A shotgun is an extremely useful and powerful tool- for example, one will almost certainly be better than a pistol for home defense, and you'll want a shotgun that is supremely reliable and sturdy for that purpose. Hailing from Sweden, the fabled Mossberg 590 does just that, and more- with decades of good service in many different hands throughout the world, the results surely speak for themselves.
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Introduction:
Mossberg, like many big names in the gun industry, has a flagship series of firearms. The Model 590- made famous partially for its service in the U.S military, is Mossberg's.
It is simple, extremely rugged, reliable and is more than everything you could want in a shotgun. It's known service across the four corners of the globe and across the seven seas (literally- it's a popular weapon for shipboard military and police crews).
Not only is it popular with official state services, but many private citizens around the world own these weapons- and often for many of the same reasons as their military counterparts.
The basic model- the Mossberg 500- was originally conceived in the early 1960's, designed for use by hunters and skeet shooters and the like. It was quickly noticed and acquired by law enforcement in particular due to its relatively low cost and reliability, and although it initially failed to enter service with the U.S military, the model designed specifically for military use- the one that would become the model 590 (which was seen by many as its spiritual successor) was accepted into service by the U.S Coast Guard.
Further improvements gradually followed, and the Mossberg 590 eventually became the standard shotgun in the U.S military as a whole in 1987- with many other militaries around the globe following in its footsteps.
Although it was partially replaced by newer shotguns in both its military and police markets, it remains popular and widespread with both (as well as with civilians) even into the 2020's, six decades since it's humble origins.
But what specifically propelled this weapon to stardom? And why should you buy one? Is it what you need? Read on to find out the answers to these and more!
First Impressions and hands-on experience:
Picking it up for feels:
The Mossberg 590 is a classic, pump-action shotgun- you load a shell, rack the pump, and fire- because of this, the Mossberg 590 is extremely reliable like it's brethren. I've fired probably thousands of rounds of all kinds- birdshot, buckshot and slugs- from a variety of manufacturers through these types of guns since I was a kid and had few issues with any of them going bang.
If the pump action is king when it comes to sturdy, reliable shotguns, then specifically the Mossberg 590 may just be the lord of all- in fact, it's good enough to have become the most-produced shotgun of all time, with over 11,000,000 being made to date.
After hearing about this weapon for years I finally got a chance to see and shoot one in person a few months back- one thing I noticed upon picking up this giant of the shotgun world- is that it's of a very heavy build even for a shotgun and feels strong as a rock- particularly toward the end, but that's either a blessing or a curse depending on how you look at it.
On one hand, it soaks up the recoil quite well and makes it easy to stay on target, especially considering the recoil of an average-weight 12-gauge shotgun. On the other hand, it makes it feel a bit heavy and cumbersome (especially in the 20-inch barrel version), but not so much so that anyone would really have any trouble holding it up, especially if it's a version with a stock on it.
Overall, though, the Mossberg 590 definitely physically handles like a dream- it's strong and sturdy, it's mechanically simple and always will cycle- no matter what type of ammunition you put through it. Any cost in weight is well worth it.
Fit, function and features:
The Mossberg 590 is built like a tank as we've said before in this article- and even if something breaks, there's lots of spare parts. In fact, one thing the 590 is so well-known for is its serviceability- the U.S Army, for example, has been using the 590 for decades, and while I cannot speak from direct experience, I've heard that some units still use individual shotguns that are over 20 years old with no problems aside from regular maintenance and parts replacement.
The Mossberg 590 has some things going for it internally that also add to its function and overall quality- among other things, all 590's come with dual extractors, twin action bars, positive lockup, and an anti-jam elevator- which further increases its already outstanding reliability. Again, despite all this rugged rigidity, it can be easily disassembled and serviced.
Externally, it's typical of most shotguns- the base model comes with a generic front bead sight (although models with substantially better sights from the factory are easy to find), and it has an ambidextrous sliding-switch safety just forward of buttstock above the grip.
While it might not seem remarkable, this is actually a really good feature on the gun that I really like because it's hard to accidently trip it, while also being extremely easy to get too in a pinch and being readily visible.
Additionally, the Mossberg 590 has some pretty damn impressive ergonomics for a shotgun- even with the standard fixed stock model, it seems to hold at exactly the right height and position- in essence, it doesn't feel awkward and sits under your chin and in your shoulder just right.
Of course, you can get pistol grips and collapsible stocks and other things to make your 590 even more to your liking and even more comfortable, but it is worth mentioning that even just the barebones Mossberg 590, despite its weight and length, feels like a good gun to hold in large part due to how it shoulders nicely, at least in my experience (I know people across the spectrum who have different experiences- I have freakishly long arms, so it might just be easier and feel more comfortable for me to hold it, but who knows?).
Shooting it:
When actually firing this famous weapon, I've found the recoil actually quite tame (even when firing 3" shotgun shells)- the action is also smooth enough and crisp enough that you aren't pulled too far off target while cycling the weapon (in fact, I found it's nearly as fast as my Beretta 1301- which is semi-automatic).
I could absolutely see someone having little difficulty putting multiple rounds in one spot in just a few seconds or quickly and accurately transitioning to different targets (say, for competition shooting).
All told, my personal round count through this specific gun is very low- probably no more than 200 rounds (since I do not personally own one- yet). But, for the 200 rounds fired- as mentioned previously- absolutely no problems whatsoever, as expected.
And many people I know who own this gun (as well as countless users from U.S army Soldiers, Sailors and Marines to Police units across the world and countless private citizens) certainly have found this weapon reliable enough for decades of good service- a fact that speaks for itself and certainly cannot be overstated. After all, this is one of the most popular- if not THE most popular- shotgun in the world.
One other thing is worth another mention- its recoil is harsh and yet, it'll stay on target fairly easy and because the action is so smooth, you can very quickly put multiple rounds on target (obviously even easier with buckshot or birdshot, but still... you get it). The benefits of this are quite clear- if one shot doesn't take down whatever you're shooting, another shot is only a split second away.
And, furthermore, if the gun somehow (SOMEHOW) malfunctions, you can quickly eject the dud shell and get the gun to fire again- remember, a working, reliable gun is critical, and just as critical is the ability to quickly fix a malfunction or clear a jam.
Diversity is our strength:
So, the weapon is well-built, and performs well- as it should, and in addition to the standard stock variety that I shot, did you know this gun comes in many other different forms?
That's right, there are, in fact, many versions of this weapon, including the standard models, one without a stock and just a pistol grip, the famous (and some would argue notorious) shockwave configuration, as well as ones that are magazine-fed, have collapsing stocks etc. and that's just scratching the surface- there are literally dozens of different configurations which all share the same legendary reliability, and all with the same outstanding overall quality.
All models come with two main barrel lengths- at either 18.5 or 20 inches- although shorter (or longer) barrels are also available. So as far as shotguns go, the Mossberg 590 lineup is... extremely diverse, to say the least, and obviously, it's anything but bad.
And finally, in regard to what you'd pay for the quality we've described above across all models... It certainly will not break the bank for the average buyer, but it'll still likely set you back at least 500 dollars for a brand new one, and there are cheaper options out there that are nearly as good. Nevertheless, it's well worth it, and this is one gun you don't want to pass up on considering all the perks and high-quality marks it has.
Pros and cons:
The Mossberg 590, while fantastic, has its pros and cons like all guns. We've listed some of them below:
Pros:
Extremely reliable
Easy to use under stress
Fast for a pump-action shotgun
Comes in many different variations depending on your needs
Cons:
Long and heavy
A bit expensive (but not prohibitively so)
Final thoughts, best deals and gun stats:
Choosing the right shotgun is very important, and there isn't a whole lot to say here in regard to making the right choice, except for the fact is gets the job done perfectly well and in a way that shouldn't inconvenience anyone. In fact, the Mossberg 590 would my first choice for home defense for just those reasons.
The rugged reliability, power and ease of use make it an ideal home defense gun, and while it's a bit heavy, this does a good job at soaking up recoil and maintaining accuracy, and the price point isn't horrible, either.
Ultimately, I'd say it is, in fact well worth it. And that's just the standard stock version- as mentioned numerous times previously, there are many different models in the 590 lineup to meet different user's needs- all of which have their own perks and drawbacks, but all sharing the same core functionality, features and overall quality of the base model.
So, what's it worth to you? We've scoured the internet looking for the best deals and brought them to you in the links below!
Mossberg 590 stats:
Note- these stats are for the standard (and thus most common) models with a fixed stock.
Caliber | Standard 12 gauge (some models also come in other chamberings, such as 20 gauge) |
Action | Pump action |
Barrel length | Various- but usually 18.5 inches or 20 inches (depending on model) |
Overall length | 39.5 or 41 inches (depending on model) |
Weight | ~7 pounds (empty) |
Magazine capacity | Various (mainly 6+1 for 18.5 inch barrel models or 8+1 for 20 inch barrel models) |
Safety | Thumb saftey |
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