Suggestions

I have a 590 and a 500 home defense gun. Flip a coin. One is as good as the other for the job. I prefer the Mossberg tang safety over other guns crossbolt safety.

I’d probably go with a Mossberg 930 two barrel combo.

I've had 870s and juat purchased my first 590a1 for just shy of $700.

I opted to go with the retro grade version as I plan on making this my last shotgun for a very long time. I figured I would just go full monty and get the works. Thicker barrel, wood furniture, durable finish, heat shield, bayonet lug, etc. Just a full on fighting shotgun.

I like it a lot. It shoots well due to the substantial weight and the gun feels pre-slicked up compared to the lower end pump guns. It almost rivals my 50+ year old Ithaca 37....almost

I do prefer the tang safety to the crossbolt due to being a lefty. I would put the 590 up on my list of "you can only grab one and go" near the top. I don't see a need for a new pump gun anytime soon.

ColtPythonElite said:

I have a 590 and a 500 home defense gun. Flip a coin. One is as good as the other for the job. I prefer the Mossberg tang safety over other guns crossbolt safety.

Click to expand...

...and I will play devil's advocate in this case.
I have the opposite view on the subject of 870 vs 590 than my friend @ColtPythonElite.
I prefer the crossbolt safety at the back of the trigger group. It is less likely to get clicked off accidentally off, imho.
I feel the 870 is a bit higher quality piece.
There are more accessories available for the 870(if you're into that)
I dont know about the mossberg, but I do know that the Remington will stand up to 10s of thousands of rounds on the trap range.
Barrels are available for the 870, but the two barrel set from mossberg is appealing. I think the short deer barrels make ideal HD guns
.My opinions may be clouded from 40+ years of Remington ownership.
I do agree that either will work for the task of HD

Considering you are talking a not consistently used gun you can get a Mossberg 88 home defender under 200. Where I'm at you can find plenty of shotguns in pawn shops that are home defense or hunters that will do just fine that you can put mag tube extender on if you want. IMHO For inside the home a shotgun going to tear up a bunch of stuff. Typically if you have an intruder just a good blank will send them running. Not advocating doing it just a point. I've never had an intruder but have had to pull a weapon in self defense numerous times and thankfully never had to fire to get my point across.

Either an 870 or a Mossberg should do fine. Blondes vs brunettes.

The best 870 I ever owned was an old Police trade in with an 18" barrel right on the legal nose. Wonderfully stout with a 4+1 capacity. My first pump gun was an Express. I could never warm up to it and the shells got constantly jammed in the extended mag and it would develop surface rust if you even mentioned moisture out loud. I would have been totally turned off of Remington if it hadn't been for that old Police. War Horse of a gun.

I have never felt the NEED for multiple 12 guage guns. They are very purpose driven for my needs. When an internet friend sold me a lightly used Ithaca 37 DSPS for a song, the old 870P got traded away. Wish I would have kept it. Now that the 37 is getting up there in age, I wanted to semi retire it. The 590a1 seemed like a good choice. I had never owned one before but I look at 870/500 as a Chevy/Ford thing. Both will get you where you need to be, and you don't HAVE to argue the finer points of each...but it does make for fun harmless internet debate

Truthfully the tang/crossbolt safety is a moot point for me. Unlike a defensive handgun where it is cocked and ready to go on the draw, my shotguns are kept Cruiser ready since they are strictly home defense barricade weapons. The only time I would most likely need the safety would be if I had chambered a round and the altercation had ended and I needed to make the gun safe once the police arrived. As a lefty, I do like the tang safety for convenience. However on a short gun where your hand rides up on a pistol grip like the Shockwave, I think thats too easy to get bumped and may chew your hand up under recoil if you take an unprepared shot.

Mossberg 535? Field barrel and can accept 590 barrels.

There are so many good choices in that price range. Enjoy your 590. With minimal care it should be guarding your children's children's home.

Sometimes I wonder if by calling Ithaca Gun Company one could get 12ga 37 with 24" non-VR Mod. barrel. That would be nice multi-purpose gun.

One thing I miss from my first shotgun is the poly choke. Nothing better then being able to make changes on the spot by simple means.

Between the 500 and 870 I'd take the 870 every time. The 590 addresses some of the 500's short comings and the 2 are pretty much equal in terms of performance. I'm more familiar with the 870 so I prefer it. If you're familiar with a 500 the 590's operating system is the same.

If I'm going for a new gun I will get the Mossberg, that being said if I found an older 870 I would buy that over even the Mossberg. An old 870 can be found and often at a good price and will give your great great grandkids reliable service. Most people do not shoot shotguns high volume, the shotgun in recent times has been looked over in the pursuit of the carbine (for some good reasons to but the shotgun absolutely still has a place) for this reason alot of pawnshop or gunship finds on our older pumps can be found pretty easily. There are other good options like the Ithaca, maybe an old Hi Standard Flite King, Winchesters, but none of them are as customizable as the Mossberg and the Remington.

870 and never look back

Check out the section “riot guns “ at Summit Gunbrokers. Great price. I got my 860 police there. It’s very nice