Military Camp

Are the Mossberg 500’s not what people say?

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  • Tonyt915

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    May 18, 2020
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    Houston
    the-big-lebowski-thats-like-your-opinion-man.gif


    Same shit gets spewed about the AK-47, but the proof is in the performance. The Mossberg 500 is the workhorse of the line, it may not be the prettiest but when it comes time to lay down the firepower, just like with the Kalashnikov, accept no substitutes!

    Argue all you want, but their record of reliable performance and my personal experience with mine speaks far greater volumes to me than one individual's opinion!

    (Walter's expression mirrors mine when I read crap like this!)
    Easy big chief, no need to get your panties in a knot. As stated just my opinion from my experience with a 500 vs other models
     

    motorcarman

    Compulsive Collector
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    Feb 13, 2015
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    Anybody read the article in January American Rifleman about the 590S?
    Anybody have one to try out the minishells?

    I load the minis in an old double SXS to keep in my shop near the goat barn for nightime intruders. (coyotes etc.)

    I never tried them in my Win model 12s, model 25s or model 1897 because I did not think that they would function reliably. (definitely not in any self loaders, model 50s or Rem 11s)
     

    zackmars

    Free 1911 refinishing
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    Nov 4, 2015
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    Anybody read the article in January American Rifleman about the 590S?
    Anybody have one to try out the minishells?

    I load the minis in an old double SXS to keep in my shop near the goat barn for nightime intruders. (coyotes etc.)

    I never tried them in my Win model 12s, model 25s or model 1897 because I did not think that they would function reliably. (definitely not in any self loaders, model 50s or Rem 11s)
    My experience was with a regular 590a1 and shockwave with the rubber plug you could buy.

    They worked ok, recoil impulse was a bit worse due to the lack of a buffer like most shotshells have.

    Reliability was ok, but i only shot maybe 80 rounds or so
     

    Bozz10mm

    TGT Addict
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    Oct 5, 2013
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    Anybody read the article in January American Rifleman about the 590S?
    Anybody have one to try out the minishells?

    I load the minis in an old double SXS to keep in my shop near the goat barn for nightime intruders. (coyotes etc.)

    I never tried them in my Win model 12s, model 25s or model 1897 because I did not think that they would function reliably. (definitely not in any self loaders, model 50s or Rem 11s)
    I have shot the Aguila mini shells, buckshot and slugs, through my 18" 590A1 with the Opsol adapter. Worked flawlessly. Magazine tube holds 9 of them compared to 5 of the 2¾" shells. The mini shells have much reduced recoil as compared to the full length shells. I have some Federal Shortys too, but haven't tried them yet.
     

    beast1989

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    Nov 7, 2020
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    I like mine but I’ve wanted to venture out and get an 870. I’d be curious to know from people who’ve own a 500 or 870, which they preferred?
     

    candcallen

    Crotchety, Snarky, Truthful. You'll get over it.
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    Jul 23, 2011
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    Little Elm
    I like mine but I’ve wanted to venture out and get an 870. I’d be curious to know from people who’ve own a 500 or 870, which they preferred?
    Do you like your safety where your thumb is or by the trigger guard. That is really the only difference.

    Ofcourse there are various models of each but between the 2 that is the only difference I'm like configurations.

    I used the 870 at work for years. I hunted with an 870 clone for decades. I have a 590A1 as my personal shotgun.

    I prefer the safety where my thumb can get to it on top of the receiver and rather avoid poking around by the trigger.

    YMMV
     

    leVieux

    TSRA/NRA Life Member
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    I have the Mossberg "turkey" model with regular bead sights. It is lighter and seems to work well, but in the ~30 years I've owned it, I've hunted with it 4 or 5 times. It has standard 28" barrel. Bought it to use for geese. I also have numerous 870's, which are for hunting & defense.

    Having grown-up with A5's & Mod.12's, I began depending on the 870's for several reasons:

    Hunting in Latin America, I wanted to carry only one gun, so it had to be reliable.

    A friend who hunts grizzlies in the Yukon told me that the ONLY gun the bear guides carry is the 870.

    A world of parts, mods, accessories are plentiful.

    Every gunsmith knows 870's, almost like 1911's.

    Model 12's became too expensive to buy & maintain.

    The M 500, with its Aluminum receiver has become an American "standard" and is good enough for our Military. Were I a younger man, or were I "starting-over" today, I may well go to the A500 series, as it has stood the test of time and also has abundant parts & mods available.

    Back in 1976, I spent a week in the mountains on an elk hunt in the cab of a truck with the legendary Bob Ramsland of the "Mexico Dove Safaris" out of McAllen fame. At the time, Bob was the World's largest individual purchaser of shotgun shells. Remington sent his ammo to McAllen in a train car. Bob had visited all the ammo factories as a guest and knew the "Ammo Engineers" personally. He told me that when the plastic shotgun shells came out, with integral plastic shot cups, their studies had demonstrated that there was no "ballistic" or patterning advantage to shotgun barrels over 18 or 19 inches. As most of my hunting back then was doves over stock tanks or South Texas quail, the advantages of shorter barrels were attractive. About the same time, Remington began offering the 870's in "English Field" and "Special Field" models. Those had better wood, straight stocks with hand-cut or non-pressed real checkering, no silly fake engraving, and shorter barrels in the 21" to 24" range. (The "English" were fixed-choke and the "Special" had the then-new changeable "RemChoke" tubes; they were o/w identical.) I bought one for a Son, and we all LOVED it, so I bought several more.

    We have never had any kind of 870 "failure" in the 40 years since. Only problem ever has been loading gate wear, requiring a parts change every 20 years or so.

    If you are new to pump guns, be sure to get a wing-shooting expert to give you a lesson in "pump-gunning", as those police video instructional videos are so silly. The only thing they show me is that the "instructors" have ZERO clue of how to properly operate the guns.

    leVieux
    .
     

    Axxe55

    Retiretgtshit stirrer
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    Dec 15, 2019
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    Lost in East Texas Elhart Texas
    Do you like your safety where your thumb is or by the trigger guard. That is really the only difference.

    Ofcourse there are various models of each but between the 2 that is the only difference I'm like configurations.

    I used the 870 at work for years. I hunted with an 870 clone for decades. I have a 590A1 as my personal shotgun.

    I prefer the safety where my thumb can get to it on top of the receiver and rather avoid poking around by the trigger.

    YMMV
    ^^^^This!^^^^
     

    retired deputy

    New Member
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    Mar 19, 2022
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    the big country
    Only problem I have ever had with a mossberg is a broken safety button. I have seen several other folks have that problem with the plastic/polymer slide buttons.
    If i ever owned another 500, about the only modification i would do is replace that plastic button with a metal one.

    Mossberg was indeed selected by the military. But to my understanding, they were the only shotgun maker to submit a design for testing to meet their specs.

    The Remington 870 wingmaster and police models of old were solid guns. I retired with my old dept cut-down wingmaster. Remington is not what it use to be with quality slipping the last couple of decades and living off their reputation of old. I blame the former owners that drove them into bankruptcy.

    My current go-to riot gun is a Winchester marine SXP. No problems there though the round count is low at under 300 rds of buck/slug/bird loads at the range. Nowadays, the shotgun is purty light duty for me so I am not going to get on a trap range and see if i can wear one out over the years. Nor am I going to sign up for a defensive shotgun course. So it simply stays loaded and behind the seat of the pickup where it belongs while the 870 stays in the house.

    Personally, if buying today, I would rather have the 500 over the 590 as the 500 is more affordable and i really don't use a shotgun enough to gain any benefits from the 590's heavier duty design.

    Besides, I like my shotguns slick and clutter-free without a ton of accessories or after-market cottage industry "improvements".
     

    Rudeman

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    Jan 18, 2023
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    I have an old 500 and a newer 870 both 12g and I definitely like the 500 better

    Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
     

    tonelar

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    Aug 9, 2009
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    I know plenty of folks that love their Mossbergs.

    I never cared for the construction nor safety position on the 500-590.

    My pump action gun of choice is an 870 Police Magnum (retired from SFCounty Sheriff).
     
    Last edited:

    single stack

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    Oct 27, 2011
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    I’ve been thinning the herd over the last 3 years. Among the items sold were 8 shotguns, including 2 Remingtons, a Browning and an Ithaca. Old Oskar is still here.
     

    Doofus

    Just a doofus…really
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    Dec 27, 2022
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    San Antonio
    For what it’s worth (not much), I like my 590. Safety feels like it’s in the right place and it works every time I pull the trigger. I don’t have anything against the 870…just picked up the 590 instead.

    I’m a beer snob, not so much a shotgun snob.
     

    JandK

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    Jul 16, 2021
    56
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    Cherokee County
    Mossberg drew me to thier shotguns when I was 14 or 15 because they worked with federal to develop the 3 1/3 12 chambering as a turkey and waterfowl hunter I really had no choice but jump on the band wagon. As other companies chambered for the 3 1/2 I moved away from mossberg. The 9200 was a disaster with plastic buffer and other cheap parts and production didn't last long.
    Mossberg is a ok shotgun but not my favorite especially with Remington and Browning. By 16 I discovered the 10ga and my love affair has never waned. From old Ithaca mag 10 to Browning and even Remingtons revision of the mag 10 . Nothing like a Canada goose folding up as if he hit a brick wall.
     
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