drilled and tapped, but I'm not 100% sure.

Ghost rings are nice, thats what I have on my 590 but I wouldn't be against putting a fiber optic sight on there as well.
 
with mossbergs being as inexpensive as they are i wouldnt really bother with the maverick.

the mossberg action can be smoother because the dual action bars are not soldered to the forend tube which allows for some play, which reduces binding. also IMO the mossberg 500/590 tang safety is in a much better place than the maverick/870 crossbolt safety location that you have to move your trigger finger to operate.
the mossberg 500s have a decent selection of aftermarket addons - but for example mossberg forends or triggergroups will not fit the mavericks. maverick parts are manufactured in mexico to save $$, then assembled in the US.

dont get me wrong im sure if you bought a maverick it would serve you well, but IMO its wiser to just spend the extra $30-50 and get a full fledged mossberg.
 
Good points - and the $$$ are pretty affordable (especially compared to what I spent on my rifle) -

I'll keep looking - how does the remmy 870 express mag combo compare to the 500 combo? I think prices are very similar -
 
and no, the receiver isnt drilled and tapped. its an aluminum receiver, unlike the steel 870 receivers, so if you are having it tapped id make sure you take it to a reputable smith and not some guy you know down the street who 'dabbles' in gunsmithing :)

quality ghost ring sights and installation will be nearly as expensive a proposition as the mossberg shotgun itself. if you are really interested in them you might be better off just getting something that comes with them from the factory or looking on the EE for a used zombie gun.

personally, i love ghost ring sites for shooting slugs, but a bead is far superior and quicker for shot. ghost rings on a shotgun are far from a 'universal' solution.
the problem you will have with putting ghost rings on a shotgun you intend to use for multiple purposes is that half the sights are on the receiver and the other half on the barrel. so if you swap to a bead barrel youll have the ghost ring receiver sight blocking your bead. IMO theyre more suited to a configuration that you intend to leave that way, and not a switchbarrel shotgun.

shotguns are so cheap and modular theres no reason you cant just dabble in something and then either buy some aftermarket or take-off parts and reconfigure it completely, or buy something completely different later. like the mossberg 28"/18" combo for $250. there is no way you can lose out on that deal.
**edit
the above is also why its best to stick to either the 870, or 500 designs. there are so many aftermarket and take-off stocks, barrels, accessories, etc for these that even if you are unhappy with it you can swap parts and completely change the feel, look and function of it.
 
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Right - then I'd stick to the bead sights -
so between the 500 & the 870 combos (since both have tons of aftermarket) - any difference? I checked on the Wholesale site -

500 field/security combo (28/18.5"bbls) - $299.00
870 express super mag combo (26/20"bbls) - $499.00

both have wood stocks, so is the Mossberg more bang for the buck ($200 difference)? It looks like the 870 has modified choke standard, and other choke tubes can be purchased separately - I think it is the same for the 500 (accu choke).
 
on the bead sight/ghost ring sight issue - another option is a saddle mount. they are inexpensive, easy to install/remove and let you mount red dots and reflex sights for slug shooting. another option to consider.

the 500 field usually comes with 3 chokes.

if you do a search on this forum youll find a lot of mossberg 500 vs remington 870 threads.
having owned both, and several other types as well, IMO i think theyre both equally good. i prefer the tang safety of the mossberg, the unscrewable mag tube and the shell lifter which stays in the UP position with the slide forward to facilitate easier loading.

on the 870 i prefer the steel receiver and the better availablility of aftermarket stocks and parts and things like mag extensions. i think that the 870 might be a slightly more durable design due to the steel receiver but i also think that this durability will likely never come into play during the lifetime of an average user.

a mossberg 500 will be smoother than an 870 express. an 870 wingmaster or police will operate smoother than either.

if someone offered me a choice between a free 870 or a free 500, i would take the 870. but with price as a consideration i think that right now the 500s are a much better deal and i dont think anyone will regret buying one. id go for the $299 500 field/security combo. you should get a lot of use/fun out of that and it wont break the bank. later on you will undoubtedly end up buying an 870 as well.
 
That pretty much answers my question - for a 1st shotgun, the 500 combo sounds like it will fit the bill & at a pretty good price. I'll be ordering it today -

Thanks for your help!
D
 
you will not regret buying that shotgun (Mossberg 500). I've owned one for a few years and shot lots of rounds and it never let me down.
 
I use my 590A1 for grouse in the thick brush, the 20 inch bbl and open choke make it perfict for flushing grouse at close range. I spent some time smothing it out with a stone and it is almost as good as my smothed out 870. Use it and have fun
 
Ive had an 88 and it was poor in my opinion. It had a cross bolt safety wich is useless to me as I am so used to the tang safety of the 500 and 590. I had had a 500A for years and it never failed me. It was great for shooting everything, slugs to buckshot and even bird shot if I so cared. The 590 is a step up from both of these guns, as it has various accessories that the common zombie hunter might enjoy. It has a bayonette lug, drilled and tapped reciever, a heat shield and your option of ghost ring sights or bead sights.
I carry a bead sight gun every day and it is a decent gun. The only thing I would highly suggest for a "civilian gun" is get the blued version as the matte finish comes off very easily and the guns look old and scratched up in no time at all.

the 590 has a higher mag capacity than a 870 and is much easier to use. The 590 can be cocked and fired using one hand, which I have yet to figure out on the 870 without having to pull the trigger and disingage the safety first.
 
I noticed on the Mossberg site that the 500 (20 & 12ga) receivers are drilled & tapped - is this to be able to mount a scope or ghost ring sites?
 
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