Mossberg 590 Special Purpose

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I bought one at the Valley Forge gun show this past weekend. I wanted a good HD shotty and after some reading and handling at the show, decided on the Mossberg (over the Remington). It has ghost sights on it that helped sell me on the Mossberg. I have a 870 Wingmaster with a 26" Skeet barrel that I haven't shot in about 10 years, so I wanted to give the Mossberg a try.
I shot it last night and forgot how much fun (and how painfull if you don't tuck it in tight :what:) a shotty could be.
I'm looking for advice for what sling I should get and what HD loads that I should keep in it. My other question is if anyone makes a heat shield that'll mount to it with the ghost sights (the barrel was screaming hot).
I've been primarily a handgun shooter for the past 25 years so I'm planning on taking a course on defensive shotguns as soon as I can sign up for one in my area.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
Here's a link to a pretty thorough discussion about the defensive shotgun. Includes data on penetration by range and projectile size. Also talks about training, sights, range determination, and ammunition selection.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/shotgun.htm

cheers,
Dan
 
Stay away from universal heatsheilds, go with the mossberg part.

Mossberg says the HS wont fit with the GR sights, but they're wrong. All you have to do is spread the tangs a little so you can push it down on the barrel from the top.

I dont know if it will fit the HBAR 590A1. I havent tried.
 
1. The universals are fine, just like the Mossbergs...I have one on my 500.

2. No, they won't. I don't know why someone hasn't come out with 590A1 shields yet.

-- John D.
 
Thanks for the responses so far. How are the heat shields installed? Are they slid on from the front of the barrel? Can you take off the barrel and slide it on from the rear of it?
 
A lot of folks go with 00 buck in the 2 3/4" shells. I prefer the 3" shells because you are getting 6 more pellets that are .33 in diameter. 15 of those can do some serious damage.

Having more projectiles is a big reason many go with the #1 buck, but if you use the 3" shells you have about the same number, but with a larger diameter.

Each person is going to have their own preference, I have a nice recoil pad on my home defense shotgun, so the 3" shells don't bother me at all with the recoil.

Some people really like the reduced recoil shells, but with the reduced recoil you also get reduced effectiveness. My goal if I have to use my HD shotgun is to eliminate the threat as fast as possible and I feel I have a better chance with my regular 3" shells.

I also have a sling for it, but don't keep it on for the home defense as I just haven't found the comfort level with it yet. I did add a tac light and a side saddle, but those fit just right and I feel they are necessary, the tac light for sure.
 
Thanks in advance for any advice.

OK, advice in advance. Forget the heat shield.

Young man in my Awerbuck class had a Mossberg with a heat shield. About Day Two his shotgun went down- the bolt wouldn't lock up any more. No one could figure what was going on.

Turned out the barrel retaining nut/magazine cap was a tad loose. Under recoil the heat shield, still firmly clamped on the barrel, worked its way back against the receiver and slowly forced the barrel forward as the magazine cap loosened a bit more with each shot, until the action couldn't close.

Once the problem was diagnosed, the young man took the heat shield off and discarded it, tightened the magazine cap and went back on the line.

Heat shields were a .mil invention in the 'trench gun' days to keep GIs from burning their hands when they went to bayonets. Handling the gun properly, your hands won't touch the barrel even if you get it hot. So no need for a heat shield, unless you anticipate going to cold steel.

BTW, the .mil versions were retained in place by screws that engaged notches cut into the undersides of the barrels. With the screws in place, the shields (which also incorporated the baynet mounts) weren't going anywhere. Same was true with the USMC Mark 1 870s in years gone by. The .civilian versions depend on clamping force alone- sometimes it isn't enough to keep everything in place.

BUT it's your shotgun, your money, your gunfight. Run it however you like...

Stay safe,

lpl/nc
 
In a HD situation, barrel heating ought to be a non-issue. Such encounter don't last that long, usually end after 4-5 shots.

As for loads, I have thought about this myself. I keep a HD short-barrel 870 on my wife's side of the bed, and have also acquired a shorty Mossberg. I think reduced recoil is the way to go. At HD ranges, almost any load should have enough power to get the job done.
2-3/4 shells may alow you to load one more round in some guns.

I choose to stage the loads so that I can escalate, so here's what I do currently:
1st round #8 birdshot
2nd & 3rd round #4 shot
4th and 5th round 00 buck
If I had room for another round or two, they would likely be slugs.
I might also choose to have another birdshot in the #2 position.
 
I have a 590A1 and it’s hella fun to shoot. If you want to tame that recoil, get one of the Knoxx recoil reducing stocks. It will tone that punch in the shoulder down to shove. They really work, which is refreshing in today’s ‘claim anything deliver nothing’ world.
 
1st round #8 birdshot
Click to expand...

Bad, bad idea. You might only get one shot. Better make it count.

Birdshot just simply does not have the penetration or power to get it done, particuarly through heavy clothing. See the Box O' Truth

And I don't like 3 and 3.5 inch shells because of muzzle rise. 2.75 inch shells will get the job done just fine.
 
Thanks for the link to the Box O' Truth. Spent some goof off time at work ;) checking out some of the myths - kinda like Myth Busters for guns :D
Lots to be learned.
 
I also don't like slings on an HD shotgun. It is fine to have the swivels for a quick detachable sling mounted, though, that you can snap on for outside duties.

In house use, a sling gets in the way.
 
parkerized?

I've read many posts were people refer to the 590s as parkerized, but the website says they are matte blue. Are only the ones made specifically for the military parkerized? Also, they only list the 20" 590A1 with ghost rings on the web site, but they make 18.5" 590A1 versions without ghost rings or heat shields for the military. I'd rather have that version.

(In response to a previous post, the 590 models are listed in the section with the 500 Special Purpose models.)
 
MAKster: yup...my 590 is parkerized...unless they have another name for the dull flat gray finish on this baby. This is the perfect home defense weapon IMHO...with warning of course. Without warning...I will go to my .45ACP.



Mossy590_1.jpg
 
Will the 590`s shoot the 3 1/2 "00" magnums? I have been waiting for mossy to come out with a HD boomer that will handle the 3 1/2`s

Well, from the mossy website i see i will have to wait for the 835 to come out in HD configuration, sorry for the wasted space.
 
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