"Combat" shotgun question

[CaCrusin]

One fella that is "in the know" said that the mil-spec Mossy's are thicker walled and hold up to a lot of abuse. If it can handle what our boys are doing, I know I won't be able to wear it out. The Rem's reputation precedes it- don't really have to go into that. I guess I'll just have to find a place that has both and get the feel side by side, hopefully that will help.

The Mossberg 590 A1 has a heavier barrel but the receiver is identical to all of the other 500-series guns. In my over 40 years of shooting and 30 years as a gun dealer, I've never seen a Mossberg barrel failure of any kind and only heard of one. That one was caused by the owner allowing the muzzle of his shotgun to be pressed into the mud on a goose hunt and not clearing the three inch plug from the barrel before shooting at said goose. The barrel split in traditional fashion but no one was injured.

My point: why carry the extra weight of the A1 barrel if it serves no good purpose. My 590 has had over 25,000 rounds through it and the barrel is just fine, thank you. The gun has been refinshed by Robar and now looks as good as it shoots.

CaCrusin

 

[akluvr]

Looks like I'm gonna be lookin over the police trade in racks! Everybody has given some great info and saved me some major bucks in the process. Everybody belly up to the bar, drinks are on me tonight! Seriously, thanks a bunch for all the info, it is greatly appreciated. I knew with all the old codgers in here, I'd get some straight answers . You guys are the best!

 

[Fred Fuller]

Old codgers?

OLD?????

CODGERS?????

I resemble that remark...

lpl/nc (been workin' to get there a long time, too- one'a these days they're gonna promote me to curmudgeon!)

 

[Nnobby45]

Go Remington

As if you didn't have enough advice already!!

But, I like my Wilson Regular model 870 with SureFire fore-end so much that I sent in my 1980's vintage 870 to have them reconfigure it to the Border Patrol model, including new barrel. Like the regular model, It will come with Tactical sling, Armor Tuff finish, ext. mag., Track Lock II tritium sights, converted to 3", replaced worn parts, and so forth. When Wilson gets done smoothing it up, it'll be so smooth (like the first one) that my hunting shotguns will seem rough (they're not).

Regarding the Wilson/Scattergun Tech Reg. Model Combat shotgun that they built for me (Express), I'll bet the plastic trigger guard is twice as tough as the aluminum on the original 870, and my dealer installed the Jumbo safety in 10 minutes. This gun operates rapid fire without a hitch--buck, slugs, 3" or 2 3/4", and what bird shot I've used for practice so far.

You don't need to drive a Caddy, but there it is if you want one.

 

[dfaugh]

I think the Wilson Combat guns are great

and if I had lots of money, I would consider one....However, in the "real world", in most any situation where I feel a shotgun would be appropriate, I can't see the advantage over my "plain Jane" Mossberg, which cost about 1/4 as much.

Basically, you need to do a "cost/benefit analysis" and see if the features on the Wilson guns are really worthwhile for you.