heat shield really worth it?

I have a mossberg 590 and find the heat shield useless but not necessarily intrusive like others have said. I have been thinking about taking it off but it really doesn't bother me even though its not necessary. One thing it has done is keep me from scratching the actual barrel when i toss it in the trunk of my car.
 
Its not easy to look cool, sometimes you've got to forget about whether you need it or not and concentrate on the "how cool am I going to be at the range with this", that's the only reason you'd get one.

If the Army or the Marines don't have them then why would any civilian need them, apart from the fact they have them on Call of Duty.
 
I have both a 590 with one and a 590A1 that doesn't and while I wouldn't ever put a shield on the A1, there isn't any reason I have seen to remove the one from the 590 either.
 
If the Army or the Marines don't have them then why would any civilian need them, apart from the fact they have them on Call of Duty.
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Hmmmm... are you sure? IIRC my buddy that's in the AF carried a pistol grip shotgun when out on patrol in his Humvee at some point. I don't know if they had heat shields or not but wouldn't doubt it.
 
Most men can handle around 160-190F on there hands. I know I've had my shotgun out in a hot day and the barrel got damn close to burning hot. I wasn't stupid enough to see how hot it was later. Gloves help, but not always the first choice. Many rifles have something similar, full auto mostly. I've seen quite a few trench guns with heat shields and they weren't even used in the deserts. In the end, if you are wearing it on a sling and sling her up, or a single point and drop it, the chance of that barrel searing a soft spot is increased.

Those are my thoughts. Would I do it? Well, haven't done it yet and that's about the cheapest addition for a shotgun. I may do it, but if anything it'll be mostly for looks.
 
A long 3-gun shotgun stage would be 35 or so rounds, as fast as they can be shot and reloaded. A home defense scenario with that many rounds is hard to imagine. If a HD shotgun has a heat shield, leave it. If it does not, not sure I would add one.

For example, my 1100 used in 3-gun does not have a heat shield, and I have burned my hand. Not badly, however not pleasant. The vent rib helps a little. My 590 has a heat shield, and I have used it in matches. It gets hot enough to burn.

The 60 degree F difference between summer and winter (for me) makes a big difference in "burnability". Oh, my AR barrel gets hot enough to burn as well, even the carbon fiber fore end has gotten toasty at 100 degree, high round count, matches.
 
I didn't need one but got bored with my Maverick and decided to spice it up a little. It weighs almost nothing.


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A heat shield used to be a must have on my 870. Mostly because it looks super tactical and bada$$. My brother is a green beret and his team was awarded mossberg 12ga with heat shields and engravings after a deployment. That really made me think they were necessary and cool. However, I now believe they are mostly cosmetic and aren't a necessity for any application.
 
1. I have yet to see a shotgun heat shield made by a company or in a manner that I respect. Old Army issue trench guns would be the exception. I am sorry but most of the heat shields I have seen are from bottom feeder companies and just look like cheap pieces of crud. Even if I did want one it would not be one of the ones I have seen in the cheap / tactical crud department of gun shows and shops.

2. Given the low quality of the products offered I would have greater fear of the unneeded thing failing at a time when I needed it and somehow jamming the gun than I do of somehow burning myself on the barrel.

3. The chance of anyone civilian or LE outside of those in combat overseas, EVER firing a shotgun in defensive use to the point of needing a heat shield is about on a par with worrying about getting hit by a falling meteorite.

4. Personally I view a hot shotgun barrel at the range the same way I view a revolver cylinder gap. SOmething to be aware of and avoid injuring one's self on.

5. Too much tactical crud on a shotgun only makes it more heavy, and more stuff to break or get in the way. Sorry but nothing makes me run the other direction quicker than a overdone shotgun. Keep it simple and useful.
 
Heat shields are useful...I have them on my tactical shotguns. Honestly if you have a tactical shotgun and are using it for self-defense, the heat shield has a purpose. I mean its only $20 bucks just try one out.
 
If they're so useful, I'm surprised that the offerings from the major manufacturers don't have them installed on every trap, skeet and sporting-clays gun where shooting multiple rounds for hours on end is the norm...hmm. Ohhh.....I have an idea.....The Ruger TactiBird....

That said, they do look good.
 
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