Buying time: torn between 2 Mossbergs

[Patagonicus]

As the tile says, I'm in the mood to buy a new shotgun, and I've narrowed my choices down to 2 Mossberg models. Both are 590s, and are about the same price from what I can tell.

The first one: http://www.mossberg.com/product/shot...l-9-shot/50772

And the second: http://www.mossberg.com/product/shot...e-9-shot/50663

Anybody out there with experience with either or both? One thing that I'm not 100% sure on with the latter shotgun is that apparently its finish is a matte blue. What exactly is that, and how does that differ from regular bluing or parkerization?

Any comments would be appreciated.

[Squidward]

I have the shotgun linked below. A little more $$ but may save you $$ in the long run. Mine has been 100% reliable with everything from field loads to slugs. Sorry, can't help with info on the bluing finish. Maybe you can try over at Shotgun World..

http://www.mossberg.com/product/shotguns-pump-action-590a1-special-purpose-tactical-light-forend-6-shot/51415

[mossy]

matte blue is not as shiny as regular blue finish. parkerization is more corrosion resistant. i have a 590 and love it. the second one in your list has a heavy barrel , if it is an A! then the trigger guard and safety will be metal. the first one is like what i have and has a heatshield.

[BowtieBill]

I have the shotgun linked below. A little more $$ but may save you $$ in the long run. Mine has been 100% reliable with everything from field loads to slugs. Sorry, can't help with info on the bluing finish. Maybe you can try over at Shotgun World..

http://www.mossberg.com/product/shot...d-6-shot/51415

I have this one as well, been very happy with it. Purchased it from IVE during one of the Gun Shows.

[nastyhabts26]

I think it depends upon your purpose and your taste.
The 1st has rails to add all kinds of Mall Ninja accesories, which is cool if that is what you want.
The 2nd is pretty straight forward with the ghost ring sights so if you wanted to hunt with it you would have sights to shoot slugs fairly accurately.
My self I would go with the 2nd because I'm that kind of guy.
I don't often judge people so if you like the rails get that one.

[stphnman20]

May I ask why the 870 is not on your list?

Here is what I would get http://www.remington.com/products/fi...-tactical.aspx

[lewdogg21]

What do you want to do with the shotgun?

[Patagonicus]

This would be a HD and target shooting shotgun. I've narrowed it down to a Mossberg primarily because of the safety and feed design, which I personally prefer over the 870. The heat shield seems to be fairly pointless, as I won't be firing it that fast very often, and it just adds more weight, so I'd probably remove it. I also wouldn't add anything except sights and/or a flashlight to either one, so I'll check out that 590A1 two of you linked. Thanks.

[smittty]

The 2nd one would be my preference. Those sights are excellent!

[bruss01]

I have a Mossberg 590 which I acquired in 2003, as near as I can tell it is the uppermost of the models you are considering. I like the feel, the look, and the heft of it.

Personally for a defensive shotgun I like the parkerized version - it's a little tougher finish IMHO.

Re: heat shield - I used to think that was a useless cosmetic after-thought. After having taken a couple of combat/defensive shotgun classes, I can tell you that when your barrel gets hot and you accidentally touch it, you will be glad to have the protection there. Also the little bit of extra weight helps tame recoil ever so slightly.

Bayonet - I've never used one, and for indoor HD it would probably be more of a liability than a help. That said... options are nice. Your mission for this firearm may evolve over time. Who knows what the future holds, right?

Finally - the visual appearance of the one with the heat shield is just more aggressive.

Re: comments on the metal trigger guard - that's nice to have, but I've never missed having one. They can be purchased separately and swapped out later, if you decide the plastic trigger guard just isn't working for you.

You won't regret buying a Mossberg for HD. I have a ton of guns, everything from pistols to AR's and the one I rely on as my "heavy hitter", bump-in-the-night, and go-to gun is still the Mossberg after all these years. The key to using a shotgun effectively is to be thoroughly familiar with it in a muscle memory sense, and be able to keep it fed. If you can do that, odds are it will never let you down. You get to train on moving targets with it for the simple price of a skeet or trap range fee... can you say that about pistols or rifles? And frequent training is the key to success with any weapon's system.

[Patagonicus]

Maybe somebody can enlighten me on this issue: are there parkerized versions of these 590s, or is that available only on the 590A1 models? If they are available, is the whole thing parkerized, or is it just the barrel? I can't really figure out the Mossberg website on this matter.

[OIFVet03]

That's a hard decision. It really comes down to what you want. I have a Mossberg Maverick HS-12 over/under.

[Jeffy]

I'd definitely get an A1 with the heavy barrel, metal trigger guard and safety.

http://www.mossberg.com/products/shotguns/pump-action/mossberg-590a1-special-purpose

[hermosabeach]

Metal trigger guard

I'd definitely get an A1 with the heavy barrel, metal trigger guard and safety.

http://www.mossberg.com/products/sho...pecial-purpose

+1 on the A1.

Metal trigger guard is worth the extra money.

[Frito Bandido]

Railed forends are really not worthwhile because you are going to scuff up your hands on it. If you want to add accessories, better to get a barrel or tube magazine clamp and use that instead.

I have the second one you listed but in the 590A1 version, which i recommended because of the metal safety and trigger guard.

Check out the 590A1 version of #2 and if you want to add a light or whatever, you can get a barrel clamp and add a qualitu light like a Streamlight or Surefire that will hold up to the heavy shotgun recoil.

I have read somewhere that there is a way to put an aftermarket heat shield on a 590A1 but can't quite remember. I recommended checking out mossbergowners.com for more info.