I am looking to put the finishing touches on my HD arsenal, and the pump gun is the last step. I currently have a Mossberg500 tactical persuader, which has seen limited use and is in pretty good shape. However, lately I’ve been thinking about going in the direction of the 870. My quandry is that I really DO prefer the safety on the Mossys.
So:
1: Does anyone know a reputable smith (ala Vang) who works more extensively on the Mossys?
2: Is it worth spending some money on my 500 in order to make it a solid-performing pump I can run classes and/or maybe 3 gun with and use for HD, or should I look into the 590a1 or 870?
I appreciate opinions, but would really be thankful for any examples or experiences any of you can share.
I want whichever pump I end up with to wear nothing but the necessary components for HD/Classes…maybe a trit front sight, a side saddle, short stock, and probably a white light, or surefire forend, and a beefed-up safety.
Also…can anyone tell me where the “special purpose” line of 870’s fits into the whole grand scheme? Are they dressed up expresses, like the tactical series, or are they more closely based on the wingmasters?
Personally, I wouldn’t refit a 500 Persuader. My recommendation: buy an 870P with tritium rifle sights, replace the stock with your choice of shorter LOP (I like the Hogue 12"), add a SureFire light, add a Side Saddle of your choice (I like the 6-rd version), add a Vang Comp +2 tube extension and stainless steel tube follower, and call it good.
I have an offer to trade one of my Busse knives for an 870p with about 500 rounds through it, but I REALLY like where the safety is on my Mossy, and the fact that the lifter stays up, making it easy to load. Maybe a 590a1 is the way to go.
If you don’t mind being more specific, why wouldn’t you spend any extra money on adding to or working on a 500?
Hans also works on Mossbergs in addition to Remingtons.
As for the 500, if your version is the breacher barrel the 590 barrels will work on that shotgun as you have the 590 barrel lug setup. Just get the 18.5" 590 barrel of your choice. You could add the metal safety (which I would recommend) and the metal trigger guard (if you want). Put an XS big dot bead with tritium on it and you’d have a completely serviceable shotgun.
Add a sidesaddle and a light to fill it out if you feel the need.
As for the 590A1, I would think about that. The 590 is a good shotgun as is. The plastic safety is something I would switch out, and the metal trigger guard again if you really want to. The heavy barrel is just that: heavy. If you just have to have a heavy barrel, go for it. If you don’t need the extra weight I wouldn’t go that way.
Let me know if there is anything I didn’t cover or if you need any other info.
Thanks for the informed reply, M24. It appears that the shotgun form here on M4C doesn’t get a lot of traffic. I had posted the thread seeking advice because I needed to know which direction to go in, but I ended up trading a Busse for an 870p, then picking up an Express with a Knoxx Spec-Ops stock, and a Surefire forend. I will try the two of them, along with my Mossy 500 and try to decide then which works best for me.
I know the 870p is the benchmark, but again, I prefer the safety and shell lifter on the Mossys, as well as the having the double extractor.
If I decide I prefer the Mossy after playing with the 870’s, maybe I’ll move all three and grab two 590a1’s. We’ll see…
Mike (Mossberg LE Service) does some preety good work and has added custom finishes. I also believe he is the only one that does action jobs on the 500/590 line. He is building some 18" 590A1’s for us now for the Best Ranger Competition.
Disclaimer is that I work with Mike on a lot of projects.
I prefer the 18" models over the 20" ones. If you want to go the pistol grip stock route I would recommend a Remington 870 over the 500/590 though.
Nothing against Mossbergs (I’ve owned and used them for a long time) but, I have found the fit, finish and overall quality of the 870P to be far and away better than the 590’s I’ve owned. The availability of parts is also much better. The Mossberg 590/A1 is a very serviceable shotgun but, that’s all. I wouldn’t describe it as “nice” or “fine”. The Remington 870P, I would. I think the Remington 870P is a better base platform than the Mossberg to build upon. After using Mossbergs for the better part of 20 years, I picked up an 870P for my most recent shotgun build and I’m glad I did. I still have a 590 but, the 870P is now my “go to” shotgun.
Mossberg- Buy the 590A1. The 590 Special Purpose is a commercial gun with a pass-through mag tube, dressed like the A1. Mossbergs are serviceable, but go no lower than the 590 SP for meaningful work.
I’ve dealt with Aimpro and they’ve been helpful. They offer some custom services some will find useful.
Gold standard remains Hans Vang. You can buy what you want, spec’ed how you want it, directly from him. He’ll tell you what he thinks, too.
