Mossberg 500/590 questions

BarryHalls said:

ME is the 590M Shockwave with some form of legal brace,

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They are available. Just might put you in the market for one. I have been looking at a Shockwave lately as well.
https://www.brownells.com/shotgun-p...ockwave-sbl-stabilizing-brace-prod116290.aspx

Our family has a Mossberg 500 w two barrel combination (both fsctory ported)
24" vent rib with mid bead (choke tubes)
18" rifle sight barrel (cylinder)
So have a standard wood stock 500 with a choke barrel for waterfowl and slugger cyl bore barrel for slugs (berry pick on arctic tundra)
We bought it used and it seems to leave the house more than the Other shotguns in our rack.
Its a pleasure to shoot, cheap enough we dont cry if the stain birch stock gets scuffed any.
Not like the 870 wingmaster.

BarryHalls said:

I 100% recommend the 500/590/88 in the 9 shot configurations, and the reliability is second to none. The 88 is the cheapest and lightest, and the 590a1 is most expensive and heaviest. The 590a1's heavy walled barrel is good for keeping the recoil down, bad for target aquisition.

You have to find the balance that suits you. I have the 500 and it's never leaving my collection, but I do wish I had that bayonet lug.


That family will never let you down.
The one in the family that would one up the rest for ME is the 590M Shockwave with some form of legal brace, detatchable 10 round mag, and 14 inch pipe. I haven't dug into the reliability because I simply am not in the market, at the moment, but the size and capacity are head and shoulders above any of the others.

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I totally agree with you on the weight of the 590a1. I'm a pretty athletic guy, and I don't think I would want to have to lug one around at all times. It's a chunk.

I have heard the 590a1 configuration is a more "offensive" one as it brings a good amount of firepower for pushing forward. I could see that, and appreciate it. I certainly would feel pretty good with one in my hands if I were forced to advance positions.

However, for me, where the big bruiser shines is what I call a crawdad gun. Perfect for holding a defensive position. In the event of a home break-in, the most clearing I'm doing is securing my daughter's room. My wife would be on the phone with 911, and I would post up at the top of the stairs. One way up, one way down. All of my stuff to steal is downstairs. That's what insurance is for. They can have it. Bad guy attempts to press his luck and come up, I have the high ground and 8+1 of 00 buck with a narrow shooting lane to defend that's only 20' long. I like a solid gun for that.

Fiv3r said:

I totally agree with you on the weight of the 590a1. I'm a pretty athletic guy, and I don't think I would want to have to lug one around at all times. It's a chunk.

I have heard the 590a1 configuration is a more "offensive" one as it brings a good amount of firepower for pushing forward. I could see that, and appreciate it. I certainly would feel pretty good with one in my hands if I were forced to advance positions.

However, for me, where the big bruiser shines is what I call a crawdad gun. Perfect for holding a defensive position. In the event of a home break-in, the most clearing I'm doing is securing my daughter's room. My wife would be on the phone with 911, and I would post up at the top of the stairs. One way up, one way down. All of my stuff to steal is downstairs. That's what insurance is for. They can have it. Bad guy attempts to press his luck and come up, I have the high ground and 8+1 of 00 buck with a narrow shooting lane to defend that's only 20' long. I like a solid gun for that.

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We can be friends.

110% agree with every word. The 500 by the bed isn't to protect my stuff. It's for whatever is stuoid enough to even try to come between papa bear and his cubs.

I bought a Mossburg ATI 500 Cruiser earlier this year and I just love it. I installed a laser& flashlight combo on it to aid hip shooting accuracy.The longest shot in my house is 25 feet so I'm confident it will "get the job done". With 00 buck it's deadly. DON"T TREAD ON ME AND MY FAMILY!!

Fiv3r said:

I totally agree with you on the weight of the 590a1. I'm a pretty athletic guy, and I don't think I would want to have to lug one around at all times. It's a chunk.

I have heard the 590a1 configuration is a more "offensive" one as it brings a good amount of firepower for pushing forward. I could see that, and appreciate it. I certainly would feel pretty good with one in my hands if I were forced to advance positions.

However, for me, where the big bruiser shines is what I call a crawdad gun. Perfect for holding a defensive position. In the event of a home break-in, the most clearing I'm doing is securing my daughter's room. My wife would be on the phone with 911, and I would post up at the top of the stairs. One way up, one way down. All of my stuff to steal is downstairs. That's what insurance is for. They can have it. Bad guy attempts to press his luck and come up, I have the high ground and 8+1 of 00 buck with a narrow shooting lane to defend that's only 20' long. I like a solid gun for that.

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Im curious, if a perp wanted, cant they just shoot up at you through the floor with their 9mm glock?

herrwalther said:

They are available. Just might put you in the market for one. I have been looking at a Shockwave lately as well.
https://www.brownells.com/shotgun-p...ockwave-sbl-stabilizing-brace-prod116290.aspx

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Oh, I am aware of them, I just have home defense in spades. The shockwave would nudge out all of my other home defense options, but other gaps in my collection take precedence.

Rex in OTZ said:

Im curious, if a perp wanted, can they at you by shooting up through the floor with their 9mm glock?

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Rex!

Not as well as he could get at them by firing down.

Rex in OTZ said:

Im curious, if a perp wanted, can they at you by shooting up through the floor with their 9mm glock?

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I suppose they could. They could also set the stairs on fire, or make a noxious improvised choking gas bomb out of the ammonia and chlorine cleaners under the downstairs half bath, or swarm my position with 15 men charging my Hamburger Hill (what's a $550 TV and 4 year old xbox come out to split 15 ways?).

I get what you're saying though. To get to me through the floor they would have to open my pantry and try to shoot up.

I'm a pretty nice guy. I dont have anyone that hates me to the point they would attempt that level of personal harm. I have a very middle class house filled with very middle class stuff. My shotgun costs more than my TV. They can have anything they want downstairs if they can beat the clock to the cops showing up. Anything north of the first stair is mine, though.

Gun Tests panned the box feed saying it jammed up.

Thing is I already bought one. It was a little stiff at first but it is breaking in.
I have 3 ten round boxes. One I keep with rubber buckshot, one with 00 lead, and one with slugs.

Its in the closet near the top of the stairs too.
But I also have a Rem 11-87 with a Surefire light on it.

Doesn't make sense to not have at least one HD piece with a light.

It's been a few years since I looked it up, but I am fairly certain that the maverick.ia 100% made in the USA just like the 500s, the only real differences being that they are assembled in a different factory in a different state, and.come with almost no options, hence the slight price reduction compared to the most plane 500s, and the safety configurations. It really comes down to preference on safeties, and if you want to buy one simple or one with a few bells.

I can't find a difference in quality, but I'll pay the difference for a tang safety. It's faster to release the slide lock and move the finger next the trigger while simultaneously disengaging the safety with the thumb, than to have the trigger finger do all 3.

Also, at today's prices, I'd go straight for the Shockwave with detatchable mags brace or the 590a1, top of the line is still less than $500.

I have the Mossberg M500A Flex (and one for my Daughter set up identically). For our purposes (home defense from a guarded position) the capacity should be plenty. Both households also have other firearms to transition to if necessary.

But I do have one concern attendant to all 500 series Mossbergs (whether it has happened to you yet or not) and it concerns the shell lift/elevator. I wish Mossberg would extend the 'tab' on it another 1/4". The reason for this is that shotshells can (and do) vary slightly in length, it's just a known and accepted manufacturing norm.

The shell lift on the Mossbergs is a skeleton design (has an open center and a tab). When a shotshell (2-3/4") has a 'loaded length' of less than 2-5/16" it can bounce into the receiver in just such a fashion (diagonal) to allow it to jam against the shell lift...or worse FALL THROUGH it. It doesn't happen very often...but when it does, it's a bugger of a jam to clear.

If you measure the loaded length of various defensive shotshells (2-3/4") you'll find they are over the place. 3" shotshells are not an issue. Now....I know many of you are going to say you've NEVER had that happen....and to be fair it doesn't happen often.

But I've had it happen to me and seen it happen to others no fewer than a dozen times (total) over the years. This is NOT unknown to Mossberg as I (and others) have contacted them about it. Their response: "rack the slide hard to the rear". Well yes, Mossberg...I know. I've been shooting pump shotguns for over 50 years.

They (Mossberg) also won't tell you about the Shell lift becoming dislodged and jamming the shotgun if you drop the firearm on its side onto a hard surface. Yeah, you're not supposed to drop your shotgun...but I am concerned with what CAN happen more than what SHOULD not happen.

So just be aware that both of these issues can occur with your 500, both related to the shell lift.

Been shooting my Mossberg 500 for about 25years.
It has never done anything but feed, fire, and eject.

amd6547 said:

Been shooting my Mossberg 500 for about 25years.
It has never done anything but feed, fire, and eject.

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I have no doubt...but other's have not.

IF you use your shotgun for defensive purposes...it's worth checking out. Do the drop test and take the shotshells that you intend to use (especially if less than 2-5-16") and manually place them in the receiver at an angle to see if they will drop through the shell elevator or get hung up on the tab. It doesn't matter if it hasn't happened to you (yet), what matters is (if it can). I has happened to no small number of people. Just a sampling:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?118693-Mossberg-500-round-flipping-through-elevator



skip to 4:30

That’s a bunch of hooey.

amd6547 said:

That’s a bunch of hooey.

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The potential shell elevator issues? Or something else?

amd6547 said:

That’s a bunch of hooey.

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I've had a 590 since the 1990s, serving bedroom security duty. It hasn't been shot much. After seeing a video highlighting the shell lifter dislodging after a drop, I tried it. I dropped my 590 on its side onto the carpeted floor from just a foot or two. The shell lifter popped out of its pivot hole in the receiver on the very first try!

I was surprised and disappointed, but not enough to replace the gun with a different brand/model....

desmobob said:

I've had a 590 since the 1990s, serving bedroom security duty. It hasn't been shot much. After seeing a video highlighting the shell lifter dislodging after a drop, I tried it. I dropped my 590 on its side onto the carpeted floor from just a foot or two. The shell lifter popped out of its pivot hole in the receiver on the very first try!

I was surprised and disappointed, but not enough to replace the gun with a different brand/model....

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Mine will do the same thing, my Daughter's as well. While I don't expect to drop the weapon during a self defense scenario...it IS possible and I just want others to be aware of it. Also the potential issue of shotshells shorter than 2-5/16" (loaded length) being able to JAM the weapon by hanging up on the shell elevator tab, or worse...falling through it. Mossberg could fix that issue by simply making the tab 1/4" longer.

It's true...it doesn't happen all that often...as the shotshell must bounce into the receiver 'just right' to achieve the correct angle for it to hang up, but it's happened to me several times and I know of others as well. So...I'm either going to modify the shell elevator or use only 3" shotshells.

I'm not trying to rag on the Mossberg or make folks overly concerned, but I DO think folks should be aware of these two potential issues.

My Mossberg 500 is so old, it was made for Western Auto, with their trade name "Revelation" stamped on it.
I bought it at a gun show, where a dealer had a table piled three guns high of riot guns from a security company...$75, take your pick.
It was beat up and used when I got it, but was functionally perfect.
I've shot a few 3" shells "just for fun"...
But I've mainly shot many, many 2 3/4" buck or slug...including the Hornady load in the pics.
Never, ever has a shell ended up cockeyed, as shown. Never.
Even when I had it set up with a pistol grip, then a pistol grip folder, it never jammed.
I've never dropped my Mossberg, so I can't speak to that "issue", but the Mossberg did pass the military 3000rd test...using 2 3/4" shells.
I only had one issue. After 20-some years of my use, the screw holding the ejector loosened, and I had intermittent FTE's. A screwdriver and loctite fixed that.

amd6547 said:

My Mossberg 500 is so old, it was made for Western Auto, with their trade name "Revelation" stamped on it.
I bought it at a gun show, where a dealer had a table piled three guns high of riot guns from a security company...$75, take your pick.
It was beat up and used when I got it, but was functionally perfect.
I've shot a few 3" shells "just for fun"...
But I've mainly shot many, many 2 3/4" buck or slug...including the Hornady load in the pics.
Never, ever has a shell ended up cockeyed, as shown. Never.
Even when I had it set up with a pistol grip, then a pistol grip folder, it never jammed.
I've never dropped my Mossberg, so I can't speak to that "issue", but the Mossberg did pass the military 3000rd test...using 2 3/4" shells.
I only had one issue. After 20-some years of my use, the screw holding the ejector loosened, and I had intermittent FTE's. A screwdriver and loctite fixed that.

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^^^^^^

Again, I am not contesting the function or experience you've had with YOUR shotgun. But you seem to be suggesting that because it has never happened to you, that is isn't possible or so highly unlikely as to be of no concern.

I would be curious to know the length of the 'tab' on your shell elevator so that we can compare. IF it is the same as mine...then I submit a shotshell of loaded length of less than 2-5/16" 'can' indeed jam on the tab or even fall through the shell elevator. You can test it for yourself by manually placing a shotshell in the diagonal position. Unless the internal dimensions of your older Mossy is different than current one's...I think you'll find the jam I have posted about is indeed possible and does happen. It is a known occurrence on sites like Mossberg Owners and a cursory google search will turn up the same thing.
I am happy it has never happened to you. It doesn't happen to me very often, but it does happen.

I measured four different tabs on shell elevators (2 extras) and one each on my shotgun and my Daughters. All were roughly .540" or just a bit over 1/2" in length (for comparison to yours).

GarandMan94 said:

I really don't like the idea of a 30-06 or .223 bullet going through the wall and killing my neighbors dog (no matter how annoying it is) so a shotgun seems like the thing to do.

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If you're thinking that a shotgun is going to give you some sort of margin for safety/reduced over penetration, then I strongly encourage you to watch this video. You'll be surprised.

Did a cursory google search as well as a search on Mossberg Owners and didn’t see anybody dropping shells through the lifter. Shotgun world, either.

amd6547 said:

Did a cursory google search as well as a search on Mossberg Owners and didn’t see anybody dropping shells through the lifter. Shotgun world, either.

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Typically they hang up the tab of the shell elevator, but can also drop through, just depends on how short the shotshell is and at what angle it bounces into the receiver. Do you also have doubts about the potential for the pivot points of the shell elevator becoming dislodged from the receiver? Might as well get that out the way while we are here.

I'm not going to spend my entire evening doing your work for you...but in just a matter of minutes...I turned up references to shotshells hanging up (jamming) on the 'tab', only one specifically states falling through, but it has happened to me and a shooting buddy of mine. I have also demonstrated that both issues (falling through and hanging up) are physically possible (see previous pics) unless you think I have purposely altered my shotgun to make a point? I wouldn't be wasting my time and that of the members here if these things were not happening (even if infrequently). Of course, some folks will never be persuaded.

http://mossbergowners.com/forum/ind...g-500-pump-action-troubleshooting.191/page-63

"Member Mtd
For lack of a better word the "tang" of my Mossberg 500 elevator is too short for some shells, which makes it misfeed once every so often for example with Fiocchi shells. I'm attaching photos to illustrate the elevator when it feeds properly versus when it feeds improperly.
Anyway this makes the 500 annoying when shooting clay and unsuitable for HD."

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https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-mossberg-500-issues-please-advise-–-pics.636172/

"Issue #2 – Feeding jam, shell wedged between bolt and elevator
On the second pump of the action, I experienced a jam. The 2 ¾” shell wedged itself between the bolt and the elevator. The rim on the crimp end of the shell was caught on the ‘tongue’ of the elevator."

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https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?118693-Mossberg-500-round-flipping-through-elevator

aceofspades991

"Mossberg 500 round flipping through elevator

Hi all, I recently purchased a new Mossberg 500 with a field barrel along with the high capacity shotgun kit from brownells. I've taken it out twice now and experienced the following issue three times over the course of about 130 shells.

The problem I've had is when racking the action occasionally a shell will flip through the elevator and dangles from the rim disabling the gun. This occurred once using Federal Vital Shok 00 Buck and twice using cheap Winchester target loads. (I assume it wouldn't make any difference but just in case, the issue occurred using both the field barrel and the 20" smooth bore barrel from brownells).

Attached is a picture of the issue that I replicated by hand at home."

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Jimmyjon

"Mine will occasionally do that also I've found the faster you rack it the better it goes."

These are errors of operation.