Mossberg 590 or Remington 870 tactical pump?

[Unisaw]

I have a nearly new 590 with an 18" barrel and 7+1 capacity.  I replaced the magazine follower with a Vang Comp stainless steel follower and the plastic safety with a metal "Big Speed Safety" from Vang Comp.  Both of those changes were made to improve long-term functionality/reliability.  Then, I replaced the factory stock for a MagPul SGA stock and the forend with a MagPul M-LOK forend.  The SGA stock lets you decrease the pull from a "sporting" length to something more suitable for a squared stance.  The forend will facilitate mounting a sling and/or a light should I choose to do so.

BTW, swapping out the safety wasn't that big of a deal.  Mossberg does use a tamper-resistant screw but it wasn't that big of a deal to get it out.  Vang Comp supplies a replacement socket head cap screw with the Big Speed Safety.

[T.O.M.]

Hard to go wrong with either of those.  I was shopping for a Mossy a few years back.  I grew up with a Smith shotgun, and liked having the safety in the same place.  The day I was at the lgs, they were putting out on the used rack a Remington HD model that was bought by a home owner who fired one box of shells through it before trading it in on something else. Price with a side saddle shell holder and a soft case was $250.  The new Mossy I was looking at was around $100 more. Spent the savings on shells and trained on the safety.

Mike, I guessing your Smith has the safety the same as my dad's,  so the Mossy safety will be the same position and operation.  That's the only plus I can think of for one over the ither for you.

[K Frame]

Off topic:  But Ian from forgotten weapons just did a Slam fire vs normal fire comparison video with an 1897 Trench Gun and a tricked out 870.  Was neat to watch.


Oh! On topic, I think he was doing a contest to give away the Trench gun.  That's definatly what you need!  :D

I watched that video a few weeks ago. It basically reinforced everything I already knew about slam firing my Dad's Ithaca 37. It's fun, but has VERY questionable utility.

Herb Parsons, the Winchester exhibition shooter, would use a Model 12 to break 7 clay birds that were thrown simultaneously. Some people accused him of slam firing the gun, so Winchester put a high speed camera on him that showed him pulling the trigger for each shot. I guess even back then people thought slam fire had more utility than it actually has.

I know where there are a half dozen completely authentic World War I Model 97 trench guns.

Unfortunately they are owned by the Pennsylvania museum system and will never see the collectors market.

[K Frame]

I own a 500, probably about 40 years old. The safety went bad and was a bit of a pain to fix with some odd screw placement or something, don't recall the annoyance.

That's right, it was YOUR Mossberg with the borked safety. I couldn't remember whose it was. You had the armorer at your work fix it, IIRC? I know I didn't because of that weird screw.

[K Frame]

Interesting. Winchester has a modern interpretation of the Trench Gun based on the SXP.

Looks weird.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/411559926/winchester+sxp+trench+shtg+12m+18cb

[K Frame]

Even better, I'm finding some really positive reviews on the general SXP platform.

This may bear reconsidering what I'm going to do.

[K Frame]

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/52704/winchester+super+x+defender+5+1+3+12+ga+18

Very good reviews at Bud's.

Yeah, made in Turkey, but anymore that doesn't really seem to be an issue anymore.

[Bogie]

I used to have a stevens 235 side by side... Barrels were bobbed to 18.5", and with basically no extra receiver length, it was VERY maneuverable... External hammers, so I didn't feel bad about leaving it loaded.

[WLJ]

Off topic:  But Ian from forgotten weapons just did a Slam fire vs normal fire comparison video with an 1897 Trench Gun and a tricked out 870.  Was neat to watch.


Oh! On topic, I think he was doing a contest to give away the Trench gun.  That's definatly what you need!  :D

Saw that. The guy was actually slightly faster with the modern non-slam fire 870 but IIRC he stated the 1897's furniture being harder to get a good grip on may have been part of that and he also admitted he is far more experienced with the 870 as well. Overall I got the impression the slam fire feature isn't actually faster and probably not worth the safety risks

Video
https://youtu.be/jksldX33HAY

[K Frame]

I used to have a stevens 235 side by side... Barrels were bobbed to 18.5", and with basically no extra receiver length, it was VERY maneuverable... External hammers, so I didn't feel bad about leaving it loaded.

I've not seen a 235 for years and years.

I have an Ithaca New Gun double barrel hammer gun. It was, I believe, my Great Grandfather's farm gun. It certainly looks like it was used on the farm. Beaten around pretty good. The firing pins are broken and the barrel lug needs to be resoldered.

I was going to send it to Diamond Gunsmithing in Ithaca, NY, for an evaluation and repair, but their gunsmith died. I waited too long.

My current working double is a SxS Stevens 311/5200 in 20 gauge. Absolutely love that one.

[Boomhauer]

I like the loading gate staying out of the way and slide release button better on the 590.

590 wins on safety visibility and works reasonably well with a standard stock but is a no go with a pistol gripped stock

[JTHunter]

I used to have a stevens 235 side by side... Barrels were bobbed to 18.5", and with basically no extra receiver length, it was VERY maneuverable... External hammers, so I didn't feel bad about leaving it loaded.

As I know nothing about the 870, I'll leave that side alone.
I do have a Mossberg 500-C pump with chokes for both lead and steel shot (currently loaded with 3" steel "F").  I also have a Stevens SxS but it is a (slightly) newer 311 that I had a gunsmith bore it out and put in screw-ins.  This basically turned my 311 to a 511.  It is loaded with 2 - 3" shells, OO Buck on one side and #4 Buck on the other. 

[JTHunter]

  AND, just make this more interesting, how many of you heard about the new "Circuit Judge" revolving rifle?  It is a revolving carbine that takes both .45 and .410 3 inch shells.
https://rossiusa.com/rifles/circuit-judge

[Angel Eyes]

AND, just make this more interesting, how many of you heard about the new "Circuit Judge" revolving rifle?  It is a revolving carbine that takes both .45 and .410 3 inch shells.
https://rossiusa.com/rifles/circuit-judge

You might want to watch Paul Harrell's review:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTyUPsb9eqw

[Hawkmoon]

https://www.budsgunshop.com/product_info.php/products_id/52704/winchester+super+x+defender+5+1+3+12+ga+18

Very good reviews at Bud's.

Yeah, made in Turkey, but anymore that doesn't really seem to be an issue anymore.

Turkey has made shotguns for a lot of American brands for decades.

[WLJ]

Ian released a followup video

Testing an Original WW1 Trench Gun w/ GI Buckshot: How Does it Pattern?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0m-3eP38JE

Spoiler alert:
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 It patterned surprisingly well compared to a modern shotgun.

[K Frame]

I'm watching it right now.

As a teen I shot a bunch of paper hull slugs and buckshot (probably from just before/just after WW II) from a couple of shotguns. Never found any that wouldn't chamber in any of the shotguns that I used, but they weren't being stored/used in South Pacific humidity conditions.

[JTHunter]

You might want to watch Paul Harrell's review:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTyUPsb9eqw

Interesting and enlightening.  The rifled barrel did what I was afraid it would do with shot.
Thanks Angel.

[K Frame]

In my opinion, if it's a .410 shotgun revolver, it's a stupid question that never should have been asked in the first place.

[T.O.M.]

In my opinion, if it's a .410 shotgun revolver, it's a stupid question that never should have been asked in the first place.

It's amazing to me how many ignorant people talk of the .410 revolvers as being awesome firearms that are the perfect defense weapons.   

[Kingcreek]

Even better, I'm finding some really positive reviews on the general SXP platform.

This may bear reconsidering what I'm going to do.

We had a new SXP failing miserably last night at trap practice. Many light primer strikes and misfires for reasons yet unknown.

[MechAg94]

It's amazing to me how many ignorant people talk of the .410 revolvers as being awesome firearms that are the perfect defense weapons.   

I agree.  It is an overpriced snake gun.  A cheap 22 mag revolver with shot shells does just as well.

[MechAg94]

Speaking of used Remington 870's.... 

LE Trade-in Remington 870 Express 28in Barrel 12 Gauge Shotgun
https://aimsurplus.com/products/le-trade-in-remington-870-express-28in-barrel-12-gauge-shotgun?c=FRI09292023&mc_cid=0c580b4b21&mc_eid=2d3cb38bb0

I assume one would plan on getting an 18" barrel and a tube extension which would add to the total cost. 

[Ben]

Sportsman's Warehouse has 870 Tacticals on sale for $390 right now.

[K Frame]

We had a new SXP failing miserably last night at trap practice. Many light primer strikes and misfires for reasons yet unknown.

My Remington 58 failed at wobble trap some years ago.

Extractor hook sheared off.

Problems happen.