I chose the 20" Mossberg 590 because I like the idea of having more rounds, it is 8+1, it is heavy but I do not plan on carrying the thing in my pocket lol. I have practiced house drills and taken a few different shotgun classes and the 6 round guns do just as well as the 8+1 but obviously when they are reloading I am still firing 3 rounds. I have a side saddle on mine that holds six additional rounds as well. The guy I got it from built it to be a tacticooooooool safe queen but it is my trunk/home defense gun.
18.5" vs. 20" Mossberg 500 for HD?
- Thread starter SKILCZ
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BamaBowtie
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Another thing to consider is screw in chokes. I have an old 500 with 20" barrel that is threaded for choke tubes. Mine is 5+1 but I feel the 20" with chokes gives you HD and hunting options with out extra barrels and added expense.
If you want a dual purpose shotgun, then get a 18.5" / 28" combo. Be sure to put the mag plug back in before you go hunting!
If it's a dedicated HD shotgun, I'd go with the 20", just for the extra capacity. I realize it's unlikely that they would ever be needed, but an HD shotgun is by definition an exercise in "what if?".
The extra 1.5" of barrel will not significantly affect velocity, will not affect patterning and won't cause the gun to be taken away from you.
If it's a dedicated HD shotgun, I'd go with the 20", just for the extra capacity. I realize it's unlikely that they would ever be needed, but an HD shotgun is by definition an exercise in "what if?".
The extra 1.5" of barrel will not significantly affect velocity, will not affect patterning and won't cause the gun to be taken away from you.
I voted for the 18.5", only because that is what I have. The extra 1.5" of the 20" will not make a difference, IMO.
My personal view of a shotgun for HD is that it is best only when you KNOW EXACTLY where the threat is, OR you are holding up in a room with your SG pointed at the door.
I perfer not to clear a house with a shotgun because I don't want to be turning corners with such a long weapon that "catch" a corner or be taken from me too easily. If I feel that I must clear the house, I'll do it with a handgun. If I know where the threat is and/or I do not have to search, I would greatly prefer the SG. In which case the barrel length will not matter much.
Edit to say: I know that a skilled person can clear a room/house with a shotgun, but I'd personally prefer not to.
My personal view of a shotgun for HD is that it is best only when you KNOW EXACTLY where the threat is, OR you are holding up in a room with your SG pointed at the door.
I perfer not to clear a house with a shotgun because I don't want to be turning corners with such a long weapon that "catch" a corner or be taken from me too easily. If I feel that I must clear the house, I'll do it with a handgun. If I know where the threat is and/or I do not have to search, I would greatly prefer the SG. In which case the barrel length will not matter much.
Edit to say: I know that a skilled person can clear a room/house with a shotgun, but I'd personally prefer not to.
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I have both an 18.5" Mossberg 500A Persuader six-shot and a 20" Mossberg 590 nine-shot. I've removed the heat shield on the 590 because I think it only adds more weight I don't want and I don't need the tacticool look.
Still, fully loaded, the 18.5" 500A feels significantly more nimble, manageable, and lighter in weight than the 20" 590. And under circumstances when I wish to use the pistol grip (for maximum maneuverability in tight quarters and/or smallest size for travel) the 18.5" with PG is just that much shorter than the 20". I see a lot of benefit to the 18.5" gun.
That said, I do like both guns. I would choose the shorter/lighter 18.5" six-shot 500A when moving about the house and the 20“ nine-shot 590 if hunkered down behind cover waiting for trouble to come to me.
I don't feel that the six-shooter is at much disadvantage capacity-wise compared to the nine-shooter. If called upon to defend myself with a shotgun, I think six on board is likely to be sufficient, though nine is nice!
Still, fully loaded, the 18.5" 500A feels significantly more nimble, manageable, and lighter in weight than the 20" 590. And under circumstances when I wish to use the pistol grip (for maximum maneuverability in tight quarters and/or smallest size for travel) the 18.5" with PG is just that much shorter than the 20". I see a lot of benefit to the 18.5" gun.
That said, I do like both guns. I would choose the shorter/lighter 18.5" six-shot 500A when moving about the house and the 20“ nine-shot 590 if hunkered down behind cover waiting for trouble to come to me.
I don't feel that the six-shooter is at much disadvantage capacity-wise compared to the nine-shooter. If called upon to defend myself with a shotgun, I think six on board is likely to be sufficient, though nine is nice!