Why Preppers Love the Mossberg 590
Kevin Felts 06.23.17
In a previous article we talked about the Mossberg 590 and why sportsmen seem to have a love affair with a shotgun that was designed for the military. Now, let’s take a few minutes and talk about why preppers lavish so much love on the 590.
Overall, preppers, and especially urban preppers, are justified in the fascination with the 590. It is a tough, heavy shotgun that was designed for military applications.
Tropical storm Cindy recently made landfall and dumped a lot of rain on the area. The heavy rain will usually drive snakes from their hiding places, which provides an opportunity to hunt them. I am not worried about the Rat Snake (chicken snake), Coach Whip, or any other harmless snake. I was looking for the Cottonmouth Water Moccasin.
My dogs free range on the farm, and hunting the Cottonmouth is a form of preventative medicine. This also provides a hunting opportunity during the off season. It is kinda like hunting rabbits or squirrels, you have to keep an eye out and move slow.
My weapon of choice for the day was the Mossberg 590.
While I was walking through a low area near a creek, I was thinking about this article and what would make me pick the Mossberg 590 over the Mossberg 500 or the Remington 870.
Ready Out of the Box
One of the big factors that I find attractive about the Mossberg 590, it is ready out of the box.
- The receiver is drilled and tapped for an optic.
- Synthetic stock.
- Aggressive fore grip.
- Nice thick pad on the buttstock.
This shotgun is ready to go to work straight out of the box. No need to install a thick shoulder pad, no need to have the receiver drilled and tapped and no need to install a synthetic stock.
The heat shield and bayonet lug are not a big deal in my personal preference. They add a “cool” factor to the 590, but are not a game changer.
Simple Operation
One of the main reasons why I prefer the Mossberg 500 and 590 over the Remington 870 is because of the door covering the bottom of the receiver. To me, the Mossberg is easier to load than the 870. People are going to say, “That door is to keep trash out of the receiver.” I still do not like the door.
Ambidextrous thumb operated safety is superior to the Remington safety. The Mossberg safety can be operated without ever having to move your trigger hand.
No choke. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is one less moving part that you do not have to keep up with.
All of this means: The 590 can be handed to someone, give them 5 minutes of training, and they should have the basics down.
Overall
If I am going squirrel or rabbit hunting and know I will be making long shots for a shotgun, I take the 500.
If I am going into brush, know the distance to the target will be short, it is the Mossberg 590.
To me, the Mossberg 590 is the type of shotgun you can take on a camping trip and don’t care if it gets a few scratches.
As a member of the forum described the Mossberg 590, it is a warhorse.
