Looking to buy my first HD shotgun

G

gaseousclay

New member
Sorry to rehash an old topic but I’m interested in purchasing my first shotgun for HD purposes. I’ve looked around and found several candidates, but I’d like for you guys to weigh in and offer your opinions.

So far I’ve looked at:

Mossberg 590A1
Mossberg 500 Tactical with tri-rail
Remington 870 Express Tactical
Remington 870 Wilson Combat
Winchester SPX Defender

Of the ones I’ve looked at the Mossberg 590A1 is at the top of my list, mainly because it’s made in the US, has the top tang safety, aluminum safety and trigger guard and has a proven track record. I want something with an 18.5” barrel and that can take a pretty good beating. I honestly don’t know enough about the other models listed to form an objective opinion. Quality matters and I’d hate to spend hundreds of dollars on a firearm that has cycling issues (or whatever). I initially wanted an all-around shotgun, like the Browning BPS, to use for HD, trap/skeet shooting and hunting. But, the longer barrel makes it impractical to use for HD imo. I think i've ruled out the Winchester SPX because I've read that it has problems cycling low brass shells (which I don't quite understand). The Remington makes me nervous because of the QC problems they've been having. Plus, the 870 Express is Remington's budget gun, so i'm afraid it'll be a cheaply made gun. The Wilson Combat version is priced out of my range so that's a no go for me too. The other contender would be the Mossberg 500 Tri-Rail, which is less expensive than the 590A1. I'm not into the tacticool thing, so the ability to upgrade the shotgun doesn't matter to me.

Again, these are just my observations based on the research i've done. If any of you own any of the above shotguns i'd like to hear your opinions and why you like yours. Thanks.
 
My advice won't be worth much, because I have never owned or shot any of the shotguns you listed. I do own an older Remington Wingmaster 870, that has had 1,000s of rounds go thru it without problems.

I got the wingmaster for "3 Gun" with 18.5" barrel. I now have 6 (Yes, I got another this week) barrels, running from 18.5" to 34". Way too many corn cobs, and stocks. You won't go wrong with a good pump with extra barrels (IMO,;)).

If you make a mistake and want to get something else, you might consider the resale value of the guns on your list.

When your or families a$$e$ are on the line, do you really need to weary about the budget?

Personally I like a S&W Model 25 in 45 Colt for HD, But that's just me.:o
 
A basic used 870 with a 4-shot tube and a 20" barrel with a bead is just fine. The most important thing is that you invest the time training with it. Less is more.
 
The only issue with the 18.5" 590A1 is there is little room to attach a light. What I did was buy a CDM Gear MTR rail and have a Streamlight TLR-1s on it. I also added a S&J Hardware +2 extension.

de9ydanu.jpg
 
Tony615, have you given any thought to buying a barrel clamp? The mag-tube threads on the Mossberg 590's are very fine and can be damaged easily.
 
SoilworK777 said:
Tony615, have you given any thought to buying a barrel clamp? The mag-tube threads on the Mossberg 590's are very fine and can be damaged easily.
Click to expand...

I do have one on my extension. I was cleaning it and forgot to put the clamp back on. I guess I should take another picture now.

ate5yguh.jpg
 
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Mossberg 590A1
Mossberg 500 Tactical with tri-rail
Remington 870 Express Tactical
Remington 870 Wilson Combat
Winchester SPX Defender

Not in any order... and for what it's worth:

Last I knew the base gun for the Wilson was ... an 870 Express. If I want a gussied up Express gun I can do that myself, MUCH cheaper.

I personally have no problems with Express guns. I have about a dozen of them, all bought used. I prefer the older, pre-magazine tube dimple guns, because they are basically just roughly finished Wingmasters for the most part. The later ones may have MIM extractors but I have yet to break one of those - and I've run them in (gasp) shotgun classes. An extractor is not a major fix anyway, if an upgrade is desired.

I don't care for anything that calls itself Tactical. Call me an old phart, I don't care. I am one. :D

I have three or four Win 1200/1300s. They're good guns basically. Don't know anything about the new imported version though - my first impulse is to be shy of it until it has a track record. Usually when I fail to follow first impulses like that I live to regret it.

A Mossberg 500 is a good house gun. But if I'm going to be outside with a shotgun in the weeds and the wet, I want a design that lends itself to maintaining the tubular magazine. The 500 comes up short in that department. I know, lots of them go for years with little or no attention. But they don't belong to me :D.

The 590 cured that magazine design shortcoming, because the military insisted on it. In short there's nothing wrong with the 590A1 (except that it isn't an 870 :D - that really is a joke). It's available with factory ghost rings - that's what I'd get, if you ever might take it outside. Otherwise a bead will work for inside duties. The only 590 I have has a bead.

So there's the short version. Best advice is, YOU matter more than the gun does, so make yourself the best defensive shotgun shooter possible. The gun will almost certainly do, if YOU will do.
 
If you ONLY want a shotgun for HD, the 590 may be a good choice. If you want to be able to swap the short barrel for a long one think again. I believe it is possible if you have a 5 round magazine tube. I am with Lee. I got an 870 Express with an 18.5" barrel and picked up a used 28" vent rib for $85. It is my HD gun but serves as a second range gun for friends.
 
That's not a 590, it's a 590 A1 -- they are very different guns. Given your wanting a reliable HD tank the 18-1/2" 590 A1 is the clear winner. I DO like the 590 (SP) -- in fact it is my favorite overall of its type.
 
Dreaming100Straight said:
If you ONLY want a shotgun for HD, the 590 may be a good choice. If you want to be able to swap the short barrel for a long one think again. I believe it is possible if you have a 5 round magazine tube. I am with Lee. I got an 870 Express with an 18.5" barrel and picked up a used 28" vent rib for $85. It is my HD gun but serves as a second range gun for friends.
Click to expand...

I just want something for HD only. Think I'm settled on the mossberg 500 tri rail tactical. I love the 590A1 but I don't need the extra bells and whistles when the 500 will suit me just fine
 
Have you had the opportunity to handle that model (tri-rail)?

Well, my co-worker has one and I can tell you, we both did NOT like that forend. With a good grip on the forend, you thumb ends up getting jammed against those rails when blasting off 12 gauge. And trying to populate the rails, on the forend, with a light or something, makes working the action a clumsy affair. He quickly nixed that forend and bought another.

I think you would be better off looking for another model. He ended up buying the forend found on a similar set-up.

Try looking for this one (model 50420). It is the same, basically, but without the rails.
http://www.mossberg.com/product/shotguns-pump-action-500-special-purpose-tactical-6-shot/50420

Since you wrote that you are not really into the taticool stuff, then I will recommend the Mossberg #50411. It is a simple, down and dirty, well made and reliable HD set-up. The finish is a nice blue as well, not the scratch prone matte black most have these days.

http://www.mossberg.com/product/sho...pecial-purpose-persuader-cruiser-6-shot/50411

for approx street pricing.....
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_871/products_id/46276

For a light attachment, he bought a Laserlyte Tri-Rail. These can be found for around $20 on amazon and the like. you attach it to the mag tub, not the forend.. so there is no getting caught on rails while cycling the rounds. The light stays stationary to the barrel instead.

http://www.laserlyte.com/products/adp-trir-140

I have a Mossberg 500, with Hogue stock/forend and the heavy breacher type barrel. I also bought the laserlyte tri-rail and it works nice. Mine has the matte finish, in retrospect, I wish I had bought the above model with blue finish. That said, it does the trick and I have a 28" vent-rib/ported feild barrel, with removable chokes, for fun shooting clays.

this is my HD shotgun.
 
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Waspinator said:
Have you had the opportunity to handle that model (tri-rail)?

Well, my co-worker has one and I can tell you, we both did NOT like that forend. With a good grip on the forend, you thumb ends up getting jammed against those rails when blasting off 12 gauge. And trying to populate the rails, on the forend, with a light or something, makes working the action a clumsy affair. He quickly nixed that forend and bought another.

I think you would be better off looking for another model. He ended up buying the forend found on a similar set-up.

Try looking for this one (model 50420). It is the same, basically, but without the rails.
http://www.mossberg.com/product/shotguns-pump-action-500-special-purpose-tactical-6-shot/50420

Since you wrote that you are not really into the taticool stuff, then I will recommend the Mossberg #50411. It is a simple, down and dirty, well made and reliable HD set-up. The finish is a nice blue as well, not the scratch prone matte black most have these days.

http://www.mossberg.com/product/sho...pecial-purpose-persuader-cruiser-6-shot/50411

for approx street pricing.....
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/37_871/products_id/46276

For a light attachment, he bought a Laserlyte Tri-Rail. These can be found for around $20 on amazon and the like. you attach it to the mag tub, not the forend.. so there is no getting caught on rails while cycling the rounds. The light stays stationary to the barrel instead.

http://www.laserlyte.com/products/adp-trir-140

I have a Mossberg 500, with Hogue stock/forend and the heavy breacher type barrel. I also bought the laserlyte tri-rail and it works nice. Mine has the matte finish, in retrospect, I wish I had bought the above model with blue finish. That said, it does the trick and I have a 28" vent-rib/ported feild barrel, with removable chokes, for fun shooting clays.

this is my HD shotgun.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the helpful response. I haven't handled the tri rail, but based on your comment I might go with the 50411 Persuader model now. I think I read a review somewhere that listed the same complaint that you mentioned with the forend smashing your thumbs. I initially went with the tri rail because my LGS has it for $360 new. But, since Buds has it pretty cheap I think I'll get the 50411 model now. It gets so confusing because there seem to be so many variants of the Mossberg 500 and it's hard for me to spot the little differences (like the tri rail). Thanks again for the useful info
 
@ Waspinator, do you know how online ordering works for a site like Bud's? I've ordered via gunbroker before but this required me to go to my LGS and have them them deal with the FFL info. Do I have to do the same thing for Buds, or do I simply add an item to my cart and have them ship it to my LGS?
 
Looks like I have to go thru the same process as I would any other online gun purchase. The cool thing about buds is the free shipping :)
 
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