Looking for a home defense gun

[DedEye]

I have a Mossberg 590A1 as my HD gun. 8+1 capacity, a little long at 20" with the standard non-PG stock, but a very nice gun.

[Mr. Beretta]

Pistol grip will work just great around the house.

[E. Fudd]

Fwiw, recoil shooting full loads (e.g. buckshot/slugs) in a pistol grip only shotgun is _stout_, not a lot of fun. Also a bit more difficult to shoot accurately (yes, you have to aim a shotgun...)

Also, some ranges won't let you shoot them (requiring buttstocks).

I once saw a guy lend his PG-only shotgun to his bud at a range, shooting slugs and 50 yd. The guy shot it off-hand and didn't have a good grip on the foreend. The shotgun flipped up on recoil and bopped him on the forehead. Luckily, he kept it pointed in a safe direction...

[threadcrapper]

[QUOTE=grammaton76;510093]The 590 is a little long in its default config, but I've got the top-folding stock on mine. Others have the top-folding stock on it and hate it, so it's really your choice.

Now, my roomie has what I would consider the ideal home defense pump shotgun:



RE: That's wicked. Can you imagine a semi-auto built like that

[montan]

While my buddy and I were shopping for a shotgun I did not have any intention on getting one myself. Damnit, I had to get a Benelli Supernova, ghost ring sights. The gun just felt great, trigger was decent and the sights excellent!!! How am I going to explain this to my wife?

Congratulations on your purchase. You don have to explain, just say sorry. it's much easier to apologize than to explain.

[ChinoHillsDad]

Bud's Gun Shop sells the 590A1 (parkerized, Speedfeed stock, and ghost ring sights) for $388.65. I was originally going to get one of those, but I decided to get the vanilla 590 (blued, bead sight) that was on sale at Big 5 last weekend instead.

This Mossberg at Buds for $380 is not a 590A1. It is a 590 with all standard features the A1 has (park, GRings, SpdFd stock). The A1 is a 51886 or a 51663. This is a 590 50886. The main difference between the two is has thicker and heavier barrel and the all metal safety and trigger. 590s have plastic/"synthetic" parts instead of metal. Functionally they are the same gun but you would have to pay more for one that has "590A1" stamped on the receiver. I only know this after hours of frustrating research comparing prices. Check out the Mossberg website. The only 59A1 listed there is the 51663 which is the same as 51668 but no speedfeed stock. 590A1s all start with 51xxx. I just ordered an A1 and am counting down the days.

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

Yes, it's easy on the 590. My post was about the 500 combo, which is much more difficult to extend the tube on. You basically need a new barrel assembly with the longer tube unless you're a machinist.

It's one of the biggest flaws in the 500 design, IMO. If someone wants extra capacity on a 500, they pretty much need to buy it that way, and that means no cheap 2-barrel combo.

Just get one of the nylon shell holders that fits on the stock. Presto, 5 more rounds at your disposal, no hassles.

[ZapThyCat]

mossberg 590!

[Teletiger7]

The main problem with the Mossberg combo package (18.5" and 28") as a HD gun is that it's the lower capacity (5 round?) gun - you have to get the Security model to get the 8 round capacity, and changing tube capacity on a Mossberg is nowhere near as easy as a Remington. If that doesn't matter, it's a great deal.

With a $500 budget, though, I'd get an 870 and a flashlight forend, but that's just me.

5 rounds is plenty if you pick your shots. I'd rather have 5 rounds of 12 gauge than 5 rounds of .38

[proraptor]

Go Mossberg 590A1 I got one about 2 months ago and like it much more than any other shotgun out there. Just make sure its a real 590A1 and not the 590 with the bells and whistles. It has a large stamp on the side that says "590A1." they are kind of hard to find though so good luck...

[wildcard]

Go Mossberg 590A1 I got one about 2 months ago and like it much more than any other shotgun out there. Just make sure its a real 590A1 and not the 590 with the bells and whistles. It has a large stamp on the side that says "590A1." they are kind of hard to find though so good luck...

I have some version of the 590 parkerized w/ ghost ring sight etc.. definitely not the A1 because of of the plastic trigger guard and safety. What I can't figure out is if I have a heavy wall barrel by some freak chance. Even if I don't.. I'd like to know what the difference is. Do you have a set of dial calipers to take some measurements of the barrel diameter at the muzzle? Maybe the inside diameter too though that should be dependent on the gauge.

[proraptor]

I dont have any thing to measure the barrel with...The biggest reason I wanted the A1 was it had the metal safety and trigger guard

[wildcard]

I dont have any thing to measure the barrel with...The biggest reason I wanted the A1 was it had the metal safety and trigger guard

Now how to you measure your cartridges when you reload without a set of calipers?

[proraptor]

I havent started reloading yet....Most of my stuff wont be here till tomorrow...Next paycheck Ill be buying the rest of the stuff I need....

[grammaton76]

Gah... "differences between Mossberg 500, 590, and 590A1" just got added to the gunwiki article wishlist.

Some of you look like you've done some research... you mind writing down some details so I don't end up writing it myself later?

http://thegunwiki.com/bin/edit/Gunwiki/GunMossberg5xxShotguns?topicparent=Gunwiki.WebHome