Mosserg 590
[I]Scares bad guys more than than a Texas hangin’ judge.
[/I]I’ve done a few handgun reviews, and felt it was time to look at an old mainstay. I can go on at length about the advantages of a longarm for home defense, but I don’t think I really have to. Tactically speaking, handguns are a secondary weapon. Inferior capacity, stopping power, and accuracy will always make this so. Rifles rule the outdoors and open spaces; it is always strategically better to engage a threat at great a distance as possible. In this the rifle is supreme ruler of the range.
Ahhhh…but we live indoors, dear friends, don’t we? Sometimes we have neighbors close by, or even on the other side of a thin wall. The rifle is not plausible here, and the handgun is good, but not as good as:
The shotgun. My friends, I present the Mossberg 590.
Specifications Weight 3.3 kg empty - varies loaded Length varies with model
Barrel length: 14 to 30 inches (350 to 762 mm)
Caliber: 12 gauge, 20 gauge, .410 bore
Action: pump action
Effective range: 40 m - 60 m
Feed system: 5 to 8 rounds; internal tube magazine
MSRP: ~$300-$400
THE GOOD:
Stopping Powah: 12-gauge 3" 00 Buckshot is a man-stopper. Hell, it’s a bear-stopper. The movies would have you believe that bad guys explode and/or fly through walls when shot with these. While this is not the case, at indoor distances, this thing will DEFINITELY put the bad guy down. Period. This is not a topic that provides much meat for debate. You just can’t beat 12 gauge at close range for maximum damage to the opposition.
Intimidation: This may seem a little weird to list under an asset for a home defense weapon, but it is a tangible benefit to this piece of hardware. When something goes bump in the night, you may not even need to do anything more than rack that slide one time. In a silent house, the sound of the Mossberg slamming home a shell is positively deafening. There is not a home invader in the world who will not recognize that sound, and fear it.
God forbid you venture out and he SEES it. It’s big, black, and in most cases, bristling with extraneous hardware. It is not grandpa’s old turkey gun. Everything about it screams “I kill PEOPLE!” It’s terrifying, and more often than not, that’s all you need with your average opportunistic burglar.
[I]Come and get me. Please. I dare you.
[/I]Versatile: Lots of ammo choices, lots of sizes. 410, 20-gauge, or 12-gauge are all available, and the shear diversity of configurations of ammunition is staggering. You can go with low-recoil, low penetration loads, or just say “fuck it” and get magnum shells and try to “ride the lightning” when you pull the trigger. Ir you can alternate different shells if you like. It’s your world, man…we’re just livin’ in it.
Accuracy: People would have you believe that you don’t even need to aim a shot gun. This is stupid. Most shotgun pellet groupings will be less than 6 inches at indoor distances. This means that you still need to practice and use proper technique when shooting. Basically…it IS easier than hitting something with a handgun, but not quite as easy as it is made out to be.
(It is EASIER though. Seriously)
Ringing endorsement: The US Army seems to like this shotgun. They seem to be pretty good at making the opposition die. This seems to be a pretty solid indicator of weapon quality.
[I]This guy approves of the 590 for daily carry.
[/I]THE BAD:
OOOOOWWWWWWW!!!: 12-gauge shotshells will ruin your day at the range if you aren’t paying attention. High-end magnum loads can be brutal for anyone. If you are entertaining the thought of buying ultra-expensive hard-hitting personal defense shells, loading it up and sticking it under your bed, you may be in for a nasty surprise. We will send tiger balm and ibuprofen for your shoulder if you post pictures of your hematoma afterward. It should be epic.
Practice with this monster, people, or get the 410.
Grow Stronger: She’s heavy, people. This ain’t your daddy’s side-by-side. It’s all metal, all the time. Since you aren’t humping it through the back woods, this shouldn’t matter. Just thought I’d mention it.
Leave it at home: This is not a carry piece. You really need to leave it in the house, so as a “budget gun” this lack of portability could be a strike against it. Handguns can do dual duty as home defense and personal defense. The Mossberg just won’t fly as a carry piece most places. Although you can technically open carry it in Vermont, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana, and Wyoming. Your call.
THE UGLY:
No class: Remember your grandpa’s beautiful old Remington? All that varnished and lacquered walnut? The graceful lines and the shimmering, almost iridescent bluing? What a beautiful, classic, piece of workmanship!
Now look at the Mossberg. It’s an ugly, utilitarian thing. This is a tool; pure and simple. No matter what you do to this thing, it’s always gonna be a tool. It’s a Black and Decker people masher. Them’s the breaks.
Gadget whore: Dear gods, there is a lot of stuff for this gun. The quantity of accessories for the 590 is staggering. For no other reason, this shotgun is a slam dunk for home defense. I could make a list, but it would be easier for you to google all the potential goodies for this weapon. If you can dream it, you can have it for this shotgun.
Just a few of the 597,806,926 accessories you could get for your 590.
Tactifag: Some people will think you have some sort of “Red Dawn”/“Rainbow Six” fantasy if they see you have one of these weapons. This may either cause them to shun you, or gravitate toward you. It is for you to determine if this is a good or bad thing depending on the person in question. (Eyeballing YOU Phrost!!)
CONCLUSION:
This is the best-selling home-defense shotgun in the world for a reason. It is versatile, affordable, and effective. If your budget has the room for a dedicated home-defense weapon, then this is the easy first-choice.
Just be sure to understand recoil, and proper technique before you trust your life to this weapon. It is a very different animal than your plinking 22 or your handgun. Don’t believe Hollywood, get out there and put some time in on the range before you commit to a shotgun. They are a distinct species and need to be treated as such.
Remember, nothing makes a burglar crap himself more readily than the sound of a pump shotgun in a dark room. Do not underestimate this effect.
