Mossberg 500/590 20" vs Mossberg 500/590 18.5"

[ZombiesAhead]

I bought (a few) Mossberg 590 full-stock 20" shotguns. At the time, I was really scared of future bans and limiting my shotgun to less than its 8 round capacity.

I've recently played with a few 18.5" Mossberg 500/590's - especially the 6 shot Mariner model.

I really would like to lose 1.5" off the end of my 590 and I'm not sure I care so much anymore about those last few shells in the tube.

This is an HD/SHTF gun. Is there a cheap way to replace my 20" barrel/8 shot tube for an 18.5" barrel/shorter feed tube? Anyone in NE Ohio want to trade? Am I just bugging about this? Are there advantages I don't see in that extra few shells and inches of barrel length?

I just feel like a 20" shotgun is still too long for home defense - Heck - it's almost as long as my 21" FAL! I've since relegated my 20" 590 to the safe and use pistols or a Sub-2000 as my bed-side HD firearm. I even sometimes keep a 16" AR-15 next to the bed just because I can't possibly see myself hefting a 20" 9 shot Mossberg 590 out of bed to protect my family.

What do you think? Convince me to keep the 20"/9 shot or tell me it's an easy trade/swap. Or tell me I screwed up and have gun that is not suitable for close-quarters defense.

 

[Dave McCracken]

You have me astounded. That doesn't happen much in Shotgunland any more.

Let me get this straight.

Your current shotgun is too heavy.

You want one that runs maybe 6 oz less loaded, 1.5" shorter and feel this is perfection personified?

As for the length, anything under 40" or so can be operated in CQ by a trained operator.

I've two 870s as part of my home insurance plan. One has a barrel lopped down to 18" plus a little. The other sports a 20" barrel. Both have extensions.

What I can do with one, I can do with the other.

You can also with yours. Shooting yours more will find it getting much more nimble and quick.

And I'll wager the usual flagon of fine Pict Mead that you have neglected regular exercise with these 590s.

You do practice with your shotguns, right?

As for the mechanics, I'm no smith nor Mossberg owner, but common reports says swapping the parts is not easy. A new mag tube and barrel are needed.

 

[ZombiesAhead]

I practice with birdshot with my 590. It still seems long and heavy compared to a rifle or pistol caliber carbine. I really like my friend's 18.5" Mariner a lot more and I no longer see any reason why I ever thought I would need 8 or 9 shells in a pump 12 gauge for a home defense situation. That's why I find myself grabbing a Kel-Tec Sub2K or M4gery instead of the shotgun if I were to need a defensive long-gun.

Just feeling out opinions. I'm not an operator and maybe that 1.5" doesn't make a difference but I'm curious what you guys think. It seems like like my 590 is an extra 12" of gun for a home invader/criminal to grab at as opposed to my Sub2K or M4gery. Mossberg really was selling me hard with their marketing on their maximum capacity mag tube and that's what sold me on the 20". Now it seems kind of like a waste of a few inches. Shorter barrel > Extra Mag capacity is my new thought.

 

[Gary A]

I realize it's Christmas and there has been an economic downturn but you said

I bought (a few) Mossberg 590 full-stock 20" shotguns

so I'm thinking you should keep them, buy one shorter Mossberg and see what you like the best. What's one more?

(Although the concept of continuing to buy and not using sure flys against my "new" signature line )

Buy a short Mossberg, see what you like, then sell what you don't need or want.

 

[Robert]

It still seems long and heavy compared to a rifle or pistol caliber carbine

Of course it is, it has 8 or 9 12ga shells hanging off the front. The only thing heavier than my 590 is my FAL or my Mauser, but my 590 fully loaded is still lighter than an 870.

I really like my friend's 18.5" Mariner

Unless you live in a salt water environment the marine coat finish is a needless expense in my opinion.
I tend to shy away from a rifle or pistol caliber carbine for HD due to over penetration. I know some "studies"(Box of Truth) have been done that show this to not be the case, but I'd rather be safe than sorry. To me the extra 1.5" is fine, I'd rather have more shells and not need them than to need them and not have them. That and a bayonet on the 590 will keep the grabby hands away. Just my $.02

 

[jamesb]

I have a 500 with a 18.5 inch barrel and it seems heavy and clunky compared to my other shotguns, and they have full length barrels. A mossberg 500 will never win a fit and trim contest. I am not sure you are actually getting anything by going the shorter route, it is more likely you are percieving the shorter to be better. All pumps I have ever held sans the model 12 and ithaca 37 have been heavier than my pistol, so you really can't compare the 2. But you can never have enough shotguns so get a standard 500 with a 18.5 and 28 inch barrel so you can swop them out and do dual duty with them.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Practicing with birdshot is a good thing. Do use some rounds of whatever you keep it loaded with in between range trips each and every session.

Long and heavy? Heck, so's an M14. I see those on the news being used for clearing houses in various sandy areas.

While my house 870 weighs nigh 9 lbs, it handles like a M1 carbine for me. High mileage does that.

As for a home invader grabbing your shotgun, I've yet to see a verified example of this happening with any long arm, any time anywhere.

Anyone got a cite on that?

And if you want a lighter, faster handling shotgun, just leave a few less rounds in your mag. Try six for starters and see how it works for you.

That takes 7 oz or so from the muzzle. And six rounds of 00 should be plenty for anything this side of Zombie Apocalypse.

 

[foghornl]

I have a Maverick 88 with the 18-1/2" barrel & 5+1 tube; Shooting Budd has the 20" Maverick 'Security' Model with the 8-shot capacity. Very little difference that I can tell with handling, except when the 8-shoot is fully loaded. It does feel a fraction muzzle-heavy to me then.

 

[Zeekrider]

pls delete

 

[DHart]

Alexd.... YES! the 18.5" Persuader 6-shot is a truly awesome shotgun and a great size. Buy one to go with your 590! I've had a 500A Persuader with 18.5" barrel for a number of years. I love the gun and have fired it a lot. It is a stone sweet, stone reliable shotgun that I know I can handle well and rely upon no matter what the load - 6 shots I can count on. I won't give it up! The action is slick and light from years of use. And I'm quite used to it.

That said, I just bought a new 590 w/20" barrel because I wanted the 9-shot capacity. It's kind of like starting all over again for me because it does feel a little bit bigger, heavier and just a tad less wieldy, and the new action is stiffer than my well used 500 Persuader. But I am happy to have the extra 3-round capacity of the 590 and confident that in time and with use, I will come to feel at home with it too.

We've got to remember with our firearm choices that with EVERY single choice we make, there are always compromises.... you gain something, you give something up. That's just the way is is. Each of these guns offers something great and unique, neither "has it all". I feel very well protected with my 6-shot Persuader, but I do believe that capacity is important, especially with bad guys working more in twos and threes. 9 rounds on tap before a reload is always better than 6, if you an handle the gun well. The extra 1.5" and a little more weight isn't that big of a deal. As Dave indicated... shoot the gun enough and it will become wonderful in your hands.

As I continue to handle the 20" 590, it is rapidly becoming more and more familiar and comfortable to me. I see no reason why it can't be every bit as good as a home defense shotgun. Yes, the 18.5"er is just a bit more nimble, but I think having the extra 3-rounds with the 590 is worth the slight decrease in nimbleness. I'm glad to have both shotguns. And it could be argued that the extra weight of the 590 reduces felt recoil a little and speeds up repeat shots. I keep both my beloved 500 and my new friend the 590 loaded and close by and look forward to getting to know and firing the action on my new 590 to the point of being as slick as my 500.

 

[Doc_Jude]

Check out the M500 Tactical Cruiser (some call it the "Breacher").
I think it will fit your needs. I'm in the process of getting one with a folding Knoxx SpecOps stock on it. IMO, it's the perfect short-range SHTF shotgun. The strap on the fore-stock assists with pistol grip firing and helps prevent kick-back into your face, as we've seen recently (check the threads)

If you work your transition from long gun to backup, you'll probably find that it's a great system. I currently work my M590 with my Glock 30SF, things are getting quick!

 

[22lr]

I bought a 18.5 for my 500 at a gunshow for $40. It needed cleaning, but she cleaned right up and now, I dont even use my longer barrels for anything but deer hunting. You cant beat the way a 18.5 moss 500 handles.

 

[22lr]

And o ya, if you need more than 6 rounds of #000 then plan A, B and C have all been shot to......

 

[chuckusaret]

I have a Mossberg 500 12 gauge 20" barrel Cruiser with pistol grip for HD because of the added capacity of 7 + 1. I also have Remington 870 12 gauge 18.5" barrel with a full stock. I have attended the home defense classes plus been thru many combat shotgun training courses. I also have actual combat experience with a shotgun. I feel any shotgun, regardless of length, with practice would be ideal for HD for the average size person.

 

[Rshooter]

First, some have recommended a pistol grip shotgun. You fire these from the hip, Not From The Chin!!!

Second, it sounds like you need some range time. The Mossberg is a great shotgun in the 20 inch configuration. After some work with it, maybe even a shotgun course you will learn to love it. And I am an 870 guy.

 

[RyanM]

I think 590s have a heavier barrel than 500s. That may be the main reason why your 590s seem more front-heavy than a 500, not the extra 1.5".

 

[DHart]

The 590A1 does have a thicker barrel vs. the standard barrel in the 590SP and 500. So that's part of it... but what really adds the most noticible "out front" weight is the additional 3 shells residing in the longer mag tube on the 9-shot 20" vs. the 6-shot 18.5".

 

[GoF150xlt]

My Mossberg felt a little bit too long, but for me it was the length of pull. I replaced the buttstock with a Hogue model that was shorter and it made the shotgun much more handy. I am on the shorter side, however. Just something to consider.

 

[Big D]

I was brought up on the 870, but I recently picked up a 500A Mariner. Although my 870 comes to the shoulders better (for me), the Mossberg is a solid shotgun that I would bet my life on. As a matter of fact, its my truck gun at the moment....loaded with five 00 3in Mags....hehe.

 

[riverdog]

Rather than buying a shorter 500/590 for HD, why not buy a longer 500/590 and use it for Skeet. Swing a 26"-30" barrel at station 7 to pick up that second clay and you won't find 20" clunky. When I shot Skeet with my 870 I used a 26" barrel and that second clay can be taken.

Thought #2: My HD gun is a Rem 870 with 20" RS barrel but no mag extension; it swings plenty fast. Have you tried that 20" barrel with a less than full magazine?

 

[ZombiesAhead]

It's not the 590A1 - I believe that is actually an 18.5" heavy barrel. Mine is the non-mil-spec 590 with heat shield. I think the extra front weight is - as many have mentioned - the extra shells up front.

 

[DHart]

alexd.... keep handling and shooting that 20"er and you'll definitely get used to it. The 1.5" and little xtra weight is easy to get used to and having 3 extra rounds is NICE and the bit of added weight makes the 20" a softer shooter than the 18.5".

If you want to feel the gun in a little leaner and lighter configuration, remove the heat shield. You may like that, or find that the added weight is your friend and reinstall the heat shield. My 590SP is just like yours with the heat shield and while I think it looks cool, I've never felt the "need" for a heat shield. It could be argued, though, that the added weight from the heat shield makes the gun a little softer shooting! So, it's all give and take, and it's all good in one way or another.