Picked up a Mossberg 590

JaPes

JaPes

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I used to own a Benelli SuperNova Tactical. Nice shotgun, but all the OEM tacticool wasn't for me. I had to learn the hard way that a pistol grip on a shotgun doesn't do it for me. I never shot it often. I sold it about two years ago.

At the beginning of Spring, I got the itch to try breaking clays, and kept an eye out for a shotgun. I wasn't in a hurry. I don't know if I'll enjoy shooting clays. I found new shotguns from well known manufacturers, but balked at the price. I'd find affordable shotguns, but I'd balk at the manufacturer. I'd find used shotguns, but they were too well used for my tastes.

Saturday, I went to chew the fat with the guys at the small gun store I choose to patronize. They just took in a collection on consignment. An older gentleman is moving to an assisted living facility, and is raising some extra funds. I found an identical pair of Mossberg 590's. I picked up this one:

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The gentleman bought two, lubed them, put on the shell holding stocks, then put them in the safe. Never fired them. I looked both over, and it was true. I picked the one that gave me a good gut feeling. I brought it home tonight, broke it down, cleaned out old lube, reassembled, and am good to go.

I know it's not the ideal shotgun to shoot clays. I don't know if I will even like shooting clays. If I don't, then I have a good all round shotgun that cost me $300. If I do enjoy shooting clays, then I'll look for a proper over/under.
 
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I was just about to make a thread showing my new M590A1, I'll just post a picture of it here instead!

20160711_224505_1.jpg


I plan to add a heat shield to fulfill the type 1 shotgun specifications of MIL-S-344G. I am going for a modern "trench gun" if you will, something with the same features as the old M97 and M12 trench guns of the early 20th century, but in a modern form.
 
Many moons ago I had one that was parkerized, had the heat shield, bayonet lug and the ghost ring sights just as the one Grayfox has pictured. It also had the stock with the shell holders (2 per side as I recall). While I prefer the 870s (mostly due to a lifetime of training and deploying with them), I do often miss that Mossberg. It was the first 12ga that I bought with my own money. Traded off in the early 90s for who knows what... If I found one like you did for that price, I'm fairly certain I'd have done the same. Maybe I need to start looking around some.... I probably even have a picture of it. A real picture though, so I'd have to take a picture of the picture to share.... :)

I don't think you'll enjoy it for breaking pigeons, but it'll be fun to shoot none the less.
 
JayFramer said:
I was just about to make a thread showing my new M590A1, I'll just post a picture of it here instead!

20160711_224505_1.jpg


I plan to add a heat shield to fulfill the type 1 shotgun specifications of MIL-S-344G. I am going for a modern "trench gun" if you will, something with the same features as the old M97 and M12 trench guns of the early 20th century, but in a modern form.
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The heat shield that's specific to the 590A1 is P/N 16335P.

Bought a 590 with Speed Feed stock when they first came out. It's had decades of use and has been totally reliable. The action is glass smooth now, even the mag tube, as it's been polished by the forend sliding on it so much. It's the home defense shotgun, always ready to go. Don't use it for games or hunting, that's reserved for Rem 1187s. Have considered getting a 590A1 and sending the barrel out to have choke tubes installed. Mossberg used to offer a 590A1 with a fixed mod choke.
 
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My 590 A1 with the tri-rail on the fore stock where a 200 lumens light now rides, filled with #4Buck for those things that go bump in the night.

c8628cfd-365c-4cd5-ae42-e4466905e51e_zpsrsa2cuz4.jpg
 
Hickok45 just did a second test on the Mossberg. He really likes them.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxmXi2oI1qA[/ame]
 
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Grayfox said:
However, I don't think that cylinder bore barrel will be much on clays. I tried it once on trap and the pattern is just too wide for reliable hits.
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inspcalahan said:
I don't think you'll enjoy it for breaking pigeons, but it'll be fun to shoot none the less.
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I admit to not knowing anything. I have no idea what's the difference between skeet, trap, etc. I acknowledge and whole heartedly agree that I didn't buy the best tool for the job. I am open to all credible information I can find. All I want to try is launching a clay pigeon into the air and see if I can break it. This is all new to me. I reiterate that since I have no idea whether or not I'll enjoy it, I took the route with the least shotgun buy-in expense that will leave me with a good general purpose shotgun regardless of outcome. :)
 
Once you pick up a 590, they are hard to put down. That small, ribbed forearm is very functional and feels just right. My personal HD shotgun is an 870 but, I have several friends to whom I have recommended the 590.

All of them ended up with that model and none of them regret the decision. If I didn't already have the 870, I would have the 590 mil. model.
 
JaPes said:
I admit to not knowing anything. I have no idea what's the difference between skeet, trap, etc. I acknowledge and whole heartedly agree that I didn't buy the best tool for the job. I am open to all credible information I can find. All I want to try is launching a clay pigeon into the air and see if I can break it. This is all new to me. I reiterate that since I have no idea whether or not I'll enjoy it, I took the route with the least shotgun buy-in expense that will leave me with a good general purpose shotgun regardless of outcome. :)
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Then you're in for fun! If you're just busting clays and other willing targets, then it'll work just fine. I was picturing you on the skeet range competing with it. For a general purpose shotgun, you did well.
 
walkinghorse said:
How does the shell holding stock do?
Are they ambidextrous?
Always been curious about the advantages this type of stock?
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The stock holds two shells on each side of the stock for a total of 4 shells. I put 12 Gauge snap caps in there to try it out. I thumped the stock and they didn't fall out. Put your finger on the top of the shell, a little nudge down and away from the stock and the shell pops out. I don't have any real experience on which to draw from in order to attest to the practicality of the stock.

I have no idea whether or not the shell holding stock is factory OEM equipped, or was added on by the previous owner.
 
Learning to hit moving objects with your SD shotgun will come in handy. "Skeet" or "back yard trap" give the best affordable training. Start with "straight away" then "angled away". It gets hard to pull the clays for crossing and incoming safely, but around the corner of an old shed usually works. Don't use Express or Defense loads, use Game, Field, Dove or Target loads in size 6 to 9 shot (most ranges and sporting clays clubs limit shot size to 7.5, 8 & 9 for safety).

When the kids where teenagers, we'd shoot in the back yard of the farm. Some of them went on to enjoy Sporting Clays, others didn't but they knew how to hit moving targets with their own shotgun!

Ivan

PS, In WW I the farmboys with model 12 and 97 trench guns, would shoot enemy carrier pidgins, and blast thrown hand grenades to deflect them away from their trench. The Europeans were amazed that it could be done.
 
The 590 should work fine for skeet, or hand-thrown clay targets. Not a good choice for 5-stand or trap. Skeet involves shooting targets at close range, and open or improved cylinder chokes are standard. Back in the days when I was shooting skeet a lot, I always used pump guns, but many prefer semi-auto or O/U shotguns. Skeet in formal competition is actually a four-gauge game (12, 20, 28, and .410), but I used only 12 and 20, shooting in only 12 and 20 gauge events. Only light loads in small shot sizes (usually #9) are used in skeet by most shooters due to the short distances involved.
 
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