The Mossberg 590 is the grandchild of the Mossberg 500 that was originally designed in 1960. Modifications came along as they always do and the single action-bar was changed to a double action. Today there are several 500-based models from Mossberg, most notably the 505 and the 535, but the Mossberg 590 is the one that gets the most use from law enforcement and military and is one of the most perfect home defense weapons you'll ever invest in. This has made the Mossberg 590 a very popular choice.

We've taken a hard look at the Mossberg 590 to see what makes it great, what it can do, and what the price point is like. Then we compared it to the original, the Mossberg 500, and to a couple other solid shotguns of similar type. By the time you're done reading, you'll know everything you need to know to make the best decision about your next shotgun purchase.

Product Specs

The Mossberg 590 features twin action-bars, an anti-jam elevator, and a top-mounted safety that's equally easy to reach no matter which hand you prefer. The tri-railed forends are perfect for adding accessories like lasers, and the gun also has adjustable stocks so you can change the length of pull. It's a heavy gun for all-day sporting use, but it packs just the punch you need for home defense or a shorter day of sporting, and the weight helps with recoil. The gun can shoot birdshot, slugs, and buckshot with equal facility and has ghost ring sights that make accuracy easy. The pump action has a 6+1 load capacity.

How It Compares

We picked a couple of similar products available on the market to see how they compare. We've looked at the specifications of each, their pros and cons, how they compare on price, how easy they are to use, the quality of design, and what kind of warranty you can expect. In addition to the Mossberg 590, we've also taken a look at these shotguns:

  • Mossberg 500
  • Remington 870
  • Benelli SuperNova
Mossberg 590

Image source Mossberg

Ease of Use

This gun handles really well and is fun to shoot. It's easy to switch back and forth to different types of shot and even starting out the accuracy is high. The ghost ring sights make it perfect for hunting, but it's also good for clay shooting with a few minutes of practice. The stock absorbs the recoil well. The trigger is heavy, but the break is crisp. The gun itself is a bit too heavy to carry around comfortably all day.

Weapon Specification

Mossberg gets points here for creating a gun that's easy to clean, simple to load and fire, and features an ambidextrous safety. They've also made it simple to customize and accessorize your gun. It's a breeze to add rail attachments, a saddle mount, or a different grip. The aluminum frame is sturdy and resists rust.

Design Quality

This is an excellent gun that won't let you down. If you've used the 500, you'll notice that the magazine is different. The 500 is designed to let you change out barrels easily, but that's not the design on the 590. The Mossberg 590 is designed to make it easy to clean and replace parts if needed. For durability and longevity, the 590 is everything you can ask for.

Warranty

Mossberg offers a 10-year limited warranty on materials and manufacturing. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, cosmetic damage, or anything that breaks due to non-standard ammo use or unauthorized repairs or alterations.

PROS

  • Reliable
  • Ergonomic and ambidextrous
  • Customizable
  • Shoots all types of shells
  • Accurate

CONS

  • Heavy
  • Less stylish than other types
  • The action is less smooth than some shotguns
Mossberg 500

Image source Mossberg

The Mossberg 500 is the original and was designed with tactical scenarios in mind. It is lightweight, adaptable, and excellent for low light conditions. The 500 has been valued by police, military, and civilian shooters since it was first released. Like all the Mossbergs, the 500 has an aluminum alloy frame that resists rusting.

Ease of Use

This gun is lightweight and easy to use. The safety is on top and easy to reach with either hand. The action is smooth, though rougher than the Remington. Barrel changes are a snap, and even though the gun is lightweight, the recoil is excellent and allows for fast reload and firing. The trigger action is crisp.

Weapon Specification

The weapon has been designed from the ground up to be customizable. The ease of swapping out barrels makes it useful for home defense, skeet shooting, and hunting. It features a six position adjustable stock to allow the perfect adjustment for length of pull.

Design Quality

This is an excellent gun, and so far the only pump shotgun to stand up to the US military's "torture test." It's accurate and reliable in the field. The aluminum frame is, in theory, less durable than the steel frame of the Remington, but it's also less likely to rust.

Warranty

As with the 590, Mossberg offers a 10-year limited warranty on materials and manufacturing on this shotgun. The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, cosmetic damage, or anything that breaks due to non-standard ammo use or unauthorized repairs or alterations.

PROS

  • Lightweight
  • Reliable
  • Accurate
  • Customizable

CONS

  • Comfortable but not truly ergonomic
  • Aluminum frame is less sturdy than steel framed shotguns
Remington 870

Image source Remington

Remington is one of the best names in shotguns, and the 870 has a good reputation as a versatile gun. It has been used extensively by the US military and by many police departments and is very reasonably priced.

Ease of Use

This gun is easy to use once you build up a pumping rhythm. The action is clean and crisp, and the gun feels like it will just keep shooting forever. It's hard to beat a shotgun that has been the police standard for decades. The gun is easy to strip and clean, and there are plenty of aftermarket options available for customization. Customizations aren't as easy and simple as with the Mossberg, but that doesn't mean they're impossible, either. Left-handed options are available but need to be ordered deliberately.

Weapon Specification

This classic gun lacks some of the bells and whistles that come with the Mossberg shotguns but still has plenty to recommend it. It is a pump action with three, four, and six-shot magazines. Barrels are available in lengths ranging from 18 inches to 30 inches, and with them, it can shoot anything from 12 gauge to 410.

Stocks can be either wood or synthetic, and the sights can be fixed or adjustable according to preference. The cross bolt safety behind the trigger guard is easy for right-handed action but can be difficult for left-handed shooters to use.

Design Quality

There is a reason that the Remington 870 has been the law enforcement standard for so long. The gun is supremely reliable even under the worst conditions. The steel frame and receiver make it sturdier for the long haul than the Mossberg, but rust is an issue that the Mossberg guns don't face in the same way. It also breaks with less trigger pressure.

Warranty

The Remington warranty length depends on the precise model you purchase, but most of the 870s are covered by a two-year warranty. To claim it, you must register the gun with Remington. As with most firearms, using improper ammunition or having it serviced or altered in an unauthorized way will void any warranty.

PROS

  • Very reliable
  • Affordable
  • Low recoil
  • Durable
  • Simple to break down and clean

CONS

  • No adjustable length of pull
  • Not easy for lefthanded shooters
  • Single bead sight makes it less good for small aims
  • Sometimes has sticky ejections
SuperNova Pump Shotgun

Image source Benelli USA

Remington is one of the best names in shotguns, and the 870 has a good reputation as a versatile gun. It has been used extensively by the US military and by many police departments and is very reasonably priced.

Ease of Use

The gun has a very ergonomic forend with a good surface for gripping. The high-quality barrel will take shells up to 3.5 inches and any kind of shot. The barrel is a bit long, and the gun is a bit heavier than others on our list, making it less desirable for carrying on a long day of sporting. It can take longer to get used to the action than with other models, but speed improves with practice. On the plus side, there is very little recoil to this shotgun.

Weapon Specification

This gun features a lightweight but durable steel frame covered in a protective polymer. It has dual action-bars and a two-lug rotating bolt head. The lightest versions weigh 7.9 pounds and all versions have a 4+1 load capacity. The ghost ring sights are hooded to protect them from a drop. It comes with an adjustable safety for right or left-handed use.

Design Quality

This is one of the finest guns available in terms of design. It's simple to break it down for cleaning and no special tools are required. The gun's steel frame is highly durable even after plenty of shots in a row, and the design is such that internal parts are largely protected from the elements, even after a long day of hunting in the mud and rain.

Warranty

The Benelli is also warranted for 10 years to the original purchaser. There is no need to fill out a warranty card or register the gun with them in order to be covered by the warranty. If you have a problem, they will check the serial number to ensure it was purchased from an authorized dealer, and only if that checks out will they honor the warranty. As with all the others, the warranty doesn't cover misuse or unauthorized adjustments, repairs, or ammunition.

PROS

  • Weight absorbs recoil efficiently
  • Rugged and reliable
  • Stays clean inside even in mud and rain
  • Good grip
  • Accurate

CONS

  • Long forend means that many saddles won't fit
  • The grip makes it hard for some people to reach the safety
  • Heavy for all day use
  • Slower action without lots of practice
  • Less easy to customize than other guns we reviewed

Conclusion

We looked at the Mossberg 590, the Mossberg 500, the Remington 870 and the Benelli SuperNova shotguns. All are pump action and all are popular shotguns with law enforcement, sportsmen, military, and recreational shooters. All of them would make excellent weapons for home defense as well.

The Mossberg 500 was the lightest gun we reviewed, making it the most fun to carry around for a full day of target shooting. The Benelli SuperNova was the heaviest, but that weight absorbs the recoil well and makes it great for hunting. The Mossberg 590 and 500 and the Remington 870 are all entry-level shotguns, while the Benelli SuperNova is a bit more expensive.

In the end, the Mossbergs and the Remingtons are the most reliable, easy-to-shoot, affordable pump-action shotguns you can get. There's a reason these guns have been the go-to shotguns for law enforcement and military use ever since they were first designed.

For our money, the Mossberg 590 gives you the most bang for your buck. It is extremely durable and reliable with a proven track record that goes back decades. It is inexpensive yet infinitely customizable. It's equally good at target shooting or home defense and swapping out barrels is a snap. It's accurate, and the lightweight means you can take it anywhere and enjoy using it. You can't go wrong with any of these shotguns, but our choice is the Mossberg 590.